The Voice of  Construction Leadership Professionals

The Health and Safety Executive invited all parts of the construction sector from across the UK to attend the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) Conference on May 21, 2024, at NEC Birmingham ─ a pivotal and informative event, structured to support front-line duty holders navigating the changes brought in by the Building Safety Act 2022 and its secondary legislation ...

... a packed audience learned directly from industry leaders and the regulator’s policy experts, sharing valuable actionable insights, effective risk management strategies and practical guidance on the latest developments ... the event was oversubscribed; every seat filled ...

... a historic day in the 'calendar of competence' ─ when all parts of the construction sector came from across the UK to meet in common purpose with the new Building safety Regulator, government departments, other professionals, authorities, relevant exhibitors, for a fantastic busy jam-packed well organised full day of incredible networking; with panels and presentations delivered across seven stages. a gallery suite and so much more ...

The keynote address at the start of the day way delivered by Lee Rowley MP

Philip White the Building Safety Regulator's Chief Inspector of Buildings and Head of Building Safety confirmed that competence and continuing review of competence for all within the built environment is at the heart of making buildings safer

Jon Vanstone Chair of the ICC and David Jones VP of ICM meet briefly at the event ─ David was so pleased to be able to share a brief warm moment and congratulate Jon on his appointment, and for his leadership of the Interim ICC and pledge ICM support for the new culture going forward 2024++

... for decades David has pioneered the drive to establish a competent industry; ever since he was one of the very first tranche of around a hundred professionals to meet with Stuart Nattrass the very first Chief Inspector of Construction at HSE on enactment of EU Directive 92/57/EEC when that became UK law as the CDM Regulations ─ later, in 2006 developing the UK's first Local Authority training and accrediting online portal for in-house LA teams across the UK which won Constructing Excellence twice! [2007 & 2011]; and David was proud to receive a prestigious H&S Champion of the Year Award from the HSE in 2009 ...

... in 2012 David was even invited by the European Commission to present his vision at Stuttgart for an eventual pan-European unified training portal linking the huge construction family in common competency linked to the European Qualification Framework [EQF] ─ in those early days of digital technology, that was, indeed, a daunting task for a total industry of over 16.4 million workers in 27 nations ─ but now, through a pivotal pioneering Knowledge Partnership between the ICM and global industry leader in compliance Sysmax the Vision starts to clarify and becomes Reality ...

... the image of the ICC panel was where David was in the audience in close forum in Stage 4 where the panel interacted with the audience entirely captures a vital element of the Conference being the incredible level of networking for all to gain clear understandings of the various issues in the industry at such a pivotal time of culture change ...

... at each hour throughout the conference there were seven stages simultaneously holding forum panels and presenters plus a gallery suite where intense discussions were going on ─ this newsletter is a glimpse of part ─ all the main stages have been recorded and will shortly be available for more information ...

... throughout the day there was much clarity provided on issues that have been at the heart of much confusion and second-guessing ─ David Jones was particularly pleased to hear the insurance world mentioned during the day and the important role they play ─ the ICM has already commenced pioneering engagement with brokers, insurers and re-insurers with a view to providing a 'live window' into the unique ICM Competence Registry - PAS 8671 / 2 / 3 Trilogy™ one-stop-shop solution ─ there was a great pivotal point made in reference to Professional Indemnity Insurance insurers are trying to hit a difficult moving target of uncertainty without clarity in the design development process where the professionals have their responsibilities defined, aligned and clarified in the contracts that bind them all to the project ...

... the Building Safety Regulator gave emphasis to the need for industry to understand and differentiate between regulating and advising ─ gone now are the days when industry professionals can expect the Building Control service to guide and design on issues the professionals ought reasonably to be competent to provide safe solutions ─ the burden of proof to provide competent workable compliant solutions rests entirely with the industry itself and expects the professionals to describe how they evidence that compliance ... 

... the sector now looks to the future 2024++