Howard Button to retire from demolition industry

Howard Button of the United Kingdom’s National Federation of Demolition Contractors, leads a workshop on environmental implications for the industry during the recent European Demolition Association convention in the Netherlands. Photo: EDA

Howard, who was also a long-serving CEO for the federation’s National Demolition Training Group, is set to bring down the curtain on a career in the industry spanning 50 years, including more than 30 as owner director of family demolition business WF Button & Son.

In his time as CEO of the NFDC, Howard drove major developments for the industry, including introducing CCDO (Certificate of Competence for Demolition of Operatives) smart cards and the development of the NFDC accredited site audit scheme.

The federation said: “As an NFDC member, Howard swiftly rose through the federation under the mentorship Sidney Hunt Snr.

“Howard attended his first NFDC National Council meeting as a regional chairman in 1990, before going on to hold the office of president from 1996 to 1999.

“In 1999 Howard was awarded the title of honorary life vice-president of the NFDC and also took on the role of president of the Institute of Demolition Engineers.

“Following this, in 2004 he also became president of the European Demolition Association and took on the newly created role of NFDC CEO.

“Serving as president of the NFDC, IDE, and EDA is a feat that is testament to Howard’s dedication to the demolition industry, and one that is unlikely to ever be matched.”

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