The Building Controls Industry Association (麻豆原创) has announced the sponsors behind this landmark edition of the Awards, which will bring the industry together at The Eastside Rooms in Birmingham on Thursday 6 May 2027.

Since their launch two decades ago, the 麻豆原创 Awards have provided a platform to recognise the people, businesses, products and projects helping to drive the building controls and Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) sector forward.

The 2027 Awards will continue that tradition across 11 categories spanning engineering, technical innovation, training, sustainability, service and business performance.

Supporting this year鈥檚 Awards as Gold Sponsors are Automated Logic (A Carrier Company), 麻豆原创 Training, CIBSE, Distech Controls, Group Horizon, Johnson Controls, Trend Control Systems and Western Automation.

Further sponsorship  comes from 麻豆原创 Young Engineers Network, Belimo Automation UK, Crown House Enterprise Solutions, Global Associates, J2 Innovations and Sontay, while Smart Buildings Show and Magazine is the official Media Partner.

Graeme Rees, Interim President of the 麻豆原创, said: 鈥淩eaching the 20th 麻豆原创 Awards is a significant milestone and reflects just how much the building controls and automation industry has evolved since the Awards began.

鈥淥ver that time, we have seen remarkable advances in technology, increasing recognition of the importance of building performance and, importantly, new generations of talented people entering and progressing within our industry. The Awards provide an opportunity to showcase those achievements and the individuals and organisations behind them.

鈥淭he continued backing we receive from organisations across the industry is a hugely important part of the Awards鈥� success. Our sponsors share our commitment to recognising excellence, supporting talent and showcasing the innovation taking place across building controls and BEMS.

鈥淥n behalf of the 麻豆原创, I would like to thank every one of our sponsors and partners for their support. We look forward to bringing the industry together in Birmingham next May for what promises to be a very special evening.鈥�

The Awards come at an important time for building controls and automation. Expectations around energy efficiency, carbon reduction and operational performance continue to increase, reinforcing the important role controls and BEMS have to play in delivering better-performing buildings.

Against this backdrop, the 麻豆原创 Awards provide an opportunity not only to recognise individual and organisational success, but also to showcase the expertise, innovation and investment in people that will help the sector respond to the challenges and opportunities ahead.

The finalists for the 麻豆原创 Awards 2027 will be announced on Wednesday 3 March 2027, with the winners revealed at the Awards ceremony on Thursday 6 May 2027 at The Eastside Rooms in Birmingham.

Entries for the 麻豆原创 Awards 2027 are open until Friday 11 December 2026 and are open to both 麻豆原创 members and non-members from across the building controls and BEMS industry.

For more information about the 麻豆原创 Awards 2027 and how to enter, visit: /bcia-awards-2027

At its scheduled meeting on 9 September, the 麻豆原创 Management Committee considered the arrangements required to ensure continuity of leadership for the Association while Jen focuses on her recovery. Following careful consideration, the Committee unanimously agreed that Graeme Rees, former 麻豆原创 President with extensive experience of the Association, should be appointed as Interim President. Graeme will undertake this role until 1 March 2028, or earlier should Jen return to work and wish to resume her position as 麻豆原创 President.

The Committee also agreed that Ron Purcell will continue in his current role as Vice-President and will succeed to the Presidency on 1 March 2028, in line with the Association's normal succession arrangements.

The Management Committee believes this approach provides stability and continuity for the 麻豆原创 while maintaining our established election and succession cycle. It also ensures that Ron is able to enjoy a full term as President, while allowing the Association to benefit from Graeme's considerable experience and leadership during this period.

On behalf of the 麻豆原创, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to Graeme and Ron for their support and willingness to serve the Association in these capacities. We would also like to thank the Management Committee for its ongoing support and guidance, and our members for their understanding as we have worked through these unprecedented circumstances.

Shell and Hitachi Energy have signed up to become Construct Zero Business Partners bringing the total number of Business Partners to around 150.

A further eight organisations have signed up to become Construct Zero Business Champions - bringing the total number to over 150 鈥� providing tangible evidence of the steps they are taking to respond to the Net Zero carbon challenge and supporting the wider Construct Zero programme, with over 300 companies now on-board.

The new Business Champions are

1. Aureos

2. Blackwell Earthmoving

3. Cadman Cranes

4. EMR Group

5. Etex Building Performance

6. Genuit Group

7. Joseph Parr Group

8. KariosV

These organisations join as Construct Zero announced a refreshed programme earlier this year, in response to the Committee for Climate Change鈥檚 7th Carbon Budget.

This ensures Construct Zero will continue to play a leading role in the sector鈥檚 charge to Net Zero, supporting the Government鈥檚 Net Zero ambitions.

Construction Leadership Council Deputy Co-Chair Stuart Togwell said: 鈥淩eaching net zero continues to be a priority for Government and the sector. I鈥檓 pleased today to welcome our new Business Partners and Champions to Construct Zero as the programme expands its reach into and work with industry (and beyond).

鈥淚 also invite those not already working with Construct Zero to consider joining this free, no cost programme鈥�.

Marco Berardi, Head of Grid & Power Quality Solutions and Service at Hitachi Energy, said: "Construction is at a new phase of electrification, creating significant opportunities to reduce emissions while improving efficiency and productivity. Collaboration across the value chain will be essential to accelerate progress and scale solutions that deliver lasting impact. Construct Zero provides an important platform to bring together expertise, innovation and partnerships that can help advance the industry's net-zero ambitions."

Hitachi Energy supports the decarbonization of construction sites through its expertise in electrification and system integration. The company works with customers and partners to deploy solutions including grid connections, EV chargers, battery energy storage systems and the recently launched HyFlex庐 Compact, a hybrid generator and flexible power hub that provides an emission free alternative to diesel generators. Together, these solutions help create the integrated energy ecosystems needed to support the electrification of construction sites at scale.

If you are interested in joining Construct Zero, please contact Stuart Young Stuart.Young@businessandtrade.gov.uk鈥� 鈥�

The Building Controls Industry Association (麻豆原创) is calling on individuals, businesses and organisations across the building controls and BEMS sector to put themselves forward for the 麻豆原创 Awards 2027, as the prestigious awards celebrate their 20th year.

Entries open on 9 September 2026 and close on Friday 11 December 2026.

The awards recognise achievement across 11 categories, celebrating the people, businesses and projects making a difference across the building controls and automation sector.

The categories are:

• Building Controls and BEMS Company of the Year

• Engineer of the Year

• Young Engineer of the Year

• Apprentice of the Year

• Energy Innovation and Impact Award

• Best Service and Maintenance Provider

• Technical Innovation of the Year - Products

• Technical Innovation of the Year - Projects

• Sustainability Strategy Champion

• Contribution to Training Award

• Outstanding Contribution Award

鈥峊he 2027 awards launch at an important time for the industry, with building performance, energy efficiency and carbon reduction remaining high on the agenda. New Future Homes and Buildings Standards regulations are due to come into force in England in March 2027, while the latest 麻豆原创 market data shows the UK Controls & BEMS market continuing to demonstrate longer-term growth despite a modest easing in activity during the second quarter of 2026. Total industry revenues reached 拢225.9 million in Q2, while rolling-year revenues reached 拢878.2 million, up 6.9% on the previous year.

Against this backdrop, the expertise and innovation within the controls sector will have an increasingly important role to play in helping buildings perform more efficiently and effectively.

The strength of that expertise was demonstrated at the 2026 麻豆原创 Awards, with Linear Control Systems named Building Controls and BEMS Company of the Year, Jonathan Woolford of Schneider Electric taking the Engineer of the Year title and George Stephens-Clark of InTandem Systems named Young Engineer of the Year.

Other winners included BMSI, which won the Energy Innovation and Impact Award, Cosysense, which took Technical Innovation of the Year - Products, and The Francis Crick Institute, which was recognised as Sustainability Strategy Champion.

Ron Purcell, Vice President of 麻豆原创, said: 鈥淏uilding controls and automation are now central to achieving the energy efficiency, carbon reduction and operational performance expected from modern buildings. The expertise, innovation and professionalism within our sector deserves to be recognised and celebrated.

