SPRA Awards 2026 – Limited Tickets & Entry Deadline Approaching
The countdown is on for the SPRA Awards 2026, taking place on Wednesday 1st July 2026 at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole. This flagship industry event will once again bring the sector together to celebrate excellence, innovation, and outstanding achievements.
Award Entries
There is still time to showcase your best projects, innovations, and successes from the past year – but the deadline is approaching. Don’t miss your opportunity to gain recognition across the industry.
Submit your entries here: SPRA Awards Submission
Tickets – Limited availability
Tickets are selling quickly and availability is now limited. Secure your place to join colleagues from across the industry for a day of recognition, celebration, and valuable networking.
Get your tickets here: SPRA Awards Tickets
For any questions, email enquiries@spra.co.uk.
SPRA & ICB Contractor Open Day – Almost Here
There’s not long to go until the SPRA & ICB Contractor Open Day on Wednesday 18 March 2026, and there are still a few spaces remaining. If you’re planning to attend, now is the time to secure your place.
Hosted by SPRA and ICB (Waterproofing), the session is ideal for those involved in procurement, contracts, design, estimating, site management, or surveying. The event will cover key topics including legal duties, training opportunities, and competence standards, along with a presentation from ICB and the chance to network with industry colleagues over lunch.
Date: Wednesday 18 March 2026
Time: 10:15 – 13:15 (registration from 09:45)
Location: ICB (Waterproofing), NG16 1AA
Places are limited and filling quickly, so don’t miss your chance to attend.
To sign up or for more information, please email enquiries@spra.co.uk.
NextGen Update
Thank you to all SPRA contractor members who completed the recent contractors survey – your feedback is greatly appreciated. We are now using the information gathered to help drive positive change within the industry.
The SPRA NextGen working group continues to promote single ply roofing and highlight the career opportunities available, including engagement with ex-military personnel through BFRS events.
BFRS Confirmed 2026 Events:
- Aldershot – 14 May 2026
- Tidworth – 17 September 2026
- Catterick – 26 November 2026
If you would like to get involved with the NextGen working group, please contact nextgen@spra.co.uk.
Wind Load Calculation Protocol (WLCP) – Online Sessions
These highly popular online sessions, suitable for both SPRA members and non-members, are designed around the SPRA guidance document: Wind Loading – Protocol for Calculations (S11b/19).
The course consists of three 2-hour online sessions, covering the guidance in detail with extensive references to the relevant standards and supporting industry information.
SPRA members continue to enjoy reduced course rates.
For more information, contact enquiries@spra.co.uk.
Wishing all SPRA members a safe and productive week!
Training & Competency Development – Specialist Applied-Skills Programme (SAP)
SPRA provides specialist training and competency development for single ply roofing professionals, including the Specialist Applied-Skills Programme (SAP) and SUP/OSAT upskilling and assessment for installers.
These industry-recognised programmes can contribute towards the Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Waterproofing Systems – Single Ply Membranes. SPRA contractor members benefit from reduced course rates, and CITB-registered companies may be eligible for grant funding.
Upcoming SAP dates and locations will be announced soon. Register your interest now to secure a place on future courses.
📧 Enquire and register trainees: training@spra.co.uk
Build UK Update
CITB Funding Latest
CITB has announced how in‐scope employers can access funding for training from 1 April 2026, which will be dependent on the size of organisation. This follows CITB’s decision last month to stop taking new bookings through its Employers Networks for training to be delivered before 1 April as this year’s budget has already been fully committed.
Micro to medium sized employers will be able to book training through Employer Networks at 50% match funding or a fixed contribution for health and safety courses. The funding available will be capped based on employer size: micro ‐ £1,500, small ‐ £2,000, and medium ‐ £4,500. Large employers will no longer be able to access funding through Employer Networks and will instead be eligible for a new Large Employer Fund. For the financial year 2026/27, this will provide £18,000 to spend on any in‐scope training, paid on a training plan or receipt of evidence of training.
All employers, regardless of size, will also still be able to access apprenticeship grants, Travel to Train, qualification grants, short course grants for certain specialist courses, and the Industry Impact Fund. Members of the CITB Executive Management Team are meeting with Build UK Trade Association members today and with Contractor members on Thursday 26 March to provide further information on how funding will be managed going forward, and your nominated Skills representative should have received the details directly.
Source: Build UK / CITB
Building Safety Remediation
The Building Safety Regular (BSR) has now introduced its ‘Remediation Improvement Plan’ to speed up the processing of Gateway Two applications for remediation projects. It has also set a deadline of 30 April 2026 to clear the majority of remaining remediation applications from 2024. The key measures set out in the plan include:
- Creating a Remediation Multi‐Disciplinary Team (MDT) cohort, similar to the Innovation Unit for new build applications, with account managers to streamline communication
- A recruitment drive to increase Regulatory Lead capacity and reduce individual caseloads
- Using ‘Approval with Requirements’ where applications demonstrate substantive compliance with Building Regulations, with additional information to be provided at a later date
- Publication of specific guidance for remediation applications. Build UK’s guidance on Gateway Two sets out all the information that must be included within applications for existing Higher‐Risk Buildings (HRBs).
