• The Guild of Master Craftsmen Ltd is a family owned business, established in 1976.

• In 1992, the Guild was awarded its Coat of Arms after 4 years of assessment.

• The Guild is part of the GMC group which also publishes 10 consumer magazines, and countless craft and hobby books.

• Members of the Guild span the whole of the United Kingdom and parts of the rest of the world.

• Individuals and businesses of any size can apply for membership.

• Members work in over 400 different crafts and trades including a sector dedicated to Retail and Service.

• Harrods, The Ritz, and Rolls Royce are among the Guild’s members.

• Almost 30% of the Guild’s members have been registered for more than 10 years.

• The guild operates an easy to use search facility at www.findacraftsman.com

• The Guild actively supports and sponsors students in events throughout the year.

Press Contacts

For further media information or marketing opportunities please contact:

Richard Walsh, Marketing Manager   richardw@thegmcgroup.com   

Tel: 01273 478449   Ext 271

For queries relating solely to advertorial features please contact:

Jenny Hayden, Guild Administrator   jennyh@thegmcgroup.com   

Tel: 01273 478449   Ext 202

ABOUT THE COMPANY

The Guild of Master Craftsmen is the UKs leading trade association with members in many different trades, crafts and professions. Most members, but by no means all, are involved in traditional craft occupations often associated with the building trade. Some are large companies, many of them household names such as Bentley Motors Ltd, Harrods Ltd and the Ritz Hotel, whilst others are sole traders.  In recent years these have been added to with many new members joining from high technology occupations such as computing. There is also a thriving retail division which includes hotels, restaurants and gift shops.

 Despite these differences, there are some things that all Guild members have in common. They have acknowledged a commitment to work with skill and integrity; they have agreed to abide by the Aims and Objectives of The Guild; and they have all received praise and recognition from their customers.  

From its inception The Guild’s objectives have been to obtain extra work for its members, to increase public awareness of their skill and integrity, and help them make savings on their business expenses. The important benefit for the public is the peace of mind they get from knowing that Guild members have been thoroughly tested through recommendation of their customers.

 Membership of The Guild is by no means automatic. Applicants are required to show that they have earned the right to be called master craftsmen – through the quality of their work, their commitment to customer care, and the level of service they provide. And once accepted into membership they are required to maintain the Aims and Objectives of The Guild. Should they fail to do so they will be expelled from membership. Although not a consumer organisation, The Guild resolves to pursue the interests of the consumer through careful membership selection and its proven procedure for conciliation and arbitration, which comes into effect should there be a dispute with a member.

Through its associate company, GMC Publications, the Guild publishes top quality books and magazines on many different craft subjects. These are sold on news-stands and in bookshops around the world. GMC’s ten different magazines on woodworking, photography, knitting, dolls’ houses and organic living are extremely popular, with regular, dedicated readerships. And a list of some 5,000 top quality books covering woodworking skills, gardening. lifestyle and the majority of craft and needlecraft subjects, makes GMC Publications the largest distributor of craft books in the country.

 You can contact The Guild on 01273 478449 or log on to the website www.guildmc.com for more information also visit our craftsman search engine, ww.findacraftsman.com

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GUILD

 Q. What is The Guild of Master Craftsmen?

A.    The Guild of Master Craftsman is a trade organisation. For more than 30 years The Guild has represented over 400 different crafts, trades and professions, promoting and supporting excellence. To the trade and public alike, The Guild’s emblem and Coat of Arms represent skill, integrity, quality and service.

Guild members come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some are quite unusual, such as craftsmen in wrought iron, stained glass or thatch, others are traditional builders, plumbers or electricians. A growing number are involved in newer industries such as information technology and in the retail and service sector. The one thing they have in common is their commitment to excellence.

The Guild encourages members to strive for excellence and monitors standards to ensure that its principles are being maintained.

 Q. What are the benefits of membership? 

A.    In order to operate profitably, every business needs to have expert advice readily available. Guild membership allows you access to a range of professional services, which include advice on insurance, financial services, health and safety issues, legal matters, sales and marketing, and business consultancy.

In addition The Guild operates credit vetting procedures, a debt collection service to ensure you get paid for the work you do, and, in the event of a customer complaint, a conciliation service to help settle disputes.

