About BE-ST

BE-ST is Scotland's national innovation centre for construction and the built environment.

Our mission is to accelerate the built environment’s transition to zero carbon.

We work with organisations across the built environment sector, including industry at all levels, universities and colleges, and the public and third sector, to come up with new ways to transform the built environment to become stronger, more sustainable, and smarter.

We provide the tools to inspire a strong, sustainable, and smarter built environment through innovation, skills, and collaboration.

By tapping into the expertise of universities, colleges, research, and other built environment experts, BE-ST provides the connections and culture to make big ideas, that generate growth and benefit businesses, education, research and communities, a reality.

‘Accelerate to Zero’ is the outcome that underpins all our work.

View of a lush green forest with tall trees, dense foliage, and a forest floor covered in fallen leaves and small plants.
Empty classroom with wooden walls and ceiling, folding chairs arranged in rows, a whiteboard with black marker drawings, a mounted flat-screen TV, and a shelf with books and projects.
A yellow background with a large, abstract wave or swoosh design.

We like to get things done.

We collaborate across the entire built environment ecosystem to accelerate the just transition to zero carbon. We want to unlock solutions which benefit everyone - businesses, citizens, and the environment - so that we are finding ways to accelerate to zero carbon which don’t leave anyone behind.

  • BE-ST is the launchpad to a zero carbon built environment.

  • A better built environment that delivers inclusive and sustainable economic, social and environmental impact.

  • To accelerate the built environment’s transition to zero carbon.

  • We provide the innovation tools to inspire a strong, sustainable and smarter built environment through innovation, skills and collaboration.

Our values

Our home is Scotland but our reach is global.

We collaborate across the entire built environment ecosystem to accelerate the just transition to net zero carbon.

  • Bring people and organisations together.

    We understand that ideas shape the world around us. We assemble cross-sector teams to conceive and activate transformative ideas.

  • Embrace inclusiveness and different opinions.

    We all have something to offer. The strongest ideas can come from the most unexpected places, so it’s critical we retain an open mind and have a willingness to involve others – regardless of position, background and skill set.

  • Disrupt the status quo and stand out from the crowd.

    Transformation relies on big ideas and big ambitions, backed by thorough research and business acumen – we will break the mould. Change can be scary, so we need to have courage in our convictions.

  • Lead the way and embrace a culture of transformation.

    We have the opportunity to lead from the front and live our values. Our methods, processes and culture need to inspire others to take our lead and embrace change.

  • Focus on solutions and discovering smarter ways.

    Innovation is never straight forward: there are many twists and turns along the way. BE-ST offers a safe place to explore ideas, experiment and learn from mistakes, in the pursuit of new solutions to tomorrow’s challenges.

Indoor display of a modern wooden two-story house model with large windows, surrounded by potted plants, in a spacious exhibition hall.
A yellow background with a large, abstract wave or swoosh design.

The voices of sustainable change

BE-ST's BE Changemakers, Innovation Champions, and Beacons are dedicated to advancing the built environment’s just transition to zero carbon.

Group of people standing in front of a building under construction, with some wall panels and bricks visible.
Attendees seated at round tables in a bright conference room, listening to a speaker standing on the left side.
A man in a black suit and glasses standing on stage during a presentation, with large illuminated letters spelling 'BEST' behind him in a modern conference space.

Creating value

Our work creates economic opportunities for businesses by supporting them to develop new products, services and processes and creates social impact for the communities that benefit from a better, healthier, and more sustainable built environment.

We help businesses to become more productive and to build resilience and work with the sector to make the built environment a better place to work and live.

Our pledge

We commit to supporting the creation of:

  • A built environment with the tools to lower carbon emissions

  • A sector that is smart, data rich, and digitally enabled

  • Safeguarded existing jobs & businesses as well as new sustainable jobs & businesses

  • Greater supply chain resilience and supply chains creation in UK

  • Diverse talent attraction and retention, improved education pathways, and a highly skilled workforce

  • Attraction of inward investment and enabling of businesses to export

  • Impact from academic investment and increased business investment in innovation and R&D

  • Green economic growth across all sectors underpinned by a strong and sustainable construction and built environment ecosystem

  • A just transition and built environment that eradicates fuel poverty and health inequalities

  • More effective use of public investment

  • More affordable and more sustainable places and spaces for Scotland’s citizens to live, work and explore.