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News
The purpose of this survey is to understand current levels of knowledge, specification practices, and use of timber in the UK, with a particular focus on C16 and UK‑grown material.
New programme will help prepare the construction sector for proposed changes aimed at improving quality, compliance and public confidence.
A pioneering research initiative has demonstrated that England’s underutilised deciduous broadleaf forests could play a transformative role in delivering low-carbon buildings, supporting biodiversity, and strengthening domestic supply chains.
Architecture and Design Scotland outlines business plan, announces strategic partnerships and previews pop-up exhibitions space.
The Accelerate to Zero Awards are back for their fourth year to recognise the businesses, organisations, and individuals making the most significant contributions to decarbonising the built environment and supporting the just transition to a zero carbon built environment.
For the past five years, industry leaders, policymakers, innovators and practitioners have travelled to Glasgow for BE-ST Fest. In 2026, the festival evolves into a new regional format with four individual full-day summits taking place across Scotland, creating more opportunities for local collaboration, discussion and action.
A major new industry training programme designed to accelerate the use of timber in construction across the UK has officially launched at Futurebuild 2026, backed by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).
BE-ST and Carbon Futures have announced a new strategic partnership designed to combine their respective strengths and deliver greater impact on their shared mission to accelerate the decarbonisation of the built environment.
In support of a major new initiative, the Timber in Construction Skills Programme, a new series of webinars has been launched to equip the industry with essential skills – Timber in Construction 101 – completely free for anyone interested in using timber.
Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST), Scotland’s innovation centre for construction and the built environment, has delivered a three-day programme of activities as part of and alongside Futurebuild and UK Construction Week 2026 in London.
The paper, Delivering Quality, stems from a joint collaboration between Passivhaus Trust (PHT) and BE-ST and has been developed by Tier 1 contractors (T1C) and key stakeholders.
Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) play a vital role in managing surface water and reducing flood risk. Over time, however, metals and other contaminants can build up in SuDS soils, potentially affecting how well they perform and shortening their lifespan.
A new report published today sets out how Scotland can strengthen the flow of new entrants into the construction and built environment workforce, helping ensure the sector has the people and skills needed to deliver against the country’s future ambitions.
Scotland’s housing emergency is often discussed in terms of ambition or funding. Yet as efforts to increase supply gather pace, the real challenge is often delivery: planning and regulation, cost certainty and a fragmented system where projects rarely build on one another.
To mark Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2026, BE-ST has delivered an intensive programme of specialist training to more than 140 apprentices and pre-apprentices this week in Glasgow and Dumfries & Galloway to build the skills needed for Scotland’s low carbon future.
A major disruptor in the UK construction sector, based in the South of Scotland, is benefitting from a £330,000 grant to propel its pioneering recycled‑glass building technology.
The Scottish Government has announced More Homes Scotland, a new housing agency. This is an exciting announcement and a significant step forward for creating the mechanisms we need to overcome Scotland’s housing emergency which was declared in May 2024.
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has awarded £430k from its flagship Industry Impact Fund to develop a comprehensive industry training programme to accelerate timber construction in the UK.
ASBP and BE-ST announce strategic partnership to drive sustainable transformation in the built environment across the UK.
Thames Freeport launches Sustainable Construction Lab as first retrofit works begin on the Becontree Estate.
The UK’s leading and largest construction show is back at Olympia London on November 19th and 20th, and it’s breaking all records!
Last night BE-ST (Built Environment – Smarter Transformation) celebrated the Accelerate to Zero Awards with over 200 stakeholders from across the built environment and construction sectors.
BE-ST has been appointed by Scottish Enterprise to undertake work which develops its role as a Cluster Management Organisation for the built environment. BE-ST will map current cluster activity, foster cross cluster collaboration, identify opportunities for economic growth, and unlock the full potential of Scotland’s innovation landscape.
BE-ST has welcomed eight key figures in the built environment and construction sectors onto its board. The new members bring experiences from industry and beyond, as well as expertise from retrofit, sustainability, property, energy, digital, innovation, and infrastructure.
BE-ST is proud to have collaborated with Bauer Media Outdoor and partners on the launch of the Milestone range of bus shelters in Basildon, Essex, marking the most significant innovation in UK bus shelter design in decades.
