The Home Builder Association (HBA) is accelerating its plans to develop the potential of personnel nationwide, nurturing a new generation of entrepreneurs to strengthen the home building business. The association has announced the success of the HOME BUILDER EXPERT course, now in its 8th year, as part of its strategy to expand its market base in provincial areas across the country, reinforcing confidence in the long-term home building business. A hybrid training course is set to be launched, intensively training over 80 entrepreneurs from 60 companies, aiming to rapidly increase membership and strengthen the HBA brand in the eyes of consumers nationwide.

Mr. Anantakorn Amornwatee, President of the Home Builder Association (HBA), revealed that the association has continuously prioritized the development of construction standards and personnel through training and academic programs for its members, which include home building companies and contractors interested in becoming professional home builders. The latest course, HOME BUILDER EXPERT Batch 8 (HBEX#8), reflects the association's success in developing both 'people' and 'management systems,' as well as the standards of the home building business. Participants will gain knowledge, experience, and a network of industry peers that they can leverage in their business endeavors.

The HOME BUILDER EXPERT Batch 8 program was held intensively over three full days from October 2 to 4, 2023, at the Miracle Grand Convention Hotel, with over 80 participants from 60 companies learning from experienced professionals in the industry. The training covered foundational thinking, strategy design, project management platforms, marketing, sustainable business planning, and inspiration from senior to junior members, along with a manual on residential construction standards to help them transition into professional home building.

“The atmosphere of the training was filled with positive energy from the participants and the dedication of the instructors sharing their real-world experiences, fostering constructive and friendly exchanges like a family within HBA. Participants included both home building entrepreneurs and construction company operators looking to develop and transition their organizations into home building businesses. This commitment highlights the qualitative growth of the home building business and the demand for elevated standards in this industry,” Mr. Anantakorn stated.

The association plans to continuously promote and provide new knowledge training for its members, focusing on developing professional construction management skills as part of its goal to enhance work quality and reduce errors, thereby building trust in their work. It also aims to provide opportunities for the new generation to enter the business sustainably with standardized knowledge.

Furthermore, this initiative aims to develop and create a network of professional home building companies ready to meet the needs of customers nationwide, while also elevating the industry to ensure that home building businesses in Thailand maintain high standards and efficiency.

Developing new personnel is a key part of the association's plan to expand in line with consumer demand for home building in various regions. Last year, the home building market in provincial areas saw significant growth, especially among the association's members, with nearly 80 companies nationwide experiencing growth from 10% to 45% over the past 5 to 6 years, while members in Bangkok and its vicinity accounted for 55% of the total, down from 90%.

Following the success of the HOME BUILDER EXPERT Batch 8 (HBEX#8) training course, the association is preparing to launch a new hybrid training format that emphasizes the development of personnel, management systems, and standards, providing trainees with knowledge, experience, and business networking opportunities that they can utilize to expand their businesses.

Additionally, the association is accelerating the creation of regional networks through roadshows and workshops, starting with regions that have the highest number of members, in the following order: Northeastern (Isan), Southern, Eastern, and Northern regions, to increase awareness and provide opportunities for local entrepreneurs to become new members.

“The association emphasizes communicating to consumers the differences between member home building companies and general contractors to build trust in construction standards and ensure that projects are not abandoned when choosing to work with member companies. Previous training sessions have garnered interest from contractors and home building companies, with some achieving business success and becoming leaders in their regions, such as in the South, East, Northeast, and North. Based on this success, the association plans to expand its regional operations by establishing a regional committee comprising 10 member companies to collaborate and organize future marketing activities to enhance the capabilities of local home building businesses,” Mr. Anantakorn added.

Regarding the overall home building market situation in the final quarter of the year, Mr. Anantakorn stated that the political situation is becoming clearer, with the government bringing in knowledgeable individuals to drive economic policies, leading to a more vibrant market. Initiatives like the 'Half-Pay' project are stimulating consumer purchasing power, indicating potential recovery in purchasing power by the end of this year. Meanwhile, construction costs remain stable, presenting a good opportunity for consumers to decide to build homes in the final quarter of this year. However, the association continues to monitor potential fluctuations in construction material prices that may affect building costs and lead to price adjustments in early 2024.