Meet the Scottish Building Standards Hub (SBSH) Team.

As all the vacant roles within the SBSH team have now been practically filled, we would like to take the opportunity to introduce the names of the people who provide our services to your Local Authority Building Standards Teams.

Alan McAulay is the SBSH Director leading on technical, operations, and services, who is supported by:

Our Technical Support Surveyors - Darren Cross, Garry Elder and Katy Rodgers, who deliver the Building Standards System Services we manage and administer. These being, The Scottish Type Approval Scheme (STAS), Information Papers, and the Dispute Resolution Process. In addition, they review and respond to the technical enquiries we receive.

Our Expert Technical Support Surveyors - Suzanne Broach (Environment and Energy) and Emma Emslie (Fire), who provide expert advice and undertake verifier requested peer review of design submissions in these specific specialist areas. In addition, they review and respond to the specialist technical enquiries we receive.

The technical team supports the operation of Local Authority Building Standards Scotland Consortia Technical Working Group (LABSS CTWG) and brokers other operational partnerships, such as where a local authority is seeking assistance with the assessment of building warrant applications.

The technical team also operate and support our hubs of expertise (FireHub and StructuralHub) and their respective collaborative forums and peer review service on complex design solutions.

James Whiteford is the SBSH Director leading on business, strategy and transformation, who is supported by:

Our Learning and Development Manager – Russell Watson, who manages delivery of all our training, CPD and learning and development activities. This includes management and development of our on-line learning management system (LXP) and soon to be launched digitised Competency Assessment System (Skills Builder).

Our Technical Support Surveyor (Learning and Development) – Hannah Patching, will start with the SBSH in August 2026 and directly support the Learning and Development Manager in the delivery of all our training and development activity.

The learning and development team also supports national workforce development initiatives, including LABSS ambassador’s networks, modern and graduate apprenticeship schemes and workforce strategy.

Our Administration and Technical Support Officer – Susan Paterson who supports the business delivery of the SBSH as well as the operation of all our service areas.

The business, strategy and transformation team manage and operate the business of the SBSH, consider strategic direction and new opportunity, support transformation in the building standards delivery model and deliver on externally support funded projects.

The transformation team also supports the operation of Local Authority Building Standards Scotland Digital Delivery Group (LABSS DDG).

There will be the opportunity to meet the team in person at our upcoming annual event on the 2nd October in Glasgow.

Local Authorities can access all or services, activities and people by making contact through or specific service e-mail address: sbsh@fife.gov.uk