What is the green skills gap (and why does it matter)?

The built environment is in dire need of sustainability talent. Here are 6 skills that can help close the growing green talent gap. The UK is in a race to…

What is DfMA (and what does it mean for construction)?

Adopting the Design for Manufacture and Assembly approach can help construction firms maximise efficiency and ensure the future of the built environment is sustainable. Construction is evolving. From off-site construction and…

Smart buildings, explained – here’s what they mean for the built environment

Smart buildings could represent the intelligent, connected and sustainable future of the built environment. The built environment is no stranger to digital transformation. Just as technology is revolutionising processes across…

7 reasons to start a career in the built environment

There’s never been a better time to launch a career in the built environment. Here’s why. The built environment is one of the largest and most significant sectors in the…

What is biophilic architecture? 15 real-world examples in the built environment

When coupled with sustainable development, biophilic design can offer significant benefits for the built environment. As an industry currently responsible for 39% of global energy-related carbon emissions, the built environment…

Sexism and the city: are buildings and cities sexist?

It’s not just in employee demographics that the built environment is short of female representation – it’s in the planning and designs of our buildings and cities, too. It’s a…

Bridging the gender PPE gap: why ill-fitting workwear is hampering equality

A shortage of appropriate workplace equipment and clothing won’t just make female workers uncomfortable – it puts their safety at risk, too. While the perception of construction and the built…

Technology will define the future of sustainability

Technology is going to make or break any attempt to achieve a sustainable built environment. Here’s why. The built environment has a mountain to climb to address its impact on…

COP28: the good, the bad, and the ugly

In this guest article, UCEM’s Jessica Gordon-Calvert gives her personal reaction to the fallout from December’s international climate conference. By Jessica Gordon-Calvert, Sustainability Education & Engagement Officer From an outsider’s…

How apprenticeships can upskill your workforce for the future

Apprenticeships can be the solution to the built environment's growing skills gap. Here's how. As the built environment grapples with top-level challenges like climate change, population growth and economic uncertainty,…

Giving the construction industry a second chance – a Q&A with UCEM Apprentice Jodi-Ann Morgan

What does the built environment need to do to improve diversity and representation? We sat down with apprentice quantity surveyor Jodi-Ann Morgan to find out. The built environment has significant…

Forty apprentices and counting

To celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, we're profiling each of the shortlisters from this year's UCEM Built Environment Apprenticeship Awards. Name: Mark Winsor Job role: Talent and Development Manager Company: Lambert…