Rebuilding Trust: Dame Judith Hackitt’s Call for Competence Across the Built Environment
Rebuilding Trust: Dame Judith Hackitt’s Call for Competence Across the Built Environment
In a powerful interview with SFG20, Dame Judith Hackitt, former Chair of the Health and Safety Executive and architect of the landmark post-Grenfell regulatory reform, offered a frank assessment of the UK construction sector's progress under the Building Safety Act. Her comments cut to the heart of a persistent issue that Temple QMS has long recognised: a sector-wide competence gap that threatens not just compliance but also the safety and trust essential to the built environment.
A Wake-Up Call the Sector Should Have Heeded Sooner
Dame Judith’s warning was unambiguous. The failures exposed by the Grenfell Tower tragedy reflected a systemic collapse, not an isolated anomaly. The shortcomings — poor safety practices, blurred lines of accountability, and fragmented oversight — were known well before the fire. Her 2018 independent review laid them bare.
At Temple QMS, we see echoes of these same systemic issues today. As we help organisations prepare for and comply with the Building Safety Act, we routinely encounter confusion over duties, uncertainty about standards, and a lack of readiness. This stems not from unwillingness but from a widespread skills and knowledge deficit.
Building Safety Act: Clearer Responsibilities, Inconsistent Response
One of the Act’s major strengths, as Dame Judith noted, is its emphasis on clear accountability, especially for building maintenance. This aligns closely with our ethos at Temple QMS. Good compliance is about understanding who is responsible, what they are responsible for, and how to discharge that responsibility effectively.
Yet the sector’s response has been inconsistent. Dame Judith observed that while some organisations have embraced the changes, others remain paralysed, awaiting clearer direction or relying on poor guidance. This reinforces the urgent need for competence-based training and support, not just more documentation.
Competence Isn’t Optional — It’s Foundational
Perhaps the most important takeaway from the interview is Dame Judith’s emphasis on competence as a non-negotiable foundation for progress.
“We know that this isn’t just about the guidance, but is also about a lack of overall competence throughout the sector.”
— Dame Judith Hackitt
At Temple QMS, we couldn’t agree more. We believe that frameworks, procedures, and systems are only as good as the people implementing them. That’s why we work with organisations to build robust, evidence-based competence management systems. These integrate continuous professional development, clear accountability, and third-party certification wherever possible.
The reality is stark. Without widespread improvements in competence, the Building Safety Act will be undermined by misinterpretation and poor execution.
A Call to Action for Building Owners and Dutyholders
Dame Judith’s advice to building owners is particularly telling. Understanding your building, inside and out, is now a legal and moral imperative. This includes everything from establishing the “golden thread” of information for new builds to auditing legacy structures with limited documentation.
In our work, we find that many building owners are only now beginning to grasp the scale of their responsibility. Asset understanding and data management are essential starting points. However, these must be underpinned by competent staff and advisors who can interpret, apply, and maintain compliance.
Simpler Guidance, Better Outcomes
The interview also highlighted the fragmented and overly prescriptive nature of current guidance. Dame Judith rightly pointed out that siloed documentation leads to siloed thinking. This is something we frequently see in practice.
Our role at Temple QMS is to help organisations navigate this complexity by translating guidance into practical, joined-up strategies. That requires more than box-ticking. It demands sector-wide alignment on what competence looks like and how it is maintained.
Looking Ahead: Safety, Quality, and Productivity Aligned
Dame Judith ended on a hopeful note. She believes the industry will eventually look back on this period as one where safety, quality, and productivity came together. We share that vision. But it will only be realised if the industry moves beyond compliance as an endpoint and embraces competence as the driver of meaningful, lasting improvement.
Final Thoughts
Dame Judith Hackitt’s message is clear. The built environment must do better and can do better through a commitment to competence at every level. At Temple QMS, we’re proud to support organisations on that journey, providing the tools, training, and assurance needed to meet not only the letter but the spirit of the Building Safety Act.
For those still unsure of the next step: don’t wait for clarity. Seek competence and compliance will follow.
Learn more about how Temple QMS can help your organisation achieve competence-based compliance with the Building Safety Act.
📩 Contact us at enquiries@templeqms.comom