Delight for sports ground safety chief Ken Scott's honour

LABC is delighted to learn that Ken Scott, Head of Inspectorate at the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) has become an  MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Ken started his career as a Building Control surveyor with the City of Sunderland in the 1970s and was a leading light in the building control profession for many years before moving to the SGSA in 2013. In the days of the Institute of Building Control prior to its merger with the RICS, Ken was a willing foot soldier initially working regionally before then holding national positions with the Institute. Throughout all of this period he was both encouraged and supported by his boss Stewart Macklam, another leading figure in north east building control circles.

Ken was always an advocate of training and development and was part of the team that developed and delivered the pioneering Admin Support seminars, along with Doug Basen (ex-North Tyneside Council and LABC), Anna Thompson (LABC Head of Engagement) and several others who Ken always classed as friends as well as colleagues.

This was the first time that the technical support staff in building control were recognised as playing a role that went far beyond any traditional local authority administrator, with delegates being introduced to the background, legislation, processes and responsibilities of building control. Ken’s speciality was electronic plans submission and quality management systems: Sunderland was the first local authority building control team to achieve BS 5750 (now ISO 9001) for both the building control and planning teams, as manager of both services.  

This pioneering one day course delivered around the country by the intrepid team of volunteers was later developed by LABC Training into the Admin course, the Tech Support course (with the opportunity to become a Technician with the Chartered Association of Building Engineers) and now the LABC Level 3 Certificate in Technical Support for Public Service Building Standards. Ken was Chair of the LABC Northern Region before leaving building control in 2013 to take up his dream job initially as an inspector with the SGSA. And as Ken himself says, the rest is history.

Ken has continued his close association with LABC, helping to develop and deliver the Safety at Sportsgrounds training to building control teams and to encourage them to become integral to their local Safety Advisory Groups, responsible for public safety at events.

One team that he has inspired in this way is the LABC team at Plymouth City Council. Manager Guy Cooper said "Ken has been a fantastic support to us at Plymouth City Council for many years. His knowledge, expertise and practical ‘real life’ application and advice are second to none. He has contributed to the health and safety of supporters in the stands and also guided us through the complexities when changing a football stadium into a capacity concert venue and the challenges that presents. His training courses and approachable nature for well over a decade are massively appreciated and this is a fully deserved accolade. Congratulations Ken from all at Plymouth City Council building control".

Commenting Anna Thompson said, "Congratulations to Ken Scott MBE from all of us at LABC. It’s fantastic to see one of our own recognised and rewarded for their outstanding contribution to public safety."

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