Small firms struggling with building safety regime, warns BESA

Small construction businesses are feeling “overwhelmed” by the complexity and enforcement expectations of the Building Safety Act, according to new research released by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA).

Speaking at a panel during London Build Expo, industry leaders highlighted serious challenges in compliance, communication, and understanding of the Act—particularly among SMEs and micro-businesses, which represent 99% of the construction sector.

BESA’s latest industry survey revealed that while 88% of professionals are aware of the legislation, many smaller firms feel unprepared to meet its requirements. Rachel Davidson, BESA’s Director of Specialist Knowledge, said that many businesses still assume the Act only applies to higher-risk buildings (HRBs), leading to inconsistent engagement with regulatory responsibilities.

“This is critical because those companies are the lifeblood of the industry,” Davidson said. “Unless there are consequences, clients will continue to think compliance is optional.”

The findings suggest that clients are often continuing with “business as usual,” prioritising cost and delivery speed over safety—despite the Act’s aim to overhaul construction culture in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire. While 78% of companies surveyed said leadership and culture were important, fewer than half reported having taken sufficient action.

Davidson stressed the need for targeted, sector-specific guidance and consistent enforcement to drive meaningful change. BESA is providing tools to help firms focus on the areas of compliance relevant to their role, including a newly launched guide for Principal Contractors.

Fellow panellist Hannah Carpenter from the Building Safety Wiki underlined the challenge of communicating regulatory requirements to a workforce of 2.6 million people, many of whom operate in small businesses. She said traditional methods of compliance messaging were falling short and called for a values-driven approach that emphasised purpose and safety rather than “box-ticking.”

“We need to ask people why we are doing this—which is to keep people safe and make sure the Grenfell tragedy cannot happen again,” she said. “People should want to make a difference.”

Suggestions included using non-traditional communication routes—such as HMRC or trade suppliers—to reach smaller firms and individuals more effectively, especially given concerns about literacy levels in the sector.

Gary Cass, CEO of Hertfordshire Building Control, added that while the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has made progress—cutting Gateway Two approval times from 38 to 17 weeks—there remains a widespread misunderstanding about the distinction between regulations and guidance. He also warned of critical workforce shortages, particularly among experienced Building Control Officers (BCOs), which could limit enforcement capacity.

“There are signs of progress at the top of companies, but getting the message further down the chain will take time,” he said.

Cass advocated for a constructive approach to enforcement and emphasised the need to educate the industry on what compliance entails under the new regime, particularly as the traditional advisory role of BCOs becomes more limited.

With pressure mounting to accelerate cultural change, the conversation at London Build Expo underscored the urgency of improved training, communication, and enforcement strategies to ensure small firms aren’t left behind in the industry’s regulatory transformation.