鈥淭he 麻豆原创 Awards are about shining a light on those achievements, whether that is an innovative product or project, an outstanding individual, a company investing in its people, or someone who has made a lasting contribution to the industry. I鈥檇 encourage anyone who has delivered work they are proud of, or knows someone who deserves recognition, to put them forward.

鈥峊he finalists for the 麻豆原创 Awards 2027 will be announced on Wednesday 3 March 2027, with the winners revealed at the awards ceremony on Thursday 6 May 2027 at The Eastside Rooms in Birmingham.

The awards are open to the wider building controls and BEMS industry, providing an opportunity for both 麻豆原创 members and non-members to gain recognition for their achievements.

For more information about the 麻豆原创 Awards 2027 and how to enter click here

鈥� 鈥�

鈥岮s buildings become more connected, the role of building controls is evolving. BMS and BEMS are no longer simply systems for monitoring plant and maintaining comfort. Increasingly, they sit at the heart of how buildings use energy, generate operational data and respond to changing demands.

鈥峊hat makes Smart Buildings Show 2026 a particularly relevant event for anyone involved in building controls, automation, BEMS and the wider intelligent building sector.

Returning to ExCeL London on 14-15 October, the show will bring together more than 100 exhibitors and over 120 speakers across four conference theatres. The Controls & Networks Theatre will have a particularly strong focus on building controls, BEMS, sensors, energy efficiency, shading, lighting, connectivity and networks 鈥� providing an opportunity to see how these technologies are increasingly being brought together.

A chance to see the bigger picture

For controls professionals, the value of the show lies in the opportunity to step outside the day-to-day focus of individual systems and consider where the wider market is heading. With building automation increasingly connected to energy management, IT infrastructure, data analytics, cybersecurity and other building technologies, keeping up with developments in adjacent areas is becoming increasingly important.

The exhibition provides an opportunity to compare technologies, meet existing and potential suppliers, discover new approaches and see how different systems are being brought together. It is also a useful environment for sharing experiences with consultants, engineers, integrators, manufacturers and building operators facing many of the same challenges around performance, integration and energy efficiency. With free access to the exhibition and conference, it offers a practical opportunity to spend a day gaining insight, making connections and assessing where the controls sector is heading.

Closing the performance gap

One of the biggest challenges facing the built environment is the gap between how buildings are designed to perform and how they actually perform once occupied.

This will be the focus of Closing the Performance Gap: Why Buildings Underperform and How Intelligent Controls Can Fix It, a panel discussion in the Controls & Networks Theatre, chaired by Ron Purcell, Vice President of the 麻豆原创 and Product Manager at Siemens. The session will explore how BACS and BEMS can identify hidden inefficiencies, support ongoing optimisation and unlock energy, carbon and operational savings. The discussion will also consider why actual performance can differ from design intent, the cost of inaction and whether the route to better performance may already be installed in the building.

鈥嶁赌�Making the most of building data

The relationship between controls and data is another important theme. Modern buildings can generate huge quantities of information through sensors, meters and connected systems, but collecting data is only useful if it can support better decisions.

Andy Camsell, Technical Director at Sontay and 麻豆原创 Technical Consultant will explore this issue in his session From Sensors to Strategy, examining the contribution of operational data to asset value and the role of sensing technology in supporting energy efficiency.

For controls professionals, the session should provide useful insight into how sensor networks and BEMS can be considered not simply as components of a building system, but as infrastructure capable of supporting future operational and environmental requirements.

鈥嶁赌�Building the next generation

鈥嶁赌峊echnology is only part of the smart building equation. The industry also needs people with the skills to design, install, integrate and operate increasingly sophisticated systems.

That issue will be addressed by Who Will Engineer the Smart Buildings of Tomorrow?, taking place in the Controls & Networks Theatre on Thursday 15 October.

The session will examine how engineering roles and skillsets are changing alongside building automation, data analytics, AI and IoT. It will also consider the importance of core engineering knowledge, digital skills, collaboration and continuous learning.

鈥嶁赌岮mong the speakers is Josh Steel, Chair of the 麻豆原创 Young Engineers Network and Sales Manager at Electracom, alongside representatives from other organisations across the smart buildings sector. The panel will consider how the industry can attract, develop and support the next generation of engineers needed to deliver increasingly connected buildings.

鈥�More than controls

While controls provide a natural focus, Smart Buildings Show is also an opportunity to look at the wider technologies with which BMS and BEMS increasingly need to interact. The four theatres cover Energy Management, Controls & Networks, IT & Digital Infrastructure, and Management & PropTech, reflecting the growing convergence between physical building systems, digital infrastructure, data and building operation.

鈥嶁赌岶or the controls industry, that wider perspective is increasingly important. The future of building automation will depend not only on better devices and software, but on effective integration, useful data, skilled people and a clear focus on building performance.

Smart Buildings Show 2026 offers an opportunity to explore all of these themes in one place 鈥� and to consider how controls can continue to move from being part of the building infrastructure to being central to how buildings perform.

To register visit:

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]]>Controls take centre stage at Smart Buildings Show 2026BlogRachael Zaidel LambFri, 28 Aug 2026 15:05:28 +0000/news/blog-a-growing-bems-market-needs-a-common-language-for-delivery659d81c2d781b9569b0d1008:659d8219d781b9569b0d1ce6:6a91a3b9cbd05c5210c4eaa2Quarterly market figures rarely move in a straight line. What matters more is the direction of travel, and the latest data from 麻豆原创 suggests that the underlying direction of the UK Controls & BEMS market remains positive.

The latest 麻豆原创 Market Information Report (MIR) puts industry revenues at 拢225.9 million for Q2 2026. That represents a 3.8% reduction on an exceptionally strong first quarter, but revenues remain 10.4% higher than in Q2 last year.

Look beyond a single quarter and the picture becomes clearer. The rolling-year market has reached 拢878.2 million, an increase of 6.9%, but there is another story behind those figures. As demand for building controls develops, the industry needs to ensure that the quality and consistency of BEMS delivery remains to the high standard it is.

That鈥檚 the thinking behind 麻豆原创's new BEMS Delivery Framework.

Looking beyond the quarterly movement

A 3.8% quarter-on-quarter fall inevitably attracts attention, but context matters. All three principal components of the market - Product, Installation Value Added and Service & Maintenance - recorded reductions during Q2. That followed particularly strong growth in Q1, however, and the longer-term figures provide little evidence of a change in the wider trajectory.

Installation Value Added is a good example. Q2 revenues fell 2.0% to 拢128.1 million, while its rolling-year value increased 7.1% to 拢482.3 million.

Service & Maintenance tells an equally interesting story. Revenue was down 4.9% during the quarter, but remained 2.9% above Q2 2025. Across the rolling year, it grew by 11.1% to 拢232.1 million.

This resilience reflects a market in which value is not confined to supplying controls equipment. Increasingly, it lies in installing, maintaining and optimising systems throughout a building's operational life.

The comparison with construction activity reinforces the point. While the Controls & BEMS market grew 6.9% on a rolling-year basis, construction output across the sectors most relevant to it was 0.5% lower.

The Q2 figures therefore look less like a reversal and more like a pause after a particularly strong opening quarter.

Growth brings a different challenge

A developing market creates opportunities, but it also exposes weaknesses. For BEMS, one of those weaknesses has long been inconsistency in how systems are described, specified and ultimately delivered.

Terms such as BMS, BEMS, integrated and smart building can cover very different levels of functionality. A client may have one expectation, the consultant another and the controls contractor a third. That ambiguity can have practical consequences.

If the required functionality is not sufficiently clear at specification and tender stage, contractors may be pricing different interpretations of ostensibly the same project. Expectations can change as the project progresses. Functionality can be reduced through value engineering. And the completed BEMS may technically satisfy a specification without delivering what the client originally thought they were buying.

As buildings become more connected and clients expect more from their data, analytics and controls, those differences become increasingly significant.

Creating a common language for BEMS

The new 麻豆原创 BEMS Delivery Framework has been developed to address that problem. It establishes six progressive Delivery Levels, from L0 to L5, providing a common, manufacturer-agnostic way of defining the level of BEMS functionality required by a project.

