THE INDUSTRY COMPETENCY COMMITTEE/PD CDM SKILLS 30-01-2026
Workshop Summary
Date: 30 January 2026
Duration: 1 Hour 52 Minutes
Workshop Objective
The second workshop focused on strengthening competence across the built environment under the Building Safety Act and Fire Safety Act. Speakers discussed how organisations should manage professional competence, the responsibilities of Principal Designers under both CDM Regulations and the Building Safety Act, and the importance of organisational capability, integrity, and continuous professional development to improve building safety outcomes.
- Industry Competence and the Building Safety Regulator
Anthony Taylor introduced the role of the Industry Competence Committee (ICC), a statutory committee within the Building Safety Regulator responsible for improving competence across the construction and built environment sectors. He explained that competence is now defined through Skills, Knowledge, Experience and Behaviours (SKEB) rather than qualifications alone. The committee's objective is to establish clear competence expectations, develop industry guidance, identify skills shortages, and support organisations in creating robust competence management systems.
- Managing Organisational Competence
A major theme throughout the session was that organisations—not just individuals—must actively manage competence. Participants discussed how employers should identify competency gaps, maintain evidence of staff competence, provide continuous professional development, and ensure that suitably competent people undertake work appropriate to their capabilities. The speakers stressed that competence should be reviewed throughout a person's career rather than being demonstrated through a single qualification or assessment.
- Competence Standards and Guidance
The workshop highlighted several key competence standards, including BS 8670 and the PAS 8671, PAS 8672 and PAS 8673 guidance documents covering Principal Designers, Principal Contractors and those responsible for managing safety in residential buildings. Attendees were encouraged to benchmark both personal and organisational competence against these standards and prepare for increasing regulatory scrutiny as competence frameworks continue to develop.
- Principal Designer Responsibilities
Philip Baker explained the role of the Principal Designer under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM) and emphasised that the Principal Designer is responsible for identifying, eliminating and reducing foreseeable risks during the design process. He highlighted that this responsibility extends throughout the entire pre-construction phase and often continues until project completion because design activities continue during construction. The discussion reinforced that clients must appoint competent Principal Designers and ensure adequate resources are available to fulfil the role effectively.
- Building Safety Information and Competence Evidence
The workshop examined the challenges surrounding competence records, as-built information and project documentation. Speakers noted that many organisations still fail to centrally capture evidence demonstrating competence or maintain accurate building information throughout a project's lifecycle. Participants agreed that better record management, digital information systems and ongoing verification are essential to meeting Building Safety Act requirements and supporting the Golden Thread of information.
- Lessons from Industry Practice
Several practical examples were discussed, including shortcomings in existing as-built documentation, inconsistent competence assessment across projects, and lessons from enforcement cases. Speakers highlighted that organisations should foster a culture where individuals are encouraged to raise concerns, challenge unsafe decisions, and work within the limits of their competence. The session also promoted the use of CROSS (Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures) as a confidential reporting mechanism to share lessons learned and improve industry-wide safety performance.
Key Takeaways
Workshop 2 reinforced that competence is becoming a central pillar of the Building Safety regime. Organisations must move beyond relying solely on qualifications and instead demonstrate effective management of Skills, Knowledge, Experience and Behaviours (SKEB) across their workforce. Strong leadership, continuous professional development, accurate building information, competent Principal Designers, and a culture of integrity and accountability will be essential for achieving compliance and improving the safety of buildings throughout their lifecycle.