Demonstrating clear sectoral leadership and taking proactive steps and action ahead of regulation, the procurement organisations will use their influence to drive change through their UK wide partner and supply chain networks.

The adoption of BSF will support the construction industry to address critical areas of challenge in relation to building safety – particularly focussed on driving a step change in culture and leadership.

Crown Commercial Service and SCAPE will include both ‘BSF Champion’ status and ‘Registered Signatory’ status as requirements at different levels within their procurement frameworks and, working with BSF, will collaborate to encourage industry-wide adoption of this important initiative.

The BSF Charter was created to drive culture change in the built environment to help ensure that buildings are safe for those living and working in them and to protect life by putting safety first, ahead of all other building priorities. It is focussed on driving up standards, changing culture and behaviours and raising the bar in relation to building safety from design through to management and maintenance.

Construction companies can engage through becoming:

• A BSF Signatory – publicly and proactively supporting five pledges that demonstrate a commitment to protecting life by putting safety first, ahead of all other building priorities.
• A BSF Champion - through robust self-assessment, benchmarking and independent. verification, BSF helps companies identify potential issues and, in turn, develop continuous improvement plans to advance their overall approach and performance on leadership and culture in relation to building safety and drive up standards across the sector.

Crown Commercial Service is an executive agency of the Cabinet Office and the UK’s largest public procurement organisation. They offer the largest construction frameworks in the country, driving industry change in support of the Government’s construction strategy.

SCAPE is one of the UK’s leading public sector procurement authorities, dedicated to creating spaces and places that leave a sustainable legacy within the community. The SCAPE group of companies also includes Arc Partnership, an innovative joint venture between SCAPE and Nottinghamshire County Council and Lungfish Architects. Each of the companies within SCAPE have committed to adopting the principles contained within the BSF Charter and to participating themselves in the BSF Champions programme where this is applicable.

Amanda Long, chief executive, Building a Safer Future, said: “I am delighted that two major procurement frameworks, Crown Commercial Service and SCAPE have chosen to adopt Building a Safer Future as a critical lever of change. This trailblazing development will further support the construction industry to take the critical steps to put building safety first, and recognise those that do so. I encourage other procurement frameworks to follow their lead.”

John Welch, deputy director construction, Crown Commercial Service, said: “I am thrilled to be working in partnership with SCAPE and BSF on this hugely important development. This is a crucial first step in working collaboratively to demonstrate our joint commitment to building safety.

“CCS are committed to supporting the industry to drive a fundamental culture change to building safety. Through the foundations put in place by our commercial agreements we will work together with our stakeholders, customers and suppliers to raise industry standards.”

Mark Robinson, SCAPE chief executive officer, added: “We firmly believe that nothing is so important that it cannot be delivered safely. Construction projects are complex and require extensive coordination. However, every construction project should put building safety first and ensure the wellbeing and safety of each building, operative, visitor and the wider local community. This should apply to every project, irrespective of size or complexity.

“A culture of safety is a choice, and it is created by design. It requires constant communication, rigorous application and the ongoing evaluation of site operating procedures. At SCAPE, we’re proud to have amassed an exemplar track record on building safety across the UK, so we were thrilled to take a proactive leadership role with this important initiative.

“The principles and commitments of Building a Safer Future and the BSF Champions process closely align to our own values and those held by our colleagues at Crown Commercial Service. As a team, we are delighted to lend our voice and experience to help bring about the cultural and behavioural change that is sorely needed across the sector.”