The British Board of Agrément has had its UKAS accreditation temporarily suspended from 26 February 2026, preventing it from issuing new certificates under accredited status for now. UKAS’ action stems from a 2025 change in the BBA’s corporate structure and relates solely to administrative documentation, not to technical competence or testing capability. Existing certification work, including BBA Agrément assessments used by product manufacturers to evidence compliance with UK and Eurocode-based standards, is continuing while the documentation issues are resolved.

The Construction Industry Council has updated its health & safety certification, delivered via Accredex, to embed the new dutyholder, competence and accountability requirements of the Building Safety Act for profession-specific roles across the built environment. Aimed at professionals who only occasionally visit site, the online course offers five CPD hours and is recognised as an approved route to AQP/PQP CSCS and SKILLcard, and to a CSCS Red Trainee Card for those on academic programmes. CIC will introduce the revised course in a free webinar at 12:30 on Monday 16th March.

The director of London-based Bebo Construction Limited, Adebanjo Adebayo Talabi, has received a two-year prison sentence suspended for two years, 200 hours’ unpaid work and a six-year director disqualification after admitting three fraudulent Covid Bounce Back Loan applications totalling £150,000. An Insolvency Service investigation found he exaggerated company turnover from about £1,300 loan eligibility to claims of £200,000–£220,000 turnover and secured three £50,000 loans from different banks between August and November 2020. Investigators also found the funds were diverted to personal accounts rather than used for the company’s economic benefit.