As the regulator for the engineering profession in the UK, the Engineering Council is pleased to announce it has become a Corporate Supporter of the Building a Safer Future Charter. 

This aligns with our existing work on building safety, including the development of new contextualised competence requirements that complement our internationally-recognised standards. We continue to work closely with the Competence Steering Group (CSG), initiated by recommendations in the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety led by Dame Judith Hackitt.

The Building a Safer Future Charter has been created to promote an urgent and positive culture and behaviour change in the safety of the built environment. It is about putting people’s safety first in how we plan for, design, build, maintain, and look after the safety of the buildings we live, work or play in and protect those that use them.

The Charter sets out five commitments that demonstrate commitment to protecting life by putting safety first, ahead of all other building priorities. Corporate Supporters, including the Engineering Council, agree to support these five commitments and promote them within their sphere of influence.

Engineering Council CEO Alasdair Coates said “The Engineering Council’s vision is to maintain society’s confidence and trust in the engineering profession. We achieve this through working strategically with partners and are pleased to be supporting this important Charter, part of our wider work on competence and the crucial issue of building safety”.

Amanda Long, Chief Executive, Building a Safer Future Charter said “We are delighted to welcome the Engineering Council as a Corporate Supporter of the Building a Safer Future Charter. From a moral, social and economic perspective it’s imperative that the sector puts building safety first. This requires a leadership and culture shift across the entire value chain. Through working with their partners to support and promote the values of the Charter, Corporate Supporters will help to drive the change required in industry.”

The BSF Charter has been highlighted by Dame Judith Hackitt and the Industry Safety Steering Group (ISSG) as a key mechanism for leading the culture change required for industry in their report for the Secretary of State and the Minister for Building Safety published in August 2020. Sign-up to the Charter is recommended by the UK Government for any organisation working throughout the entire lifecycle of a building. 

Editor’s notes

Press enquiries: Kate Webster, Engineering Council – kwebster@eng.org.uk, 07711 375709

The Engineering Council holds the national Register of Engineering Technicians (EngTech), Incorporated Engineers (IEng), Chartered Engineers (CEng) and Information and Communication Technology Technicians (ICTTech). It also sets and maintains the internationally recognised standards of competence and ethics that govern the award and retention of these titles. By this means it is able to ensure that employers, government and wider society, both at home and overseas, can have confidence in the skills and commitment of registrants. For more information visit: www.engc.org.uk

About the Building a Safer Future Charter

Dame Judith Hackitt’s independent inquiry into building regulations and fire safety clearly identified failure of leadership and culture as key underlying causes of the Grenfell Tower disaster. The ‘Building a Safer Future Charter’ was initiated in response by a group of early adopters including contractors, housing associations and local authorities supported by MHCLG with a vision of having an industry committed to putting people’s safety first.

The Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) were appointed as the Charter’s Administrative Partner by the Early Adopters. The CCS has established Building a Safer Future Ltd, a not-for-profit company with its own independent Chair and Board. Building a Safer Future Ltd develops and manages the Building a Safer Future Charter.