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Sector Commentary
From the People
Doing the Work.

Considered writing on fire safety, smoke control and security systems — from the recruiters and industry specialists working at the heart of the sector. Written for the practitioners and hiring managers who set the standard.

The Library

Recent Articles

Long-form commentary on the issues shaping our sectors — competence, regulation, hiring, retention, and where the market is heading next.

Fire Safety's Quiet Competence Crisis
Fire Safety · Competence · Recruitment
Fire Safety's Quiet Competence Crisis

Eight years on from Hackitt and with the Building Safety Act bedding in, the regulatory framework has finally caught up with what the work demanded. The supply of suitably qualified people to do that work has not — and the gap is structural, not cyclical.

By Liam Riley 12 May 2026 · 7 min read

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Topics We Write About

What You'll Find Here

Our writing centres on the work, the regulation and the talent market in our three sectors.

Fire Safety & Compliance

Building Safety Act, PAS 9980, Fire Risk Assessment competence, HRB regime, BSR competence frameworks, Type 4 surveys, façade remediation.

Smoke Control Engineering

AOV & SHEVS design, pressurisation, commissioning standards, BS 9991 / BS 9999, CFD modelling, and what good looks like across new-build and retrofit.

Security Systems

Integrated security design, CCTV & access control, NSI / SSAIB landscape, project delivery in critical infrastructure, mid-market estate works.

UK · UAE · South Africa

Cross-market commentary — regulatory divergence, where the talent sits, and what hiring looks like in each region for specialist roles.

Recruitment & Retention

Senior surveyor markets, competence pipeline, pay benchmarks, contract vs perm dynamics, and what's actually working when good people are scarce.

Sector Outlook

Where the work is going — HRB remediation pipelines, insurance-driven assessment volume, growth in mid-market commercial estate, and what employers should plan for.

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Whether you're hiring, looking for your next role, or just want a confidential view on where the market is — we're glad to talk.

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