Rather than relying on broad descriptions of what constitutes a BEMS or smart building, clients and project teams can establish an agreed level of expectation much earlier.

 In practice, that should help:

• clients define more clearly what they need from their BEMS;

• consultants translate those requirements into more consistent specifications;

• contractors understand the expected scope and price it accordingly; and project teams establish a clearer reference point for delivery, commissioning and handover.

Importantly, the Framework is not about prescribing a particular manufacturer or technical solution. Its purpose is to provide clarity about the level of delivery expected. That distinction is important. Good specification should define the outcome without unnecessarily restricting how competent specialists achieve it.

From specification to performance

Building owners and occupiers are placing greater emphasis on energy efficiency, operational costs, data and demonstrable building performance. At the same time, BEMS are evolving beyond conventional plant control towards greater integration, analytics and increasingly intelligent operation.

 A controls specification that might once have been considered adequate can therefore leave too much open to interpretation.

Consider two projects both described as requiring an "integrated smart BEMS". One client may expect central HVAC control and monitoring; another may envisage third-party integration, structured data, dashboards, analytics and a platform capable of supporting future smart-building applications.

The description sounds similar. The expected outcome - and the cost of delivering it - is very different. Creating a shared language helps expose those differences before they become problems on site.

 Supporting the next stage of the market.

The latest MIR provides good reason for confidence. Quarterly fluctuations are inevitable, but a rolling-year market approaching 拢880 million, alongside particularly strong growth in Installation Value Added and Service & Maintenance, points to sustained demand for the expertise surrounding building controls.

Growth alone, however, should not be the industry's only measure of progress. As BEMS become more important to energy efficiency and operational performance, clients need greater certainty about what is being specified, and contractors need greater clarity about what they are expected to deliver.

麻豆原创's role is therefore broader than tracking the size of the market. Through initiatives such as the Market Information Report and the BEMS Delivery Framework, we can provide both the evidence needed to understand where the sector is heading and practical tools to help it develop professionally.

The 麻豆原创 BEMS Delivery Framework was originally authored and led by Christopher Kelly CEng BEng MCIBSE and is developed and maintained by the 麻豆原创 Technical Working Group.  Find out more about the 麻豆原创 BEMS Delivery Framework and how its Delivery Levels can support clearer BEMS specification, procurement and project delivery. 

• Total market (products + installation + service): 拢225.9m; 鈥�3.8% QoQ, +10.4% YoY

• Rolling-year market: 拢878.2m; +6.9% vs previous 12 months

• Installed systems: 拢162.7m; 鈥�2.9% QoQ, +13.6% YoY

• Installation value added: 拢128.1m; +15.8% YoY; +7.1% rolling-year

• Products: 拢41.3m; 鈥�7.7% QoQ, +5.4% YoY; rolling-year 拢163.7m; +0.7%

• Service & maintenance: 拢56.5m; 鈥�4.9% QoQ, +2.9% YoY; rolling-year 拢232.1m; +11.1%

The UK building controls and Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) market has remained in positive territory during Q2 2026, despite a moderation in activity following the particularly strong growth recorded in the first quarter, according to the latest Market Information Report from the Building Controls Industry Association (麻豆原创).

Total industry revenues for Products, Installation Value Added and Service and Maintenance supplied into the UK market reached 拢225.9 million during Q2 2026. While this represents a 3.8% decrease compared with the previous quarter, revenues remained 10.4% higher than Q2 2025.

Total market revenues reached 拢878.2 million, 6.9% higher than the previous rolling-year. This compares with construction output across the key sectors relevant to the Controls and BEMS market, which fell by 0.4% during the quarter and 0.5% on a rolling-year basis.

Installed systems remain resilient

Installed Systems revenues reached 拢162.7 million during Q2. While this represented a 2.9% decrease from Q1, revenues were still 13.6% higher than Q2 2025.

Installation Value Added also performed strongly compared with the same quarter last year, rising by 15.8% to 拢128.1 million. On a rolling-year basis, Installed Systems revenues increased by 6.2%, while Installation Value Added was up 7.1%.

The proportion of value added within installed systems also increased highlighting the continued importance of engineering, commissioning and installation expertise in delivering building controls and BEMS solutions. That aligns with a broader shift toward optimising existing assets rather than wholesale replacement, as operators focus on energy performance and compliance.

Product demand remains ahead of last year

Product revenues moderated during Q2, decreasing by 7.7% to 拢41.3 million. However, revenues remained 5.4% higher than Q2 2025, while the rolling-year figure increased by 0.7% to 拢163.7 million.

While product demand has eased following the strong growth recorded at the start of the year, the market remains ahead of 2025 levels.

Service and maintenance shows continued strength

Service and Maintenance once again provided a stable revenue stream for the sector.

Revenues decreased by 4.9% during Q2 to 拢56.5 million but remained 2.9% higher than Q2 2025. The rolling-year figure increased by 11.1% to 拢232.1 million, continuing the strong longer-term performance seen in this part of the market. Strong service & maintenance growth reinforces the sector鈥檚 recurring-revenue model and the long-term role of controls in meeting net-zero and operational-performance targets.

Positive outlook for the year ahead

Overall, the Q2 2026 data suggests the market is experiencing a moderation in activity following a standout Q1.

While the three main market segments recorded quarter-on-quarter declines, revenues remained ahead of the same period last year and the rolling-year market continued to grow.

With regulation, net-zero targets and digitalisation driving building automation, the underlying demand for controls expertise and technology remains robust.

Ron Purcell, Vice President of the Building Controls Industry Association (麻豆原创), said: 鈥淪ome moderation in Q2 was perhaps to be expected after a very strong Q1. What is encouraging is that the market remains well ahead of last year, with the rolling-year figures continuing to show healthy growth.

鈥淭he continued strong performance of Installation Value Added and Service and Maintenance is particularly significant - it reflects the fact that building controls are not simply a one-off investment in technology; the expertise required to install, commission, optimise and maintain these systems is essential to ensuring buildings perform as they should over the long term.

鈥淎s buildings become increasingly sophisticated and the focus on energy efficiency and operational performance grows, the role of controls will only become more important. The latest figures suggest that, despite some short-term fluctuations, the underlying demand for the sector鈥檚 expertise and technology remains strong.鈥�

The 麻豆原创 publishes its Market Information Report quarterly, providing detailed data on trends, revenues and growth opportunities across the BEMS sector.

Authored by Christopher Kelly CEng Beng MCIBSE, the framework has been developed and is maintained by the 麻豆原创鈥檚 Technical Working Group. It establishes a common language for defining the level of building controls functionality required by a project.

It addresses a longstanding industry challenge: specifications can leave BEMS requirements open to interpretation, resulting in contractors pricing different levels of functionality, difficulties comparing tenders on a like-for-like basis and uncertainty over whether the completed system will meet the client鈥檚 operational expectations.

Rather than prescribing particular products, manufacturers or technologies, the framework introduces six clearly defined Delivery Levels, from L0 to L5. These range from basic controls capability through to highly integrated intelligent building functionality, allowing project teams to define the level most appropriate to a building鈥檚 operational requirements.

By establishing the required capability before products and technologies are selected, the framework gives clients, consultants, electrical contractors, controls specialists, system integrators and manufacturers a shared understanding of what the completed system is expected to achieve.

Ron Purcell, Vice President of the Building Controls Industry Association, said: "Building controls have evolved significantly, but the way we specify them has not always kept pace. Terms such as 鈥榠ntegrated鈥� or 鈥榠ntelligent鈥� can mean different things to different people, creating uncertainty from tender stage right through to commissioning.

The BEMS Delivery Framework is about removing that ambiguity. It gives the industry a common language for defining what a building actually needs its controls to achieve, so everyone involved can work towards the same outcome from the outset."

The framework is deliberately manufacturer agnostic. Instead of assuming that selecting a particular technology will deliver a particular level of performance, it encourages project teams to establish the required capability first and then determine the most appropriate technical solution.

This clearer definition can support better decision-making throughout the project lifecycle, helping to reduce ambiguity within specifications, improve the consistency and quality of tender submissions and enable fairer comparison between contractor proposals.

