Building Standards

Driving Excellence in Building Standards: A Year of Learning and Development Progress at the Scottish Building Standards Hub

August 18, 2025 by Simon Moore No Comments | Category Building Standards, Scottish Building Standards Hub

A guest post by Russell Watson, Learning and Development Manager at the Scottish Building Standards Hub

The Scottish Building Standards Hub (SBSH), hosted within Fife Council, plays a pivotal role in supporting local authority building standards services across all 32 Scottish local authorities. As an independent, specialist unit, SBSH is committed to enhancing professional practice and consistency across the sector—through innovation, collaboration, and a strong focus on learning and development.

One of our most significant achievements to date is the launch and ongoing development of Scotland’s first dedicated online learning management system (LMS) for building standards professionals. Originally introduced by Local Authority Building Standards Scotland (LABSS) in 2023, the system is now fully managed by SBSH. It provides a centralised platform for professional development and is evolving rapidly to meet the sector’s growing needs.

Looking ahead, we’re developing a suite of bespoke, Scotland-specific learning modules. These include upcoming content on fire safety and environmental regulations, due for release in late summer 2025. Additional modules focusing on management will follow in the autumn, with a further suite on compliance beginning development later in the year. These compliance modules will directly address challenges raised in the Scottish Government’s response to Phase 2 of the Grenfell Inquiry, particularly around product certification.

Our transition from an LMS to a Learning Experience Platform (LXP), which was launched on 4^th July 2025, is more than a technical upgrade—it’s a strategic move to support a digitised version of the Competency Assessment System (CAS), originally developed by LABSS. This new system, currently in development and testing, is set to launch in late summer 2025. It is supported by the Building Standards Division (BSD) through an updated professional competency framework, and by LABSS through their peer review process. Together, these efforts aim to strengthen the competency and consistency of building standards professionals across Scotland.

Beyond the digital platform, SBSH is also expanding its support through formal and informal learning opportunities. These include online CPD events, in-person training, and the development of accredited courses tailored to the unique needs of the building standards profession. Notable highlights from this year include the delivery of specialist investigative training to address enforcement skills gaps, and the creation of a LABSS-specific HNC in Architectural Technology in partnership with Fife College—supporting local authorities in their “grow-your-own” workforce strategies.  This aligns with the existing building standards modern apprenticeship pathway, with HNC students studying alongside modern apprentices and helping secure the viability of a bespoke course for the next academic year.

Importantly, our learning and development initiatives extend beyond local authority verifiers. We actively collaborate with partner organisations and are committed to engaging more widely with the construction industry in the months ahead.

As I reflect on my first year in this role, I’m reminded of the leap of faith it took to leave a great team at Perth and Kinross Council and step into the unknown. The progress we’ve made is a testament to the dedication of professionals across the industry who have embraced change and contributed to the Hub’s success. It’s an exciting time to be part of a profession undergoing rapid transformation—and to be helping individuals and teams rise to the challenge.

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