Govt to Explore Licensing Contractors and Subcontractors

As part of the wider post-Grenfell regulatory overhaul, the government is in the early stages of exploring different approaches to the licensing, regulation and registration of contractors and subcontractors, including those working on smaller scale and domestic dwellings.

Recognising long-standing issues within the industry – including fragmented accountability, inconsistent competence standards, poor ethical practices and a continuing “race to the bottom” on price – the government has launched a call for evidence to better understand the challenges affecting how individuals and organisations operate across the built environment sector.

The exercise will focus particularly on skills, behaviours, competence and accountability.

The government says the evidence gathered will help inform a new long-term strategy for built environment professions, trades and occupations expected to be published in 2027.

A spokesperson from the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) said: “This would constitute an enormous change for the industry, and as such NFRC is eager to get involved at the early stages to ensure the compliance work our members already complete is reflected in any new regime.”

Call for Evidence

The call for evidence will close on 12 August 2026.

Anyone with interest may respond. Respondents only need to respond to questions which are most relevant to their expertise or area of interest. Responses can be submitted by completing the online survey or emailing BPDengagement@communities.gov.uk.

NFRC members can also respond through the organisation. NFRC is currently gathering evidence of what does not work in the current system by sharing the worst examples of poor practice its members have seen on site.

NFRC members can share their worst stories from the past five years by emailing policy@nfrc.co.uk. The more specific, the better. All responses will be anonymised.

To help members prepare their response, NFRC has produced a list of questions for both trade and supplier members.

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