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has issued its latest data release for all the remediation programmes for residential buildings 11 metres and over in England. By the end of January 2026, remediation work had been completed on 36% of the 4,191 buildings identified, with work underway on a further 16%. Almost half (46%) of the 2,355 buildings 18 metres and over have now had remediation work completed.
Source: Build UK / BSR
CSCS Provisional Card
CSCS is consulting on a proposal to allow a one‐off renewal of the six‐month Provisional card, used for individuals on probation while employers assess their suitability. Concerns have been raised about securing sustained employment before the card expires, and the change is designed to avoid creating a barrier to re‐entering the industry. Members can share their views until Friday 17 April.
Source: Build UK / CSCS
New Fire Safety Standard
The BSI is consulting on a new Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 9970 for Fire Safety in Construction. PAS 9970‐1 provides guidance on managing organisational and site‐specific fire safety risks, whilst PAS 9970‐2 specifies the requirements for temporary fire detection and fire alarm systems. Members can download and submit comments on the drafts until Wednesday 18 March.
Source: Build UK / BSI
Competence Standards
The BSI is reviewing the frameworks used by Principal Designers and Principal Contractors to demonstrate competence under the Building Safety Act. The aim is to ensure that PAS 8671 and PAS 8672 are fit for purpose based on the latest legislation, and members can submit feedback until Tuesday 31 March by registering on the Built Environment Competence Hub.
Source: Build UK / BSI
Annual Report on Grenfell Tower Inquiry Published
The Government has published its first annual report following the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, which details the progress that has been made on implementing the 5 recommendations in the Inquiry’s final report and sets out milestones and plans for the year ahead. It confirms that 12 recommendations have been completed, including two from the Phase 1 report, with 70% expected to be closed by the end of 2026.
Alongside the annual report, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published a Construction Products Reform White Paper, setting out system‐wide reforms to strengthen the regulatory framework for construction products. These include a new licensing regime for testing and certification bodies, new requirements for product information and transparency, and greater enforcement powers for the national construction products regulator.
For construction products not covered by designated standards, which means they are currently unregulated, MHCLG is consulting on the introduction of a General Safety Requirement for Construction Products that will place specific obligations on businesses to ensure that these products are safe. The deadline for submitting a response to both the consultation and the White Paper is Wednesday 20 May.
In addition, the BSI has developed PAS 2000 ‐ Bringing Safe Products to Market, which sets out a framework for manufacturers to demonstrate that they have taken all reasonable steps to ensure their products are safe for their intended uses. Members can book a place at the launch event in London next Tuesday 10 March from 9:30am ‐ 11:30am.
The Interim Chief Construction Adviser, Thouria Istephan, has published a statement outlining her work to date, including engagement with Build UK and the CLC, as well as the priorities for the remainder of her term until September 2026. These include supporting the development of the new Chief Construction and Scientific Adviser role, which will be appointed by the end of the year.
Source: Build UK / UK Gov
CPA Update
Economics Update
CPA Weekly UK Economic and Construction Update
The latest weekly update can be found here it includes:
- S&P Global UK Construction PMI (February 2026)
- DBT UK Brick Deliveries (January 2026)
- Bank of England UK Mortgage Approvals (January 2026)
- Nationwide UK House Price Index (February 2026)
- Vistry Group Full-year Results (March 2026)
- Taylor Wimpey Full-year Results (March 2026)
The State of Trade Survey 2025 Q4 was published on Monday 9th February and can be found here.
The CPA’s Winter Forecasts were published on Monday 26 January and can be found here.
Source: CPA
Government Update
Statement from the Interim Chief Construction Adviser
The Chief Construction Advisor Thouria Istephan has release a statement regarding her work. It includes her priorities during her term in office and her next steps. some of her priorities are listed as:
- reform of regulation for construction products
- standards for the construction of buildings and professionals involved in construction
- how evidence is gathered and learning from near misses
- supporting the development of the permanent CCSA role
The Statement can be read in full here. The CPA has already met with and has an ongoing dialogue with the Interim Chief Construction Advisor.
Product Safety White Paper Published and Consultation Begins
The Government has published its White Paper consultation on Construction Product Reform. This has been eagerly anticipated following on from the Green Paper on Product Reform and more recently the Single Regulator Prospectus. The CPA will be engaging in detailed discussion with our members as it will define how the product sector will effectively be governed for the foreseeable future. The consultation can be found here. As with the Green Paper last year the CPA is in discussion with officials at MHCLG on engagement events that our membership will take part in. We will advise when that has been finalised.
PAS 2000
It has been announced that PAS 2000:2026, Construction products – Bringing safe products to market – Code of practice, has now been published. Its free to download and can be found here.
Source: CPA / UK Gov
The Built Environment Competence Hub is Now live
The Built Environment Competence Hub, managed by BSI and developed in collaboration with the Industry Competence Steering Group (ICSG) and the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) is designed to bring industry together in a central space to strengthen competence across the UK built environment. Read the CPA blog here.
Source: CPA / BSI