The Building a Safer Future (BSF) Charter has launched its ‘Charter Champion’ company initiative to help companies drive the systemic culture change required to put building safety first.
approach and performance
Through robust self-assessment, benchmarking, and independent verification, the BSF Charter Champion company initiative will help companies identify potential issues and, in turn, develop continuous improvement plans to advance their overall approach and performance on leadership and culture about building safety.
Through their participation in this process, companies will be able to identify ways in which they can help to reduce their risk profile in terms of building safety.
independent assessment
The first 12 companies, that are demonstrating real sectoral leadership, have signed up to begin the journey
The first 12 companies, who are demonstrating real sectoral leadership, have signed up to begin the journey and engage in the robust benchmarking and independent assessment process.
The organizations include BAM, Galliford Try, Kier, Mace, MHS Homes, Persimmon Homes, Places for People, Salix Homes, United Living, Vistry Group, Wates, and Willmott Dixon.
building regulations and fire safety
Dame Judith Hackitt’s independent inquiry into building regulations and fire safety identified failure of leadership and culture as key underlying causes of the Grenfell Tower disaster.
The ‘Building a Safer Future Charter’ was initiated in response by a group of early adopters including contractors, housing associations, and local authorities supported by MHCLG with a vision of having an industry committed to putting people’s safety first.
BSF Charter
The BSF Charter has been highlighted by Dame Judith Hackitt and the Industry Safety Steering Group (ISSG) as a key mechanism for leading the culture change required for the industry in their report for the Secretary of State and the Minister for Building Safety published in August 2020.
The BSF Charter benchmarking and verification process is now open for participation from across the construction industry.
Charter Champion
All UK organizations involved in the built environment can participate in their commitment to building safety
All UK organizations involved in the built environment can proactively participate and demonstrate their commitment to building safety by becoming Registered Signatories to the Charter and, if appropriate, progress to undertaking the ‘Charter Champion’ benchmarking process.
This is particularly the case for Duty Holders.
culture change
Lord Greenhalgh, Minister for Building Safety said, "We are taking firm action to ensure that we never repeat the mistakes of the past, with this charter representing a major step forward in delivering much-needed culture change in the built environment industry."
Lord Greenhalgh adds, "I warmly welcome its introduction and commend the twelve organizations already signed up to become ‘Charter Champions’. I would strongly encourage more to get involved, especially those who will be playing a key role in the future building safety regulatory regime."
Building (a Safer Future) Charter
The Building a Safer Future Charter is referenced in the publication - 'A Reformed Building Safety Regulatory System: Government Response to the ‘Building a Safer Future’ Consultation', published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government in
April 2020. The publication states that 'the Government encourages duty-holders to be signatories and commit to the Building (a Safer Future) Charter' as part of a more rigorous approach to accountability.
