Registered Building Inspector — Class 2F to 3H

Description P4 isn't your typical safety consultancy. We exist to bring clarity, pace and real-world support to an industry often bogged down in red tape and vague advice. We work with clients, design teams and contractors across the UK from offices in Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and London. We talk like real people. We are not here to impress with jargon or hide behind processes — we are here to help clients make smart decisions, avoid risk and deliver safer, better buildings. Our Building Safety Act team is growing, and this role is central to that growth. We recognise that every person is unique, and we work hard to build a culture where everyone can be themselves. Whether that means flexibility around individual needs or simply making sure people have someone to talk to when they need it, we want everyone here to feel welcome, heard and valued. About the role We are looking for experienced building regulations practitioners, registered with the Building Safety Regulator, to review designs for compliance and advise clients and design teams through the Building Regulations and the Building Safety Act — including higher-risk buildings and Gateway 2 and 3 submissions. These are hands-on technical roles, not oversight roles. You will be reading drawings and specifications, forming a compliance position, evidencing it, and defending it in front of design teams and the Regulator. We are hiring more than one person, at consultant through to principal level, and we will appoint you at the level your registration class and track record support. A note on registration and restricted activities. P4 is a client-side consultancy. We act as Building Regulations Principal Designer, BSA client adviser and Gateway lead — we are not currently a Registered Building Control Approver, so this role does not involve carrying out restricted activities or restricted functions as a building control body. Your registration matters to us as the competence benchmark the industry now recognises, and because we are building out an RBCA capability. If that is the direction you want to travel, tell us at interview. We work across the UK from offices in Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and London, so the range of building types is far wider than it would be in a single regional team. Sectors Residential — high-rise and mid-rise apartment schemes, build-to-rent, student-adjacent and affordable housing, from single plots to multi-block, multi-phase developments. Purpose-built student accommodation — including large towers running to several hundred and, in places, over a thousand bed spaces. Healthcare — live, occupied hospital estates and phased refurbishment. Education — schools, academy programmes and university estates. Custodial and secure — operational estate work. Hotels, commercial and mixed-use — including tenant fit-out within occupied buildings. Heritage, listed fabric and major refurbishment, plus industrial, logistics and distribution. Scale and complexity Higher-risk buildings — at least 18m or seven storeys with two or more residential units — are a core part of the workload, taken through Gateway 2 and Gateway 3. Buildings range from low-rise and mid-rise blocks up to towers of fifty storeys and above, on commissions running from a single building to portfolio, framework and retained arrangements. Alongside new build, a significant share of the work is remediation, refurbishment and change of use. National coverage. Consultants work across the North West, Yorkshire and the North East, the Midlands, London and the South East, and the South West. Wherever you are based, expect a national workload rather than a regional one. Key Responsibilities Design and compliance review Review drawings, specifications, schedules and design information against the Building Regulations 2010 (as amended) and the Approved Documents, and form a clear, evidenced compliance position. Identify non-compliance and technical uncertainty early, and set out what is needed to resolve it rather than simply reporting that a gap exists. Assess alternative and performance-based solutions on their merits, and record the reasoning and evidence that supports acceptance. Track compliance as the design develops and as change is introduced, rather than reviewing once and filing the result. Higher-risk buildings and the Gateway process Prepare, coordinate and quality-check Gateway 2 submissions, including the compliance declaration, design and construction approach, and supporting evidence. Manage requests for information from the Building Safety Regulator, coordinating responses across the design team and holding the programme. Support change control during construction, advising on whether a change is notifiable or a major change requiring approval. Prepare and coordinate Gateway 3 completion certificate applications, and support the golden thread and handover information that sits behind them. Client and design team advisory Advise clients, architects and engineers on Building Regulations and Building Safety Act requirements in terms they can act on. Chair and contribute to technical workshops where a compliance position needs to be worked through collectively rather than resolved in isolation. Liaise with building control bodies, approved inspectors, fire engineers and the Regulator, and keep the client sighted on where a position stands. Advise on dutyholder competence and organisational capability, and on the arrangements needed to discharge duties properly. Technical output and records Produce clear, concise, well-evidenced compliance reports, plan review schedules, gap analyses and advice notes for client and design team audiences. Maintain accurate, auditable records of decisions, evidence and rationale — the kind that stand up to scrutiny years later. Contribute to the technical standards, templates and checklists the wider team works to. Clients, commercial and team Act as a day-to-day technical point of contact on your commissions, building the kind of relationships that lead to repeat instruction. Manage your own workload, programme and recorded time across concurrent commissions, flagging resourcing or fee pressures early. Contribute to fee proposals and scoping conversations, and identify follow-on opportunities within existing client accounts. Deliver training, CPD sessions and briefings to clients and design teams, and mentor less experienced colleagues. Maintain your registration and