Building Engineering Services Association urges the sector for higher standards and cultural reset amid safety and decarbonisation drives

The building engineering sector must take a more proactive stance on raising standards of competence and integrity, urged David Friese, chief executive of the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), at the association’s annual conference in London. Friese called on members of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) community to lead a cultural reset across the wider construction industry rather than being pulled down by poor practices prevalent elsewhere.

Friese emphasised the crucial role the MEP sector plays, noting that it undertakes more than half of the work on construction projects. He stressed the need for the sector to be recognised for its high standards and to "pull up" the rest of the industry to match its levels of technical competence and integrity. To reinforce this vision, BESA has introduced the Member Pledge, which requires members and their supply chains to demonstrate verified technical competence. As of the conference, seven companies, including CN100 firms Briggs & Forrester and Gratte Bros, had committed to this initiative.

The pledge reflects BESA’s determination to improve industry standards independently, without relying solely on government regulators or main contractors to enforce compliance. “We have to get to a position where the fact you can’t do a job stops you winning a job,” Friese told delegates in his keynote speech, affirming the association’s intention to take firm control over competence requirements within its ranks.

This resolve is underpinned by tough enforcement actions taken earlier in the year, when BESA suspended 14 members for failing to comply with its independent audit process, which assesses business practices, financial solvency, and technical competence. While membership suspensions may seem counterintuitive for an organisation reliant on subscription income, Friese argued that improving the industry's integrity is paramount. These measures highlight the association’s commitment to holding its members accountable and ensuring that the sector’s standards remain robust.

Further pointing to the broader industry shift, BESA president Pete Curtis of Briggs & Forrester emphasised the need for procurement processes to evolve from short-term, price-driven models to long-term, performance-based frameworks. He identified key conference themes, such as building safety and decarbonisation, as not just compliance necessities but also business opportunities. Curtis underlined the competitive advantage firms can gain by focusing on competence and sustainable practices.

Briggs & Forrester’s own strategic focus aligns with this narrative. The firm notably sold its building maintenance arm in late 2024 to concentrate on core contracting operations, underlining a commitment to strengthening its expertise and market position in contracting services. Leadership changes within the sector continue to reinforce this professionalisation trend, with firms like Briggs & Forrester promoting experienced executives to high-level roles, further signalling a drive towards enhancing service quality.

This sector-wide push comes against the backdrop of ongoing regulatory and safety challenges. Since the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy, competence has become a crucial focus for the construction industry, with regulatory reforms such as the Building Safety Act 2022 introducing more rigorous standards but also complexities. Industry experts have noted that while new regulations aim to improve safety, they have also brought additional challenges that require careful navigation.

Meanwhile, broader initiatives such as the Decarbonising Construction 2025 event, organised by Construction News, highlight the evolving business landscape where sustainability goals and competence standards intersect. Industry leaders are urged to embrace innovation in procurement and project delivery to meet both safety and environmental objectives.

In summary, BESA’s call to action represents a significant step towards embedding competence as a core value and competitive criterion within building engineering services. By enforcing standards, promoting verified skills, and encouraging long-term value-driven procurement, the sector aims to elevate its reputation and influence across the construction industry.