LABC conference success

Over 2 days, 15 Guest speakers, 40 exhibitor representatives, 50 online delegates and 250 in person made the 2021 LABC conference one of the most successful ever. With the 2020 event being cancelled due to the covid pandemic this was the first time in more than 18 months that public service building control could come together to discuss the profession and the changes taking place to the whole construction industry. 

Day 1 focused on LABC’s ‘mandate for change’ – the legislative changes in the pipeline from the Building Safety Bill and other regulatory improvements along with the desire from within LABC to put competency and standards at the heart of everything it does under the leadership of Chief Executive, Lorna Stimpson.

Delegates heard from both English and Welsh government officials about the legislative changes on the way in both countries, from Peter Baker, the new Chief Inspector of Buildings and from the National Fire Chiefs Council. Two sessions that delegates found of enormous benefit were from former Chief Construction Adviser, Paul Morrell OBE, who spoke about construction products, standards and testing and Simon Lewis from lawyers Womble Bond Dickinson looking at the new responsibilities and their possible impact on public service building control. 

A formal dinner took place where LABC President Anthony Oloyede handed on the presidential baton to 3C Building Control’s, Heather Jones, who will take up the post in January. Anthony announced that despite his term being completely disrupted by the covid pandemic he had still managed to raise over £7,000 for his charity – the Construction Youth Trust.

Day 2 looked in depth at some of the technical aspects of the new building safety regime, focussing on competencies and standards. The context was set by the first speaker, Prof Terry Callaghan, expert on the effects of climate change on the Arctic. He commented “If we had acted 30 years ago we wouldn't be in the mess we are now”. Other speakers from CABE, DLUHC and the National Social Housing Fire Safety Group explored changes to the regulations on energy, heat and access to buildings and the new role of the Building Safety Manager. Neal Butterworth of Design Fire Consultants was very well received with his look at competency in fire engineering as was Richard Harrall of CABE discussing the new BSI 8670 flex standard for construction industry competence frameworks.

LABC Chief Executive, Lorna Stimpson, ended the conference urging delegates, “Don’t wait to be told what to do. We haven't waited, the programmes are ready. Let's get better than we were yesterday”.

LABC looks forward to coming together again at Conference 2022.