SOCOTEC Building Control celebrates another successful year with 2026 conference

Mon, 03/23/2026 - 16:31

The annual SOCOTEC Building Control Conference brought together over 220 of the Building Control team from across the country at Whittlebury Hall, Northamptonshire.

The event saw members of the BC team, and from the wider SOCOTEC business, lead speaker sessions which showcased the ambitions for Building Control, despite a period of unprecedented change experienced in the sector.

Some of those most notable historical challenges were convergence of our three building control businesses into SOCOTEC Building Control, the introduction of a new regulator, RBI registration requirements, fundamental legislative and procedural changes and BSR auditing processes.

Nick Harper, Managing Director of the Building & Real Estate division, congratulated the business for a successful year and for navigating a very difficult regulatory environment. In particular, Nick thanked the business support teams for their dedication and engagement in dealing with the challenges that the profession has faced.

The conference was opened by SOCOTEC Building Control Managing Director, Kevin Savage, alongside SOCOTEC UK & Ireland CEO, Matthew Marriott, who highlighted the significant achievements of the team over the past 12 months and outlined a prosperous vision for the future.

This year’s event has been fantastic. It’s always great to bring our team together once a year for Conference, to share our learnings and review our business activity, but also look forward and plan for the future.
“We’ve successfully navigated a whole raft of changes over the last few years, and our team is as strong as it’s ever been – we hope everyone enjoyed another successful Conference!

Kevin Savage, Managing Director - SOCOTEC Building Control

Looking ahead, SOCOTEC Building Control has set ambitious targets for 2027/28, aiming for turnover above £30 million with a consistent and strong margin. The organisation is committed to growth across all dimensions of the business whilst investing heavily in learning and development.

At this year’s Building Control Conference, we celebrated the extraordinary number of graduates and trainees in the business. SOCOTEC’s ‘You Grow, We Grow’, mantra really stands out as a best-in-class approach to talent growth, supporting organic business evolution.
“We are incredibly proud of our trainees' commitment to their learning and to our position that more than 15% of our Building Control team are being supported in their development by a dedicated training team.

Matthew Marriott, CEO - SOCOTEC UK & Ireland

Amongst the various sessions was a poignant moment, which saw Regional Director David Stent leading a tribute to Hugh Johnson, Building Inspector, celebrating his extraordinary 65 years of service to the Building Control sector. Johnson's career has spanned the revolution in building control regulations in the UK since 1961, making him a living witness to the evolution of the profession.

Joshua Davies, Technical Manager, took a look at the future, addressing the complex regulatory environment facing Registered Building Inspectors (RBIs) and the organisation as a Registered Building Control Approver (RBCA). Regional Director Joe Campion outlined SOCOTEC's strategic partnership with the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), highlighting the mutually beneficial relationship that is possible, if utilised to the maximum.

This collaboration addresses the critical challenge of approximately 280 live fire remediation projects still in the system, directly contributing to the government's commitment to ensuring everyone lives in a safe home.

Head of Digital Transformation, Rebecca Davison, delivered an engaging presentation on the emerging role of AI within Building Control, exploring how AI technologies can enhance efficiency, accuracy and decision-making processes.

Technical Training Director, Zoe Cox, showcased SOCOTEC Building Control's substantial commitment to professional development and continuous learning. In her role, Zoe has placed a particular emphasis on supporting team members pursuing the upgrading of their RBI registrations, demonstrating the organisation's dedication to nurturing talent and building capability from within.

The conference highlighted several colleagues currently undertaking qualifications, reflecting SOCOTEC's strategic investment in its workforce. This focus on learning and development ensures that the organisation continues to build a pipeline of highly competent professionals equipped to meet the evolving demands of the building control sector.

The conference also incorporated teambuilding exercises designed to strengthen collaboration and cohesion within Building Control. These activities reinforced the importance of collective effort and mutual support, particularly as the team continues to expand.

The conference also explored digital transformation through the expansion of its digital data and project management system Via and its intention to launch a customer Portal platforms in the coming weeks, as well as enhanced compliance frameworks.

The event concluded with a team dinner and the SOCOTEC Boost Awards, recognising excellence across the SOCOTEC Building Control team and celebrating those within the team who had been nominated by their peers for best representing the values that define SOCOTEC.