Q. Is membership just for big businesses?

A.   No. From sole traders, to national companies with multiple locations, all will be considered. We even have international members. 

 Q. What type of trades are considered?

A.   We currently have members in over 400 business sectors and membership is open to applicants from all trades, crafts and professions, to both individuals and companies. The Guild of Master Craftsmen is virtually unique as a trade organisation in as much as it includes and represents such a diverse range of organisations.
 

Q. What are the minimum requirements?

A.   Applicants should have been practising their trade for at least 2 years, Details of five recent customers are required and The Guild will send each a confidential questionnaire to obtain opinions about the standard of craftsmanship and service provided by the Applicant. The Guild seeks confirmation of high standards and a professional business manner.

 Q. How much does membership cost?

A.   The annual membership fee is calculated based on the size of the business and number of employees as assessed by one of our representatives. However, the cost of membership is easily outweighed by the benefits, cost savings and the business help and advice that The Guild can offer the individual member

 Q. How do I apply?

A.   To apply you can telephone the Guild or submit your details online. A representative who covers your area will then telephone you to discuss membership without obligation, answer any questions you may have and arrange to meet you to complete an application form.

 Q. How long will it take before I know if I am accepted?

A.   We advise that applicants allow at least 4 weeks. The amount of time can vary as acceptance is dependent on us receiving satisfactory references for the applicant’s work, and clearance of payment.

 Q. Can you help me promote my business?

A.   The Guild’s logo is the best advertising tool on the market. The Guild has an enviable reputation earned over many years for representing, craftsmanship and customer service. Members benefit by displaying The Guild’s instantly recognisable and distinctive emblems which represents a badge of trust and quality.

 The Guild’s website, www.findacraftsman.com is a unique and exclusive search engine for our members, it allows the public to find a member for any trade or craft close to where they live.

The Guild also organises advertising features throughout the year in local press and directories across the country which helps promote its members regularly at low discounted rates.

 The Guild’s website offers a free member-to-member advertising section where you can promote your business within the membership. For those members with websites we also have a weblink exchange section so other members can find out more information about your products and services.

Q. What is www.Findacraftsman.com and how does it work?

A.   On this website, as well as finding a craftsman, it’s easy to Check a member, get some tips on How to choose a tradesman and find out more about the work of The Guild of Master Craftsmen. This is the only website to list members of The Guild of Master Craftsmen exclusively.

 Q. How do you ensure The Guild's high standards are maintained?

A.   Applicants for membership undergo The Guild’s assessment procedure. References are obtained from customers and these have to be of a sufficiently high standard and all other criteria fulfilled, before membership is granted. We ask that new members provide completed feedback forms so we can monitor our members on an ongoing basis.

 Q. Can The Guild help resolve problems with customers?

A.  The Guild operates a conciliation service free of charge. In the event of a dispute we can act as an impartial third party to open a channel of communication between the customer and Guild Member. We suggest practical action to both parties and usually a resolution can be arrived at by correspondence alone. Where this is not possible, we can arrange for an independent inspection to be carried out. The Guild also offers a debt collection service exclusively for its members through specially appointed solicitors throughout the UK.

A TRADESMAN YOU CAN TRUST

There’s a great way for consumers to reach thousands of top quality tradesmen from hundreds of different crafts and professions with just a simple click of the mouse.

 The UK’s leading trade association, The Guild of Master Craftsmen, has an on-line search facility www.findacraftsman.com – anyone can find builders, plumbers, carpenters, furniture makers, garden landscapers, roofers and even antique restorers and guitar makers!

Everybody can log on to the site at www.findacraftsman.com and follow the simple on-line instructions to search by trade and postcode. For example, Mrs Jenkins in the West Midlands needs a plumber; she types in her postcode and the word plumber and the names of her six nearest Guild members then appear on the screen. She can then receive full details of these companies, including email addresses and web site links (where available), by submitting her contact details. The results are emailed within a few minutes.

www.findacraftsman.com makes it easy to find a tradesman you can trust. Consumers can be safe in the knowledge that The Guild of Master Craftsmen undertakes rigorous vetting of all its members before they are allowed to join. Only the very best in their chosen field are accepted and standards are extremely high.

