As someone deeply involved in helping the construction and real estate industries digitise and manage building data, I had the privilege of joining a recent panel discussion on the Golden Thread at the Building Safety Conference hosted by Westminster Insight. The conversation was insightful, offering plenty of practical takeaways that highlighted how the sector is evolving its approach to building safety. From cultural shifts to the critical role of technology, here’s what stood out to me from my fellow panelists and why I think we’re on the right path to a safer built environment.
On the panel:
- Peter Caplehorn, Chief Executive, Construction Products Association
- Aman Sharma MBE, Member, Building Regulations Advisory Committee & Former Deputy-Chair, BRAC
- Jonathan Zokay, Safety Case Manager, Clarion Housing Group
- Ben Mark, Partner, RiskFlag
- Paul Vain, Head of Growth, Findable (me!)
The Golden Thread, as defined during the panel, is about creating a clear and structured way of managing building records throughout a building's lifecycle.
It’s not only about ensuring regulatory compliance, but also making sure that at any point, you can prove that a building is safe. Jonathan Zokay from Clarion Housing explained this concept well, emphasising that the Golden Thread isn’t a pile of documents to hand over to the regulators—it’s a clear, organised system that makes it easy to present your claim to them that your buildings are, indeed, safe.
I couldn’t agree more.
When we think about the Golden Thread, we can’t think of it as just a box to tick. It enforces having an organised and accessible system that ensures building safety information flows well from design through to occupancy.
Though this is, in practice, a huge shift for the industry, it’s a big step that will make our buildings safer and more secure for everyone who lives and works in them.
One of the most significant topics discussed during the panel was the importance of cultural change. Aman Sharma, a former deputy chair of the Building Regulations Advisory Committee, pointed out that the Golden Thread is the responsibility of the asset owner.
Aman puts it simply, “You need to own [The Golden Thread], manage it, and present it clearly to the regulators” and in doing so, making the case that your assets are fully compliant.
To truly own The Golden Thread, think about making safety part of the culture and not just a regulatory task. One of the biggest changes introduced by the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA) is the shift from a culture of ‘compliance’ to one focused on ‘systemic risk management’.
As Dame Judith Hackitt pointed out in her 2017 interim report, “There is a widespread culture in relation to building and fire standards of waiting to be told what to do by regulators rather than taking responsibility for building to correct standards. The approach is very much driven by aiming for minimum compliance, not ensuring safety for the lifetime of the building.”
The introduction of the Golden Thread requirements is a key part of the cultural shift the new building safety rules are trying to create. A key point in the debate was that, while safety culture is essential to the Golden Thread, very little guidance is given by regulators detailing how to build a culture where safety is everyone’s responsibility and is prioritised at all levels of the organisation.
Ben Mark from RiskFlag offered an insightful perspective, drawing parallels between the safety culture in residential real estate and the changes that followed a major safety incident in military aviation a decade prior to the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
In military aviation, safety isn’t about avoiding blame; it’s about reporting risks and learning from mistakes as a whole team. This kind of culture—where feedback is encouraged and safety is a shared responsibility—needs to be built into the fabric of our organisations. This is something I’m passionate about because, at Findable, we see firsthand how powerful a strong safety culture can be when it’s supported by the right tools.
One of the challenges to building safety discussed was ensuring that non-compliance is flagged and addressed before it becomes an issue. At Findable, we believe this is where technology truly plays a pivotal role. In my work, I see how digital tools can help track elements of compliance automatically, making it easier to spot gaps or missing information in documentation.
The discussion on how technology can help remove the personal burden of whistleblowing really resonated with me.
There’s often a reluctance to report non-compliance because of fear of blame. But with the right technology in place, the system itself flags gaps in compliance. Instead of relying on individuals to point out issues, the system can automatically highlight where things are incomplete or non-compliant. It’s a huge step forward because it shifts the responsibility away from individuals and ensures transparency across the board.
One of the questions raised during the panel was about what “safe” actually means. As Ben Mark pointed out, nothing is 100% safe. Safety is always a balance of risks and rewards. The key is identifying those risks, managing them properly, and ensuring that the building is as safe as possible.
Another great line from Ben: “safety is absolutely not absolute!”
This is where the Golden Thread is so important. By organising and managing building data, you ensure that you’ve done everything possible to mitigate risks and ensure your building’s safety. But safety isn’t about perfection; it’s about continuous improvement. It’s about being able to demonstrate that you’ve considered all the factors and made decisions based on the best available data at hand.
Another major challenge we discussed was the siloed nature of information flow between departments. In many organisations, safety data is fragmented and doesn’t flow easily from one team to another. This leads to gaps in knowledge and, ultimately, non-compliance.
The real estate sector has been slow to digitise, and it's time to look outside the industry for fresh ideas on digitalising operations. A centralised, digitalised system that stores all files in one place makes it easy to access and manage information. Beyond being easily accessible, your building documents also need to be understood by those who handle them, and AI can help with that by instantly summarising documentation information for you and your team.
As Ben pointed out, “A well-designed safety management system is wrapping your arms around as much information as you can—don’t ignore your residents, your contractors, etc. They can provide so much information on your properties”. Digital tools then enable us to centralise all this information, helping build your case and readiness when regulators come knocking.
Peter Caplehorn, Chief Executive, Construction Products Association also highlighted that managing health & safety well is not just about compliance—it’s good business. A solid system enables efficiency and ensures we care for both employees and those we serve. Gone are the days of signing off on compliance without evidence. Today, inspectors won’t sign off on compliance unless you can provide the necessary documentation and case to prove so.
This is where creating a culture of collaboration is crucial.
Everyone—from senior leadership to front-line staff—needs to be engaged in the safety process. The Golden Thread isn’t something that falls on one department; it’s a shared responsibility. By breaking down silos and fostering collaboration, we can ensure that safety is prioritised across all stages of a building’s lifecycle.
The Golden Thread is reshaping how we approach building safety, and it’s clear that the industry is starting to embrace its full impact. As we move forward, we need to continue driving cultural change, engaging the full potential of technology, and ensuring that safety is ingrained in everything we do. Meeting regulatory requirements is important, but the real goal to strive for is designing buildings that are genuinely safe for everyone.