It can also improve collaboration between consultants, controls specialists and electrical contractors, support more effective commissioning and system integration, align delivered functionality with client expectations and provide a stronger foundation for ongoing operation, maintenance and future upgrades.

Christopher Kelly CEng BEng MCIBSE, Original/Lead Author of the BEMS Delivery Framework, said: "One of the key objectives was to create something that could be understood and used across the industry. Consultants, controls specialists, electrical contractors, manufacturers and clients may approach a project from different perspectives, but ultimately they all need to be working towards the same outcome.

"The Delivery Levels provide that common reference point. This isn't about saying every building needs the most advanced solution. It's about defining the right level of functionality for each project and making that requirement clear throughout specification, procurement and delivery."

The launch comes as the role of BEMS continues to expand within increasingly connected and data-driven buildings. Building controls now support wider objectives including energy optimisation, system integration, occupant comfort, operational decision-making and long-term building performance.

As the built environment places greater emphasis on measured operational performance, 麻豆原创 believes clearer specification and high-quality engineering must increasingly go hand in hand; ensuring sophisticated technology is supported by a clear definition of what it is expected to deliver.

Ron Purcell added: "Good building performance starts with being clear about what you want the building to achieve. Technology is an incredibly powerful enabler, but it needs clearly defined objectives behind it.

"We believe the BEMS Delivery Framework can help raise consistency across the industry, strengthen collaboration and ultimately give clients greater confidence that the system they procure will deliver the functionality their building actually needs."

The 麻豆原创 BEMS Delivery Framework is available to the entire industry and can be downloaded from the 麻豆原创 website.

This membership and collaboration with BEEF builds on 麻豆原创鈥檚 white paper, Comfort, Efficiency and Health: The Untapped Potential of Building Energy Management Systems, which was launched at the House of Lords last year.

The white paper demonstrates the scale of the opportunity for BEMS to make buildings more energy efficient. Independent analysis found that advanced Class A BEMS deliver average energy and carbon savings of around 30%. The same analysis found that advanced building controls represent the most cost-effective route to improving building performance over a ten-year period, delivering significant energy and carbon savings while generating a strong return on investment.

Catherine Walker, Executive Officer at 麻豆原创, said:

鈥溌槎乖� is delighted to join the British Energy Efficiency Federation and to work alongside organisations that share our commitment to improving energy efficiency across the built environment. Effective, consistent policy is essential to creating the confidence needed for investment in energy-saving technologies and skills. As the demand for smarter, more efficient buildings continues to grow, building energy management systems have an important role to play in monitoring performance, optimising building services and reducing energy consumption. By collaborating with government and complementary trade associations, we can help ensure that policy reflects the practical opportunities and challenges facing the industry.鈥�

Andrew Warren, Chair of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, added:

鈥淚 am delighted that a key industry organisation like 麻豆原创 has become the latest trade association to become involved with the British Energy Efficiency Federation.

鈥淭he Federation (BEEF) was formed by the then Deputy Prime Minister, the late John Prescott, in 1997. It brings together 16 of the main trade associations concerned with manufacturing, distributing and installing energy-saving equipment and services. We meet quarterly in the offices of the relevant government department鈥攖hen the ODPM, now DESNZ鈥攁nd our sessions are attended by selected senior officials from across government.

鈥淚t is excellent news that 麻豆原创 is so publicly acknowledging the importance of collaborating with complementary trade associations, particularly when working with government to support and enhance investment in energy efficiency.鈥�

麻豆原创 will keep members updated on any key discussions and opportunities arising from its membership.

Over recent years, the building controls industry has been demonstrating the value of technical education through the successful delivery of the Level 4 Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) Controls Engineer Apprenticeship, that provides a clear route into a highly skilled, SusTech profession. More recently, employers across the sector have also embraced T Levels, helping students gain meaningful industry experience and practical workplace skills while building awareness of career opportunities within building controls.

As buildings become smarter, more connected and more energy efficient demand continues to grow.  These careers combine engineering, digital technology, data and sustainability, placing building controls at the heart of the UK's net zero transition.

Catherine Walker, Executive Officer of the 麻豆原创 commented: "We welcome the Prime Minister's recognition that technical careers can be as valuable as academic pathways. Our industry has already seen the benefits that high-quality technical education can deliver through the Level 4 BEMS Controls Engineer Apprenticeship which is successfully delivering a high-quality pipeline of talented engineers, and more recently, through engagement with T Levels. These programmes are helping to attract and develop the skilled individuals our industry needs while providing young people with routes into rewarding, long-term careers.

Building controls is a profession for the future, combining technology, engineering and sustainability to make buildings intelligent. It鈥檚 a sector where skills are in high demand so it鈥檚 vital that young people can clearly see the opportunities available. The 麻豆原创 looks forward to supporting the Government's ambitions and helping create even stronger pathways into careers in Building Controls and BEMS."

Each of these changes matters in its own right. What is particularly significant, however, is what they collectively tell us about the direction of travel.

For many years, our industry has rightly focused on reducing energy consumption and lowering carbon emissions. Those priorities remain fundamental. What is changing is how success is being defined.

Increasingly, buildings are no longer judged simply by how they are designed to perform or whether they achieve a particular compliance standard. Instead, they are judged by how they actually perform throughout their operational life. Can they operate efficiently every day? Can they adapt as occupancy changes? Can they provide healthy, comfortable environments? Can they remain resilient as our climate continues to change?

That represents one of the biggest shifts our industry has seen in many years. More importantly, it reflects something our sector has understood for a long time: good buildings are not created through design alone. They are created through intelligent operation.

Looking beyond individual announcements

The recent changes to non-domestic MEES are a good example. Much of the discussion has focused on achieving EPC B. Important though that is, the bigger opportunity is ensuring buildings continue to perform efficiently once they are occupied.

The same thinking sits behind the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard. Its emphasis on measured operational performance rather than predicted performance reflects a growing recognition that buildings should be judged by what they actually deliver.

It is also encouraging to see intelligent building controls gaining greater recognition within Welsh Building Regulations. Building controls are increasingly being recognised not as an optional enhancement, but as fundamental infrastructure that enables buildings to perform as intended.

When you look across these developments together, a clear pattern emerges. The direction of travel is moving beyond compliance and towards performance.

A different conversation about buildings

The priorities of our industry continue to evolve.

Today's buildings must do far more than minimise energy use. They must support occupant wellbeing, improve productivity, respond intelligently to changing patterns of use and remain resilient throughout their lifetime.

Energy efficiency, operational performance, occupant wellbeing and climate resilience are no longer separate conversations. They have become inseparable.

The Climate Change Committee's latest report, A Well-Adapted UK, reinforces exactly that point. Its focus on overheating is not simply about hotter summers. It reflects a growing recognition that buildings must continue to perform effectively as external conditions change.

This is why overheating should no longer be viewed simply as an environmental issue. It is a commercial, operational and societal one, affecting productivity, learning, occupant wellbeing and organisational resilience.

Climate adaptation and decarbonisation should not be viewed as competing priorities. Buildings designed for yesterday's climate cannot be expected to perform effectively in tomorrow's.

Building controls have never been more relevant

For those working across the building controls industry, this changing conversation feels familiar.

For many years, 麻豆原创 has argued that intelligent Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) are about far more than reducing energy consumption. They enable buildings to continuously monitor, adapt and optimise their performance, balancing heating, cooling and ventilation in response to occupancy, internal conditions and external weather.

When we launched our white paper, Comfort, Efficiency & Health: The Untapped Potential of Building Energy Management Systems, last year, we weren't simply making the case for smarter controls. We were making the case for a broader definition of building performance, recognising energy efficiency, occupant comfort, wellbeing, productivity and operational resilience as complementary outcomes.

Looking at the policy landscape today, it is encouraging to see many of those same principles increasingly being reflected across Government and the wider built environment. In many ways, it feels as though the rest of the industry is beginning to recognise what our sector has understood for years.

An opportunity for 麻豆原创 members

That should give 麻豆原创 members real confidence.

