ACE Head to Parliament to Support National Asbestos Campaign
Ben Angell James, Technical and Compliance Director, and Gareth Jones, Operations Manager at ACE, recently represented the company at the Houses of Parliament to tackle one of the UK’s most serious public health risks: asbestos.
Hosted in Westminster, this high-profile event marked a critical step in the Asbestos in Schools and Public Buildings Campaign. It brought together leading experts, industry bodies, politicians, and campaigners with a shared purpose: to raise awareness and accelerate progress towards a safer, asbestos-free future.
Standing United Against a Silent Killer
Despite being banned in the UK in 1999, asbestos remains present in an estimated 300,000 non-domestic buildings, including schools, hospitals and government facilities. It continues to pose a deadly threat, claiming the lives of around 5,000 people every year from asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma and asbestosis.
One of the key tools in identifying and managing this risk is a professional asbestos survey, which plays a critical role in determining the presence and condition of asbestos-containing materials in buildings.
With such figures highlighting a national crisis, the Westminster gathering, organised by the Asbestos Testing and Consultancy Association (ATaC) and the Asbestos Removal Contractors Association (ARCA), provided an essential platform to put this issue back at the forefront of public policy.
The campaign calls for urgent action from the government to prioritise the removal of asbestos from public buildings, implement clearer guidance and timelines, and increase investment in research, asbestos surveys, testing, and safe remediation. The full campaign report is available to read here.
ACE’s Voice at the Table
As a leading asbestos consultancy in the UK, ACE plays a pivotal role in the national asbestos safety conversation. Attending Parliament was a natural extension of their mission to protect health and uphold industry best practices.
Ben Angell James and Gareth Jones joined forces with other technical experts to offer practical insight into the challenges faced by professionals managing asbestos risks daily. Their attendance helped highlight the value of data-driven compliance, robust technical standards, and skilled personnel in managing asbestos safely and effectively—starting with thorough asbestos surveys and assessments.
Ben commented on the significance of the event, stating:
“It’s time to move beyond awareness. This event showed a collective appetite for change and meaningful action. We were proud to stand alongside fellow professionals and advocates to drive the conversation forward and represent our team’s and clients’ experiences.”
A National Call to Action
One of the most powerful moments of the day came as campaigners and MPs shared personal stories of how asbestos exposure had touched their lives or communities. These moving testimonials underscored the urgency for proactive government involvement, not just in policy but also in funding, education, asbestos surveys, and support for removal programmes.
ACE firmly supports the campaign’s objectives and echoes the call for a national strategy to eliminate asbestos from public spaces in a controlled, safe and timely manner. With many buildings built before the asbestos ban still in use, the risk of exposure remains high, particularly for children in schools, NHS workers and contractors.
The campaign stresses that “managing in situ” is no longer a sustainable or ethical strategy in the long term. The health and safety of future generations depend on decisive action today.
Supporting Safety Through Expertise
At John F Hunt, we are proud of the expertise and proactive commitment shown by our colleagues at ACE. Their presence in Parliament highlights the importance of industry collaboration in influencing national policy and protecting lives. It also reflects our shared ethos that safety, compliance and innovation must be at the heart of everything we do.
The Road Ahead
Events like the one in Westminster play a vital role in pushing asbestos reform higher up the national agenda. ACE will continue to support and advocate for this cause, working closely with clients, government and industry partners to improve standards and ensure the UK is equipped to meet the challenges ahead.
As we reflect on this moment in Parliament, one message is clear: asbestos is not just a legacy issue; it is a current and preventable public health crisis. With the right collaboration, investment, and political will, we can reduce risk, save lives and create a healthier future for all.
Explore more: Check out the UK Asbestos Risk Map to see how exposure risk varies across the country.
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