Does the built environment actually understand and recognise its role in society?

Most professionals would point to their responsibilities and the role of their function in the building lifecycle when asked to define their purpose. But does this perception fail to consider our sector’s considerable impact on the lives of its inhabits and its role in the climate crisis?

In the latest episode of BE Sustainable, our host Mike Speight is joined by Ashley Wheaton, Vice Chancellor of UCEM. Together they dive into how some of the biggest challenges facing the sector, from sustainability to poor collaboration and the green skills gap, could be the result of how it internally and externally presents itself.

Subscribe now via:

- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ucem/id1524980861 

- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Czk2mZlZmknjUZfwLmLTa 

- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/universitycollegeofestatemanagement

Guest

Ashley Wheaton

Ashley Wheaton joined UCEM as Principal (later Vice Chancellor) in 2013. He has led the institution through a period of prolific growth and significant change, notably through the gaining of the University College title and the securing of full independence.

Ashley holds a BA (Hons) in Economics from the University of London. Whilst at UCEM, he spent six years as a Non-Executive Director of BRE Group, and has previously held senior roles as Director of Global Learning Services for Microsoft and Chief Executive Officer of InfoBasis Ltd, a global Talent Management software company.

The built environment comprises a diverse and exciting range of sectors, but there is still a lack of representation at every level. We want this to change.

‘Be Part of the Change’ is an awareness campaign with the purpose of celebrating the incredible success stories of our under-represented students, apprentices and alumni, as well as highlighting their challenges.

It’s also an opportunity to highlight the positive practices our employers are actioning within their organisations to inspire other companies in their approach.

In the seventh episode of our Be Part of the Change podcast, Danial Shaikh, Student Officer for Disability and Mental Health and Apprentice at UCEM, is joined by Batul Daulby, Principal Education Psychologist and Founder of CF Psychology.

The topics discussed in this episode include:

• The early signs that a student may have an SpLD
• Where students should go to seek help
• The common misconceptions of SpLDs
• How friends and family can support SpLDs
• Batul's tips for educators and employers

The built environment comprises a diverse and exciting range of sectors, but there is still a lack of representation at every level. We want this to change.

‘Be Part of the Change’ is an awareness campaign with the purpose of celebrating the incredible success stories of our under-represented students, apprentices and alumni, as well as highlighting their challenges.

It’s also an opportunity to highlight the positive practices our employers are actioning within their organisations to inspire other companies in their approach.

In the sixth episode of our Be Part of the Change podcast, Zara Edmonds, Student Officer for Disability and Welfare and Apprentice at UCEM, is joined by Kathryn Moody, an MSc Real Estate student.

The topics discussed in this episode include:

• Kathryn and Zara's experience being diagnosed with dyslexia
• How this diagnosis impacted their mental health and education
• The support Kathryn has received from UCEM
• Kathryn's tips for students with dyslexia

The built environment comprises a diverse and exciting range of sectors, but there is still a lack of representation at every level. We want this to change.

‘Be Part of the Change’ is an awareness campaign with the purpose of celebrating the incredible success stories of our under-represented students, apprentices and alumni, as well as highlighting their challenges.

It’s also an opportunity to highlight the positive practices our employers are actioning within their organisations to inspire other companies in their approach.

In the fifth episode of our Be Part of the Change podcast, Jack Champion, Welfare Officer at UCEM, is joined by Laura Pollard, an Apprentice Surveyor at JLL currently studying Real Estate Management with UCEM.

The topics discussed on this episode include:

• How Laura first became aware of her ADHD
• The impact it's had on Laura's journey through work and education
• Laura's experience of ADHD support at UCEM
• Laura's tips and tricks for dealing with ADHD

The built environment isn’t a sector typically associated with innovation, but as the pressure to address our role in the climate crisis grows, does this need to change?

In the latest episode of BE Sustainable, Professor Graeme Larsen returns to explore the challenge of bringing new innovations into the mainstream in our sector. From restriction and regulatory uncertainty to skills shortages and perceived risks, Graeme and our host, Mike Speight, dive into the barriers – and potential solutions – to our sector’s need to embrace, support and enable innovation.

Subscribe now via:

- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ucem/id1524980861 
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Czk2mZlZmknjUZfwLmLTa 
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/universitycollegeofestatemanagement

Guest

Dr Graeme Larsen 

Dr Graeme Larsen is the Associate Dean (Sustainability) at UCEM. He’s also Visiting Professor at RMIT, Australia, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building as a Chartered Construction Manager. Grame also holds a key strategic international role within the prestigious International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB), as coordinator for ‘Working Group 65 – Organization and Management in Construction’.

In this follow-up episode of BE Sustainable, our experts Dr Pippa Boyd and Dr Ankit Singh get into the nitty-gritty of turning circular economy concepts into reality within the built environment. 

From navigating the complexities of circular economy management to pioneering innovative business models, our guests discuss how standardisation, material passports, and even second-hand markets could be the answer the built environment needs. They also unpack the tricky question of regulation – who should be leading this change? And how can we ensure innovation in building design isn’t stifled along the way? 

Subscribe now via:
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ucem/id1524980861 
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Czk2mZlZmknjUZfwLmLTa 
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/universitycollegeofestatemanagement

Guests:

Dr Pippa Boyd

Dr Pippa Boyd is a Senior Lecturer at UCEM who is involved in the development and delivery of UCEM’s MSc Innovation in Sustainable Built Environments. She has a background in mechanical engineering and production methods, and before entering academia operated as a consultant in change management and organisational roles. She completed her PhD in sustainable innovation and uptake.

