Professionalism in building engineering under renewed scrutiny
20 Feb, 2026
The legacy of the Grenfell Tower tragedy continues to drive fundamental questions about professionalism in the built environment – and what it truly means to be a professional building engineer.
Paul Morrell OBE, who led an independent government review into construction product testing after Grenfell, argues in a recent article in Building Engineer that safety failures exposed deeper, long-standing weaknesses in professional culture across construction. Chief among them, he says, is how competence is defined, maintained and demonstrated over time.
Drawing on earlier work with The Edge Commission's report on the Future of Professionalism, Morrell highlights frustration within the industry – particularly among younger professionals – about siloed working, weak collaboration between disciplines and an over-reliance on historic qualifications as proof of competence.
At the heart of the debate is trust, he believes. Professional titles and post-nominal letters, Morrell says, are often assumed to signal competence, but in reality they rarely guarantee it. Specialisms vary, knowledge dates quickly, and qualifications earned decades ago cannot reflect today’s regulatory, technical and safety demands.
This has renewed calls from bodies such as CABE for a stronger, more active model of professionalism – one based on ongoing competence, transparency and accountability, rather than one-off certification.
Morrell argues that professionalism must involve continuous engagement with standards, acceptance of scrutiny and clear consequences when standards are not met. While this may feel more intrusive for individuals, it is essential if professions are to justify the trust placed in them by clients, regulators and the public.
In a post-Grenfell environment, he concludes, professionalism can no longer be defined by status or title alone. Instead, it must be earned – and re-earned – through demonstrable competence, ethical conduct and a clear commitment to the public interest.
Paul Morrell OBE, who led an independent government review into construction product testing after Grenfell, argues in a recent article in Building Engineer that safety failures exposed deeper, long-standing weaknesses in professional culture across construction. Chief among them, he says, is how competence is defined, maintained and demonstrated over time.
Drawing on earlier work with The Edge Commission's report on the Future of Professionalism, Morrell highlights frustration within the industry – particularly among younger professionals – about siloed working, weak collaboration between disciplines and an over-reliance on historic qualifications as proof of competence.
At the heart of the debate is trust, he believes. Professional titles and post-nominal letters, Morrell says, are often assumed to signal competence, but in reality they rarely guarantee it. Specialisms vary, knowledge dates quickly, and qualifications earned decades ago cannot reflect today’s regulatory, technical and safety demands.
This has renewed calls from bodies such as CABE for a stronger, more active model of professionalism – one based on ongoing competence, transparency and accountability, rather than one-off certification.
Morrell argues that professionalism must involve continuous engagement with standards, acceptance of scrutiny and clear consequences when standards are not met. While this may feel more intrusive for individuals, it is essential if professions are to justify the trust placed in them by clients, regulators and the public.
In a post-Grenfell environment, he concludes, professionalism can no longer be defined by status or title alone. Instead, it must be earned – and re-earned – through demonstrable competence, ethical conduct and a clear commitment to the public interest.
CABE members can read the original article here.
Paul Morrell OBE will speak at the CABE Built Environment Building Control Conference on 18 March, where these issues are expected to be high on the agenda for engineers working across design, construction and building control. Dame Judith Hackitt and Lord Andy Roe, Chair of the Building Safety Regulator, will also take to the stage. Find out more here.
Paul Morrell OBE will speak at the CABE Built Environment Building Control Conference on 18 March, where these issues are expected to be high on the agenda for engineers working across design, construction and building control. Dame Judith Hackitt and Lord Andy Roe, Chair of the Building Safety Regulator, will also take to the stage. Find out more here.