Firstplanit

So enjoyable to attend OakNorth breakfast meeting hosted by Matt Bullivant, their Director of Sustainability and ESG Strategy at their gorgeous Soho office this morning and listen to seven companies making a difference in the built environment : SaveMoneyCutCarbon, Sintali, Social Decarb, Construction Carbon, Planet Mark, Material Index and Firstplanit. And great to learn more about OakNorth - a bank, "founded by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs". The vibe inside their stunning offices was dynamic and focused on helping SMEs and others scale up and realize their ambitions - it was so refreshing to see that ethos in a financial institution and totally uplifting 🙏

We just wrapped up a thought-provoking green-dating event at our Soho office, where SME housebuilders, property developers, and investors heard from seven trailblazing companies: SaveMoneyCutCarbon, Sintali, Social Decarb, Construction Carbon, Planet Mark, Material Index and Firstplanit. Hosted by Matt Bullivant, our Director of Sustainability and ESG Strategy, it was an exclusive opportunity for attendees to connect with peers and learn directly from businesses that are leading the way in net zero strategies, energy-efficient building practices, and regulatory compliance. By bringing together industry experts and fostering open dialogue, we are committed to driving positive change and supporting our customers and partners in their sustainability journeys. Thanks to everyone who joined us this morning 🌳 🌎

Can the #LabourGovernment, with its significant #parliamentary majority, keep the #UK at the forefront of combating the #climatecrisis? The #LabourParty's ambitious plans include: 1) Ensuring #zerocarbon #electricity by 2030 2) Upgrading British #housing to address #fuelpoverty while improving #sustainability 3) Building 1.5 million "high-quality, well-designed and #sustainable homes” 4) Reforming EU-era #NutrientNeutrality rules to "unlock the building of much-needed homes" In our latest blog, we discuss what the #KeirStarmer government needs to do to achieve these laudable goals. We also urge them to consider: * Balancing #energyefficiency and #resourceefficiency * Increasing #localprocurement of building #materials * Prioritising #breathability alongside energy efficiency * #Futureproofing against #climate risks Read more here

'How To Talk About Your Eco-Efforts With Confidence!' - that's the theme for the first annual Making Design Circular conference on the 5th of September. I love the premise of this; it's all about 'making imperfect progress towards genuine environmental sustainability'. 🙌 Progress over perfection! And, I'm very honoured to join the 'Greenwashing panel' alongside Kyle Soo from B Lab, Ankita Dwivedi from Firstplanit and Anna Jewitt from the Competition and Markets Authority. The day is packed with an incredible lineup of design, legal and communications experts. Design futures & sustainability expert Caroline Till from FranklinTill, business coach Jo Casey, storyteller Lauren Marie Fleming and Elle Bower-Johnston from Breathwork. It's a 1-day virtual conference on Thursday 05 September 2024, 10 am–5 pm BST. Tickets are a bargain £7 (excl VAT). Find out more and book your ticket HERE >>> https://lnkd.in/en2QyVjZ #sustainabilityevent #greenwashing #purposeled

Can the #LabourGovernment, with its significant #parliamentary majority, keep the #UK at the forefront of combating the #climatecrisis? The #LabourParty's ambitious plans include: 1) Ensuring #zerocarbon #electricity by 2030 2) Upgrading British #housing to address #fuelpoverty while improving #sustainability 3) Building 1.5 million "high-quality, well-designed and #sustainable homes” 4) Reforming EU-era #NutrientNeutrality rules to "unlock the building of much-needed homes" In our latest blog, we discuss what the #KeirStarmer government needs to do to achieve these laudable goals. We also urge them to consider: * Balancing #energyefficiency and #resourceefficiency * Increasing #localprocurement of building #materials * Prioritising #breathability alongside energy efficiency * #Futureproofing against #climate risks Read more here

