LABC learning goes from strength to strength

LABC is celebrating its largest ever cohort of learners in its drive to transform public service building control, supported by its network of 3,500 surveyors and technical staff.

Since the end of 2019, more than 2,000 LABC members have signed up for subsidised education courses at levels 3, 4, 5 or 6. Over the next three years, hundreds more will take education courses and have their competence validated to meet the requirements of the new building safety regime.

Two level six courses – the CIOB backed Management of public service building control and Safety at sports grounds and other public events are oversubscribed and as a result LABC is adding additional cohorts in September 2022 for these courses.

Take up of CPD is also soaring with more than 600 signing up for LABC’s online briefing on the new building regulation parts F, L, O and S on 17 June.

To ensure competence validations are completely independent and objective LABC has set up the Building Safety Competence Foundation – a not-for-profit community interest company. It will oversee independent competence validation and offer LABC’s specialist learning and education to the wider industry – including to private sector building control. The Foundation – chaired by Lord Porter – is set to gain final ISO 17024 accreditation in the summer and has now launched its website. 

Commenting LABC Chief Executive, Lorna Stimpson, said “I am delighted that public service building inspectors have stepped up to the mark and taken these learning and assessment opportunities – we have hundreds of surveyors signed up for formal learning, with thousands accessing non-accredited CPD learning every month via our virtual learning environment."

“Since the demise of the Institute of Building Control there have been few accredited qualification routes for our specialism. So, over the last few years, LABC has developed an OFQUAL range of accredited and award-winning building control qualifications concentrating on the education needed to complement the learning gained on the job."

“We have also set up the Building Safety Competence Foundation (the BSCF) – an independent body charged solely with delivering education and verifying industry competence. Our ground breaking ISO17024 competence validation programme has been developed to prepare the building control profession for the registration requirements of the new regime and we’re delighted that the Building Safety Regulator has already recognised the BSCF’s work in their early thinking on registration requirements.”