Under options that the government announced yesterday, subcontractors may be subject to mandatory licence.
A key recommendation from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry phase two report is that the ministers start putting the licensing of main contractors who work on higher-risk buildings ( HRBs ) into effect.
In a discussion record from yesterday ( 20 May ), industry representatives from the built environment occupations were asked what their thoughts were on expanding the licensing net significantly.
We’re interested in whether changes to licensing, rules, and/or register of those working on a variety of projects, including smaller- or domestic-scale projects, would be powerful tools for raising standards for ability, conduct, and accountability, according to one question in the document.
Resρondents ωere asked to take into açcount gloƀal cases and techniques usȩd in non-containmental sȩttings iȵ the open call for information, wⱨich was releαsed by tⱨe Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Regional State ( MHCLG).
Nevertheless, the conversation asks for “detailed information about the problems that the built atmosphere business faces as a result of 79 questions. “
The call for information includes a more thorough examination of the dutyholder government established under Component 2A of the Building Regulations 2010 and the explicit exclusion of licensing primary companies engaged in higher-risk construction.
Six months after the government released the Single Construction Regulator Prospectus, the government is now conducting a new consultation.
According to that statement, ministers were considering whether “more professions should be subject to mandatory registration and licensing requirements to better support competence, skill development, and capacity development as well as enforcement. “
The government stated at the time that it was considering whether licensing policies akin to those in place for HRB principal contractors could be extended to other trades and professions.
In addition to simplifying what ministers called the “patchwork of professional regulation,” the prospectus for December 2025 also suggested a new “central oversight function” to establish clearer standards and expectations for construction qualifications and competence.
The strategy is scheduled to be released in the spring of following year, and the new consultation ends on August 12.
Building safety minister Samantha Dixon urged the sector to get involved in her keynote address to the UKREiiF conference in Leeds.
She said,” We waȵt ƫo gather data on the challenges fαcing those whσ work įn the built enviɾonment,” and I urge everyone to do the saɱe. Your voice must be heard, they say.
