The HSE Industry Competence Committee invites feedback from Industry on its guidance document, Setting Expectations for Competence Management (the document can be accessed here). 

The Industry Competence Committee (ICC) was formed under the Building Safety Act 2022 to provide strategic leadership, assistance and encouragement to facilitate the improvement of competence in the built environment industry. It advises both the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) and industry on matters of competence. 

The ICC has an objective to set clear expectations for industry on competence and what good looks like for individuals and organisations. 

Purpose of guidance document

This document is aimed at organisations who:

• Carry out any design or any building work (in all buildings)
• Manage buildings, and particularly those that manage Higher Risk Buildings (HRBs)

It sets out what organisations should do to meet the competence management aspects of requirements in Part 2A of the Building Regulations 2010 and The Higher-Risk Buildings (Management of Safety Risks etc.) (England) Regulations 2023.

This guidance builds on feedback received from industry consultation in May 2025. It is intended to give ICC’s broad expectations for how organisations should manage competence, by setting out what the common elements and principles are for all organisations.

Purpose of consultation

The ICC wants to ensure that these principles:

• Will assist industry in development of competence management processes
• Are understandable

Feedback is being sought on these points. Following publication, ICC will build on this guidance by developing case studies and examples, to assist industry at a more practical level. We are also seeking feedback on views of how case studies and examples could assist Industry.

Document Feedback Questions

Overarching principles of a competence management system

Q1. Will these principles assist organisations in understanding the requirements of a competence management system?

Q2. Are there any areas that are ambiguous or could be defined better?

Competence Management Principles for Organisations

Q3. Will these principles assist organisations in developing necessary processes to manage the competence of individuals?

Q4. What challenges do you have in managing individual competence that are not addressed by these principles?

Future development of supporting Information -case studies/examples

Q5. What further support/tools would help organisations in implementing this guidance effectively?

Q6. Which specific audience groups do you think might benefit from case studies/examples?

Q7. Would you be willing to share case studies or examples of how your organisation manages individual competence and for ICC/BSR to contact you? (required)