Events
Time: 3-4pm
Date: 2nd September 2026
Location: Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
What happens when retrofit moves from strategies into people’s homes?
This session brings together area-based delivery experience from Greater Manchester with occupant research from CeNZ-HighDB and resident experience to explore what successful retrofit looks like at neighbourhood and household level.
Speakers will share practical learning from delivery programmes and research into how people experience retrofit, before opening the discussion around a central question: how can we scale retrofit while ensuring that the needs, behaviours and experiences of occupants remain at the heart of delivery?
Time: 1.30 - 2.30pm
Date: 2nd September 2026
Location: Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh
Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (LHEES) set out a route for decarbonising heat and improving energy efficiency across Scotland’s buildings. The next challenge is turning those strategies into tools for delivery.
This workshop will bring together LHEES officers, local authorities, Scottish Government, agencies, researchers, supply chain and wider partners to explore shared challenges and opportunities. The session will focus on how we can better connect work across heat networks, fabric retrofit, clean heat, fuel poverty and health.
The aim is to share learning, avoid duplication, and identify where collaboration, research and partnership support could help local authorities move from planning to action.
Date: 23 September
Time: 1.30-2.30pm or 3-4pm
Location: The Crichton Trust, Dumfries
Net Zero Places represent a shift towards coordinated, community-led and place-based delivery, requiring strong leadership, integrated support and sustained investment to unlock scalable and locally beneficial outcomes. This session will showcase a range of innovative place-based net zero projects and initiatives taking place across the South of Scotland, bringing together the diverse actors working collaboratively to drive change.
Through examples including community hall clean heat transitions, place-plan delivery, social landlord community wealth building, rural heat network development, and regional strategic leadership and coordination, the session will explore how collective action can support meaningful progress towards net zero. Attendees will gain a greater understanding of how these initiatives are aligned, how they contribute to local supply chain growth, and the role of integrated leadership and investment in enabling successful delivery at scale.
Date: 23 September
Time: 1.30-2.30pm
Location: The Crichton Trust
The workshop will provide attendees with early access to two key skills initiatives that are helping to shape the future of recruitment, retention and skills development across the construction industry. Participants will receive a first look at the Skills Knowledge Hub (SKH) through its soft launch, alongside an overview of Plan BEE and alternative approaches to net zero built environment education.
The session will also share 2025–2026 research findings from the CeNZ High Density Buildings workstream, focusing on EDI, skills and training, and provide insights into the future skills pathways available to employers and SMEs. Attendees will gain an understanding of the feasibility of adapting Plan BEE in Scotland, explore other innovative net zero education programmes and initiatives, and hear early findings and case studies from CeNZ TWG VI, with opportunities to contribute to future research, roundtables and workshops.
The risks, rewards and silver linings of using archetypes to accelerate retrofit at scale.
Scotland faces an unprecedented retrofit challenge. To decarbonise the nation's building stock at the pace required, the industry must find ways to move beyond one-off building assessments towards approaches that enable large-scale, repeatable delivery.
Archetyping has emerged as one of the most promising tools for achieving this. By grouping buildings with similar characteristics, archetyping has the potential to streamline decision-making, inform investment strategies and accelerate retrofit programmes. However, its application is not without challenges. Differences in construction, heritage constraints, occupant behaviour and local context often expose the limitations of standardised approaches.
This workshop aims to explore these realities through honest, collaborative discussion. Rather than asking whether archetyping is the answer, we want to understand where it works, where it doesn't, and what lessons can help make it a more effective tool for delivering retrofit at scale
Date: 2 September 2026
Time: 1.30 - 2.30pm
Location: Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh
Experience the Low Carbon Passport through a practical and collaborative small-group session exploring how hands-on learning can support better low-energy construction. Developed for construction industry students, educators and professionals, this hour-long session will offer a snapshot into the training mechanism used to deliver the Low Carbon Passport project to over 1000 learners so far.
We will also reflect on the range of learners and industry professionals engaged over the last 18 months, sharing lessons learned including the importance of making building physics accessible and the role that practical skills training can play facilitating wider conversations about construction quality, building performance and reducing the performance gap.
