Two leading construction industry names have announced a strategic partnership that will see them collaborate in supporting a joined-up, connected supply chain to help decision-makers drive business forward in 2021 and beyond.

The British Board of Agrément, the UK’s primary building product certification organisation, and Barbour Product Search, the market leading online product directory for building product manufacturers, are uniting to assist companies wishing to develop sustainable, innovative product development practices.

A key focus of the partnership is a dedicated Testing & Certification Knowledge Hub accessible to all users of Barbour Product Search throughout the construction the supply chain. The online hub will raise awareness of the benefits of testing and certification and share valuable industry insights, forecasts and trends provided by technical experts within the BBA.

Both organisations believe the collaboration will support the drive to improve quality and safety in the construction industry by embedding product testing and certification information into the Barbour Product Search information, with easy reference for building designers, specifiers, contractors and manufacturers.

The announcement also chimes perfectly with the government’s recently launched Construction Playbook, which places greater focus on building positive relationships between project leads and industry; the BBA and Barbour Product Search believe their alliance demonstrates industry leaders working together to the benefit of the entire supply chain.

BBA spokesman Peter Webbon said: “We are focused on delivering true value for the good of the entire industry – and one way we’re doing that is through working together with partners who share that passion. We are delighted to partner with organisations like Barbour Product Search to help businesses who are serious about product quality and want to establish market confidence in their products and systems while complying with building regulations and legislation.”

Simon Rhodes, Commercial Director of Barbour Product Search said: “We recognise the ever-increasing importance of demonstrating product quality within our industry. Thousands of specifiers and installers use Barbour Product Search daily to gather information and inspiration for their projects, so we want them to have the most accurate information relating to product performance. That’s why we are delighted to partner with the BBA, as a trusted certification body with long-term partnerships - so that we together, can promote an informed and concise catalogue of BBA approved products to decision makers in our community.”