DHF has submitted a detailed industry response to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) following its Call for Evidence on the future of the built environment professions, trades and occupations.
ON 20 May 2026, MHCLG issued a Call for Evidence to gather information for a new strategy covering the professions, trades and occupations involved in the construction industry. The aim is to ensure that the strategy considers the full construction cycle, from pre-design through to construction, installation and ongoing maintenance. DHF took the opportunity to ensure that the views of its members were represented in the response.
To gather information from across the Federation, DHF held a number of workshops involving the different sectors represented by its membership. These sessions gave members the opportunity to raise the issues affecting their businesses, share their experience and put forward areas where changes may be needed. The response from members was strong, resulting in a substantial amount of information being gathered from across the industry. This was then brought together into a detailed submission to Government covering the views and experiences of manufacturers, installers and maintenance providers.
The submission reflects the range of businesses represented by DHF and provides Government with information from companies working across different parts of the building hardware and doors sector. This includes businesses involved in locks and building hardware, doorsets, industrial doors and shutters, domestic garage doors and automated gates. DHF will continue to follow the development of the Government’s strategy and expects the final document to be published in 2027. Once available, DHF will share the strategy with its members and consider what it means for the sectors represented by the Federation.
Giving members a collective voice
One of the important roles of DHF is to bring together businesses from across the industry so that their views can be heard by Government and other organisations. Individual businesses may not always have the time or resources to respond to every consultation or policy development, but through DHF their experience can contribute to a wider industry response. The recent MHCLG Call for Evidence is an example of how this works. Rather than preparing a response based only on the views of the Federation, DHF went directly to members and asked them to contribute their experience and views. The information gathered through the workshops then formed part of the submission made to Government. This approach also means that members can contribute to discussions about issues that may affect their businesses in the future. DHF regularly engages with consultations, legislation, regulation, standards and guidance covering the sectors in which its members operate.
Bringing industry views to Government
DHF has established links with Government departments and organisations involved in the regulation and development of the construction industry. This includes engagement with MHCLG, the Health and Safety Executive, Trading Standards, BSI and other industry bodies. The Federation uses the experience of its members when responding to changes that may affect the industry. This means that information from companies working on the ground can be brought into discussions with the organisations responsible for developing policy, regulation and standards. The recent Call for Evidence also shows why member involvement matters. The Government is developing a strategy that will cover a wide range of construction professions, trades and occupations, and DHF has been able to provide evidence from businesses working within a specific part of that industry.
Members provide the expertise
DHF’s work depends on the knowledge and experience of its members. Businesses across the Federation work in different parts of the sector and face different issues, which means that member input provides a broad view of what is happening across the industry. The workshops held for the MHCLG submission gave members the chance to put forward their views directly. Their contributions were then brought together to form a response covering the different areas represented by DHF. This gives members an opportunity to have their experience considered as part of discussions that may lead to changes in the way the industry operates.
As the Government continues to develop its strategy, DHF will continue to keep members informed and represent their interests as the process moves forward. Businesses interested in joining DHF and taking part in its work can apply for membership here: https://bit.ly/3Slr1fN