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About BESA

For better building engineering services & built environment

For more than 120 years, BESA (The Building Engineering Services Association) has been driving excellence so everyone can expect and experience better buildings, and better buildings support better lives. Want to know more about membership or specifying BESA? Fill in the form below.

BESA Membership

The bedrock of a better built environment is best practice. At BESA we are on a quest to instil higher technical excellence, robust skills and clear accreditations across the industry. Our mission is to help our members demonstrate competence and evidence compliance to essential standards.

1
Represent We work ceaselessly to understand the issues, best practice and changes needed to deliver better buildings. We help firms active in the sector meet these challenges and their businesses thrive.
2
Excellence We work with the industry to establish technical standards, best practice guides and competency levels. We also work with trade unions to negotiate and set national wage agreements.
3
Skills We design and develop industry specific training to support standards and competencies across the UK. We support from new apprentices to ongoing qualifications and lifelong CPD. 
4
Evidence We provide robust accreditation and registration schemes to ensure individuals and companies can evidence they have the required competencies and comply with industry standards. 

Specifying: Six reasons why you should specify BESA in your tenders and frameworks today...  

1. Ensure consistent compliance and high safety standards  

Keeping up with evolving regulations like the Building Safety Act (BSA) is challenging. Organisations need assurance that contractors meet compliance standards and understand their roles and responsibilities to avoid potential safety risks and liabilities. 

Working with BESA Contractors can mitigate these concerns. BESA’s rigorous audit process, unlike other PQQs and audits, actually asks them to prove they can do they job, through our Technical Audit. 

BESA works with its members to develop a number of industry standards including DW145 Guide to "Good Practice for the installation, design and selection, inspection and maintenance", which is due to be relaunched on 20 November.  

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2. Help balance cost and quality

We understand budget constraints are a recurring issue, leading organisations struggling to find a balance between affordability and high-quality work. Choosing the cheapest bid often carries risks of substandard work or hidden costs due to rework or delays. 

Prioritising BESA Contractors with proven track records, reliable pricing structures, and industry certification, helps ensure value for money without compromising quality. 

3. Proven contractor competence and track record

Assessing contractors’ competence, particularly on technical projects (like HVACR or complex systems), can be difficult. This is compounded when verifying previous work quality or ensuring that contractors are skilled in working in residential environments. 

Organisations can benefit from contractor certification schemes and registers, such as SKILLcard, BESA Vent Hygiene Register, BESCA Competent Person Scheme and REFCOM F-Gas which verifies competence, experience and quality, and are all part of the BESA Group. 

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4. Minimise project delays and cash flow issues

Construction projects are vulnerable to delays, often due to issues with cash flow, disputes over retentions, or contractor insolvency. Delays affect project timelines and can inconvenience tenants or delay access to improved facilities. 

Specifying BESA contractors with fair payment practices, stable financial footing, and strong organisational support can alleviate these risks. 

5. Prioritise health and environmental goals

Housing Associations aim to meet health standards, improve indoor air quality, and reduce carbon footprints. However, finding contractors who understand and align with these goals, particularly in ventilation and HVACR, can be difficult. 

BESA Contractors focus on indoor air quality and ventilation improvements and have helped us develop a number of free industry IAQ Guides - Mould and Damp Prevention in New and Existing Homes, Guide to Good Practice for Indoor Air Quality for Health and Well-Being, A Practical Guide - Buildings as a Safe Haven and A Beginner's Guide to Indoor Air Quality. BESA and its members are also an industry advocate for the WorldVentil8Day initiative.  

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6. Lack of post-project support and accountability

Post-completion support is often inadequate, leaving Housing Associations with maintenance issues or poorly installed systems that become costly over time. 

BESA membership standards encourage ongoing support and accountability, ensuring our contractors are available for follow-up or maintenance when needed. 

For more than 120 years, BESA (The Building Engineering Services Association) has been driving excellence so everyone can expect and experience better buildings, and better buildings support better lives. Want to know more about membership or specifying BESA? Complete the form here.