HEATING firm Myson has joined the Repairing Britain campaign, which is calling on the country to focus on repairing and maintaining properties to help secure quarter of a million jobs in the construction sector.

The initiative is designed to boost the UK economy by stimulating the construction industry and encouraging the public and local authorities to take an interest in the maintenance of their homes and community buildings.

As part of its support, Gateshead-based Myson is encouraging its staff, suppliers and customers to sign the campaign’s petition on the Downing Street website http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/repairingbritain/, which requests a reduction in VAT on property repair work to 5%, which would provide a much-needed stimulus to the maintenance and repair sector.

The campaign says up to half a million jobs could be lost in the current downturn, but 250,000 could be saved by increasing refurbishment and improvement projects.

Martin Wright, sales and marketing manager at Myson, said: “Repairing Britain is galvanising the attitude of the construction sector and suppliers like Myson who know that something positive has to be done to stimulate the economy.”

Garvis Snook, who is spearheading the campaign and is also chief executive of property repair and maintenance specialist Rok, said: “If the public embrace the aims of Repairing Britain, and the government can be encouraged to reduce VAT on property repairs, the UK construction sector and its supporting suppliers can come through this tough economic period.”