The new Building Safety Act, which received Royal Assent in April and will come into effect next year, is expected to provide the biggest shake up of professional standards across construction in more than 40 years.  

The additional scrutiny on technical competence and firms’ ability to comply with tightening safety regulations will require considerable investment in product testing and workforce training, according to BESA. 

Therefore, as part of its prestigious National Awards scheme, the Association has created a new category for ‘Competence and Compliance’ that will recognise those companies who demonstrate the greatest commitment to improving their professional standards to keep building occupants safe. 

The award, which is sponsored by the British Metal Tubes and Fittings Association (BMTFA), is open to any company that can provide evidence of how it is stepping up to this new challenge by becoming a more competent and compliant organisation. This can include case studies and examples of suitable accreditations such as BESA membership, ISO, CHAS, ConstructionLine, Investors in People and so on. Any audit processes undertaken by the company can also be used to demonstrate best practice. 

The importance of investing in the training, skills, and development of employees to improve professional competence and compliance will also be recognised by the awards judges as the need to increase the pool of suitably skilled people able to meet rising standards grows increasingly urgent. 

For more details and how to apply click here.