Suitable for construction experts and interested newbies a-like, this session allows you to dip a toe into our ongoing efforts to build a resilient, industry-ready workforce for a net zero future.
Location: V&A, London
Date: September 14th 2026
Time: 10:00 to 16:00
The construction sector faces a dual challenge: delivering the homes the UK needs while building a workforce with the skills to meet net zero ambitions. As timber and modern methods of construction become increasingly important, education and training providers have a vital role to play in preparing the next generation of professionals.
The Educators & Trainers Forum 2026 will bring together colleges, universities and CITB-accredited training providers to explore the latest outputs from the CITB Timber in Construction Skills (TiCS) programme. The programme is led by Donaldson Timber Systems and in collaboration with BE-ST, Edinburgh Napier University, NMITE, Timber Development UK and the Structural Timber Association. Attendees will get an exclusive look at new short course content, curriculum toolkits and practical learner rigs designed to support structural timber construction education, while discovering how these resources can be embedded into existing teaching and training programmes.
The forum will also showcase the Building from Forests installation, developed with the V&A, alongside the Building from England's Woodlands publication, demonstrating how research, innovation and UK-grown timber can be translated into engaging learning experiences that support the ambitions of the UK Timber in Construction Roadmap. Building from England’s Woodlands was funded by Forestry Commission England and led by NMITE in collaboration with BE-ST, Edinburgh Napier University, dRMM and EcoSystem Technologies.
This event is an opportunity for educators and trainers to shape the future of structural timber education. Through discussion and feedback, participants will help refine new learning materials, influence future curriculum development, support the rollout of training across the sector, and strengthen the skills pipeline needed to deliver a more sustainable built environment.
Come along to this event to connect with peers, influence nationally significant training resources, and help equip the workforce needed to deliver the UK's housing and net zero ambitions.
Agenda
10:15 to 10:30 - Registration
10:30 to 10:45- Welcome
10:45 to 11:15 - Tour of V&A “Building from Forest Install”
10:45 to 11:15 - Presentation of the Timber in Construction Skills project
11:15 to 11:30 - Break
11:30 to 12:00 - Intervention A – Wood Science Fundamentals
12:00 to 13:00 - Intervention B – Timber Systems and Materials
13:00 to 13:45 - Lunch
13:45 to 14:15 - Intervention C – Offsite Manufacture
14:15 to 14:45 - Intervention D – Onsite Skills
14:45 to 15:00 - Break
15:00 to 16:00 - Facilitated conversations/group discussions & feedback
Please note: Tea and coffee can be purchased from the café and brought into the seminar room. However, the café does not provide takeaway cups, so if you would like to bring a hot drink into the session, please remember to bring your own reusable takeaway cup.
Time: 1.30 - 2.30pm
Date: 2nd September 2026
Location: Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
How do we move from understanding Scotland’s building stock to delivering retrofit at scale?
We will hear from Julio Bros-Williamson and Parima Sharma from the University of Edinburgh on regional energy masterplanning, building data and archetypes; James York of Collective Architecture on the potential of pattern books to create repeatable retrofit approaches; and Simon Kemp of Warmworks on lessons from more than a decade of practical delivery at scale.
The session will present different approaches to responding to this challenge and we will seek engagement from the audience to highlight what needs to happen next to accelerate retrofit across Scotland.
Living Rent is Scotland's community and tenants union, organising with people to improve the homes and communities they live in. We know that trust is critical infrastructure for delivering retrofit. When people feel excluded or treated as an afterthought, trust breaks down and delivery becomes harder.
We will explore why residents are experts in their own homes and how putting lived experience at the centre of retrofit can strengthen trust, reduce delivery risk and shift retrofit from something that happens to communities into something they shape.
Date: 2nd September 2026
Time: 3-4pm
Location: Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
Driving delivery is the core theme of BE-ST Fest 2026, and in the West, the focus turns to Housing & Modern Methods of Construction.
Scotland continues to face a housing emergency, with an urgent need for high-quality, affordable homes. Addressing housing supply without embracing modern construction approaches risks missing a major opportunity, particularly given Scotland’s strong potential in homegrown timber and advanced manufacturing.
