Learning
The Scottish Building Standards Hub (SBSH) delivers training, learning and development to all Scottish local authority building standards practitioners through the Local Authority Building Standards Scotland (LABSS) network.
Centre to this is the provision of an on-line learning platform containing digital training material exclusively for LABSS members.
The SBSH provides CPD and training directly to LABSS members or facilitates it in conjunction with industry partners and stakeholders. The SBSH will also deliver training to stakeholders where this helps their understanding of the building standards system and how it is delivered.
The SBSH supports the national Competency Assessment Scheme (CAS) for local authority verifiers and is currently developing a national on-line digitised CAS system/platform for the use of local authority building standards service employees to identify and record their skills attainment.
On-line Learning Management System
Our on-line learning management system was initially developed through grant funding provided by the Scottish Government's Building Standards Division (BSD) to LABSS. The platform was jointly developed by LABSS, the Building Standards Hub Pilot, and our external contractor Learning Pool Ltd with oversight from the BSD Practice Unit.
The learning management system is exclusively for local authority building standards practitioners who are members of LABSS.
The SBSH has now developed the next generation of this learning management system in conjunction with the Learning Pool Ltd. This new Learning Experience Platform (LXP) went live in early July 2025.
Workforce Development and Ambassadors Networks
Promotion of the building standards profession can be done most effectively by the people in those job roles who can speak from their lived experience. LABSS has an established Ambassadors Network with people working in the profession across Scotland. Ambassadors are taking part in outreach activities with schools, colleges, and universities. Further volunteers are welcome to join the network and participate in activities that will raise awareness of what the building standards profession does.
LABSS Ambassadors Network is supported by the SBSH.
Other national workforce development and strategies in building standards are also supported through the SBSH, particularly those initiatives deriving from the Scottish Government Building Standards Division Practice Unit, in order to assist LABSS and local authorities meet the requirements of such developments.
Modern and Graduate Apprenticeships in Building Standards
Competency Assessment System
The Competency Assessment System (CAS) was first launched for all local authority building standards practitioners from April 2021. This system being an integral part of, and supported by the Professional Competency Framework. Originally the CAS was a suite of excel working documents used when assessing post profiles against a post holder's competencies.
With oversight through the Competency Steering Group, the original CAS has now been redeveloped by the SBSH, in partnership with LABSS and the Scottish Government's BSD into a web-based platform specifically for building standards practitioners working for local authority building standards services in Scotland.
Continual Professional Development (CPD)
The SBSH supports the provision of CPD and training for local authority building standards services and LABSS. CPD can either be provided directly to practitioners by the SBSH, or in conjunction with industry partners and stakeholders, arranged through the SBSH.
In addition, the SBSH also supports training to industry partners and stakeholders where this can assist their understanding of the building standards system and how it is operated by verifiers.
The SBSH also assists with the delivery of training to students through it's lecturing services to colleges and universities.