Only Connect Business Networking Podcast

In 2021, two important changes are set to advance the opportunities for smaller companies to win work through public sector tenders. The first is the Social Value Framework which went live on January 1st, and other is the Green Paper on Transforming Public Procurement out for consultation until March 10th.

Our panellists are Ben Carpenter, Chief Executive of Social Value UK, the professional body for social value and impact management, and Rebecca Rees, Partner at Trowers & Hamlins, where Rebecca, a national expert in public procurement law, co-leads the Public Procurement Practice. Ben & Rebecca will examine the key elements in both regulations, including the likely implications and identified issues - and opportunities for smaller companies in national and local contracts. 

We will then also hear from Neil Capstick, Founder of The Social Value Practice and Executive Compass, and a seasoned social value and procurement professional.  Neil look at potential barriers and opportunities social value presents to SMEs when bidding. Our fourth panellist is Urbano's Co-Director, Caroline Brock, ex Work Winning Associate at AECOM and now a tender writer and bid management strategist & consultant who helps both large companies and SMEs win work in the public sector

As President Biden takes his oath of office on this day, we would like to use such an event to bring together different US and British companies to hear from someone at the sharp edge of future planning a city and to see what issues are shared with London. There will also be facilitated networking and plenty of chance to chat and connect.

Joy Sinderbrand, the Vice President for NYCHA's Recovery and Resilience Department.

Formed in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, Joy's department is responsible for managing a $3Bn budget aimed at repairing developments throughout New York impacted by Sandy, incorporating resilient design that will guide future construction throughout NYCHA’s portfolio.

The New York City Housing Authority is the body in charge of increasing opportunities for low and moderate income New Yorkers to access safe, affordable housing and facilitating social and community services. 

For this free event, Mark will is joined by a panel of Urbano Member architects to discuss the outlook for architecture in 2021, including industry trends, their approach to sustainability, both in terms of the economy and commitments to zero carbon, and the Built Environment as a whole. 

In a lively session, all sizes and practice specialities of architect practices are represented on the panel: AHR, FT Architects, Gluckman Smith, InsideOut, Mackay + Partners & The RPA Group.

They share their opinions on the proposed changes by the MHCLG to the Architects Act 1997, including competences of architects and registration.

Facilitated by Mark Herring, Urbano's Connector-In-Chief, our Urbano Engage Speaker Panel events use an interactive format to examine key themes of interest to business. For this event, we are pleased to partner with Cityzenith to look at Digital Twins, a market set to be worth $50Bn by 2026,  and how smart technology that connects areas and systems like maintenance, energy consumption, space utilization and traffic management, will be used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Digital Twins are virtual replicas of buildings, infrastructure and physical assets, fully interconnected with the data in and around them that optimize project performance, and help predict and visualize future outcomes.

Jason Thomas, Business Development Manager EMEA at Cityzenith, will lead on what Digital Twin technology is and its uses, and analyse results from Cityzenith's advanced Digital Twin software solutions for buildings, infrastructure, and smart cities. 

Facilitated by Mark Herring, Urbano's Connector-In-Chief, our Urbano Engage Speaker Panel events use an interactive format to examine key themes of interest to business. For this event, we are partnering with Urbano Members, Sakura Business Solutions and its Founder/Managing Director, Damian Connolly.

With offices in London and Dublin, Sakura and Damian are ideally positioned to both understand how we can use Ireland as a spring-board to trade with the EU after January 1st. Joining Mark & Damian will be Michelle Conaghan, VP - Emerging Technologies & New Forms of Investment UK, from IDA Ireland for what we hope will include an update on any Brexit trade agreement.

For this event, Mark Herring, Urbano's Connector-In-Chief is joined by Robert Kelly, Commercial Business Development Manager at Stewart Title UK, a leading provider of title insurance & real estate services. Robert kicks off this panel event by examining regulatory changes on permitted development and other factors that will affect housing and analysis of markets following previous stamp duty holidays.

Stuart Kaye, Founding Director of Adams Kaye, property law and private client specialists, gives his take on how his clients, including HNWs and overseas buyers, view property investment in the south-east in particular.

Richard Merrett, Head of Strategic Development at Simply Biz Mortgages , looks in details at lending requirements, liquidity and other factors that will influence the market next year, because your property is only worth what a lender will lend you you to buy it.

Stay tuned for the final verdict of attendees and the panel on whether our houses and flats will be worth more in a year's time than today,

Aitch Group was founded by Hackney born Henry Smith in 1995, and in those 25 years has developed a reputation as a leading property developer in London. Built upon strong values, Aitch Group has an unwavering commitment to developing stylish and innovative spaces that allow people and communities to thrive.

Our speaker, Laurence Quail, a Property & Planning Expert, leads us through the history of Aitch Group, its current projects and its ambitions for the future. He also looks at their approach to building as sustainable company fit to meet the specific challenges of net zero carbon targets for the construction sector. 

With Laurence's planning experience, we asked him to share his views on two important themes to those developing residential schemes in London:

1. The recently announced planning changes including commercial to residential; and

2. The future of London as a place to work and live in light of Covid. 

This event with EQ Investors is timed for the publication of the 2020 edition of their annual review of Impact Investing and how it has benefitted in key areas like waste reduction, zero carbon technology, alternative energy, access to mobile technology, healthcare and elsewhere.

The event features guest speakers, Louisiana Salge, EQ's resident Impact Specialist and Dale Scorer, a Chartered Financial Advisor and Planner. Following the presentation, there is a discussion on ESG, sustainability and the role our own pensions and ISAs can play in creating a better planet by Mark Herring, Urbano's Connector-In-Chief.

This event was part of Good Money Week 2020 aimed at helping everyone find sustainable and ethical options for banking, pensions, savings and investments.

As Covid sees a lot of people appraise what they want from their working lives - or have had this decision forced up them - we want to help those starting their own companies to learn from the experiences of a wide range of Urbano Members who founded and now own succesful companies from across all sectors.

Mark Herring, Urbano's Connector-In-Chief, will be asking each of them to share the key points on their growth journey and share this information with you. He will also ask questions submitted by participants.

Our Urbano Member speaker line-up includes:

Arit Eminue, Founder/Director of recruitment and training company DiVA Apprenticeships

Elle Moss, Founder/CEO of creative agency Drew London

Brant McNaughton, Managing Director of web development agency Ecce.

Louise Turley, Director of high-end commercial and residential designs at FT Architects

Jess James, Director of dynamic sustainability consultancy JAW  

This panel event will be facilitated by Mark Herring, Urbano's Connector-In-Chief. 

Deborah's presentation with Urbano Network examined the performance of different materials from an environmental/zero carbon perspective alongside other elements of process and production affecting sustainability across construction.