President’s Blog - Revalidation of competence in the building controls sector is essential
With the phasing out of industry-accredited competency cards and ever-tightening regulations heightening the importance of accountability in the building energy management systems (BEMS) sector, proving competence and skills becomes increasingly pertinent.
However, many in the industry aren’t necessarily aware of the vital need to prove qualifications and skills, despite this increased regulatory scrutiny. That’s exactly why the BCIA has been tasked with developing a full-career competency framework for BEMS and is consulting with the sector to welcome views as to how revalidation could be undertaken.
So, I’d like to answer the questions you, or others, may have about the revalidation of competence to help the entire BEMS sector better understand how doing so can lead to improved business reputation, more knowledgeable and competent industry professionals and, ultimately, a better, safer and more energy efficient built environment.
Why is revalidation of competence so important?
In any industry, ensuring compliance is absolutely paramount. However, in the building controls sector, where innovation and compliance are closely linked, the revalidation of competence can help business owners and individuals prove their expertise and maintain efficiency, quality and safety.
When you consider that the BEMS sector is continually evolving and adapting to changes in technology and government regulations, the need for industry professionals to revalidate their competence is exacerbated further.
Indeed, as the government’s net zero target of 2050 gets ever closer, energy efficiency, smart building integration and cybersecurity standards become ever-more stringent. Consequently, the validation of skills and qualifications ensures that businesses and individuals can meet these new benchmarks consistently and confidently.
Of course, like in any line of work, ensuring the safety of those working is absolutely critical. Keeping engineers up-to-date and informed on the latest government guidelines and best practices for safe working therefore gains significance – and that all comes from the revalidation of their skills and competence.
While the proving of competence is no doubt likely to provide significant benefits for business owners and their employees, the end users and occupants of the smart buildings in which BEMS have been applied also stand to gain. In fact, the high quality of work provided by competent and well-trained engineers will help customers see the true value of building controls and help them be more effective at reducing energy consumption in their buildings.
Will competence revalidation help close the sector’s skills gap?
The building controls sector joins many others across the construction industry in facing a considerable skills shortage. However, the revalidation of competence can play a vital role here.
In fact, the regular validation of competence will help identify areas in which skills can be improved and provides a very clear and structured pathway for upskilling. As a result, individuals are able to grow and expand their knowledge while the sector ensures a workforce capable of meeting current and future energy efficiency and quality demands.
With the building controls industry so well-respected and regarded by those outside, the continued assessment of professional development can also be a significant motivator for talented young professionals to begin careers in the sector. Consequently, the attraction and retainment of these recruits can help the BEMS sector significantly reduce the skills gap.
Is reassessment of competence a big investment for companies?
With the UK currently in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, many business owners are anxiously assessing budgets and considering whether expenditure on additional resources, such as training or competence validation, is worthwhile.
While there is obviously an initial cost associated with developing and implementing competency assessment systems, the substantial benefits far outweigh the initial outlay. Very much a strategic investment, competence revalidation can often be a highly effective way of growing a business and aligning professional development with current and future business objectives.
Indeed, the identification of skills gaps and targeted training can ensure a more skilled workforce and better business outcomes. Additionally, by recognising and developing employee skills and qualifications, employers can boost job satisfaction and help industry professionals take charge of their own career development.
It’s also worth considering the improvement in product and service quality that can come from the revalidation of competence and skills. Not only does it lead to greater innovation and operational efficiency of building controls and automation systems, it also enhances the overall quality and reliability of the product, enhances consumer trust and reduces risk of mistakes and non-compliance.
The investment in competence revalidation can also be outweighed by the positive impact it can have on how the business is perceived in the industry. In addition to being seen as great places to work and therefore a strong opportunity for talent attraction, having employees that can demonstrate and prove industry-recognised competence can help businesses win work from across the built environment.
Of course, these opportunities will require business owners to focus heavily on maintaining and enhancing the competence of their team. Internal training plays a crucial role here, but it’s also important to provide regular refresher sessions to ensure the team’s skills and expertise remains current.
Who will this impact?
With the phasing out of industry-recognised competency cards, known as Grandfathers Rights, BEMS engineers are most heavily impacted by the need to verify skills and qualifications. To meet ever-changing national standards and regulatory guidelines, the revalidation of competence will require them to demonstrate their expertise, skills and knowledge are up-to-date.
Of course, the impacts on both BEMS professionals and their employers are closely linked. In fact, many main contractors will proactively specify personnel who are competency-certified because they will want to ensure site safety and compliance as well as show their company focuses heavily on professional development. This is vital given the competitive nature of the building controls and automation sector and the importance of remaining future-ready and compliance.
This is exactly why the BCIA is seeking views from across the automation and controls sector to help us develop a sector-specific competency revalidation scheme to ensure a consistent, timely and robust process that raises quality standards across the industry and ensures compliance with new requirements.