This summit brings housing and MMC together as interconnected solutions. It asks a critical question: how can we accelerate the delivery of better, faster, and more affordable homes? The answer lies in collaboration, innovation, and adoption of modern methods from offsite manufacturing to sustainable materials.
By uniting industry, government, and supply chains, the focus is on moving from ambition to action, scaling up MMC, overcoming barriers, and delivering the homes Scotland urgently needs.
Date: 4th November 2026
Location: Sir Jim McDonald Technology & Innovation Centre (TIC), Glasgow
Driving delivery is the overarching theme of BE-ST Fest 2026 and in the North, this is brought into sharp focus through Heat & Energy Efficiency.
While improving energy performance is a national priority, the challenge is particularly acute in the North of Scotland. Harsh weather conditions, a high proportion of older and harder-to-treat homes, and a significant number of off-gas grid properties combine to create one of the most complex energy landscapes in Scotland. These factors contribute to disproportionately high levels of fuel poverty, alongside the urgent need to decarbonise heating systems in line with Scotland’s 2045 net-zero targets.
This summit will go beyond discussion. It will convene those already delivering solutions on the ground, industry leaders, innovators, policymakers, and communities to share practical insights, align efforts, and accelerate implementation. The focus is clear, how do we overcome barriers, strengthen supply chains and scale solutions to drive the delivery of warmer, more efficient, and low energy homes across the North, and beyond?
Date: 6th October 2026
Location: Eden Court, Inverness
Driving delivery sits at the heart of BE-ST Fest 2026, and in the South, the spotlight is on Skills as a critical enabler of change.
The South of Scotland faces a significant skills challenge shaped by its rural geography and ageing population. Persistent barriers, including limited access to affordable housing, poor transport connectivity, and underinvestment in training, continue to constrain progress.
This summit will bring together academia, industry, and policymakers with a shared goal: to move from identifying gaps to delivering solutions. By strengthening collaboration, unlocking investment, and aligning education with industry needs, the focus is on building a resilient, future-ready workforce that can drive economic growth and support Scotland’s transition to net zero.
Date: 23rd September 2026
Location: The Crichton Trust, Dumfries
Driving delivery defines BE-ST Fest 2026, and in the East, this is driven through the lens of Retrofit.
Now in its fourth year, the International Retrofit Conference has established itself as a leading platform for industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to tackle one of the most pressing challenges of our time: improving our existing buildings’ energy performance.
The ambition is clear: reduce energy, enhance building performance, decarbonise heating systems, and reimagine and reuse buildings. While the challenge is complex, momentum is growing across the sector. New approaches to funding, policy, skills development and delivery are helping to unlock progress, while collaboration across industry continues to build confidence and capability at scale.
The International Retrofit Conference focuses on what is currently happening and how we can do more. It asks not whether we need to retrofit, but how we do it, at scale, at speed, and in a way that is affordable and accessible. By aligning policy, finance and delivery, retrofit can become a cornerstone of net-zero progress.
Time: 08.30 - 17.30
Date: 2nd September 2026
Location: Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh
Morning agenda
08.30-09.15: Refreshments, networking and expo
09.15-09.55: Welcome & introductions
09.55-10.25: Richard Nelson, Don’t Waste Buildings
10.25-10.55: Caroline Ashe Brady, KORE Retrofit
10.55-11.25: Comfort break
11.25-12.00: Panel session with Jennifer Phin, Parag Cameron Rastogi, Sally Godber, Chris Carus. Hosted by James York.
12.00-12.30: Jenny Danson, Healthy Homes Hub
12.30-12.35: Closing remarks
12.35-13.30: Lunch, networking & exhibitors
Afternoon agenda
Main Sessions
1.30-2.30pm: Scaling Retrofit: From Stock Analysis to Local Delivery
3-4pm: Making Retrofit Work: From Local Delivery to Lived Experience
Break out sessions
1.30-2.30pm: LHEES in Practice: From Strategy to Delivery
1.30-2.30pm: How to Fail: Archetyping
3-4pm: No Trust, No Retrofit
3-4pm: Retrofit One-Stop Shops: Building the Infrastructure for Scotland
Training sessions
1.30-2.30pm: Inside the Rig: Lessons from Low Carbon Passport
Drinks reception
4-5.30pm: End the day by joining us for networking at our drinks reception.
