The HBF's Health and Safety Committee meets four times a year in the Midlands.

Membership is open to any health and safety professional from a member company, subject to the Chairman's approval. Members of the committee are expected to encourage their companies to sign up to the Health and Safety Charter and to participate in initiatives to promote it.

The committee elects a chairman and deputy for 2 years, after which the deputy takes over the chairmanship and a new deputy is elected.

The committee has four standing working groups which address the objectives of the Action Plan accompanying the HBF's Health and Safety Charter and the Steering Group meets four times a year to decide on their proposals which then go to the main committee for approval. 

Other sub groups are formed to deal with arising issues, notably to comment on consultations such as the proposed amendments to the CDM regulations. 

The committee maintains close links with HSE (a representative sits on the committee).

As well as offering advice to members on health and safety issues, the committee also publishes guidance leaflets – available here.

The working parties are made up of volunteers from the main committee who may co-opt their colleagues on occasion to assist.

Chairman: Dave Appleby, Miller Homes

If you would like to find out more about the work of this group, please click here.

The National Technical & Sustainability Committee meets three times a year at HBF's London office to consider technical issues relating to housebuilding.

Its members review and comment on aspects of government policy in relation to changes in technology and construction, particularly regulations which affect building practice and construction and the commercial implications of proposed changes.

They also, where possible, propose a realistic regulatory framework and protection for the housebuilding industry in all matters relating to land development.

They consider the policies of utility companies and negotiate with them and their regulators to promote competition, reduce charges and ensure value for money in the provision of services.

NTSC also ensures that housebuilders are represented on external groups and organisations with common interests to ensure adequate liaison with them on key issues.

Chairman: Dale Saunders, Taylor Wimpey

Find out more here.

HBF are active on the national stage, on behalf of the industry, in a number of areas related to planning.

HBF have worked closely with a number of Government departments in the formulation and direction of policy-making including the CLG and HM Treasury.

HBF are members of the National Planning Forum  and have an active dialogue with a number of fellow trade federation including the BPF and CBI.

Over the past year, HBF have been addressing key planning issues with a number of organisations including the Planning Inspectorate, Housing Corporation and the CABE.

The HBF Planning Committee meets three times a year to discuss thse issues and formulate industry responses.

Find out more about national planning policy here.

The Highways Meeting is a sub-group of the NTSC and has been formed to discuss and inform industry highways related topics and meets annually via Microsoft Teams.

The Tall Buildings Meeting is a sub-group of the NTSC and has been formed to discuss and inform the industry on the safety regulations of tall buildings and related topics. The group meets twice a year at HBF’s London Office and/or Microsoft Teams.

The Utilities Group meeting is a sub-group of the NTSC and has been formed to discuss and inform industry utilities-related topics. The group meets twice a year at HBF’s London Office and/or Microsoft Teams.

The Water Matters Group meeting is a sub-group of the NTSC and has been formed to discuss and inform industry water-related topics. The group meets and meets twice a year at HBF’s London Office and/or Microsoft Teams.

Regional Technical Meetings are held three times a year within eight regions in England and Wales. At these meetings the agendas are generally based around the discussions that take place at NTSC meetings along with regional issues. Regional issues are closely monitored, if there is a likelihood of these becoming national issues they are taken back to the next NTSC meeting.

RTMs usually have a guest speaker on a topical issue.

Note
The two-way flow of information between NTSC and RTM is an important and vital. As such the structure and format of these groups is very important to HBF.

Regional planning meetings take place throughout the UK and address a wide range of planning issues including new and emerging policy.

If you would like to find out more about planning policy, please click here.

Attracting more, high quality people into the home building sector is one of the biggest challenges we face, that is why home builders are committed to:

• promoting home building as a primary career choice with well understood career paths, exceptional training, qualifications and prospects;
• recruiting a more diverse workforce to assist in improving the skills gap facing our industry; and
• being inclusive and progressive.

It is important we create and promote the industry as an attractive image and career choice. Our aim is to inspire not only new recruits but influencers such as parents and careers advisors by promoting the breadth of careers choices, earning potential and opportunities for progression.

Find out more about career attraction here.

HBF is working with home builders and their supply chains to promote diversity and inclusion in the workforce. We have established an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Group to increase home builders' support, adoption and implementation of policies that promote, attract and sustain a diverse and inclusive workforce.

You can find out more about diversity & inclusion here.

The group is for new entrants to the home building industry, offering networking opportunities and valuable industry insights to further members' professional and personal development.

The group will meet twice a year virtually. To join the group and find out further information, please visit the future talent group webpage.

Poor mental health can affect any one of us at any time. In fact, one in four of us will experience a mental health problem each year, regardless of our background. The construction industry, including home building, is one of the areas most impacted and so through its Mental Health Awareness Group, HBF is working to help employers understand mental health issues and how they can best support their workforce.

Find more information about mental health awareness and resources here.

Supporting and developing our workforce is crucial if we want to increase productivity and quality within the home building sector. Ensuring your employees are trained to agreed industry-wide standards can help you to drive efficiency and retain a quality focussed workforce.

Join our working group to help shape future initiatives.

Planning in Wales is devolved to the Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament) and as a result, the planning system is different from that operating in England.  The most notable differences are in National Guidance, Planning Policy Wales 11 (PPW),  the Technical advice notes (TANs) and the development plan system (LDPs).

A further key difference is the two tier system of governance as in Wales all authorities are unitary.  There are 22 unitary authorities and 3 National Parks.

For more information and documents please click here.

The Technical Department at HBF seeks to be a conduit between government departments and the housebuilding industry. It strives towards pragmatic and deliverable innovation and regulatory change for the betterment of the industry and the consumer.

This is done largely through collaboration and meeting with representatives from both the industry and wider bodies and stakeholders as well as government officials. The group makes representations and collectively responds to government consultations and keeps members informed of news or changes that affect the operational delivery of housing policy.

For more information and documents please click here.