Behind the Built Environment

BESA Chief Executive David Frise sits down with Mark Robinson, CEO of SCAPE, to explore how smarter procurement can transform the built environment.

From his journey as a Sheffield YTS apprentice to leading one of the UK’s most influential public sector procurement authorities, Mark shares candid insights on driving social value, achieving net zero, tackling the skills gap, and embracing AI.

Discover why he believes standardisation could unlock huge efficiencies, how SCAPE balances commercial innovation with public responsibility, and why he remains optimistic about the construction industry’s future—despite being a Sheffield Wednesday fan.

In this episode, host David Frise, Chief Executive of BESA, speaks with Mike Talbot, CTO of SFG20, about the growing role of AI in building maintenance and compliance.

Mike shares how the Grenfell tragedy inspired his move into the built environment, leading efforts to apply AI, IoT, and predictive analytics to streamline maintenance scheduling, automate asset management, and support regulatory compliance.

The conversation explores both the opportunities—such as sensor-driven diagnostics, digital twins, and upskilling via natural language AI—and the risks, including hallucinations, ethical missteps, and overreliance on flawed data.

Mike stresses that while AI can dramatically boost efficiency, expert human oversight is essential in compliance-critical areas. Used responsibly, AI offers huge potential to modernise building maintenance—delivering safer, smarter outcomes across the built environment.

In this episode of Behind the Built Environment, BESA Chief Executive David Frise speaks with Paul Wilkinson, Vice Chair of NIMA, about the shift from Building Information Modelling (BIM) to broader information management across the built environment.

Paul explains how NIMA evolved to support a more inclusive, long-term approach to managing data across the lifecycle of built assets. He highlights the importance of the golden thread, interoperability, and whole-life asset thinking—key to improving safety, compliance, and performance.

Emphasising that digital transformation is driven more by culture and people than technology, Paul calls for clearer communication, industry-wide collaboration, and trusted data as the foundation for future innovations like AI and digital twins.

Success, he says, will mean seamless data flow from construction through to asset management by 2030.

In this special episode marking World Refrigeration Day, host David Frise, Chief Executive of BESA, speaks with Dr Catarina Marques, a leading UK expert in refrigeration engineering. The discussion highlights the critical yet often overlooked role of refrigeration in modern society.

Dr Marques shares insights from her 15+ years of experience across food service cooling, Net Zero innovation, and integrated energy systems.

The conversation emphasises the urgent need to prioritise sustainable refrigeration in the built environment and recognise the sector’s vital contribution to achieving Net Zero targets.

In this first episode of the Behind the Built Environment Podcast Extra, BESA Chief Executive David Frise speaks with Peter Apps, Deputy Editor of Inside Housing and author of Show Me the Bodies, about the legacy and lessons of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

Peter reflects on six years of covering the inquiry, exploring its impact on the construction sector, the ongoing culture of minimal compliance, and the urgent need for meaningful reform. He discusses the inquiry's findings, missed opportunities for accountability, and the critical role of leadership, enforcement, and ethical responsibility in ensuring building safety.

Drawing on his extensive reporting, Peter stresses that cultural change must go beyond regulations—starting with clients and driven by individuals committed to doing the right thing.

For those looking to understand and respond effectively to the post-Grenfell regulatory landscape, visit the BESA Building Safety Act Hub. It offers essential guidance, resources, and updates to help professionals and organisations navigate their responsibilities under the new legislation and lead the way in a safer, more accountable built environment.

In this episode of Behind the Built Environment, BESA Chief Executive David Frise speaks with Amanda Long, Chief Executive of Construction Product Information Ltd (CPI), about the critical role of accurate, transparent construction product data. Amanda discusses the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI), a post-Grenfell initiative designed to drive cultural and behavioural change in the way manufacturers provide information. Drawing on her background in ethical business and consumer protection, Amanda highlights the importance of leadership, accountability, and continuous improvement—especially in an industry long reliant on checklists over responsibility. The conversation also explores the challenges SMEs face, the impact of legislation, and why product claims must match real-world performance. Amanda makes a passionate case for industry-wide commitment to safer, more reliable buildings, where every product decision contributes to public trust and safety. Find out more at www.cpicode.org.uk

In this episode, BESA CEO David Frise speaks with Amos Simbo OBE, founder of the BPIC Network and Winway Group, about improving diversity in construction. Amos shares his career journey and explains why representation, inclusion, and access are vital for attracting and retaining talent from ethnic minority backgrounds. He introduces BPIC’s mission to support inclusive workplaces and its upcoming Skills Academy. The key message: inclusion benefits everyone and leads to innovation, better business outcomes, and stronger industry culture. For companies of all sizes, authenticity matters—don’t fake it, make it real. Inclusion isn’t a trend—it’s good business.

In this episode of Behind the Built Environment, BESA’s David Frise speaks with Suzannah Nichol, Chief Executive of Build UK, about her career journey and the organisation’s impact over the past decade. They explore Build UK’s role in improving payment practices, introducing the Common Assessment Standard, and tackling industry-wide issues like productivity, skills shortages, and cultural change. Suzannah shares insights on the Building Safety Act, the importance of collaboration, and embracing innovation and AI. She highlights the success of the Open Doors initiative and emphasises the need for the sector to modernise, reduce duplication, and unite around shared goals.

BESA Chief Executive David Frise speaks with Charles Begley, Chief Executive of the London Property Alliance, about the future of London’s built environment.

They discuss economic growth, sustainability, and the need for public-private partnerships.

Charles highlights how flexible planning policies could generate £100 billion in additional GVA by 2045.

The conversation explores skills shortages, the rise of retrofit projects, and the growing role of investors in sustainable development.

In this episode of Behind the Built Environment, BESA Chief Executive David Frise talks with Steven Boyd, a property and infrastructure expert with over 30 years’ experience, including leading roles with the Government Property Agency and the British Army. They explore key challenges facing the built environment, from the implementation of the Building Safety Act to tackling fragmented data management and inefficiencies across construction and operations.

Steven shares insights on integrating lifecycle data to improve decision-making, reduce waste, and achieve sustainability goals, including net-zero carbon emissions. He advocates for bridging the gap between construction and maintenance, emphasising the importance of digital tools and offsite assembly in driving innovation. The conversation also highlights opportunities to streamline regulations, enhance collaboration, and prioritise refurbishment for existing buildings.