The Low Carbon Passport is a first-of-its-kind, accredited course designed to equip construction professionals with the critical skills and competencies needed to deliver low carbon, energy-efficient buildings across Scotland.
These interactive sessions will explore the core principles of thermal performance, insulation, airtightness, and sequencing. Participants will gain practical experience and insights into testing and understanding building envelope performance.
By the end of this 1 day training course, you will learn:
Why reducing energy demand is important in a building context
How on-site quality can affect the building performance
Considerations required design and construction
The Low Carbon Passport is a brand-new training course designed to help both existing professionals and new entrants develop the practical skills needed to thrive in the future. Backed by major industry partners including Balfour Beatty plc, Morrison Construction, Kier Group, Robertson Group, and the Passivhaus Trust, the programme is led by BE-ST. More dates to be announced soon. Register your interest in future dates here.
We reserve the right to reschedule or cancel sessions.
Who this course is for: Contractors, subcontractors, educators, apprentices and supply chain.
Skill level: Beginner
Cost: Fully funded
Time: 09.30am – 4.00pm
Dates at the City of Glasgow College
27.08.26
16.09.26
22.10.26
19.11.26
Dates at Energy Transition Skills Hub, North East Scotland College
09.09.26
This hands-on training course offers a practical introduction to building physics, helping learners understand how core construction products function and how to use them effectively. Delivered using bespoke training rigs developed by BE-ST, the course bridges a critical knowledge gap in the industry and equips participants with widely transferable skills.
Participants will gain insight into:
Insulation: Understand how different insulation materials perform thermally, and how their placement and installation impact overall building efficiency.
Airtightness Tapes: Learn the physics behind air movement in buildings and how airtightness tapes contribute to reducing heat loss and improving energy performance.
Membranes: Explore the role of breather membranes and vapour control layers in managing moisture, preventing condensation, and protecting building fabric.
Perfect for those new to construction or looking to strengthen their technical foundation, this course combines theory with hands-on experience to build confidence and competence in building performance.
Location: BE-ST Innovation Campus, Unit 3B, 3 Watt Place, Hamilton International Technology Park, G72 0AH.
Time: 09.30 - 16.00
Date: 15/09/26 & 17/11/26
Please read and download our Terms & Conditions and RAMS before attending this course.
Alongside trusted training provider Coaction Training CIC, we’re offering Passivhaus Practical Training designed for Tier 1 and Tier 2 contractors, architects, consultants and tradespeople delivering commercial, residential, public and educational buildings at scale.
This one-day, intermediate-level course provides participants with the opportunity to get hands-on with bespoke training rigs and learn from some of the UK's most experienced Passivhaus practitioners. Accredited by the Passivhaus Trust this training is focused on putting theory into practice by exploring real-life scenarios using our bespoke training rigs and undertake rapid upskilling of:
Ensuring buildability for both small and large scale Passivhaus construction
Assessing and managing design risks
Identifying common construction pitfalls and how to avoid them
Understanding what high quality Passivhaus delivery looks like
Achieving airtightness
The impact of sequencing and material choices on build quality
Why should you attend?
Whether you are involved in design or on-site delivery, this course equips you with the knowledge and insight to align design intent with practical implementation, enhance collaboration across teams and contribute to the successful delivery of energy efficient, high performing buildings.
Course Fees
Standard price - £150.00 ex VAT
Discounted Coaction Alumni price - £120.00 ex VAT*
*Discounted price valid if you have completed Coaction Passivhaus Online Training.
Bookings of 5 or more will automatically receive a 20% discount by using the code PASSIVHAUS20
CITB Funding - 50% off your booking
Funding rules changed on 8 December 2025. Bookings agreed before this date via CITB EN will be honoured. Large Employers (>250 employees) must complete training by 31 March 2026.
To access this funding opportunity, contact your local CITB ADVISOR to discuss your training requirements. You will need to name Built Environment - Smarter Transformation (BE-ST) as your preferred training provider along with the training course title(s), date(s) and the names of your employees. CITB will then process the booking on your behalf.
