The key questions behind HSE’s competence consultation
Iain Hoey
Share this content
Industry Competence Committee opens consultation on competence management expectations
Consultation launched on guidance for competence management
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced that the Industry Competence Committee (ICC) has opened a consultation on its new guidance document Setting Expectations for Competence Management.
The consultation opened on Thursday 25 September 2025 and will close at 23:59 on Thursday 6 November 2025.
The ICC was formed under the Building Safety Act 2022 to advise the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) and industry on improving competence across the built environment.
The new guidance outlines what organisations should do to meet competence management requirements set out in Part 2A of the Building Regulations 2010 and The Higher-Risk Buildings (Management of Safety Risks etc.) (England) Regulations 2023.
It aims to clarify what good competence management looks like for both individuals and organisations involved in design, construction and building management.
Guidance applies to a wide range of organisations
According to the ICC, the document applies to organisations carrying out design or building work in all types of buildings, as well as those managing buildings, particularly higher-risk buildings (HRBs).
The guidance builds on feedback from a previous industry consultation held in May 2025.
It sets out broad expectations for how competence should be managed and identifies common elements and principles relevant to all organisations.
Feedback sought on clarity and usefulness of principles
The ICC said it is seeking feedback from industry on whether the principles outlined will help in developing competence management processes and whether they are understandable.
Following publication, the ICC plans to build on the guidance by developing practical case studies and examples to assist organisations.
The consultation also invites views on how these case studies and examples could best support implementation within the sector.
How to respond to the consultation
Responses can be submitted via an online survey, by email or by post to the HSE’s offices at Redgrave Court in Bootle, Merseyside.
The ICC stated that all responses must be received before the deadline of 23:59 on 6 November 2025.
The HSE confirmed that once the consultation closes, it will review all feedback and may refine the guidance document further before publication.
It also plans to develop additional practical resources for industry use.
Confidentiality and data protection considerations
The HSE said information provided in response to the consultation may be subject to publication or disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR).
Respondents are asked to make any confidentiality requests explicit within their submissions.
The HSE stated that all personal data will be processed in accordance with GDPR, with disclosures made only in line with the regulations.
Relevance for fire and safety professionals
This consultation will be relevant for fire engineers, building control professionals, facilities managers and contractors responsible for design, construction and management of higher-risk buildings.
The ICC guidance directly links to legal obligations under the Building Regulations 2010 and the Higher-Risk Buildings (Management of Safety Risks etc.) (England) Regulations 2023.
Fire safety officers and consultants involved in compliance or safety case preparation for high-rise residential buildings may find the document particularly important for understanding regulatory expectations.
Organisations involved in competence assessment, training or certification within the fire and safety sector could also use the consultation period to shape how competence management standards evolve under the Building Safety Act framework.
Industry Competence Committee opens consultation on competence management expectations: Summary
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has opened a consultation on the Industry Competence Committee’s (ICC) guidance document Setting Expectations for Competence Management, which runs from 25 September to 6 November 2025.
The ICC, formed under the Building Safety Act 2022, advises the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) and industry on competence improvement in the built environment.
The guidance applies to organisations involved in design, construction or building management, particularly those managing higher-risk buildings (HRBs).
It sets out expectations for competence management under Part 2A of the Building Regulations 2010 and The Higher-Risk Buildings (Management of Safety Risks etc.) (England) Regulations 2023.
Feedback is being sought on whether the principles outlined are clear and useful for developing competence management processes.
Responses can be submitted online, by email or by post before 23:59 on 6 November 2025.
This article contains information from the following source: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)