FEEDBACK An engineer encourages the industry to sell itself; and a reader responds to an article about professionals post-Brexit Will the next generation solve climate change? As we read more about the increased pressure on Earths climate from our contribution to harmful emissions, building services engineers nd ourselves in a quandary. When it would appear so many wish to help, why are so few coming into an industry that can contribute so much to helping mitigate the impacts of our existence? As engineers, we are working towards and, indeed, are set to play an even greater part in tackling the challenges of reducing our reliance on energy sources that result in increased carbon emissions. This is especially the case given that the worlds buildings consume just over one-third of the worlds energy requirements. Yet, as an industry, we massively undersell ourselves at a time when we should be more relevant than ever. When going into schools to speak to students about a potential future in engineering, there is active engagement and understanding during discussions about structural, aeronautical and chemical engineering. The same cannot be said of building services engineering, however, with the typical response being: Whats that? This is further demonstrated by the closing down of multiple building services engineering courses at universities throughout the country. This is devastating when there are massive shortages in suitable graduates coming through to replace an ageing workforce. True, we cannot wait for the next generation to solve the climate crisis but we need them to carry on with the work we start. As such, I would urge as many building services engineers as possible to volunteer at their local school whether that be primary, secondary or sixth form. Spread the word about what we do, and the difference we can make as we move into an uncertain future, for us as an industry and as a species. So the question remains: climate crisis, who will solve it the next generation? Ryan Beagan Principal mechanical engineer, Hulley & Kirkwood Raising awareness post-Brexit I just wanted to say thank you for the inclusion of Dorte Rich Jrgensens article (Be open and supportive in post-Brexit Britain) in the February issue. You dont hear these types of stories that often, and I dont think there is as much awareness as there should be about the Settled Status scheme and whats happening to non-British EU nationals (such as myself) in this country. Julia Maul Marketing communications executive, Hamworthy Heating & ACV UK CIBSE Journal welcomes readers letters, opinions, news stories, events listings, and proposals for articles. Please send all material for possible publication to: editor@cibsejournal.com or write to: Alex Smith, editor, CIBSE Journal, CPL, 1 Cambridge Technopark, Newmarket Road, Cambridge CB5 8PB, UK. We reserve the right to edit all letters. CIBSE Mar20 pp25 Letters Patrons v2.indd 25 SPONSORED FEATURE | CIBSE PATRONS Restoring our reputation Collaboration holds the key to the Hackitt culture, says CIBSE Patrons chair Nick Mead A t his annual policy brieng for Patrons members, CIBSE technical director Hywel Davies said our sector was facing a once in a generation maybe even two generations period of upheaval. The government is poised to bring about a seismic change to our regulatory environment, including the most far-reaching reform of re safety legislation in half a century and a total resetting of building safety regulation. So, why is this happening? Sadly, the basic reason is that the construction industrys reputation is in tatters and all the specialist sectors associated with it are suffering from reputational fallout. The review, set up in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster, uncovered ignorance and a culture of indifference, which its chair, Dame Judith Hackitt, is determined to address. The government has accepted all her recommendations and has the comfortable parliamentary majority to speed through a raft of new rules that will turn our industry on its head including a Building Safety Bill that will be enforced by a new and powerful regulator. Dame Judith was, frankly, horried by the broken system that characterises construction projects in this country. She was damning about our industry and its failure to take responsibility for its end product and the impact it has on peoples lives. She also does not believe it can be left to the industry to reform itself so we must brace for an avalanche of new legislation. Part of her vision involves a series of approval gateways, with project teams having to demonstrate safety and compliance at key stages in the design and delivery process. Manufacturers will also be subject to a more demanding specication and testing regime, including having to demonstrate how their products perform when installed as part of a wider system. These have the potential to change fundamentally how we go about our daily business and it is one of the great benets of being a CIBSE Patron that we hear about such things early, and can sit down together to examine the implications. We believe the collaborative culture within our group is an example of how we can progress together. Our membership reects the whole supply chain and it is only through collaboration that the new culture will develop. We can discuss the technical details, and the opportunities for modern methods of construction and digital systems to underpin the new regulatory system, but this is going to be all about how we treat each other as supply chain partners; how we ensure we always remember our ultimate customer the building user because they are the only people who can restore our reputation. www.cibsejournal.com March 2020 25 21/02/2020 14:47