If you are a CITB Registered business, contractor, or sub-contractor your local CITB ADVISOR via the new LOCAL EMPLOYER NETWORKS scheme can help you access a 50% grant to train, reskill and upskill your workforce in low energy and Net Zero construction practices.
Cancellation Policy
Please note that if you cancel your attendance within 5 working days of the event a full amount cancellation fee will apply. If you wish to change to another training date, this must be done 2 weeks in advance of the original training date otherwise a full amount cancellation fee will apply.
For further assistance or queries, please contact us via email: rcunnington@be-st.build.
Venue: BE-ST Innovation Campus
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Register for your free tour of the BE-ST Innovation Factory that has been supporting construction-related businesses to collaborate and innovate. The monthly tours cover the role of BE-ST and how our four core programmes intend to support the industry to accelerate the built environment's transition to zero carbon.
Time: 1-2.30pm
Location: BE-ST Innovation Campus, G72 0AH
Blogs
Meet our newest team member - Ketty Lawrence, who will be joining BE-ST over the next 12 months as Associate Director of Stakeholder Engagement. We’ve asked her some quick-fire questions in a '60 Seconds With' spotlight to help get to know her a little better.
Matthew Clubb is an Aberdeen-based director of mwclubb, a practice specialising in low-energy architecture and the retrofit of existing buildings. A former oil and gas engineer, Clubb transitioned into architecture after a personal journey into climate science that left him shocked by the severity of the climate crisis.
Lothian Heat is a new regional organisation exploring how large-scale heat networks could be delivered differently in the East of Scotland. Its core proposition is straightforward but ambitious: capture waste heat that is currently being thrown away, move it to where demand is highest, and deliver it at the lowest possible cost with community ownership embedded over the long term.
Construction and demolition produce nearly half of Scotland’s waste, and much of that arises not out of necessity, but due to underuse of reuse opportunities. Zero Waste Scotland is tackling these issues, pushing for a shift from linear “take, make, waste” models to a circular, resource-efficient built environment.
Kier is helping redefine the future of housing decarbonisation in Scotland. Its work at Prospecthill Court in Greenock has become a national exemplar, demonstrating genuine ambition to set new standards for energy efficiency, stakeholder collaboration, and social value.
In response to the climate emergency, Cheshire East Council commissioned Purcell to lead the retrofit of a series of Grade II listed railway cottages in Crewe. These Victorian homes, constructed between 1848 and 1858 for railway workers, are deeply embedded in the town’s industrial heritage and architectural identity.
IndiNature began eight years ago as a start-up aiming to insulate buildings with natural hemp insulation.
The Centre for Net Zero High-Density Buildings (CeNZ-HighDB) is funded by UKRI as part of the UK’s Green Economy Centre. Led by the University of Edinburgh, behind the Centre sits a research partnership between the Universities of Glasgow, Strathclyde, West of Scotland, Edinburgh Napier University, and BE-ST.
Midlothian Energy Limited (MEL) is a joint venture between Midlothian Council and Vattenfall that is delivering a heat network for local people, keeping them at the heart of planning, delivery and roll-out. But to create success in this region and further afield, we must win people’s belief in the technology first.
This piece from Mosart, Passive House architects, consultants and educators, explores how teams in Ireland are standardising Passivhaus delivery at scale, through a playbook with practical steps Scotland can apply now.
When British Land set out to re-energise 3 Sheldon Square, an 11-storey, 13 000 m² office building at Paddington Campus, the brief was clear: create a diverse, vibrant, low-carbon workplace that would set the tone for refurbishment on the estate up to 2030 and beyond.
Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) is a sustainable, high-performance construction material with the potential to improve speed and quality of builds. However, misconceptions persist within the industry, especially around CLT and other mass timber products made from timber grown in the UK due to historic perceptions.
Building on the findings of the Innovate UK research project Transforming Timber, the Mass Timber Centre of Excellence provides dedicated support to help the construction industry overcome these barriers and misconceptions. The Centre enables the sector to realise the full potential and benefits of UK mass timber construction by facilitating the successful integration of UK-grown timber into projects nationwide. This article addresses four prevalent myths and presents the evidence-based reality.