CPD, and support colleagues working towards registration or towards a higher class. The Levels we're Hiring at Consultant — registered at Class 2, typically in the higher categories (C, E or F). You will run your own design reviews on mid-rise residential and non-residential schemes, with senior technical oversight and peer review. Senior Consultant — registered at Class 2F, or at Class 3 and building your HRB experience. You will lead commissions end to end, take the client relationship, and contribute to Gateway submissions. Principal Consultant — registered at Class 3, categories G and ideally H. You will lead higher-risk building commissions and Gateway submissions, act as technical authority for the work of others, and take a visible role in growing the team. What you will bring Sound technical judgement, the confidence to say what a design does and does not demonstrate, and more interest in getting the answer right than in covering a position. A clear communicator, in writing and in the room, with clients who are not technical as well as designers who are. Comfortable across several schemes at different stages without dropping any of them, and willing to contribute to the team beyond your own projects. Essential Registration with the Building Safety Regulator as a Registered Building Inspector — at Class 2 in the higher categories (C, E or F) through to Class 3 (category G, and category H for higher-risk buildings). Tell us your class, categories and registration number when you apply. Substantial building control or building regulations experience, gained with a local authority, an approved inspector or RBCA, or client-side in consultancy. Detailed working knowledge of the Building Regulations 2010 (as amended) and the Approved Documents, and the confidence to apply them to designs that do not follow the guidance exactly. Working knowledge of the Building Safety Act 2022 and the secondary legislation around it, including the dutyholder and competence regime and the Gateway process. Ability to read, interpret and challenge drawings, specifications and design risk information, and to hold a technical position under pressure in front of senior stakeholders. Excellent written English, with the ability to produce client-ready technical documents and compliance reasoning with minimal rework. Proven ability to run concurrent commissions to programme without close supervision. Commitment to the competence and ethical standards expected of a registered inspector, including working within the limits of your registration and maintaining CPD. Full UK driving licence, and willingness to travel to client offices and project sites. Existing right to work in the UK. Desirable Class 3 category H, or an active application towards it. Direct experience of Gateway 2 and Gateway 3 submissions, and of managing Regulator requests for information. Professional membership or chartered status — CABE, RICS, CIOB, IFE or equivalent. Specialist strength in façades and external wall construction, fire safety and means of escape, structural safety, or accessibility and Part M. Experience of Building Regulations Principal Designer duties under the Building Safety Act. What's in it for you At P4, We Offer More Than Just a Job – We Offer a Journey We believe you don’t need to be a large corporate organization to offer outstanding benefits. At P4, we’re committed to creating an environment that aligns with what truly matters to you, offering benefits that make both your professional and personal life thrive. A Glimpse into Your Journey with Us Challenge + Engagement: At P4, you’ll find a platform to challenge yourself, engage meaningfully with your work, and support your colleagues. Growth Platform: Our infrastructure and market position go beyond the physical – they’re designed to fuel your career growth. Balanced Support: Expect the support and work-life balance you need to foster personal and professional development. The Perks (Because We Value What You Value) Freedom + Flexibility: We provide the flexibility to manage life’s demands, from school runs to healthcare needs. Break Free from 9-5: Embrace freedom from the traditional work schedule and enjoy the trust and autonomy that come with being part of P4. Holidays Done Right: Birthdays are yours to enjoy, and we go beyond industry holiday standards. Plus, we close for Christmas without dipping into your holiday allowance! Healthcare: Access comprehensive healthcare benefits through Vitality Health. Buy/Sell Annual Leave: Customize your time off with our buy/sell annual leave scheme. Salary Sacrifice Schemes: Enjoy the benefits of salary sacrifice options, including EV cars, tech equipment, and cycle-to-work schemes. Professional Development Days: Take advantage of paid professional development days, outside of your annual leave, to invest in your growth. Career Growth: Benefit from a personal development plan and career roadmap to ensure your progression. Loyalty Rewards: After three years of service, enjoy an additional day’s holiday, with two extra days after five years. Family Support: We pledge to support family life with flexibility for school pick-ups, after-school commitments, and more. Giving Back: Participate in charity donations and challenges, volunteer programs, and make use of our employee referral scheme. Life Happens: Whether you’re moving house, welcoming a new family member, or simply need support – we’ve got you covered with our maternity/paternity packages and moving house pledge. Team Spirit: Enjoy regular social events and hearty team lunches that build connection and camaraderie. At P4, we’re more than just a workplace. We’re a community where you can grow, find balance, and be supported every step of the way. Working arrangements Base — nationwide and home-based, with our Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and London offices available to you. We will talk about the office nearest you at interview. Flexibility — hybrid working and flexibility over daily hours, agreed with your line manager and shaped around client, design team and site commitments. We care that the work is done well and that clients are looked after, not that you are visible at a desk. Travel — regular travel to client offices, design team meetings and project sites, with occasional travel between our offices for team and technical meetings. Support — registration fees, professional subscriptions and CPD are supported, including where you are working towards a higher class. Contract — full-time, permanent