A Steering Group on Competences for Building a Safer Future, formulated earlier this year and made up of organisations from across the construction and fire sectors, has come together to take forward the recommendations and proposals in Chapter 5 and Appendix E of Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety.

The Steering Group has taken the opportunity to invite collaboration between all those involved in the life cycle of a building and 11 working groups have been established to help achieve the Group’s aims.  ARB has accepted the invitation to lead one of these working groups looking at the enhanced competences of architects and other building designers.

We welcome the opportunity to work with partners on this matter and will issue regular updates on progression.  The Steering Group is a sub-group of the Government-led Industry Response Group which will make quarterly reports on progress to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.