MOD X is a heavily influential organisation from the United States whose mission centres around this learning journey around offsite construction. It regularly tours leading offsite regions, including Japan, Germany, Sweden and more, to collect lessons learned to influence policy and tackle the housing challenges faced in their home country. Their experience, in turn, makes them a unique repository of international offsite construction knowledge gathered from across the globe.
Tara Schmidt, Executive Director at Transition Finance Scotland, will be joining other industry leaders at this year’s International Retrofit Conference to explore how retrofit can move beyond isolated pilots to become financeable, scalable programmes.
Speaking ahead of November’s BE-ST Fest, a two-day industry conference focused on net-zero carbon construction, Mark Farmer, Founder at Cast Consultancy, will be sharing his insights on the future of construction skills at this year’s BE-ST Fest Summit.
Fleming, on behalf of East Ayrshire Council, has completed work on the UK’s first EnerPHit-certified school refurbishment: St. Sophia’s Primary, Galston. But what does this mean for the overall landscape in construction, and how will others benefit?
Sean Smith, Professor of Future Construction and Director of the Centre for Future Infrastructure within the School of Engineering at the University of Edinburgh, was awarded the BE-ST Beacon Award in 2024. He joined us recently to reflect on the future of buildings and the built environment in Scotland.
As a Senior Design Manager at Kier, Beacon Award winner, and former Built Environment Change Maker, Emily Carr has become a driving force for systemic change in the industry - especially when it comes to equity, diversity, inclusion (EDI), and skills development.
Robert has been a leading figure in timber innovation and off-site construction throughout his career which spans both academia and industry.
Scottish pioneer of mass timber says mass timber systems offer new possibilities and opportunities in design and construction.
Gina Colley is an Architect and Associate Director at Threesixty Architecture. She believes inclusive design should be at the core of a just transition to net zero which creates spaces that are affordable, accessible, and considerate of all people.
Case studies
Gayatri Vijay Kale was awarded the BE Changemaker Award at the Accelerate to Zero Awards 2025.
Based in the Scottish Borders, IndiNature is the UK's only dedicated manufacturer of natural fibre insulation made from industrial hemp. Their products, IndiTherm and IndiBreathe Flex, are carbon-negative, non-toxic, and designed to be removed, reused, or returned for recycling at the end of their service life.
Changeworks is a Scottish social enterprise on a mission to decarbonise 180,000 homes by 2030. Their work sits at the intersection of climate action and social justice, and their approach to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) reflects that same dual commitment.
Matthew Clubb is an Aberdeen-based director of mwclubb, a practice specialising in low-energy architecture and the retrofit of existing buildings. A former oil and gas engineer, Clubb transitioned into architecture after a personal journey into climate science that left him shocked by the severity of the climate crisis.
The first example of curved Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) made from English timber demonstrates the benefits of building from UK-sourced wood to over 3.1m visitors per year.
For the past four years, BE-ST has acted as an industry mentor through the Engineering Development Trust’s (EDT) Industrial Cadets programme, working closely with pupils from Woodfarm High School on STEM-related industrial challenges.
Energy Saving Trust runs the Green Heat Installer Engagement Programme, which provides support for businesses in Scotland to help them to participate fully and effectively in the supply chain for clean heat, energy efficiency and microgeneration installations.
Hub West Scotland is a private sector development company who work in partnership with the public sector in the West of Scotland. They were interested, not only in understanding how best to develop these strategies across large, varied estates, but also how local authorities and other public bodies could benefit from working collaboratively to tackle this challenge, and so created the Net Zero Collaboration Group.
The first phase of work in the retrofit of Scotland’s National Retrofit Centre (SNRC) is now complete. But what has the project taught us, and what’s next?
Winners of the 2024 Accelerate to Zero Diversity and Inclusion Award, Threesixty Architecture have been recognised for embedding equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) across every level of their business, from internal culture to industry influence.
The Torry Heat Network in Aberdeen is a landmark project that demonstrates how retrofit heat networks can deliver both climate and social impact.
The Edinburgh Home Demonstrator – a new business model for affordable homes built to net zero standards using offsite construction.
Get to know Sisaltech, a small but growing company passionate about creating a low-carbon future by producing sustainable building insulation made from sisal and wool.
CLIMAVORE CIC is on a mission to develop sustainable ways of living on and with the coast in response to the climate crisis.
