In February, the National Federation of Builders gathered leading Welsh members for a must-attend forum on building safety regulation, employment reforms, CITB funding and policy changes. Hosted by Knox & Wells Ltd in Cardiff, the afternoon brought together senior decision makers, industry leaders and members for a focused programme that addressed what construction businesses need to know in 2026.

A key highlight was the Building Safety Act session led by James M. Butcher, Deputy Chief Executive of the National Federation of Builders. As a member of the UK Construction Leadership Council, James is at the centre of national decision-making on safety, competence and standards. His session set out, in plain terms, how duty holder responsibilities now operate in practice, where accountability truly sits, and why competency can no longer be treated as a tick-box exercise.

Employment reform was explained by Vaughan Hart, Director of Employment Affairs at the NFB and one of the most experienced HR professionals in the construction sector. With over 35 years’ experience spanning construction, facilities management, hospitality and retail, Vaughan brought practical knowledge to the Employment Rights Act update. The focus of this session was on how changes will affect employers on sites and across businesses, where risk sits, and how to respond.

Eddie Hughes

Eddie Hughes’ session offered an honest account of how housing and construction policy is shaped inside government. Eddie’s career spans civil engineering, housing delivery, housing association governance and ministerial office, giving him a rare end-to-end perspective which he shared with NFB members. His contribution helped members understand the political realities behind planning, housing supply and regulation, and how industry engagement can genuinely influence outcomes when it is informed, coordinated and credible.

Emily Tilling, CITB Senior Customer Engagement Manager and Harry Paterson, CITB Engagement Adviser, provided a clear update on skills funding, grants and emerging competency frameworks. This session reinforced a recurring theme of the day: competence is becoming a commercial differentiator, not just a compliance obligation.

Chaired by Sean Houlston, Associate Director of Membership, the meeting tied together regulation, policy and support into a single, coherent narrative. With a background spanning government, major infrastructure projects and strategic engagement, Sean highlighted how the NFB is aligning its services to support members through change.

From Ask NFB and the Member Directory to policy advocacy and regional engagement, the message was simple: the NFB is not just reacting to change, it is leading and supporting members through it.