I started out in Building Control many moons ago, in fact too many to include here, and I’ve worked in Public and private sector. I’ve experienced the youthful joys of driving around small rural boroughs wearing plimsolls so I could encounter young ladies sunbathing topless in their back garden. I’ve stared into the foundation trenches of some pretty huge projects and they have stared back at me. I’ve seen colleagues jacking up their cars in 4th gear to catch up with their mileage claims.
I’ve worked for an Approved Inspector, been a council employee and even dabbled in a private surveying practice too – so I know a bit about everything and now I’m distant from the cut and thrust, I’m upset at what is happening to the profession.
Why do this blog?
- Because Building Control is misunderstood and is being manipulated politically.
- Just because you are loud does not mean you are right.
- Because in the Building Safety Bill debate the MPs are listening but not questioning the witnesses. There have been some statements made by people whose evidence is being accepted as truth rather than just their opinion.
- Because most staff in BC – public and private sector – are hard working professionals who’s futures don’t deserve to be decided by people who have never walked up 16 flights of stairs in full PPE in January.
- Because all buildings having to use the Local Authority is like the White Star Line advocating they run all trans-Atlantic crossings.
I’m going to try and not take sides – just say it as it is.
Nobody else seems to be doing it.
Please share widely 🙂
The Secret Building Inspector 
Hallelujah, someone who is trying to express the reality of Building Control from a Surveyors perspective.
I’m 36 years served and it’s not a profession I would recommend to anyone. No wonder there’s a dire skills shortage.
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Thanks Andrew.
I may not get it right all the time but I think I’ve raised some of the issues that people are too busy to care about.
The key messages throughout are the need for one profession and holding people to account who say they represent others.
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Is the question for the whole of our profession to come together and convince the government of a better way, there are massive shortages in both private and public, this needs investment and imagination to attract younger people, it’s a great career but we are making it all more complex!!
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