Eriskay Historical Society, a community-led group that is committed to preserving Eriskay's heritage. The group is transforming the island's old schoolhouse into a local heritage museum while putting sustainability, and people, at the heart of the development. The initiative is a shining example of the Just Transition in action.
VASO Build Limited provide ecological services across sectors with the intent of bringing wider benefits to society. They are looking to realise these benefits through Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and a new sustainable panelling system.
Meet Brewster Brothers, a company shifting the way the construction and demolition industry in Scotland treats waste and consumes natural resources.
T1C collaborators Morrison Construction, Kier Construction, Balfour Beatty, Robertsons and Morgan Sindall, their supply chains and BE-ST, has built a box in BE-ST’s factory, aptly called the Tardis as there is more to it than meets the eye.
Social Bite, a charity and social business that aims to end homelessness, commissioned Ecosystems Technologies to deliver a new kind of housing for their Social Bite Village.
Chloë Yuill, a newly qualified Architect at ECD Architects, was the winner of the 2023 Change Maker Award at the Accelerate to Zero Awards for her significant commitment and contribution to solving the challenges faced in decarbonising the built environment.
Retrofit Balsall Heath is a community-led neighbourhood project in the Balsall Heath area of Birmingham, made up of local people, community groups, and partners working together to retrofit the neighbourhood – possibly one of the first of its kind working at this scale.
On the journey to net zero, community-based initiatives like Loco Home Retrofit are key. Founded by Chris Carus and Tom Nockolds, Loco Home Retrofit is a retrofit co-operative of homeowners, trades and buildings professionals working together to make homes in Glasgow more energy efficient.
BE-ST launched a fully-funded digital construction skills training program in partnership with the HCI Skills Gateway.
Accelerate to Zero podcast
Season 9
This season focuses on our BE-ST Beacons. This award recognises individuals who exemplify leadership and dedication in driving the built environment’s just transition towards a net-zero future.
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In this episode, we are joined by Gina Colley, Associate Director at ThreeSixty Architects. Gina is not only a former BE Changemaker but also a dedicated champion of ED&I, driving positive change within Threesixty Architecture and setting an industry-wide example of best practice.
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In this episode, we are joined by Professor Robert Hairstains, Robert is the founding Director of the Centre for Advanced Timber Technologies (CATT) at the New Model Institute of Technology and Engineering (NMITE) and Head of the Centre for Offsite Construction + Innovative Structures (COCIS) at Edinburgh Napier University. His specialist expertise is in the fields of timber engineering and technology with a focus on adding value to the timber supply chain with an emphasis on engineered timber products and offsite (modular) construction.
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In this episode, we are joined by Emily Carr, Emily is a chartered architect with experience in the historic built environment, now working as a design manager for Kier Construction.
She is passionate about creating places that reflect today's society and current values, and preserve and celebrate the heritage of the building's context, while also embracing new technologies to create a more sustainable environment for future generations.
Emily is also an advocate for promoting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in construction.
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In this episode, we are joined by Professor Sean Smith from the University of Edinburgh. Sean has had an incredible career and has most recently launched Centre for Net Zero High Density Buildings.
CeNZ-HighDB will develop, test and underpin delivery of identified new ‘green’ innovations including high-energy efficiency building fabrics, new lower cost rapid-fit heating technologies, novel community heating-cooling systems for complex multi-use streetscapes and advancements in thermal-cooling modelling and data driven innovation to drive green economy growth.
Time: 3-4pm
Date: 2nd September 2026
Location: Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh
Retrofit One-Stop Shops are emerging across Scotland in different forms, shaped by local housing, communities and delivery partners. While each model is different, many face shared challenges around funding, customer journeys, supply chain, digital systems, skills, procurement and long-term sustainability.
This workshop asks: what infrastructure is required to enable a thriving network of Retrofit One-Stop Shops that respond to local needs?
Through short contributions from national, community-led and delivery perspectives, the session will identify the essential ingredients, shared capabilities and national support needed for local One-Stop Shops to emerge and grow.
The outcome will be a practical mandate for the infrastructure, partnerships and support required to accelerate Retrofit One-Stop Shops across Scotland.