Introducing the Built Environment Competence Hub

Every part of the built environment relies on construction products, and when these products are misused, the consequences can be serious, says the Construction Products Association (CPA). Ensuring buildings are safe, efficient, and perform as intended starts with the competence of those responsible for supplying construction products to market, and extends to everyone who designs, specifies, installs, or maintains them.

So, what does ‘competence’ really mean in practice? Why does it matter to your organisation? How are regulations changing in relation to competence, and what are regulators looking for? What resources can help you demonstrate competence, and where can you ask questions, share feedback, and be part of the wider conversation?

In an effort to help answer all these questions and bring clarity to an evolving landscape, the British Standards Institution (BSI) has launched the Built Environment Competence Hub, developed in collaboration with the Industry Competence Steering Group (ICSG) and the Building Safety Regulator (BSR).

The Hub is designed to bring industry together around competence in the built environment, providing a shared space to engage, learn, and exchange best practice. It will aim to act as a focal point for competence-related resources, insights, and guidance, helping professionals and organisations navigate what can otherwise be a fragmented landscape.

CPA recommends getting engaged by taking the following steps:

• Register here – anyone can do it from any company, and it is completely free.
• Choose which themes you are interested in. The themes are: Construction Products, Design, Construction, In Use and Cross Delivery Function. By joining that theme, you can get the most related, up-to-date information on resources, insights, discussions and events.
• To help you navigate, you can sign up to one of the ‘Member drop ins’ that happen every month, an informal space for members of the hub to connect, ask questions, get oriented and share feedback.
• Consider setting up your profile to make it easier to contribute to discussions and make connections.

Hanna Clarke, Digital and Policy Manager, at CPA and Co-Chair of the Industry Competence Steering Group and Co-Chair of Sector Led Group 5 – Construction Product Manufacturers said: ‘The Built Environment Competence Hub aims to be a one-stop shop to demystify what is being asked of organisations and individuals to demonstrate competence for every area of the supply chain.

‘For manufacturers and suppliers of construction products, how we demonstrate competence will need to become more sophisticated, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. We are aiming to use the Hub to bring users on a journey to make demonstrating competence practical, achievable, and informed.’

Sarah Spink, CEO of the Liquid Roofing and Waterproofing Association and Co-Chair of Sector Led Group 5 – Construction Product Manufacturers said: ‘The Competence Hub offers manufacturers a valuable resource to understand the progress being made across the industry on competence, and to start preparing their teams and organisations to meet upcoming regulatory and industry expectations.’

Note: the ICSG is a working group of the Industry Competence Committee (ICC) – a statutory committee set up and maintained by the Building Safety Regulator to deliver functions related to industry competence as specified within the Building Safety Act 2022.

www.constructionproducts.org.uk