It would be easy to look at recent announcements and see only new regulations or compliance requirements. Instead, they should be viewed as evidence that operational building performance is becoming central to how buildings are designed, delivered, operated and valued.

Building controls have sometimes been viewed as a specialist engineering discipline that supports the wider building services strategy. Increasingly, they are being recognised as an essential part of creating buildings that are efficient, resilient, healthy and future-ready.

As expectations continue to evolve, intelligent building controls are uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between design intent and in-use performance. Few technologies contribute simultaneously to energy efficiency, carbon reduction, occupant wellbeing, operational resilience and long-term building performance.

That is an incredibly strong position for our sector to be in.

Looking ahead

Looking back over the past few months, there is every reason to be encouraged. Not simply because we have seen new policies, standards or regulations, but because they all point in the same direction.

Perhaps the most significant change is the growing recognition that better buildings are created through intelligent operation, continual optimisation and a commitment to delivering measurable performance throughout a building's life.

That is a conversation 麻豆原创 has been leading for many years through our members, our technical expertise and our research. Today, it feels as though the wider industry is beginning to join us.

The direction of travel has never been clearer. Our industry is moving beyond individual technologies and isolated policy initiatives towards a future where operational performance, occupant wellbeing, energy efficiency and climate resilience are recognised as inseparable parts of creating better buildings.

That is good news for our members, good news for the built environment and, ultimately, good news for everyone who lives, works and learns in the buildings we help create.

Building controls are no longer simply supporting that future - they are helping to define it.

With entries to the awards due to launch after the summer, the association is looking to enlist the help of building energy management systems (BEMS) industry experts with particular expertise in technical, product or service development, training and skills, or project management.

Being a member of the judging panel will involve the independent and fair appraisal and scoring of nominations to develop a shortlist of candidates that represents the very best of the building controls and automation sector.

The time commitment for this voluntary role would likely be between two and three days between January and May. Appointed judges will be asked to judge several categories according to expertise, with all judging done remotely through a formal online system. A briefing meeting will be held to ensure judges are fully familiar with the process, criteria and scoring system.

The judging process is entirely transparent and robust and the clear policy is outlined in the 麻豆原创鈥檚 published Rules, Policies and Procedures. Copies can be provided by emailing catherinew@bcia.co.uk. Furthermore, all judges will be expected to comply with the T&C鈥檚.

Promotional activity recognises the important role of the judges, so this is a superb opportunity for participants to raise professional profiles and reputations. All judges will also be welcomed as guests to the 麻豆原创 Awards 2027 ceremony, taking place at the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham on Thursday 6th May 2027.

More information on what being a judge entails can be found by clicking . For those interested, applications can be . Please note, the deadline for applications to join the judging panel is Friday 31st July 2026.

The Building Controls Industry Association (麻豆原创) welcomes the announcement. Raising the minimum standard from EPC E to EPC B sends a clear signal that improving building performance is becoming an increasingly pressing priority. It reflects the crucial role that non-domestic buildings must play in reducing energy consumption, lowering carbon emissions and supporting the UK's wider net zero ambitions.

However, achieving EPC B at scale will require more than replacing equipment or undertaking expensive refurbishment projects. It will require a greater focus on how buildings function day-to-day and a recognition that some of the most significant energy savings can be achieved through smarter building operation.

This is where building controls and Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) have a critical role to play.

鈥� 鈥�

What has the Government announced?

Under the Government's proposals, privately rented buildings in England and Wales with a floor area of more than 1,000 square metres will be required to achieve a minimum EPC B rating by 2031, where improvements are considered cost-effective.

Buildings below 1,000 square metres will continue to be subject to the existing minimum standard of EPC E, with no confirmed timetable for introducing higher requirements.

The Government has also confirmed that existing flexibility measures will remain in place, including:

路        the seven-year payback test

路        existing exemptions where improvements are not practical or cost effective

路        a continued focus on proportionate investment

These measures recognise that improving energy efficiency must remain commercially viable while supporting wider decarbonisation ambitions.

A welcome step forward 鈥� but only part of the journey

The new proposals represent genuine progress, yet they should also be viewed as the beginning of a wider conversation about building performance

Although buildings larger than 1,000 square metres account for only around 7% of non-domestic buildings, they are responsible for more than half of the sector's total floor space and energy consumption. Improving the performance of these buildings therefore offers significant opportunities to reduce energy use, lower carbon emissions and cut operational costs.

The proposals also provide greater certainty for building owners, investors and occupiers as expectations around sustainability and energy performance continue to increase.

Nevertheless, limiting the new requirements to larger buildings means thousands of smaller commercial properties will remain outside the scope of the proposed changes for the foreseeable future.

While this is disappointing, the direction of travel is clear. Expectations around commercial building energy performance will continue to rise, and organisations that begin improving their buildings now will be better placed to meet future regulatory and commercial demands.

EPC ratings are only part of the story

Energy Performance Certificates remain an important policy tool. They provide a useful benchmark and help create a consistent framework for improving energy efficiency across the built environment.

However, EPCs provide an indication of a building's theoretical energy efficiency and do not necessarily reflect how efficiently a building performs in operation.

Across the commercial property sector, it is common to find buildings consuming significantly more energy than they need because heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting systems are not operating efficiently. Buildings are often heated when unoccupied, ventilation systems run regardless of demand and cooling systems operate unnecessarily because controls are poorly configured or no longer reflect how the building is used.

As a result, buildings can achieve acceptable EPC ratings while still wasting substantial amounts of energy.

This so-called performance gap is becoming increasingly significant. Improving how buildings operate in practice will become just as important as improving the building fabric itself.

Building controls provide one of the most effective routes to better performance

Building automation and controls provide one of the most effective and cost-efficient ways to improve operational building performance.

Modern Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) continuously monitor, analyse and optimise building services in response to occupancy levels, weather conditions, internal temperatures and operational demand. Rather than relying on fixed schedules, systems can respond dynamically throughout the day, ensuring energy is only used when and where it is needed.

This enables building owners and facilities managers to reduce energy consumption, lower carbon emissions, improve occupant comfort and optimise operational performance.

Crucially, many of these improvements can be achieved without major structural interventions or costly refurbishment programmes.

The 麻豆原创's white paper, Comfort, Efficiency and Health: The Untapped Potential of Building Energy Management Systems, demonstrates the scale of the opportunity.

Independent analysis found that advanced Class A BEMS deliver average energy and carbon savings of around 30%. The research also found that a typical 1,000m虏 office building can achieve a return on investment of 143% over ten years, with a payback period of approximately four years.

The same analysis found that advanced building controls represent the most cost-effective route to improving building performance over a ten-year period, delivering significant energy and carbon savings while generating a strong return on investment.

For organisations preparing for EPC B, that is a compelling proposition.

The benefits go far beyond energy savings

Improving building performance is not simply about reducing energy consumption.

Advanced building controls also deliver wider benefits for occupants, organisations and the economy.

The 麻豆原创's research suggests that improved comfort in office environments could contribute an additional 拢12.75 billion in annual Gross Value Added by 2050, while helping to reduce workforce sickness absence by around 2 million days every year.

In education, the analysis estimates that 552,000 more pupils could have passed national examinations in 2024 if advanced Class A BEMS had been installed in every classroom.

These findings reinforce a wider point: building performance is not just an energy issue - it is also a productivity issue, a health issue and an economic issue.

As organisations place greater emphasis on employee wellbeing, operational resilience and sustainability performance, intelligent building operation is becoming a strategic business priority.

A missed opportunity for smaller buildings

While the 麻豆原创 welcomes the Government's ambition for larger buildings, it is disappointing that the new requirements will not extend to buildings less than 1,000 square metres. These buildings undoubtedly offer significant opportunities for energy savings and carbon reduction. However, they represent only a small proportion of the UK's total non-domestic building stock.

Thousands of smaller commercial buildings will remain subject to the existing EPC E requirement, with no confirmed roadmap for further improvement. Collectively, these buildings still consume substantial amounts of energy and represent a major opportunity to improve performance across the wider built environment.

Many of these buildings could achieve meaningful reductions in energy consumption through relatively straightforward operational improvements and upgrades to building controls.