Dr Ankit Singh

Dr Ankit Singh is Director of Sustainability at Waterman Building Services Ltd, part of the Waterman Group. Ankit leads the charge in implementing strategic sustainability initiatives in the construction sector. He collaborates closely with asset funders, developers, and contractors to foster sustainable development across various projects and sectors. His academic background includes a PhD in Making sense of strategy development for Sustainability in large construction firms in the UK, and further qualifications from the University of Cambridge and MIT.

What if the buildings we live and work in could be designed to last forever? This episode of BE Sustainable explores the potential of the circular economy in the built environment. Joined by experts Dr Ankit Singh and Dr Pippa Boyd, they discuss how we can shift from the traditional "take, make, break" model to one where materials are reused, repurposed, and regenerated. 

Our guests highlight examples of this principle in practice, critically examine the role of material hierarchies and discuss the real challenges and benefits of implementing the concept of circular economy within the built environment. With 80% of the buildings that will exist in 2050 already built, could this be the key to achieving net-zero? 

Subscribe now via:

- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ucem/id1524980861
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Czk2mZlZmknjUZfwLmLTa
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/universitycollegeofestatemanagement

Dr Pippa Boyd

Dr Pippa Boyd is a Senior Lecturer at UCEM who is involved in the development and delivery of UCEM’s MSc Innovation in Sustainable Built Environments. She has a background in mechanical engineering and production methods, and before entering academia operated as a consultant in change management and organisational roles. She completed her PhD in sustainable innovation and uptake.

Dr Ankit Singh

Dr Ankit Singh is Director of Sustainability at Waterman Building Services Ltd, part of the Waterman Group. Ankit leads the charge in implementing strategic sustainability initiatives in the construction sector. He collaborates closely with asset funders, developers, and contractors to foster sustainable development across various projects and sectors. His academic background includes a PhD in Making sense of strategy development for Sustainability in large construction firms in the UK, and further qualifications from the University of Cambridge and MIT.

The built environment comprises a diverse and exciting range of sectors, but there is still a lack of representation at every level. We want this to change.

‘Be Part of the Change’ is an awareness campaign with the purpose of celebrating the incredible success stories of our under-represented students, apprentices and alumni, as well as highlighting their challenges.

It’s also an opportunity to highlight the positive practices our employers are actioning within their organisations to inspire other companies in their approach.

In the fourth episode of our Be Part of the Change podcast, Drew Greenhalgh, Student Ambassador for EDI at UCEM, is joined by Lydia McGuinness, a Site Manager at Wates and a Young Ambassador for the CLC.

The topics discussed on this episode include:

• How Lydia defied her family’s expectations to enter the built environment
• What motivated Lydia to become the CLC’s People and Skills Young Ambassador
• Why diversity is a crisis, not a competition
• Why construction needs a Royal Navy-style ad campaign

Visit the Be Part of the Change site: https://www.ucem.ac.uk/be-part-of-the-change/

In a world of endless possibilities, Marc Fleming and Fred Mills shift the conversation from what we could achieve to what we should. The Line in Saudi Arabia is one of the most interesting, polarising and ambitious urban projects of our time. It promises to revolutionise urban living whilst raising a multitude of questions and concerns for both construction and architecture enthusiasts.  

Our guests discuss the feasibility, sustainability, and ethical implications of this groundbreaking project. They delve into the historical roots of linear cities, examine the technological challenges, and explore the potential for such a project in the UK. 

Subscribe now via:

- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ucem/id1524980861
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Czk2mZlZmknjUZfwLmLTa
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/universitycollegeofestatemanagement

Guests 

Marc Fleming

Marc Fleming is programme leader for the BSc Architectural Design Technology at UCEM and a Chartered Architectural Technologist. He has extensive experience in industry, secondary, further and higher education teaching and management as well as running his own consultancy practice.

Additionally, Marc is a member of the Institute of Innovation and Knowledge exchange. Marc is actively involved in a range of working groups and networks that support the transformation of industry and skills/training opportunities.

Fred Mills

Fred Mills is an award-winning entrepreneur and YouTuber. He is a founder of The B1M, the world's largest and the most subscribed-to video channel for construction with over 3 million subscribers, and recently launched Tomorrows Build which is focused on shaping the future of construction. 

Fred has also been awarded an Honorary master’s degree by UCEM for his outstanding and inspiring contribution to the built environment sector.

Retrofitting is the art of breathing new life into existing buildings. It goes beyond simple maintenance and repair. In this episode of BE Sustainable, Dr James Ritson explores the ‘hot topic’ within the built environment in the last few years.  

With 80% of the buildings we’ll see in 2050 already standing, the urgency of retrofitting could not be any clearer. While policymakers view it as a silver bullet for energy efficiency and sustainability, the reality is far more complex.  

Join Dr Ritson as he discusses how the idea has been coveted as a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution, yet, the policies are fragmented, and the initiatives insufficient.  

So, where do we turn for solutions? Dr James Ritson considers technological integration and the three pillars of sustainability, unravelling the challenges of mitigation versus adaption, post-COVID lifestyle changes, technological development, and the impractical pursuit of zero carbon.  

Subscribe now via: 

- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ucem/id1524980861
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Czk2mZlZmknjUZfwLmLTa
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/universitycollegeofestatemanagement

Guest 

Dr James Ritson 

Dr James Ritson is a Senior Lecturer at UCEM, and an architecturally trained building conservator with a focus on sustainability and historic built environment documentation. Alongside his role at UCEM, James holds key positions in various organisations, such as his role as the Vice President of ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Energy and Sustainability, and is published widely on sustainability, health, and conservation issues.