31st October – the day the UK was expected to withdraw itself from the European Union. However, come 28th October, a mere three days before our scheduled divorce from the EU, news rolled in of yet another extension. Now extended up until 31st January, with Boris Johnson urging EU leaders to avoid yielding further prolongation, this leaves much of the nation yet again in a state of uncertainty surrounding the aftermath of Brexit. With much of the construction industry anticipating updates to make informed business arrangements, the latest undesired news has left the sector no choice but to sit tight and wait for further knowledge.

In other Parliamentary stories, this year’s Queen’s Speech was delivered by Her Majesty on 14th October at the Houses of Parliament. In light of the 2017 Grenfell disaster, the Queen announced plans to bring forward the implementation of new safety building standards. In this issue, we’ve talked to Peter Johnson, Chairman of Vivalda, about the much-needed safety standards. Turn to page 26 to learn more.

Amidst the leaked Grenfell Tower Inquiry Reports and condemn placed on the London Fire Brigade (LFB) – despite the bravery displayed throughout the 72-hour-long blaze on the evening of 14th June – the need for new building safety standards have never been higher. Read some of the responses to the LFB scrutiny on page 11.

I hope you enjoy this issue. Don’t forget, you can also access all of the magazine’s features, product news and supplier information on FC&A’s user-friendly and engaging website. Fully responsive, the website allows you to read all the latest stories on-the-go either on your phone or tablet. Simply search www.fca-magazine.com