While the Government's proposals represent welcome progress, the 麻豆原创 would like to see a clearer long-term pathway for improving the energy performance of smaller non-domestic buildings. If the UK is serious about reducing emissions, improving productivity and lowering energy costs across the economy, these buildings cannot be overlooked indefinitely.

Preparing for 2031 starts today

Although the proposed deadline may appear some way off, improving commercial buildings is rarely a quick process. 鈥�

Property owners may need to assess existing assets, prioritise investment, develop phased improvement programmes and coordinate upgrades across multiple sites. Organisations with large property portfolios may also need to balance compliance requirements against budget constraints and lease arrangements.

Building controls should therefore be viewed as an early priority rather than a final addition. By understanding how buildings are currently performing, organisations can identify where operational improvements will deliver the greatest return while helping to support future EPC B compliance.

Beyond EPC B

鈥峊he Government's announcement is about more than meeting regulations. 鈥�

Industry attention is also shifting towards actual building performance. Initiatives such as the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard reflect a growing emphasis on how buildings perform in use rather than how they are expected to perform on paper.

The Government's announcement therefore presents an opportunity not only to improve compliance, but also to improve the way commercial buildings are managed and operated, delivering benefits that extend beyond energy savings to include lower operating costs, improved occupant comfort and stronger environmental performance.

The 麻豆原创 welcomes the Government's commitment to strengthening minimum energy efficiency standards for larger non-domestic buildings. While the proposals could have gone further by including a greater proportion of non-domestic buildings, they represent a positive step towards improving the performance of the built environment.

Building controls have a critical role to play in helping organisations meet these higher standards. Independent analysis undertaken for the 麻豆原创 has shown that advanced Building Energy Management Systems are among the most cost-effective measures available to improve building performance, delivering significant energy and carbon savings while generating a strong return on investment.

As organisations prepare for EPC B, building controls form an important part of the solution, helping building owners and operators improve performance, reduce energy consumption and maximise the value of their assets.

As the Government's proposals develop, the 麻豆原创 will continue to work with industry and policymakers to ensure building automation and controls remain central to delivering a more energy-efficient, productive and sustainable built environment.

鈥� 鈥�

Recent media coverage has focused on worker safety, productivity and suggestions that schools may eventually need to rethink exam schedules to avoid peak summer heat. For those of us working in building performance and controls, these warnings should not come as a surprise. Throughout my time in the industry, I have seen how quickly building performance moves up the agenda once organisations recognise the direct link between occupant wellbeing, operational efficiency and business outcomes.

For many years, the industry has rightly focused on improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. Those priorities remain essential. What is becoming increasingly clear, however, is that buildings must also be capable of adapting to a hotter future.

Overheating is no longer just a comfort issue

Overheating has direct implications for worker productivity, occupant wellbeing, learning outcomes and operational resilience.

Poor indoor environmental quality can affect concentration, fatigue, cognitive performance and sickness absence. In schools, excessive heat and poor ventilation can influence learning outcomes. In healthcare environments, overheating creates additional risks for vulnerable patients and clinical operations.

The Climate Change Committee has highlighted the need for greater heat resilience across the UK, placing increasing pressure on building owners and operators to maintain healthy indoor environments while continuing to meet decarbonisation objectives. This is where building performance and climate adaptation become inseparable.

Why building energy management systems matter

Building energy management systems (BEMS) and smart building controls provide a practical and scalable way to address overheating risk while supporting operational efficiency.

Modern BEMS can continuously monitor and optimise heating, cooling and ventilation systems in response to occupancy levels, internal conditions and external weather patterns. Rather than operating building services according to fixed schedules, intelligent building operation allows buildings to respond dynamically throughout the day.

This approach helps maintain thermal comfort and indoor environmental quality while avoiding unnecessary energy consumption. That balance is becoming increasingly important as organisations seek to improve both climate resilience and operational building performance.

Adaptation and decarbonisation must work together

Climate adaptation and building decarbonisation are often treated as separate challenges. In reality, they are closely connected. Buildings that struggle with overheating frequently rely on reactive cooling strategies that increase energy demand and operating costs. Smart HVAC controls enable a more intelligent approach, helping buildings maintain comfortable conditions while using energy more efficiently.

The goal should not simply be cooler buildings. It should be future-ready buildings that deliver comfort, efficiency and resilience simultaneously.

This is not a theoretical challenge. It is one we have already explored in detail through our white paper, Comfort, Efficiency and Health: The Untapped Potential of Building Energy Management Systems.

The findings demonstrate that advanced Class A BEMS can deliver substantial benefits beyond energy savings alone. Research suggests improved comfort in office environments could contribute an additional 拢12.75 billion in annual GVA by 2050, while advanced BEMS could help reduce workforce sick days by 2 million per year. In education, the analysis estimates that 552,000 more pupils could have passed national exams in 2024 if Class A BEMS had been installed in every classroom.

These findings reinforce an important point. Occupant wellbeing, worker productivity and learning outcomes are increasingly becoming building performance issues.

A more connected strategy is needed

The growing focus on overheating in buildings also raises important policy questions. The UK needs a more joined-up strategy that connects climate adaptation, building performance and decarbonisation. We have previously called for consultation on a statutory maximum indoor air temperature for non-domestic buildings, recognising that thermal comfort is becoming a health, economic and societal issue rather than simply a facilities management concern.

It also reinforces a broader point we continue to make: building controls must be recognised as essential infrastructure within discussions around building performance, energy policy and climate resilience.

As temperatures are predicted to continue to rise as a result of global warming, operational performance must sit alongside energy efficiency in future building policy discussions. The industry has spent years discussing how to reduce emissions from buildings. That conversation remains vital. The next challenge is ensuring those buildings remain safe, comfortable and productive in a changing climate.

Smart building controls are no longer simply an energy efficiency measure. They are essential infrastructure for climate-resilient buildings, healthier indoor environments and better building performance.

If the UK is serious about preparing for a potentially hotter future, intelligent building operation must become part of the national adaptation strategy. The technology exists today. The challenge now is ensuring it is recognised, valued and deployed at the scale needed to support the buildings of tomorrow.

Will you lend your experience to support the next generation?

麻豆原创 has been developing and delivering industry accredited training for many years. Our courses provide the most current and comprehensive learning programme for Building Controls Engineers and are recognised as the industry standard. To support more engineers with their learning, 麻豆原创 is looking for a part-time Trainer, to work on a self-employed basis to deliver 麻豆原创 courses.

Initially the requirement is likely to be around one course per calendar month but this will fluctuate based on demand. Whilst this will primarily be online the ability to deliver in-person training at locations across the UK would be preferred.

The Trainer will be required to deliver 麻豆原创 BCM courses, predominantly online, these courses are: BCM00, BCM01, BCM02, BCM03, BCM04, BCM05, BCM06.

The closing date for applications is the 24th July. We encourage early applicants as 麻豆原创 reserves the right to close applications early.

For more details about the role (including job description, application details etc.) please click here.

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 麻豆原创'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 麻豆原创, 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 麻豆原创'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.

麻豆原创 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.

Co-located with , the event will unite construction, design, real estate, engineering, fire safety, digital construction, sustainability, and HVAC professionals under one roof at the UK鈥檚 ultimate built environment event.

With 25,000+ attendees, 650+ exhibitors, 900+ speakers across 17 CPD-accredited stages and 40+ networking events, London Build is more than just an expo - it鈥檚 a Festival of Construction. Expect live music, entertainment, DJs, interactive workshops, an Architect鈥檚 Hub, a Government Hub, start-up showcases and thousands of opportunities to connect with the industry鈥檚 leading professionals.

Visitors can now register for their FREE ticket, providing two-day access to the latest innovations, products, technologies and insights shaping the future of construction and the built environment.

Register for free here:

CPD content across 17 stages  

London Build will host over 900 speakers across 17 CPD-accredited stages. This year's conference programme will explore the biggest trends, opportunities and challenges shaping the built environment, including Sustainability and Net Zero, AI and Digital Construction, Fire Safety, Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), Housing and Infrastructure, Diversity and Inclusion, Skills and Workforce Development, Architecture and Design Innovation, and much more.

