Driving change in construction and the built environment is not about waiting for others to take the lead - it’s about stepping up, being visible, and inspiring others to follow. That’s where Funmbi Adeagbo, a British Chartered Architect, social activist, and passionate advocate for sustainable architecture and diversity, believes real progress will happen.

This year Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST) celebrates a major milestone - our 10th anniversary. It’s been a decade since we were founded as Scotland’s national innovation centre for construction and the built environment by the Scottish Funding Council and the Scottish Government.  

Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST) will be the industry engagement lead on a new Centre to accelerate net-zero outcomes for high density buildings in our cities and towns.

Stephen Good, CEO of Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST), responds to the Scottish Government’s recently published Green Industrial Strategy which aims to outline how the Scottish Government will ensure Scotland realises the maximum possible economic benefit from the opportunities created by the transition to net zero.

The Accelerate to Zero Awards are back for their second year to recognise the businesses, organisations, and individuals making the most significant contributions to decarbonising the built environment and supporting the just transition to net zero.

Applications are now being accepted for BE-ST's Accelerate to Zero Postgraduate Scholarship Fund.

The Accelerate to Zero Awards are back for their second year to recognise the businesses, organisations, and individuals making the most significant contributions to decarbonising the built environment and supporting the just transition to net zero. This year, the awards will take place on the evening of Thursday, 7th November, at Platform in Glasgow, following the second day of BE-ST Fest.

BE-ST is proud to announce that Edinburgh Napier University has been awarded over £1.2M in grant funding from the Scottish Government’s Salix Public Sector Heat Decarbonisation Fund, to retrofit the Accelerator Lab at BE-ST's Hamilton Technology Park Innovation Campus – which houses Scotland’s National Retrofit Centre.

The primary focus of ‘Timber in Construction: Commercialisation of Homegrown Wood Fibre Insulation’ is to develop and validate English hardwood and softwood for use in the UK’s homegrown wood fibre insulation.

BE-ST's 2023 Impact Report finds that the innovation centre has made a significant positive impact for the construction and built environment sectors in the last year.

Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST) is hosting the first ever DIveIN conference focused on developing equality, diversity and inclusion in businesses in the built environment sector. Taking place at the City of Glasgow College on 29th February, DIveIN is funded by Scottish Government and the Workplace Equality Fund.  

Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST) in collaboration with the Construction Leadership Forum (CLF)'s Net Zero, Digital and Data Working Groups, has published a report exploring the industry’s response to the Scottish Government's Just Transition Discussion Paper for the Built Environment and Construction.

First Minister Humza Yousaf visited Built Environment - Smarter Transformation (BE-ST)’s Innovation Campus today to announce the Scottish Funding Council (SFC)’s future approach to investing in Scotland’s innovation centres and to officially open BE-ST's National Retrofit Centre of Excellence.

Nicola Barclay, former Chief Executive of Homes for Scotland, has been appointed as Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST)’s, new Board Chair.

A consortium of experts in timber construction and engineering is exploring ways to boost the use of English hardwood forest products across the built environment, in a move which could significantly improve the carbon footprint of the UK’s buildings and support diverse woodland ecosystems.

Last night, Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST)’s first ever Accelerate to Zero Awards took centre stage.

This week, the UK’s first ever International Retrofit Conference is taking place as part of BE-ST Fest, a two-day industry summit focused on zero carbon construction and organised by Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST).

Changeworks has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST) with the aim of accelerating and improving retrofit in Scotland. The agreement will support ongoing collaboration between the two organisations throughout 2024 and beyond.

New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) has signed a formal agreement with Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST) to catalyse a nationwide network of advanced engineering, manufacturing, and learning hubs.

Scotland’s national Innovation Centre for construction and the built environment, BE-ST (Built Environment – Smarter Transformation) recently welcomed 13 leading figures from across the sector onto its board to steer the delivery of its mission to accelerate the built environment’s transition to zero carbon.