Take the risk and hassle out of hiring a tradesman you can trust.  When you need a job done well, log on to www.findacraftsman.com – it couldn’t be simpler!

 For those who do not have access to the internet, The Guild also operates a traditional telephone helpline on 01273 478449.

 KNOWING WHERE TO LOOK

It can be a difficult task finding a reliable tradesman to do jobs around the house. Often these jobs are relatively simple things like painting a room or adding an extra light fixing. But where do you look if you want to find a high quality, reliable tradesman or woman these days?

 Ideally you would have a recommendation from a close friend or relative; however this is not always possible, especially if you have moved into a new area. This is when you need to visit www.findacraftsman.com, the only website to list members of The Guild Of Master Craftsmen exclusively.  The Guild is the UKs leading trade association and always asks potential members for just that kind of recommendation.

 Applicants for the Guild are required to submit confidential references from satisfied customers and one of the first questions asked of all referees is whether or not they would be prepared to recommend the applicant to a relative or close friend. The Guild’s council of management include a review of the references when considering the application for membership as well as ensuring all other criteria are met. Only when they are satisfied that the applicant really does deserve to be called a master craftsmen is the application approved. This is about as close as you can get to receiving a recommendation from one of your neighbours or friends.

 To further its aim of promoting high standards of work, The Guild of Master Craftsmen runs a Helpline to assist in finding skilled and reputable craftspeople. This is a free service that uses the Guild’s Membership database to compile lists of Guild members selected by location and craft. Enquirers receive a tailored list of the local tradesmen & craftspeople with the skills and experience that they need. You can contact the helpline on 01273 478449.

As well as traditional builders, carpenters and skilled tradesmen, Guild membership includes many specialist craftsmen and designer-makers.  Recently we have been able to help consumers with requests for soft furnishers to work on repairs in Kuwait; a glass restorer to work on a 200 year old glass goblet; building restorers to repair a wooden mosaic frieze on a house; and a request from Germany for enamellers to make reproduction jewellery.

 You can contact The Guild on 01273 478449 or log on to the web based search facility www.findacraftsman.com

  PUBLIC AWARENESS

 The Guild’s name is promoted to the public in a number of ways and the Guild logo is featured prominently.  GMC books and consumer magazines are sold in book shops and newsagents’ around the world. These include monthly magazines such as Woodturning, Woodcarving, Outdoor Photography, Knitting and Organic Life; books on woodworking, crafts and needlecrafts, lifestyle, gardening and dolls’ houses and miniatures, – all published by GMC Publications.

You may also notice the Guild logo displayed on a growing number of products. In response to requests from members, the Guild has agreed to endorse certain selected products and services with the new Quality Approved logo. However, because the testing procedure can be long and involved, Quality Endorsement membership is only available to a small number of companies.

The Guild is not a consumer organisation but resolves to pursue the interests of the consumer through careful membership selection.  In addition, a proven procedure for conciliation and arbitration comes into play should there be a dispute with a member. The Guild believes that the interests of members and customers are best served by opening its doors only to those who work with skill and integrity.

A lot of time and effort is put into making the public aware of the Guild, its objectives and the expertise of its members.  Advertisements in the Guild’s 10 consumer magazines as well as in other prominent publications ensure that this message is always available. So if you need to plumb in a washing machine or fit an extra light switch and do not know whom to contact, ask a neighbour, log on to www.findacraftsman .com or try calling The Guild of Master Craftsmen on 01273 478449 - they will be pleased to help.

SKILL AND INTEGRITY

At one time membership of a trade association was restricted to those working in one particular trade or craft.  This meant that those who worked in an occupation with few members had no one to represent them.

The Guild of Master Craftsmen decided to change all that. The Guild was among the first to grant membership to any individual or company that achieved standards of workmanship recognised by their customers as worthy of the accolade ‘Master Craftsmen’.

 Today, more than 400 different trades, crafts and professions are represented in the register of Guild members.  Many are carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and cabinetmakers – all skilled artisans, who repair, restore and renovate our homes. Others no less skilled have more unusual callings. These include antique restorers, bell hangers, model makers, and even those who gild 22-carat gold leaf on fine furniture.

