In response to the competence concerns raised in Dame Judith Hackitt's Independent Review, the Competence Steering Group ('CSG') was established with multiple working groups to consider how to improve competences in a wide range of industry roles relating to buildings in scope. For procurement, the CSG Key Recommendations were:
■ 'There must be a designated individual who is assigned as a Procurement Lead. This lead must have a comprehensive competence level at every stage of the RIBA Plan of Work
■ The Procurement Lead will be assessed and accredited against a new procurement competence framework which identifies the capabilities and knowledge that are needed to carry out all procurement activities identified for in scope buildings
■ Implementing this Procurement Lead role will need a culture change in the construction sector and work is needed to raise awareness of the new competence requirements for procurement activities to ensure appreciation and compliance.'
Dame Judith Hackitt's Independent Review: ■ 'Competence across the system is patchy. (Executive Summary, page 11) ■ Recommendations include 'Setting out demanding expectations around improved levels of competence' (Recommendations, page 13) |
Government response to the 'Building a Safer Future' consultation: ■ 'Dutyholders will need to ensure that those they employ have the necessary competence to discharge their functions effectively and assure that they themselves are suitably competent for the work they have been engaged to do.' |
A new standard for setting and overseeing competence frameworks is being developed, currently known as the 'BSI Flex 8670 Built environment - Overarching framework for competence of individuals - Specification'. The sector-specific frameworks proposed by the CSG continue to be refined against this standard and the industry is expected to develop training routes that match these frameworks covering the skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours required to undertake an appointed role in a way that ensures compliance with Building Regulations and best procurement practice. While skills, knowledge and experience can be determined, measured and compared objectively, the behavioural aspects of competence are harder to analyse and rely on additional techniques such as the workshops referred to in Section 5.4.
When considering competence within an organisation, the ISO 44001 standard for 'Collaborative business relationship management systems' describes how:
■ 'Organisations will need to determine the necessary competence of people doing work that, under its control, affects the management system's performance, its ability to fulfil its obligations and ensure they receive the appropriate training'
■ 'In addition, organizations need to ensure that all people doing work under the organisation's control are aware of the collaborative relationships policy, how their work may impact this and implications of not conforming with the collaborative business relationship management system'.