FIS joined today a Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government briefing setting out the Government’s new call for evidence on professions, trades and occupations across the built environment, part of its wider response to the Grenfell Inquiry.
The exercise, which runs until 12 August 2026, will inform a new long-term strategy due in Spring 2027. While still at an early stage, the tone of the session was clear: this is not about marginal change, but about fundamentally reshaping how the system works.
A Shift to Whole-System Thinking
MHCLG framed the strategy around three core themes: skills and competence, behaviour and culture, and accountability. It was noted that these are not being treated in isolation, but as interdependent parts of a wider system that together determine outcomes.
The ambition is to move beyond fragmented reforms and create a more coherent framework with the potential to be underpinned by a single construction regulator, that better aligns people, products and buildings.
Officials were clear that the starting point is the Grenfell Inquiry’s finding that failures were systemic, not attributable to any one profession, stage, or decision point.
What the Consultation Is Asking
At this stage, MHCLG is not consulting on specific policy proposals but gathering evidence on how the system operates in practice.
The consultation spans the entire building lifecycle, from pre-design through to occupation, and seeks input from across the supply chain. Importantly, contributors are encouraged to focus on their areas of expertise rather than responding to everything, recognising the diversity of roles in the sector.
The emphasis throughout the webinar was on practical insight: how decisions are made, what drives behaviour, and where barriers sit.
Key Messages from the Discussion
The Q&A session provided a useful reality check, with several recurring themes that will resonate strongly with FIS members.
Too Much Complexity, Not Enough Clarity
There was broad agreement that, while there has been significant effort to improve competence frameworks and standards, the system has become overly complex and fragmented.
Rather than creating consistency, the proliferation of overlapping frameworks has made it harder, particularly for SMEs, to understand what is required. MHCLG acknowledged this concern and emphasised the need to simplify and rationalise, rather than add further layers.
The System Doesn’t Operate in Silos
A number of contributors challenged the lifecycle-based structure of the consultation, highlighting how activities like manufacturing and product supply cut across traditional boundaries.
This underlined a central issue: we continue to organise policy around silos, while delivery depends on integration. Whether it is product performance, design intent or installation quality, outcomes depend on how different parts of the system connect and often they don’t.
Commercial Drivers Are Shaping Outcomes
One of the strongest themes, and a point FIS raised directly, was the role of procurement and contracting in shaping behaviour.
There is growing recognition that many of the problems the industry faces are not down to a lack of technical competence, but to how projects are set up commercially.
Concerns highlighted included:
- Risk being routinely pushed down the supply chain
- Extensive amendment of standard contracts, reducing clarity
- Increasing contractual complexity
- Limited understanding of contractual obligations across the workforce
In this context, contractual competence is emerging as a critical issue. If those involved in delivery lack the ability or confidence to interpret and manage contracts, it becomes far harder to make sound decisions or challenge poor practice.
The FIS asserted that thiss was about competence, but also information management suggesting that contracts should be treated as part of the “golden thread”, reflecting their central role in defining responsibilities and managing risk.
The clear implication is that improving technical skills alone will not be enough if commercial structures continue to work against good outcomes. The Civils Servants assured that consideration of procurement and contracts was under scrutiny here.
Culture and Leadership Matter
The conversation also moved beyond individuals to the role of organisations. Even the most competent professionals can be constrained by:
- Commercial pressures
- Misaligned incentives
- Lack of support to challenge decisions
This reinforces the need for reform to address organisational culture and leadership, not just individual capability.
Bridging the Gap Between Design and Delivery
Another practical issue raised was the disconnect between technical information and its use on site. Drawings, specifications and standards are not always translated into clear, actionable instructions for those carrying out the work.
If requirements are not understood at the point of use, then compliance becomes unreliable—highlighting the need for clearer communication and more accessible information across the supply chain.
What Happens Next
MHCLG will use responses to the consultation to develop policy options later this year, ahead of publishing a full strategy in Spring 2027. Officials stressed that this will be the start of an ongoing reform process, not a one-off intervention.
This consultation is designed to gather information about the key factors that influence how people work across all stages of the building lifecycle and covers all building types. The consultation will inform development of this new strategy for the built environment professions, trades and occupations.
FIS Response
This is a significant opportunity to address some of the long-standing structural issues that continue to hold the industry back. FIS is preparing a response.
For FIS members, the consultation is an important chance to ensure that:
- The role of SMEs and specialist contractors is properly reflected
- The impact of procurement and contractual practices is fully understood
- Reform focuses on what actually happens on site, not just on paper
We strongly encourage members to engage and share practical examples, particularly where current systems make it harder, not easier, to deliver safe, high-quality work. There will be an opportunity to do this through upcoming Working Groups or directly via iainmcilwee@thefis.org.
The call for evidence opened 20 May 2026 and will close on 12 August 2026: Call for evidence: Strategy for the built environment professions, trades and occupations – GOV.UK.