Considerate Constructors Scheme acquires Building A Safer Future

1 A new era for safety in construction
2 Background to the acquisition
3 About Building a Safer Future
4 About the CCS scheme
5 Comments on the news of the acquisition
6 Related articles on Designing Buildings
7 External links

[edit] A new era for safety in construction

Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS), the independent champion for change in construction, has completed the acquisition of the Building a Safer Future (BSF) programme.

The programme, which creates positive culture and behaviour change in building safety, was launched in response to the Grenfell Tower fire. It aims to create a more robust regulatory framework and promote a culture of safety within the built environment. The programme emphasises accountability, transparency, and the sharing of best practices to ensure that buildings are safe for occupants.

The work of Building a Safer Future is underpinned by a Charter which consists of five commitments. The UK Government encouraged an industry-wide commitment to sign-up to a reformed building safety regulatory system, in its response to the Building a Safer Future consultation.

[edit] Background to the acquisition

In early 2020, CCS was appointed to take on responsibility for the management of the Charter. CCS subsequently established a new, not-for-profit independent organisation (Building a Safer Future Ltd) with an independent governance structure, to lead and develop the Charter further.

Whilst originally conceived to focus on high-rise residential buildings, BSF has extended its scope to cover buildings of all heights, and equally applies, and is relevant to, all construction activity and companies.

Companies can apply to either become a Registered Signatory of the Charter or participate in the Champions programme. The Charter is an important step in driving forwards the systemic culture change in relation to major hazard safety that is required across the built environment.

The BSF Champion assessment gives companies detailed insight into their existing leadership and culture around building safety and equips them with actionable data and practical tools to help review and upgrade processes, driving meaningful and measurable improvement in leadership and culture around building safety.

[edit] About Building a Safer Future

BSF was established to create a positive culture and behaviour change in the safety of the built environment. Underpinned by the Building a Safer Future Charter, we are focused on practical tools that support the construction industry to develop the necessary leadership and culture to put people’s safety first in how we design, build, and maintain the built environment.

Building a Safer Future, and the Charter that underpins it is a proactive response to Dame Judith Hackitt’s Building a Safer Future Review. We support continuous improvement in the areas of leadership, culture, collaboration, responsibility and accountability.

Find out more at: https://www.buildingasaferfuture.org.uk/.

[edit] About the CCS scheme

The CCS Scheme is an independently managed, not-for-profit organisation that works side-by-side with the construction industry and the public to raise standards and build trust. Over the past three decades it has promoted and supported improvement in the way construction activity impacts the community, the environment and its workforce. It is a self-financing, independently run organisation owned by the Construction Umbrella Bodies (Holdings) Ltd which is made up of the Construction Products Association and the Construction Industry Council. The Scheme has a Board of Directors comprising individuals from both within and outside of the construction industry.

When contractors and suppliers register their construction activity with the Scheme they agree to abide by the Code of Considerate Practice and to be visited by a Scheme Monitor. As part of their registration, they are required to display public-facing banners and posters to demonstrate their commitment to the Scheme’s Code of Considerate Practice and all it stands for. These posters feature the Scheme’s contact information so that anyone can get in touch with our Public Support team if they have concern or feedback about the construction activity.

To determine if the Code is being observed and to help continue raising standards, independent Monitors visit and assess each registered construction activity to see how well they conform with the Code. After each visit, a report is made highlighting how the construction activity is performing in relation to the Code. The report also includes notes and resources to help improve performance. As well as providing guidance, this monitoring process provides us with insights into how construction sites are changing and what industry challenges need tackling.

As a client of construction projects, hiring a team registered with the Scheme can offer reassurance that the contractors appointed are committed to the Code and to improving the way they work, as well as helping to raise industry standards.

[edit] Comments on the news of the acquisition

Peter Caplehorn, non-executive director for considerate constructors, said:

“The acquisition signals our continued commitment to improved safety and standards in the construction industry. Having originally managed the Charter, CCS is the commonsense future home for the BSF business, staff and clients. While having different focal points, we share common goals around safety, collaboration and a culture of improvement.”

Graham Watts, non-executive director for building a safer future, said:

“We look forward to developing our relationship to support companies in their building safety journeys. Our common purpose is key in helping organisations to meet their requirements, ensuring that risk profiles are reduced across the industry. As the only independent champion for change in the sector, CCS was really the only choice for us.”

The acquisition follows the recent announcement of a partnership with compliance and risk management leader Veriforce CHAS to broaden CCS inspection monitoring services across the UK.