Tilbury Douglas Project Managers approved for Chartered Institute of Building’s Principal Contractor Competency Certification Scheme - Pilot Programme

This ground-breaking scheme, aligned with the Building Safety Act 2022 requirements, aims to certify competence within the construction industry. The CIOB has played a pivotal role in developing the PAS 8762, which outlines the competence criteria under the scheme, divided into Category A (all buildings except High-Risk Buildings (HRBs)) and Category B (all building including HRBs).

The pilot phase of the scheme involved 10 construction professionals from diverse backgrounds, with Tilbury Douglas as one of the first Tier 1 contractors to be participating. The rigorous selection process comprised of a written submission, focusing on knowledge-based answers derived from the candidates’ experiences.

Stuart and Dan were specifically tasked with targeting Category B, which encompasses all buildings including HRBs. Drawing down on their experience of prominent projects such as The Lansdowne in Birmingham, Selly Oak Park in Birmingham, Nightingale NEC, and the QE in Birmingham.  They knowledgeably addressed the queries and demonstrated a thorough understanding of the legal requirements.

Impressed by their written responses, Dan and Stuart were progressed forward for the Category B Peer Review stage. This segment involved a 20 to 30-minute presentation on various competency elements outlined in the written submission, followed by a comprehensive Q&A session covering both the presentation and written responses.

For Category B candidates, the final segment of the interview comprised a choice of four questions (unknown to the candidates) on the competence criteria or a contemporary issue facing the industry sector. With a brief five-minute preparation time, candidates were required to deliver competent and coherent responses, followed by a further Q&A.

Dan Harmer commented: “We consider it a privilege to have been selected for this opportunity and are honoured to be among the first recipients of the accreditation validating our competence.”

Stuart Palmer said: “Under the requirements of the BSA and to improve overall standards in the industry providing evidence of competence is key.  It was a pleasure being part of the pilot scheme to lead the way on a path that many others will follow.”

Rosalind Thorpe, Director of Education and Standards at CIOB, said: “We’re grateful to Tilbury Douglas for allowing Dan and Stuart to take part in the pilot, as it’s only by testing new schemes with people working on the frontline that we can adapt and develop them to be the best they can be.

“The feedback we received from Dan and Stuart has been really valuable and we now have a certification scheme which we know will help people needing to fulfil the principal contractor role demonstrate their competency. This is vital as the industry adapts to the new Building Safety Act requirements.”

As the industry evolves, it is anticipated that more professionals will seek certification under this scheme, and clients will increasingly prioritise contractors with certified competent teams. Tilbury Douglas is proud to have taken this proactive step to ensure its teams possess the necessary qualifications.