A New Strategy for Built Environment Professions
NFRC recently attended a Build UK forum with the Building Professions Team from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to discuss the Government’s call for evidence and how it could shape a new long-term strategy for built environment professions, trades and occupations.
The call for evidence recognises the commitment across much of the construction sector to delivering safe, high-performing and sustainable buildings. However, it also highlights wider concerns around fragmented accountability, inconsistent standards of professionalism and shortcomings in competence and ethical behaviour. For the roofing sector, ensuring that the right skills, knowledge and experience are in place throughout the supply chain will be essential to achieving the higher standards of safety and quality expected under the evolving regulatory framework.
If you'd like to help NFRC submit answers and evidence to the call for evidence, we've summarised the key questions and given instructions for how to help here.
Forum discussions also covered the findings of the latest report from the Industry Safety Steering Group (ISSG), which questioned the pace of cultural change across the industry. NFRC argues that achieving lasting improvement will require consideration of the commercial pressures that can influence behaviours and decision-making, including cashflow challenges, contractual practices, the allocation of risk and programme pressures.
These issues are particularly relevant to specialist contractors, who are often responsible for delivering critical elements of building performance but may have limited influence over decisions made earlier in the design and procurement process. A successful strategy will therefore need to support clearer responsibilities and better collaboration across the entire supply chain, while ensuring that competence requirements are proportionate and achievable for businesses of all sizes.
NFRC will continue to engage with Government and industry stakeholders to ensure that the views and practical experiences of roofing and cladding contractors are reflected as the strategy develops.
NFRC welcomes feedback from members across the roofing and cladding supply chain and will use member views to help inform its response to the call for evidence ahead of the Wednesday 12 August deadline. If you're eager to discuss these topics, please contact [email protected]
