NG Bailey and Dalkia Engineering sign BESA Member Pledge on supply chain competence

NG Bailey and Dalkia Engineering Limited have signed the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) Member Pledge, the trade body announced on 12 October 2026, committing both contractors to independently assessed competence across their supply chains.

The two companies signed at the BESA President's Lunch at the OXO Tower in London, according to BESA. The pledge asks contractors to bring their supply chain partners into BESA membership and to demonstrate capability through the BESA Competence Assessment Standard (CAS).

BESA said the aim was to put independently assessed competence at the heart of supply chain relationships and procurement decisions.

Paul Eagle, technical director at Dalkia Engineering and BESA vice president, said signing was a proud moment for the company. "We want to help build a better industry, and that starts with taking responsibility for the standards we set and the businesses we work with," he said.

Jonathan Stockton, chief executive officer of NG Bailey, said the commitment was about working with partners to champion proven competence and support the delivery of safe, high-quality buildings. "Strong supply chains depend on shared standards, collaboration and confidence in each other's capabilities," he said.

The signatories

Both companies have close ties to the association. BESA's new president, Anna Shephard, is operations director at OSM Ventilation, an NG Bailey company, according to NG Bailey. She was elected president for 2026/27, BESA reported on 29 September 2026, having chaired its Legal and Commercial Committee for many years. NG Bailey said she began her presidency at the President's Lunch, where she gave her first speech.

Eagle, meanwhile, was voted in by his industry peers to become BESA president in 2028, Dalkia said in August 2026, starting as vice president in September 2026. He said at the time he was flattered that his peers had voted him in as a future president.

NG Bailey recorded turnover of £662m, the highest in its 104-year history, according to its about page. The company was founded in Leeds in 1921 as Bailey-Billington with initial capital of £83.

Dalkia Engineering Limited was formerly Imtech Engineering Services Limited, with the renaming taking place at Companies House on 3 October 2023, according to Dalkia UK. Dalkia UK describes itself as having a 4,000-strong team.

The pledge and the CAS audit

Linaker describes itself as the first company to adopt the Member Pledge, according to a statement from managing director Claire Curran on BESA's pledge page. Briggs & Forrester is also an earlier signatory, according to Pete Curtis, the firm's group services manager, quoted on the same page.

The CAS audit provides independent assessment of BESA members' technical competence, according to the association. New members are assessed on joining and at the end of their first year, then every three years, or more often if required.

BESA cites a Build UK estimate that duplicated prequalification costs the construction industry as much as £1bn a year. The association also said building services now account for more than 50% of the value of most construction projects.

In her inaugural speech, Shephard said that as expectations around building safety, energy efficiency and building performance grow, building engineering services has an opportunity to demonstrate the value of its people and expertise. She also said it would be a source of pride if her presidential year coincided with legislation outlawing retentions.

What happens next

BESA said the next wave of major contractors will sign the pledge at its Annual Conference on 22 October 2026 at The Brewery, London. The conference, with the theme Going Beyond Compliance, will bring together industry leaders and technical specialists, the association said.