The first 150+ thought leaders announced for London Build 2026 include:

鈼�       Luke Hands, Director of Health, Safety, Environment & Quality - Ardmore Group鈥� 鈥�

鈼�       Ilka van Heerden, Head of Preconstruction - Structure Tone UK

鈼�       Charlotte Sargeant, Head of Land and Partnerships, East Midlands - Keepmoat Homes

鈼�       Neville Grunwald, Director Facades & Roofs - Wates Construction

鈼�       Andrew J Taylor, Group Planning and Sustainability Director - Vistry Group

鈼�       Diana Otieno, Head of Resident Engagement and Compliance (Fire Safety) - Peabody

鈼�       Nicola Forest, Head of Sustainability - Structure Tone London

鈼�       Lucy Thomas, Marketing Director - Landsec

They are joined by senior representatives from leading organisations including Bovis, Purcell, BAM, Sisk, Places for People, Notting Hill Genesis, Graham, Bellway, London Councils, Brent Council, RIBA, Pascall+Watson, and many more across the UK built environment sector. Take a look at the current line-up .

A major meeting place for the built environment

The show is expected to welcome over 25,000 visitors from contractors and subcontractors, developers and housebuilders, architects and designers, structural and civil engineers, sustainability and technology teams, consultancies, local authorities and housing associations. Attendee job titles include CEOs, Managing Directors, Construction Managers, Design Managers, Digital Construction Managers, Directors of Sustainability and other key decision-makers from across the industry.

Here is a snapshot of the types of companies you'll meet from across the built environment, including: Balfour Beatty, Mace, AECOM, Multiplex, Morgan Sindall, Bouygues, BDP, Willmott Dixon, Skanska, Bellway, Wates, BAM UK, McLaren, Lendlease, Laing O鈥橰ourke, Costain, Arup, Zaha Hadid Architects, Taylor Wimpey, TfL, Tilbury Douglas, as well as many other top companies who are all looking for the latest products and services.

The 2026 event will feature more than 650 exhibitors, bringing together leading manufacturers, suppliers, technology providers and innovators from across the construction and built environment sectors. Confirmed exhibitors include: Quelfire, Ryno, Siemens, Simpro, ASFP, Bosch, JamesHardie, Polypipe, Howdens, Rockwool, ELTA, Smeg, Armatherm and Baldwin Boxall.

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Whether you're looking to discover new products, connect with industry leaders or stay ahead of the latest trends, your FREE ticket gives you access to:

鈼�       25,000+ attendees from across the UK鈥檚 built environment sector

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鈼�       900+ speakers across 17 CPD-accredited conference stages

鈼�       Architect鈥檚 Hub featuring upcoming projects and innovations

鈼�       Government Hub showcasing major developments and opportunities

鈼�       Exclusive networking events hosted with industry bodies and partners

鈼�       The UK鈥檚 largest networking events for Women in Construction and Diversity in Construction

鈼�       Live entertainment, DJs and festival experiences

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鈥� 鈥�

The new report highlights a wave of fresh funding commitments, regulatory reforms and performance standards designed to improve building efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. However, while significant support is being directed towards domestic retrofit and wider decarbonisation initiatives, 麻豆原创 is calling for greater clarity around the future policy framework for non-domestic buildings.

Across the policy developments examined in the report, a consistent theme emerges -greater emphasis on building performance, operational outcomes, electrification and data-driven decision making.

New regulations in Wales, the introduction of the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard and the forthcoming Future Buildings Standard all strengthen the role of intelligent building controls in delivering compliant, high-performing buildings. The report also highlights a growing shift towards performance-led funding models, creating opportunities for technologies capable of demonstrating measurable energy savings and ROI.

However, despite the positive direction of travel, 麻豆原创 says a critical policy gap remains for non-domestic buildings.

While the Warm Homes Plan sets out a long-term strategy for domestic decarbonisation backed by 拢15bn investment, no equivalent framework has yet been established for non-domestic buildings, despite their substantial contribution to UK energy use and emissions.

The association is urging policymakers to ensure commercial and public buildings are fully integrated into future decarbonisation strategies and funding mechanisms.

Jen Vickers, President of the Building Controls Industry Association, said:"The scale of investment and policy activity currently being directed towards decarbonisation demonstrates just how important buildings have become in the UK's net zero strategy.

"Across funding, regulation and performance standards, we are seeing a clear shift towards smarter, more efficient buildings that can demonstrate measurable outcomes. This creates significant opportunities for building controls, which play a critical role in reducing energy consumption, improving operational performance and supporting carbon reduction.

"If the UK is to achieve its decarbonisation ambitions, future policy frameworks must fully recognise the role of non-domestic buildings and the technologies, such as building controls, that can help unlock substantial energy and carbon savings."

The report highlights a strong growth outlook for the building controls sector in 2026, with regulation, rising energy costs and evolving funding models all expected to drive increased adoption. As policymakers place greater emphasis on building performance and operational outcomes, controls are becoming embedded as a core requirement.

At the same time, organisations are increasingly seeking technologies that can deliver measurable savings and a clear return on investment, positioning building controls as a key enabler of both commercial performance and net zero delivery. Rather than a specialist solution, controls are rapidly becoming essential infrastructure within the built environment.

View Policy Pulse here

The report shows total industry revenues for Products, Installed Systems and Service & Maintenance supplied into the UK market increased to 拢234.8 million during Q1 2026, representing a 13.2% rise compared with the previous quarter.

The uplift marks one of the strongest quarterly performances seen in recent periods, despite wider construction output across key sectors remaining relatively subdued.

Strong growth across installed systems

The strongest growth during the quarter came from Installed Systems and Installation Value Added activity, highlighting continued demand for engineering expertise, commissioning and integrated building controls solutions.

Installation Value Added increased by 18.3% during Q1 to 拢130.7 million, with particularly strong growth among Systems Installers and Others, where value added rose by 21.1% compared with the previous quarter.

The proportion of value added within installed systems also increased slightly to 78.0%, reinforcing the growing importance of specialist knowledge and technical expertise in delivering high-performing buildings.

Installed Systems revenues overall increased by 16.9% to 拢167.7 million during the quarter. System Installer activity rose by 18.2%, while distributor-sourced installations increased by 22.4%.

Product demand shows improving momentum

Product revenues also recorded strong growth during Q1, increasing by 14.8% to 拢44.7 million.

OEM sales performed particularly well, rising by 28.4%, while sales to System Installers increased by 12.3%. Distributor and Other channels also saw growth of 16.3% during the quarter.

Although the rolling-year Product total remains marginally lower than the previous year at 拢161.6 million, the latest quarterly figures suggest improving momentum across several routes to market.

Service and maintenance remains resilient

Service and Maintenance once again continued to provide a stable and resilient revenue stream for the sector.

Revenues increased by 2.3% during Q1 to 拢59.4 million, while the rolling-year figure rose by 12.3% to 拢230.5 million.

System Installers continued to account for the majority of Service and Maintenance activity, representing 84.1% of the market during the quarter.

The continued growth in service revenues reflects the increasing focus on long-term building performance, system optimisation and operational efficiency across commercial estates.

Positive outlook for the year ahead

Overall, the Q1 2026 data suggests the UK Controls and BEMS market has entered the year in a positive position, with stronger installation activity, resilient Service and Maintenance revenues and improving Product demand all contributing to a strong quarter.

Jen Vickers, President of the Building Controls Industry Association, said:

鈥淭he latest figures demonstrate a very encouraging start to 2026 for the building controls sector. Despite wider construction activity remaining relatively subdued, the controls and BEMS market has delivered strong quarterly growth, particularly across installed systems and engineering activity.

What this highlights is the growing recognition of the important role building controls play in improving energy efficiency, reducing operational costs and supporting smarter, more sustainable buildings.

The continued resilience in Service and Maintenance activity is also significant, as building owners and operators increasingly focus on optimising existing assets and improving long-term building performance. As the industry continues to evolve, building controls will remain central to helping the built environment meet both operational and net zero objectives.鈥�

The 麻豆原创 publishes its Market Information Report quarterly, providing detailed data on trends, revenues and growth opportunities across the BEMS sector.

