President Jen Vickers shares why continued learning is so important in our changing industry and what she learned from attending one of Â鶹ԭ´´â€™s Building Safety Act training sessions.

The Building Safety Act is one of the most significant developments to affect the built environment in recent years. While much of the discussion understandably focuses on compliance and higher-risk buildings, the legislation also reflects something much broader: a fundamental shift in how competence, accountability and professional responsibility are viewed across the industry.

That was one of the reasons I recently chose to attend Â鶹ԭ´´'s Building Safety Act Awareness Training course. Like many people across our industry, I wanted to better understand how the legislation is shaping expectations around competence and professional responsibility.

The decision to attend the training was also driven by something that extends beyond legislation itself: the importance of continuing to learn throughout our professional careers.

Having worked within the building controls sector for many years, I wanted to strengthen my own understanding of the legislation and its wider implications. What I took away from the training was not simply a greater appreciation of the regulatory requirements. It reinforced the importance of continual learning and highlighted why every professional involved in the built environment needs to understand the changing landscape in which we operate.

Building Safety Act Training is about more than compliance

The Building Safety Act was introduced following the Grenfell Tower tragedy and represents a significant reform of building safety regulation in England. It established new responsibilities, introduced clearer accountability and created the Building Safety Regulator to oversee higher-risk buildings and help raise standards across the sector.

What struck me during the training was that the legislation is not solely about introducing new rules. It reflects a wider industry expectation that competence must be demonstrated, maintained and continually developed throughout a professional career.

For many years, technical competence has been recognised as important. The Building Safety Act reinforces the principle that competence cannot be assumed simply because someone has experience. Professionals must remain current, understand evolving responsibilities and be able to demonstrate that they possess the knowledge required to undertake their role effectively.

This is a message that extends far beyond those directly involved with higher-risk buildings.

Why Building Controls professionals need to understand the wider regulatory environment

Building controls professionals play a vital role in delivering safe, efficient and sustainable buildings, as our work does not exist in isolation.

Modern buildings are complex environments where building services, controls, fire safety, energy performance and occupant wellbeing are closely interconnected. Decisions made in one area can have significant implications elsewhere.

One of the most thought-provoking aspects of the training was the emphasis placed on understanding the wider building lifecycle and the responsibilities of different stakeholders. It furthered my beliefs that none of us work in isolation. The decisions we make as professionals often have consequences beyond our immediate area of expertise, which makes a broader understanding of the wider built environment increasingly valuable.

Building controls specialists may not always be directly accountable under specific Building Safety Act dutyholder roles. Nevertheless, understanding how those responsibilities interact helps professionals make better decisions, communicate more effectively with project teams and contribute to safer outcomes.

A broader understanding of the regulatory environment also enables professionals to engage more confidently with clients, consultants and building owners who are themselves adapting to new expectations.

Competence is a journey, not a destination

One of the most important lessons reinforced by the training is that learning should never stop.

It is easy to assume that professional development becomes less important as experience grows. My own personal experience suggests the opposite is true.

I have learned over the years that experience alone is not enough. The built environment is constantly evolving, and remaining curious and open to learning helps us ask better questions, challenge our own assumptions and adapt to change more effectively.

Professional development is not simply about gaining qualifications or attending training courses. It is about maintaining a mindset that allows us to keep improving, broaden our understanding and continue adding value throughout our careers.

The built environment is evolving at an unprecedented pace. New legislation, emerging technologies, changing standards and increasing expectations around sustainability, building performance and safety are continually reshaping the industry. Building controls sits at the intersection of many of these trends, from intelligent buildings and digitalisation through to energy efficiency, decarbonisation and building safety. Keeping pace with that change requires a commitment to continual learning.

The Building Safety Act is simply one example of a wider trend towards greater professional accountability and evidence-based competence.

Maintaining professional knowledge is therefore an ongoing commitment throughout a career, regardless of experience level. Continuous professional development helps ensure knowledge remains relevant, skills remain current and organisations can demonstrate a commitment to maintaining high standards.

Collaboration is central to better building outcomes

Another key takeaway from the training was the importance of collaboration.

The Building Safety Act encourages greater clarity around responsibilities, but it also highlights the need for effective communication between disciplines. No single profession is solely responsible for building safety.

Achieving safer, better-performing buildings requires everyone involved in their design, construction and operation to understand both their own responsibilities and how they connect with those of others.

Architects, engineers, contractors, building owners, facilities managers, building controls professionals and systems integrators  all contribute to the performance and safety of buildings throughout their lifecycle.

The most successful projects are often those where information is shared openly, responsibilities are understood and different disciplines work together towards common objectives.

For building controls professionals, understanding the challenges faced by colleagues across the wider built environment helps strengthen those collaborative relationships and ultimately contributes to better outcomes for building owners and occupants.

The role of Industry Bodies in raising standards

Professional bodies have an important role to play in supporting competence and promoting best practice.

At Â鶹ԭ´´, we have long recognised that skills development, training and professional standards are fundamental to the future of both our industry and the buildings we help deliver. Our commitment extends beyond technical excellence to supporting members as the wider regulatory environment evolves.

Training initiatives such as Building Safety Act Awareness Training provide an important foundation for understanding emerging requirements and industry expectations. They also create opportunities for professionals to engage with broader industry developments and consider how these may influence their own roles.

Importantly, learning should not stop at awareness level.

As the industry continues to develop its understanding of the legislation and associated competence requirements, there is clear value in creating opportunities for more advanced learning and professional development.

Maintaining momentum

The Building Safety Act has undoubtedly changed the conversation around competence and accountability.

More importantly, it has highlighted the need for continual learning throughout the built environment. Regardless of role, sector or experience level, professionals must be prepared to adapt, develop their knowledge and embrace evolving expectations.

My experience attending Â鶹ԭ´´'s Building Safety Act training reinforced the value of taking time to step back, broaden our understanding and continue learning. It is an investment that benefits not only individual professionals but the wider industry.

Â鶹ԭ´´ remains committed to supporting members through training, education and professional development initiatives. We are already exploring opportunities for further Building Safety Act-related learning, including more advanced pathways that can help members deepen their understanding as the regulatory landscape continues to evolve.

Professional competence is not achieved through a single course. It is built through a commitment to lifelong learning, continuous improvement and a shared determination to raise standards across our industry.