Extending Building Safety Reforms to Subcontractors

Extend Building Safety Reforms to Subcontractors — What It Means for You

On 5 November 2025, Andy Roe, Chair of the Shadow Building Safety Regulator Board, addressed the House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee and urged the construction industry to widen the scope of building safety reforms, especially to include subcontractors, engineering professions and specialist roles within the built environment.

His key message: the current regulatory system still leaves significant safety gaps when subcontractors operate without the same oversight, registration or competence frameworks that apply to larger principal contractors.

Why This Matters

1. Hidden Risks in the Subcontractor Chain

According to Roe, while building control and principal contractor oversight have been strengthened since the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy, many specialists and subcontractors remain outside of formal regulation and registration.
He warned that this presents “great danger” because unknown competence, inconsistent training, and unclear professional accountability can lead to failures in critical engineering or fire-safety systems.

2. Legislative Momentum for Change

Roe indicated that the Building Safety Reform is exploring licensing models used internationally, where regulators assess the competence of organisations as a whole, not just individual practitioners.
This suggests a future where every professional role, whether structural engineer, fire engineer or specialist access contractor, may need to demonstrate competence through registration, continuing professional development and recognised standards.

3. Implications for Site Managers and Safety Professionals

For those responsible for site safety, scaffolding, access, fire protection or structural work, these changes signal that:

• You may need to evidence training, registration or credentials beyond current norms

• Working with subcontractors will likely involve more rigorous checking of competence and compliance

• Training providers (like Lighthouse Safety) will need to ensure that their courses reflect and anticipate these regulatory shifts

How Lighthouse Safety Supports You

At Lighthouse Safety, we are committed to ensuring that your training, competence and certification align with evolving regulatory requirements. Here’s how we support you:

• Comprehensive qualification training: Our courses in site management, access, fire safety and first aid are designed to build competence across the value chain.

• Focus on chain management and subcontractor oversight: We embed modules in our courses that cover subcontractor competence, hand-over procedures, contractor checks and compliance expectations.

• Future-proof training: With regulatory change on the horizon, our curriculum is designed to adapt so you stay ahead of requirements, not playing catch-up.

• Practical applicability: We emphasise real-world scenarios where subcontractor failures occurred and use them as case studies to help you implement robust controls on your site.

Key Themes Addressed in Training

Building Safety Culture Beyond the Contractor

While principal contractors carry heavy responsibility under the Building Safety Act 2022 and associated regulations, the Building Safety Reform’s message is clear: safety must permeate every level of the supply chain. Training must therefore cover:

• Verification of subcontractor competence

• Monitoring of specialist works (fire stopping, facade, mechanical & electrical)

• Clear contractor hand-over and sign-off protocols

Competence, Registration and Oversight

Lighthouse Safety’s courses emphasise competency frameworks: how to assess, validate and document competence; how to use auditing, observation and assessment; how to track continuing professional development.

Risk Management and Specialist Roles

Engineering and specialist contractor roles are flagged for stronger regulatory focus. Our training emphasises risk management in high-hazard activities, ensuring that those supplying critical systems (e.g., fire systems, façade access, roof anchors) understand their role in the overall safety ecosystem.

What You Should Do Now

• Review your subcontractor onboarding processes: Are all roles registered, trained and assessed?

• Ensure training records are complete and up-to-date: For your team and any subcontracted specialist roles.

• Plan for future regulation: Build competence and documentation now, rather than reacting later.

• Book the right training: For you, your team and your supply chain partners, focusing on competence, compliance and oversight.

View our upcoming courses or call 01634 260631 for bespoke programmes that cover compliance at all levels of your operation.

Lighthouse Safety already delivers training that supports stronger contractor management and better site control. Our courses help site managers, supervisors and dutyholders understand their responsibilities and put practical controls in place.