DHF (Door & Hardware Federation) has unveiled the UK’s first Ofqual-regulated and ABBE-accredited qualifications dedicated to the building hardware industry. The launch event was held at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon exclusively for DHF members of the Building Hardware Group, manufacturers from the Timber and Metal Doorset Groups, and invited industry guests. It marked an important milestone for the sector.
“This launch represented more than the introduction of a new training programme,” explains DHF’s Commercial Director, Patricia Sowsbery-Stevens. “Rather, it signalled a significant change in how competence in the building hardware industry is developed, measured and recognised. The qualification has been created by building hardware manufacturers, for manufacturers, and with a clear focus on quality, credibility and regulatory compliance.”
As the first Ofqual regulated qualification of its kind, and accredited by ABBE, the programme sets a new standard for professional competence in building hardware. It has been developed using more than 500 years of combined industry experience and reflects real working practice, current legislation, and growing expectations for proven competence across the built environment. DHF members and guests were the first to see this important development, marking not just the launch of a qualification but the start of a new approach to competence within the sector.
The event included presentations from Patricia Sowsbery-Stevens, DHF’s Commercial Director and Paul Johnson, DHF’s Project Manager who guided attendees through the journey of developing the training programme. Richard Bromley, Chair of the Building Hardware Group, Paul Browne, Chair of DHF, and Sam Howard of ABBE each spoke about the importance of regulated qualifications and their role in supporting higher industry standards. A live question and answer session followed, focusing on the development and future impact of the qualification, with the Q&A panel comprising DHF’s Paul Johnson, Kevin O’Reilly of Rutland UK, Neil Rule of Access2, and Richard Bromley. The discussion highlighted the collaborative effort across the industry to bring the programme to life.
“We were particularly pleased to welcome representatives from a wide range of organisations, including the Construction Products Association, Master Locksmiths Association, Police CPI, the Office for Product Safety and Standards, CITB, Nottinghamshire County Council Trading Standards, Clearview Group, and BRE,” concludes Patricia. “Their attendance demonstrated strong support for improving competence and meeting changing regulatory requirements.”
The qualification aligns with the Construction Product Competence Standard set out in the Construction Products Association White Paper and this places the programme at the forefront of wider competence reform, reinforcing DHF’s leadership in supporting a safer and more accountable built environment. DHF members will have exclusive access to the Core Competence in Building Hardware training courses for the first six months, with the programme due to launch in Spring 2026.