 The one thing that all Guild members do have in common though is their commitment to work with skill and integrity.  All have submitted references from satisfied customers. All have agreed to abide by the Guild’s Aims and Objectives. And the Guild plays its part, seeking to ‘protect the public by instilling among members a greater sense of responsibility and by encouraging members always to strive for excellence’.

One way of doing this is during the recruitment process when as many safeguards as possible are included to ensure that new members understand what The Guild, and the public, expects of them.

 However, Guild members are human – just like the rest of us – things do go wrong and mistakes are made, however infrequently. This is when The Guild’s conciliation and arbitration service comes to the rescue.

 The Guild’s Customer Relations Department endeavours to examine any problem, query or conflict from a dissatisfied customer of a Guild member, and will not let it go until the dispute has been satisfactorily resolved.  This is a huge benefit to the customer and members of The Guild.

 You can contact The Guild on 01273 478449 or log on to the web based search facility www.findacraftsman.com.

 NEW AGE CRAFTSMANSHIP

 In recent years we have experienced a resurgence of pride in British quality and craftsmanship. The design ethic of the 1980’s merged with the environmentally conscious 1990’s and the current emphasis on environmental issues, to initiate a better understanding of, and need for, more traditional skills. Now, in the 21^st century, the Guild of Master Craftsmen continues to play its role in this resurgence, by promoting the original objectives upon which the Guild was founded.

 In medieval times guilds were associations of craftsmen united in their desire to regulate their craft and support their members’ interests. But the world, as we all know, has changed a lot since those days.  In order to prosper today the craftsmen needs more than just his traditional craft skills.  He or she also needs access to business skills like marketing, accounting, production and distribution as well as needing knowledge of legislation and health and safety issues. 

 The craftsman or woman of today may produce quality products yet have difficulty selling them because of limited marketing capabilities. He or she may sell services at a profit and still run into cash flow difficulties because of inadequate financial planning. Awards may be won, designs praised, quality endorsed by all concerned, and yet still the business can fail because of poor promotion.

This is where The Guild of Master Craftsmen steps in. In its role as champion of the skilled and the industrious, the Guild performs a dual function. In the first place it sets out to foster high standards – both to enhance the reputation of its members and to inspire confidence in the customers they serve. And secondly, the Guild works hard to provide business benefits including legal, financial and marketing support to help its members compete on equal terms in an ever-changing world.

 You can contact The Guild on 01273 478449 or log on to the web based search facility www.findacraftsman.com.

 TOWARDS THE FUTURE

 The Guild of Master Craftsmen has always been different from most other trade associations. Rather than recruit members from one particular craft or trade, The Guild’s main objective has always been to unite in membership those of many different trades, crafts, professions and vocations, provided that they are committed to working with skill and integrity. Because of this the Guild is a flexible and growing organisation, ever anxious to provide extra benefits for its members, protect their interests, and the interests of the public they serve.

 It is not only those who work with their hands who require the support of The Guild of Master Craftsmen. The contribution made by the retail and service sectors in providing satisfaction to consumers is large and growing.  In some respects they almost rival in importance some of the more traditional business on which our economy is based

 For far too long too little importance has been attached to the service industries and retail outlets in this country. Now that, too, is changing. The best of them provide regular training programmes for their staff, encourage feedback from their customers, and do everything possible to provide quality products and friendly service.  It is only right that their achievements should be recognised.

In the 1990s, The Guild of Master Craftsmen decided to invite applications for membership from the very best retail and service companies. In the first twelve months of the scheme’s operation, more than two thousand of them received the Guild’s coveted Certificate of Quality and Service.  Bearing the Guild’s coat of arms, awarded by the famous College of Arms in London. the Certificate of Quality and Service is becoming as familiar in the High Street as the Guild’s distinctive round logo is, on the side of craftsmens’  vans.

 As long as standards of skill and integrity remain paramount in British business, The Guild of Master Craftsmen will continue to grow and prosper, furthering the interests of its members, and providing customers with the information and support they need to obtain the best possible service and top quality products.

 You can contact The Guild on 01273 478449 or log on to the web based search facility www.findacraftsman.com.