BESA delivers better building manifesto to No.10

The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has presented a manifesto at 10 Downing Street outlining how the industry can help the government reach its goals of increasing housing supply, improving public services and meeting net zero targets.

Building Britain’s Future sets out a practical programme for the government to unlock the potential of the UK’s building engineering services sector so it can deliver safer, more sustainable and healthier buildings that support energy security and healthier communities.

“Building engineering services are central to the government’s major growth ambitions,” said BESA President Anna Shephard, who presented the Manifesto along with the Association’s CEO David Frise, president-elect Nick Mead, and vice-president Paul Eagle.

“The systems the industry designs, installs, commissions and maintains determine whether buildings remain safe, healthy, comfortable, resilient and energy efficient throughout their lives,” added Shephard.

The BESA Manifesto lays out five priorities for the government

• Building safety — make competence count. Create a clear, proportionate and effective regulatory system in which competence can be demonstrated leading to safer buildings.
• A thriving business environment — give good businesses the confidence to grow. Fair payment, responsible procurement and long-term policy certainty can unlock investment, productivity and stronger supply chains.
• Skills, workforce and productivity — build the workforce Britain needs. Invest in apprenticeships, technical education, lifelong learning and the next generation of building engineering professionals.
• Energy security, net zero and retrofit — the cleanest energy is the energy we do not waste. Improve the performance of Britain’s buildings, accelerate retrofit and give industry the certainty to invest in a lower-carbon future.
• Healthy buildings — make buildings part of the solution. Better ventilation, indoor air quality and building performance can create healthier homes, schools, hospitals and workplaces.

BESA urged the government to work with the building engineering services sector to turn these priorities into practical actions and ensure Britain’s buildings support economic, environmental and public health goals.

“There is enormous, unrealised potential in building engineering services,” said Frise. “Our companies and our talented individuals are delivering some amazing cutting-edge projects, but we have so much more to offer.

“Given the right investment and business conditions our sector can help to drive economic growth, support higher levels of health and wellbeing, and provide fantastic job opportunities for present and future generations.”

Read the full manifesto here.