President’s Blog: Changing the Conversation: How We Attract the Next Generation into Building Controls

One of the most consistent challenges facing our industry is also one of the most important: attracting new people into the building energy management systems (BEMS) sector.

It is something I have spoken about before, and it will remain a central focus throughout my presidency. While we have made genuine progress in strengthening training pathways and building a pipeline of new talent, we are still facing a fundamental issue.

Quite simply, not enough people know who we are, what we do, or why it matters.

From my own experience speaking to students, employers and those outside the sector, I believe there is another layer to that challenge. It is not just about visibility - it is about how we explain ourselves when we are seen.

More Than Awareness: A Communication Challenge

Over the past few years, we have invested significant effort into creating structured routes into the industry. Apprenticeships are growing, T-Level placements are gaining traction, and more employers are engaging with training initiatives than ever before. That is real progress, and it is something we should be proud of.

However, when I speak to students, career changers or even professionals already working in the built environment, the same pattern continues to emerge – many have never heard of building controls, and those who have often only have a partial understanding of what it involves.

Yet, when we take the time to properly explain the role, the response is almost always positive. I have seen this first-hand on multiple occasions. People quickly see the relevance, the variety and the long-term potential. They begin to understand that this is not a narrow technical specialism, but a career that sits at the centre of how modern buildings perform.

That shift in perception is powerful. It tells us that the issue is not a lack of opportunity or appeal; it is how we are communicating what we do.

Under my presidency, improving that communication is a key objective.

Speaking in a Way People Understand

As an industry, we are naturally comfortable talking in technical terms. We talk about systems, integration, control strategies and optimisation. These are all essential parts of our work, and they matter – but they are not always the most effective way to engage someone who is new to the sector.

If someone has never encountered BEMS before, those terms can feel abstract and, at times, inaccessible. It is something I have become increasingly aware of in conversations outside of our immediate industry.

We need to shift the way we frame the conversation.

Instead of starting with the technology, we should start with the impact. We should be explaining that building controls:

• Reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions in real, measurable ways.

• Improve comfort, wellbeing and productivity for building occupants.

• Enable buildings to operate more intelligently through data and insight.

• Support organisations in meeting sustainability and compliance targets.

These are outcomes that people can relate to. They provide a sense of purpose and a clear connection to wider societal goals.

For many people, particularly younger generations, that sense of purpose is a major driver in career choice. That is something I feel we should be leaning into much more.

Positioning BEMS as a Future-Facing Career

One of the things I am particularly passionate about during my presidency is ensuring that building controls is recognised for what it truly is: a future-facing career.

This is not an industry rooted in legacy thinking. It is an industry that is evolving rapidly, shaped by digitalisation, data, sustainability and changing expectations around building performance.

When we talk about BEMS in the right way, we are talking about:

• Sustainability careers, where individuals can directly contribute to reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency.

• Technology careers, involving software, integration, smart systems and digital infrastructure.

• Data-driven roles, where analysis and insight are central to optimising performance.

• Engineering pathways, grounded in practical application and problem-solving.

This breadth is one of our greatest strengths, but too often, it is not clearly articulated.

We need to move away from presenting building controls as a niche discipline, and instead position it as a dynamic, multi-disciplinary career with real progression opportunities.

It is, after all, one of the most compelling career propositions in the built environment today.

The Role of Industry in Shaping Perception

Changing this narrative is not something that can be done by one organisation alone. It requires a collective effort across the industry.

Employers, educators and industry bodies all have a role to play in ensuring that the message is consistent, accessible and engaging.

That includes:

• How we describe roles in job adverts.

• How we engage with schools, colleges and universities.

• How we present the industry at careers events and open days.

• How we use real-world examples to bring the roles to life.

We also need to continue building on the progress already made through apprenticeships and T-Level placements, ensuring that once people enter the industry, they can clearly see where their career can take them.

Attracting talent is only part of the challenge; retaining and developing that talent is equally important.

From Awareness to Advocacy

Encouragingly, when people do enter the sector, they often become its strongest advocates.

I see this particularly through initiatives like the Young Engineers Network, where early-career professionals are not only developing their skills but actively championing the industry to others.

They see first-hand the impact of their work. They understand the value of what they do and they recognise the opportunities available to them.

Our challenge is to reach that point sooner.

If we can improve how we explain building controls, we can move from a position of low awareness to one of genuine interest. Over time, that interest can translate into a stronger, more sustainable pipeline of talent.

Looking Ahead

As an Association, raising awareness of building controls as a career of choice remains a strategic priority for BCIA, as we understand how important this is to our members. Awareness alone, however, is not enough.

We need to ensure that when we do have the opportunity to engage with potential future talent, we are telling the right story.

Our communication needs to reflect the true breadth of the industry, connect with people’s interests and ambitions and demonstrate the real-world impact of what we do. It’s about being able to communicate the value of our industry and making sure others can see that value just as clearly.

Building controls is not just about systems. It is about performance, sustainability and net zero, people and the future of our built environment with increasingly smart buildings - and that is a message worth sharing.