INDUSTRY COMMENT Building controls key to high-performing buildings
Improving the performance of the UK’s buildings is one of the defining challenges facing the built environment. Expectations around energy efficiency, sustainability and operational performance continue to rise, while regulatory frameworks and market pressures evolve. Jen Vickers, President of the Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA), offers some insight from the association
E
nsuring buildings perform efficiently throughout their operational life is no longer simply a technical
consideration. It is central to achieving wider environmental, economic and societal goals. This is where building controls and automation play a vital role. Building energy management systems (BEMS) enable the monitoring, optimisation and automation of building services, helping buildings operate more efficiently, reduce energy consumption and create healthier indoor environments. As President of the Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA), working alongside Vice President Ron Purcell, the BCIA Management Committee and our wider membership, one of my priorities is ensuring the contribution of the building controls sector is better understood across the built environment.
Despite the clear impact intelligent building controls can have on energy performance and operational efficiency, awareness of the impact advanced controls deliver remains somewhat limited outside specialist circles. If the UK is to meet its ambitions around energy efficiency, decarbonisation and smarter building performance, that must change. Raising awareness of building controls is a central focus for the BCIA. Greater visibility helps ensure building controls expertise is included in policy and industry discussions around energy strategy and building performance, while also helping attract the next generation of professionals into the sector.
Addressing the skills challenge
Like many technical disciplines across building services engineering, the building controls sector continues to face skills shortages. Ensuring the industry has the talent it needs for the future remains a major priority. One of the most positive developments in recent years has
been the introduction of the BEMS Controls Engineer Apprenticeship programme. This initiative has been an important step forward for the sector, helping to strengthen the pipeline of new talent entering the profession. The recent completion of the programme by the 50th apprentice demonstrates the progress being made, while the 280 apprentices currently on programme reflects growing engagement from employers across the industry. However, apprenticeships are only part of the solution. Attracting people into these opportunities remains equally important. Building controls offers highly skilled careers that combine engineering expertise, digital technology and sustainability, and communicating the value of these roles will help attract future talent. Alongside apprenticeships, the BCIA is supporting employers to engage with T-Levels as part of strengthening the future workforce and introducing more young people to opportunities within the sector.
The Association is also working with industry partners to explore enhanced training opportunities and career development pathways beyond Level 4, ensuring there are clear, credible progression routes for individuals
committed to build long-term careers in building controls.
Strengthening competency and professional standards
Competency is another area where the sector must evolve. Following the introduction of the Building Safety Act, demonstrating professional competence and maintaining consistent standards across technical disciplines has become increasingly important. As the recognised body for the building controls and automation sector, the BCIA has been tasked with developing a sector- specific competence framework. This work will help clearly define the knowledge, skills and experience required to deliver high-performing building systems while strengthening confidence in the sector.
A sector with an increasingly vital role
Ultimately, improving building performance requires collaboration across the entire built environment and recognition of the role intelligent building controls play in delivering it. Building controls professionals sit at the intersection of engineering, technology and operational performance, giving the sector a unique and increasingly important role to play. The BCIA will continue to focus on raising awareness of the sector while strengthening the skills, talent pool and professional standards needed to support its future growth. Because delivering smarter, more efficient buildings will depend not only on how they are designed, but on how intelligently they are controlled.
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