In this blog we’re delighted to reflect on the success of the Building Compliance & Retrofit Summit 2025. The summit, brought together thought-leaders and practitioners from active fire, passive fire, building compliance and retrofit and decarbonisation, offering a powerful platform for collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
This event, curated and hosted by Ventro alongside Firntec and LivGreen, embodied our commitment to raising standards and driving meaningful conversations across the built environment.
Expert Insights & Industry Collaboration
The Building Compliance & Retrofit Summit 2025 showcased an exceptional line-up of speakers who delivered a wealth of insight across building safety, compliance, and retrofit. Each session offered delegates practical takeaways and a clearer understanding of how our industry continues to evolve.
We were honoured to welcome Neil Hope-Collins from the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), who opened with a powerful update on the Regulator’s current focus areas and the roadmap ahead for accountable persons and duty holders. His session set the tone for the day reinforcing the importance of competence, transparency, and organisational accountability under the new regime.
Antony Taylor of the Building Safety Alliance explored Organisational Capability & the Management of Competence, highlighting how structured competency frameworks are critical to achieving compliance. His presentation gave attendees a tangible view of what good looks like in managing competence across complex organisations.
Howard Passey of the Fire Protection Association delved into Retrofitting & Changing Building Purpose, offering practical insights on the challenges of adapting existing buildings for new uses while maintaining fire safety integrity. His session bridged the worlds of compliance, retrofit, and design, a perfect reflection of the Summit’s cross-disciplinary focus.
Michael Wharfe from Devonshires Solicitors joined our very own Howard Melvin, and expertly guided delegates through navigating the regulatory landscape, sharing legal perspectives on emerging legislation, accountability, and the implications for contractors, landlords, and asset owners. His session was both informative and reassuring, clarifying key risks and responsibilities under the Building Safety Act.
Our sponsors and partners also delivered standout sessions, each bringing specialist expertise and innovation to the stage.
- Simon Sutton of Norseal explored the Implications of the Withdrawal of BS 476-22, offering vital guidance on transitioning to EN standards and what this means for fire door manufacturers and specifiers.
- Russell James of Specialist Door Solutions (SDS) presented Built-in Resilience, highlighting the importance of material quality, certified performance, and longevity in fire door manufacturing.
- Jim Kerr from Door Data Systems, attending alongside PDS, explored Fire Door Set Management from Beginning to End, demonstrating how digital recording of products and maintenance supports full traceability and compliance throughout the lifecycle of a fire door.
Together with our other speakers, this diverse mix of experts, from regulators and legal specialists to technical innovators, delivered an agenda that was both informative and inspiring. Their collective insight reinforced the Summit’s core message: that collaboration, competence, and continuous improvement are essential to building a safer and more resilient future for the built environment.
Reflecting on the Summit & What’s Next
We were thrilled to receive such positive feedback from delegates, who described the Building Compliance & Retrofit Summit 2025 as “insightful,” “well-structured,” and “highly relevant.” Many praised the balance between expert presentations and open discussion, noting that the event provided real, actionable takeaways and fostered collaboration across different areas of building safety, compliance, and retrofit.
For those who couldn’t attend, or would like to revisit the insights from the day, you can download the full slide deck by completing the form here.
We’re already exploring ways to build on the success of this year’s summit, with plans for further events and learning opportunities that continue the conversation around building safety and compliance.
We would like to extend a huge thanks to everyone who was able to attend and we will see you at another event soon.