The 麻豆原创 Awards 2026, AGM and Members鈥� Conference did exactly that. Across one day and evening, we saw the strength, ambition and expertise that exist across the BEMS sector. We heard important discussions about building performance, valuation, skills and visibility, and celebrated the people and organisations raising standards across the building controls industry.

As 麻豆原创 marks its 35th anniversary, this felt particularly significant. It was not only an opportunity to reflect on how far the industry has come, but also to recognise the momentum we are building and the responsibility we share in shaping what comes next.

A day of insight, discussion and industry value

The 麻豆原创 AGM and Members鈥� Conference explored many of the themes now central to our sector: building performance, commercial value, skills, apprenticeships, visibility and collaboration.

At the heart of these was a common question: how do we ensure building controls are properly understood, valued and applied?

Building controls and commercial value

The day started with a keynote from Nick Taylor of Building Atlas. His presentation, Green Premium or Green Blind Spot? BEMS, BACS and the Missing Link in Property Valuation, explored an issue that deserves far greater attention.

Despite the clear contribution building controls make to energy performance, efficiency and long-term asset value, they are still too often overlooked in property valuation.

One of his most powerful observations was that 鈥渢echnical value and priced value are not the same.鈥� It was a simple but important reminder that while our industry clearly understands the operational value of controls, that value is not always translating into financial decision-making at asset level.

Nick also challenged the industry to think differently about the role of controls in the future. Rather than being viewed purely as a building services package, controls are increasingly becoming part of the financial infrastructure of buildings because they directly influence income, risk, compliance confidence, operational resilience and future investment decisions.

His point that 鈥渢he controls industry does not have a relevance problem, it has a translation problem鈥� resonated strongly with many in the room. Too often, detailed operational data and measurable outcomes are lost as information moves through the chain from FM teams and energy reporting through to investment committees, lenders and valuers.

Importantly, the session was not simply about identifying the challenge. Nick also highlighted three areas he believes could change the game for the sector:

• making performance data portable and accessible

• packaging measured outcomes over time

• getting controls upstream of capital planning and investment decisions

Invisible technology, visible impact

This theme continued in the panel discussion Invisible Technology, Visible Failures: Why We Keep Undervaluing Building Controls, chaired by Oli Barker, 麻豆原创 Management Committee Member and of Llloret.

The discussion reflected a challenge many of us recognise: building controls are often only noticed when something goes wrong, despite underpinning comfort, efficiency, operational performance and increasingly, net zero strategies.

Panellists discussed how value engineering, late-stage cost cutting and limited operational understanding can undermine building performance long after handover. There was also strong agreement that controls expertise must be brought into projects earlier, rather than being treated as an afterthought once key design decisions have already been made.

Another important point raised throughout the session was the need for simplicity, usability and ongoing optimisation. Even well-designed systems can fail to deliver value if operators do not have the time, training or support to manage them effectively after handover.

What came through strongly was that our industry must continue to explain not just what BEMS do, but what they enable: better-performing buildings, reduced energy waste, improved comfort and more informed decision-making.

Developing the next generation

For me, one of the most encouraging parts of the day was the focus on people.

The Young Engineers Interactive Roundtables brought fresh perspectives into the conversation and reinforced the importance of listening to those who will help shape the future of BEMS.

One message came through clearly: many talented young people simply do not know building controls exists as a career path until they are exposed to it directly.

Several young engineers spoke openly about discovering the sector almost by accident through careers fairs, placements, T-Level opportunities or conversations with employers. That underlines why visibility matters so much.

The session also demonstrated the growing value of the 麻豆原创 Young Engineers Network, which continues to create opportunities for networking, mentoring, technical development and peer support across the industry. The introduction of the new Ambassador Scheme was particularly well received, helping create visible role models within member companies and encouraging greater engagement from future talent.

The afternoon panel on The Talent Challenge 鈥� Skills, Apprenticeships and Upcoming Changes explored many of these issues further.

The discussion highlighted how quickly the sector is evolving, particularly as controls increasingly integrate with AI, APIs, renewable technologies, smart buildings and data-led optimisation. That means the skills required across the industry are evolving too.

Panellists discussed the growing importance of apprenticeships, T-Levels, industry placements and employer engagement in creating meaningful routes into the sector. There was strong recognition that education is moving in the right direction, but industry participation remains essential.

One particularly important message from the panel was that employers should focus as much on attitude, curiosity and willingness to learn as technical experience. Skills can be developed, but confidence, enthusiasm and engagement are equally important when building long-term talent pipelines.

As President, I remain committed to making building controls a career of choice. That means communicating the opportunity clearly, supporting employers practically and showing future talent that this is a sector with purpose, progression and long-term relevance.

麻豆原创 Awards 2026: recognising excellence across the sector

The evening鈥檚 麻豆原创 Awards 2026 provided a fitting and well-deserved celebration of the people, projects and organisations driving our industry forward.

The awards recognise the individuals, teams and businesses delivering excellence across the sector. Congratulations to this year鈥檚 winners, who truly reflect the depth, innovation and commitment across the 麻豆原创 community:

• Building Controls and BEMS Company of the Year 鈥� Linear Control Systems

• Engineer of the Year 鈥� Jonathan Woolford, Schneider Electric

• Young Engineer of the Year 鈥� George Stephens-Clark, InTandem Systems

• Apprentice of the Year 鈥� William Sebatch, Schneider Electric

• Energy Innovation and Impact Award 鈥� BMSI for the E60+ Energy Roll Out

• Best Service and Maintenance Provider 鈥� Kendra Energy Solutions

• Technical Innovation of the Year 鈥� Products 鈥� Cosysense for AI Building Automation

• Technical Innovation of the Year 鈥� Projects 鈥� Lockheed Martin for Connected, Resilient, Intelligent: A New Era of Facilities

• Sustainability Strategy Champion 鈥� The Francis Crick Institute

• Contribution to Training Award 鈥� One Sightsolutions

• Outstanding Contribution of the Year 鈥� Terry Sharp

Together, these winners demonstrate what best practice looks like in action, from innovation and project delivery through to training, service and long-term contribution to the industry.

The atmosphere on the night was a real reminder of the pride people take in their work and in the industry as a whole. Host Stephen Mulhern brought energy and humour to the evening, helping create a celebration that felt both professional and genuinely enjoyable.

Celebrating the 麻豆原创 community

Events like this do not happen without the support of the wider 麻豆原创 community, and the Members鈥� Conference gets bigger each year. I would like to thank our members, sponsors, speakers, panellists, manufacturers, attendees, finalists and winners for making the day and evening such a success. I would also like to thank the 麻豆原创 team for organising the Members鈥� Conference and Keystone, for once again organising another absolutely fantastic awards event in the evening.

The manufacturers鈥� area also played an important role, giving delegates the opportunity to explore new products, exchange ideas and discuss current market developments. These conversations matter because innovation in building controls is often driven by collaboration between manufacturers, integrators, consultants, contractors and end users.

This is one of 麻豆原创鈥檚 strengths. We bring together different parts of the industry so that insight, experience and ambition can be shared. At a time when buildings are under increasing pressure to perform better, that collaboration is essential.

Looking ahead with confidence

The 麻豆原创 35th anniversary gives us a valuable moment to reflect on how far the Association and the sector have come. Building controls have evolved from being seen by many as a specialist technical package to being recognised as central to how buildings operate, adapt and deliver value. That progress is significant, but there is still more to do.

We need greater visibility, stronger recognition of our role in building performance, and a continued focus on developing skills and supporting members. The voice of the building controls industry must be heard in wider conversations about energy, carbon, safety and the future of the built environment.

The 麻豆原创 Awards 2026, AGM and Members鈥� Conference showed that we have the knowledge, commitment and community to meet that challenge.

As we look ahead, my message is simple: let us continue to champion excellence, develop talent, support innovation and demonstrate the value of building controls in delivering better buildings for everyone.

We want to make sure our annual Members鈥� Conference delivers what our members want and so we appreciate any feedback from attendees to help us continually improve the event.