Every autumn, the major UK political parties hold annual conferences, bringing together members, trade union representatives and parliamentarians. These gatherings are an opportunity for parties to debate policy priorities and engage with businesses, charities and other organisations on shared challenges.
With an opportunity to engage directly with ministers, MPs, peers and key policy influencers, CIBSE attended the conference of the governing Labour Party. It gave us the chance to discuss with government the key issues that go to the heart of what we do – from skills and competence, to net zero and the energy transition, building safety and housing delivery.
Keynote speeches from government ministers included several policy announcements of relevance to CIBSE and the wider sector, including:
- A new target for getting two-thirds of young people into university or onto a ‘gold standard’ apprenticeship
- Acceptance of the recommendations made by the New Towns Taskforce for 12 new towns, including proposed locations, that aim to deliver 300,000 homes over the next decade. The government confirmed that work would start on three new locations by 2029.
- Reintroduction of means-tested maintenance grants, supporting students from low-income households taking priority technical courses at levels 4–6 under the lifelong learning entitlement.
CIBSE’s engagement at conference
Beyond monitoring announcements, CIBSE attended several policy and industry events to raise the profile of the Institution and champion our members’ expertise. These included:
- A National Engineering Policy Centre (NEPC) event on the investment in skills required to deliver the government’s Industrial Strategy
- A Building Research Establishment (BRE) panel on sustainable buildings in the hospitality sector and the role of Breeam and CIBSE-administered NABERS UK
- An Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) roundtable on employer skills needs and apprenticeship pathways
- A session by UK innovation agency Nesta on the transition to low carbon energy.
- A Joint Industry Board (JIB) event, chaired by Baroness Wendy Alexander, on developing a future-ready construction workforce and raising competence standards.
- Highlights from other UK party conferences
Conservative
- Party leader Kemi Badenoch MP announced a pledge to abolish stamp duty for primary residences in England.
- There was a focus on reforming planning rules and Building Regulations to drive supply and lower costs.
- The shadow energy secretary said the party would repeal the Climate Change Act, replacing it with a ‘Cheap Power Plan’ to cut bills.
- Proposals to double the apprenticeship budget from £3bn to £6bn by scrapping ‘rip-off’ courses.
Liberal Democrats
- Leader Sir Ed Davey called for action on housing, energy bills and the environment, pledging to halve energy bills by 2035.
- Pippa Heylings MP, energy and net zero spokesperson, argued that growth and net zero ambitions can align – calling for zero carbon building standards, green skills investment, and a National Climate Assembly.
- Housing spokesperson Gideon Amos MP advocated for a ‘rent to own’ model to expand affordable housing.
Reform UK, The Green Party, and nationalist parties such as the SNP and Plaid Cymru also held conferences.
Why this matters
These conferences provide invaluable insight into the direction of travel for the UK’s governing party and those seeking power. They also offer CIBSE a direct channel to influence future policy outcomes on issues at the core of our mission: building safety, energy efficiency, net zero, skills and sustainable growth.
Over the coming months, CIBSE will continue to engage with government ministers, shadow ministers and parliamentarians from all parties to ensure building services engineering is recognised as a key enabler of the UK’s economic, environmental, energy and building ambitions.
About the author: Sam Baptist is head of government affairs at CIBSE