What does the #Labour Party's “seismic mandate for #change” imply for their #NetZero ambitions and the #construction industry? Our latest newsletter includes our perspective on the #UKGovernment's proposed #ClimateActions and updates on recent and upcoming events. Please read - and chime in with your views too! #ClimateCrisis #LabourManifesto #Sustainability #Biodiversity #SustainableConstruction #SustainableMaterials #MaterialCircularity #ClimateInnovation #EcoConsciousness #Building #Design #Workforce #Recycling #ConstructionWaste #NutrientNeutrality #ZeroCarbonElectricity #Wastefulness #WarmHomesPlan #Retrofitting #CleanEnergy #Housing #EnergyEfficiency #ResourceEfficiency #LocalProcurement #MaterialPassports #Futureproofing

"As more product manufacturers and specifiers explore circularity; repurposing and reusing products and materials, the aesthetics of spaces will naturally evolve. Ankita Dwivedi, CEO of #Firstplanit, believes that businesses in the sector have a real responsibility here in actively promoting the character and beauty of second-hand, upcycled, recycled and reclaimed materials – and the opportunity they offer to create unique spaces." See the article linked in Hattrick | B Corp™ certified's update for more!

A brief round-up of Firstplanit's participation in #LondonClimateActionWeek2024, our new blog article, and some news we are following - all in our latest newsletter. #LCAW2024 #ResetConnectLondon2024 #UndauntedInnovationHub #GreenChampions #ClimateChange #ClimateResilience #SustainableMaterials #SustainableConstruction #Construction #NetZero #Sustainability #BuildingSafety #Housing #Decarbonisation #ClimateInnovation #UK #London #

RICS Panel Discussion on #AI and #Sustainability in the Built Environment discussion moderated by Aaliyah Pollock-RICS, features by RICS's Tech Partners Brittany Harris from Qualis Flow (Qflow), Tom Somers from SkenarioLabs, and Steven Bennet from Firstplanit. in this session, the panel discussed the role of #AI in achieving sustainability within the built environment. They explored how #AI can enhance sustainability throughout the entire property life cycle, from planning and design to construction and operational phases. The panelists highlighted the transformative potential of #AI in creating more efficient and sustainable designs, managing materials and waste, and optimizing energy use. They also addressed challenges such as data quality, collaboration, standardization, and industry fragmentation, as well as exploring strategies to overcome these barriers. Key Themes Discussed: AI's Transformative Potential: ♦ AI can significantly enhance sustainability across the property life cycle. ♦It enables more efficient designs, better material and waste management, and optimized energy use. Challenges to Adoption: ♦Data Quality and Standardization: many industry struggles with poor data quality and lack of standardization, complicating analysis and implementation. ♦Industry Fragmentation: construction sector's complexity leads to fragmentation, making collaboration difficult. Data Collection and Usage: ♦Emphasis on low-friction data collection methods to ensure high-quality data capture. ♦Focus on utilizing basic, usable data rather than accumulating excessive amounts of unnecessary data. Trust and Collaboration: ♦Building trust across all levels of the industry is essential for successfully implementing new technologies. ♦Organizations like RICS are vital in fostering collaboration among stakeholders. Strategies for Overcoming Barriers: ♦Addressing fears and misconceptions about #AI to help industry professionals embrace change. ♦Guiding stakeholders through the potential benefits of adopting #AI technologies incrementally. Future Skills and Workforce Development: ♦Transitioning to AI requires ongoing skills development and adaptation within the workforce. Carbon Monitoring and Sustainability: ♦Increasing the #AI usage of carbon monitoring across construction projects is essential for tracking and reducing emissions. ⏳ Conclusions: The panelists expressed optimism about #AI's potential to drive sustainability in the built environment. they stressed the importance of collaboration, transparency, and innovative data management approaches to achieve sustainability goals in Construction and Built Environment. Call Action: The discussion concluded with a call for continued dialogue, collaboration, and innovation among all stakeholders to create a more sustainable future in the construction industry by the Professionals World Built Environment Forum RICS Public Investment Fund (PIF) NEOM Red Sea Global Qatari Diar Dubai Municipality