Bringing all sections of Scotland's construction industry together and attended by representatives from right across the industry – including employers, developers, architects, engineers, contractors and consultant professional bodies such as the RIAS and RICS – the seminar considered the significant findings and recommendations in the Grenfell Inquiry's recently published report, which will have far-reaching effects on the industry going forward.
Although Scotland has its own regulatory regime governing building standards, which is separate from that applicable in England and Wales, the lessons to be learned by the construction sector from the Grenfell disaster transcend national borders.
The guest speaker at the seminar was leading industry expert, Professor Jose Torero of University College London, who was the principal technical adviser to the Grenfell Inquiry. He gave an excellent presentation in which he distilled the seven or so years of the Inquiry's investigations and the many complexities involved, explaining the findings and the reasoning behind the many recommendations made.
While the Scottish Parliament has already legislated on certain matters as a result of what happened at Grenfell, it was clear from the seminar that the construction sector has a long way to go to deal with the many significant lessons learned from the disaster and to implement the important recommendations made by the Inquiry.
Notwithstanding the many past failings of the construction sector at Grenfell, which are exposed and criticised in the Inquiry 's Report, those present at the seminar were determined to learn lessons and to try to work to make sure that the tragedy of the Grenfell disaster is not repeated.
