Building knowledge - shaping the future of construction...
Welcome to our Willmott Dixon podcast series Building Knowledge. In these podcasts we talk to people from across our business and hear how they are shaping the future of our industry!
You can listen and subscribe to our Podcasts too on iTunes. Just search for 'Willmott Dixon: Building knowledge' hit subscribe and listen on the go!
Episode 19 - A Deep Dive into the New Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements.
In January we held an indepth webinar for customers and partners on the BNG regulations.
You can listen to the audio version of this on our podcast channels here.
Episode 18 - New Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements - what do they mean for construction projects?
As of February 2024, most planning permission applications require 10% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), which will need to be managed for a minimum of 30 years.
Our sustainability experts are no strangers to delivering BNG for our customers. Join our sustainability managers, Simone Codrington and Morgan Price, as they provide an overview of the new legislation.
They cover:
- What Biodiversity is and why it's important
- What the legislation is and which projects it will apply to
- An overview of the different options for delivering BNG
- How to strategically deliver BNG - including examples
- Top tips for where to start
- Some answers to FAQs we have received from customers
Episode 17 - How can green and blue spaces revitalise and ignite towns and cities?
Green and blue spaces are key ingredients in placemaking, but they aren't always seen as a priority. As towns and cities look to evolve, green and blue spaces need to be an integral part of urban regeneration schemes.
In this episode, David Atkinson, our national head of land and development, is joined by Andrew Davison, project director at Queensberry Real Estate, to discuss the value green and blue spaces can bring, including:
- Creating community-centric places where people want to spend time
- Making visits to towns and cities less transactional
- Promoting health, wellbeing and socialisation
- The economic benefits
- Examples of towns and cities who are doing it well - and the approaches they use to finance the upkeep
Episode 16 - Ten Minutes On how sustainability requirements could result in 'Stranded Assets'
Our third podcast in this mini 'Ten Minutes On' series focuses on 'Stranded Assets'. Current and future sustainability requirements from the Government could cause some commercial buildings to become legally 'unlettable'.
Our deputy MD (Midlands), Nick Gibb, and Robert van Zyl, partner at Cundall explore what these requirements are and what action building owners need to take to avoid having a 'stranded asset' on their hands.
Episode 15 - Ten Minutes On Two-Stage Procurement and How it Unlocks Sustainability
Our second podcast in this mini 'Ten Minutes On' series is on two-stage procurement and how it enables sustainable construction. It features our regional framework manager, Jerry Major, and Scape's director of improvement and performance, Chris Clarke.
Episode 14 - Willmott Dixon Panel Discussion on the Building Safety Act
The Building Safety Act and its implications are changing the landscape for the construction industry and its customers. At Willmott Dixon, we’re certainly receiving more and more queries from customers and partners about the Act and how it will affect projects moving forward and retrospectively.
This podcast on the Building Safety Act was recorded as part of our Wales and West Spotlight Event in Bristol in July.
We hosted this event for our customers, partners, and colleagues as an opportunity to discuss the implications of the Building Safety Act and offer the opportunity to answer questions.
You will hear a panel of experts from very different sectors discussing a variety of issues and questions around the Building Safety Act, from Professional Indemnity to procurement to liability.
Episode 13 - Ten Minutes On Whole Life Carbon
Our first podcast in this mini 'Ten Minutes On' series is on Whole Life Carbon, and features our sustainability manager, Francesca Wilkinson, and Nathan Adams, senior sustainability consultant, from Focus. During this episode we explore what whole life carbon is, why it’s so important, how to measure it and ultimately how to reduce it.
We also speak about how modern methods of construction and the circular economy will play a major part in achieving net zero. You’ll hear about some learnings from recent projects and the common barriers and opportunities.
Click here to listen
Episode 12 - How could the fuel crisis affect net-zero developments?
Are we on track to meet the Government's 2050 carbon reduction targets? Which industries are at the forefront of change? How does the energy crisis factor in?
In this episode, our sustainability manager from the Midlands, Francesca Wilkinson, sits down with Conor Nolan from Building Brum to answer these questions.
She also covers:
- How sustainable construction provides benefits for the long-term
- Case studies on the journey to net zero
- The rise in 'ready net zero' buildings
- Green finance removing barriers to achieving net zero targets
Click here to listen
Episode 11 - Debating net zero carbon in the built environment - what's stopping us?
In this episode, we're bringing you the highlights from our panel debate held in Birmingham on the subject of 'Net Zero Carbon: What's stopping us?'.
Our chief sustainability officer and panel host, Julia Barrett, was joined by industry experts:
- Deborah Cadman OBE - Chief Executive, Birmingham City Council
- Chris Clarke - Performance and Improvement Director, Scape
- James Douglas - Head of Sustainability, Lendlease Construction Europe
- Belinda Morgan - Partner, Cundall
- Tim Carey - Chief Product Director, Collida
Click here to listen
Episode 10 -Was COP26 a success?
Considered to be the most important climate summit in history, during the first two weeks of November, more than 20,000 delegates from nearly 200 countries descended upon Glasgow for COP26. With an overarching goal of keeping global temperature rises to less than 1.5oC by 2050, sustainable development campaigner and Willmott Dixon non-executive director Jonathon Porritt shares his thoughts on whether COP26 achieved its goals.
Click here to listen
Episode 9 - COP26 and how the built environment should be tackling the biggest long-term challenge our planet faces
In this episode, Jonathan Porritt, Julia Barrett and Tim Carey are discussing COP26 and what it means to the built environment. Taking you on a whistle-stop tour of next week's conference, our experts will cover:
- Why it's important to the built environment
- Their predictions for the conference
- Potential barriers to the built environment achieving sustainability targets
- What measures should be taken to enable the built environment to build a greener future
- The steps Willmott Dixon is already taking as part of our ambitious 2030 sustainability strategy, 'Now or Never'
Click here to listen
Episode 8 - Andrew Brookes - preparing to leave a legacy over the next decade of construction in the education sector
In this episode, Andrew Brookes (National DfE account manager) takes a look at the outlook for Construction in the education sector, including:
- What the latest Government announcements mean for the sector
- How we can build 'better, greener and faster'
- Examples of good practice to integrate into future projects
Click here to listen
Episode 7 - John Boughton and Richard David - being agents for change: promoting diversity in construction
In this episode John Boughton, deputy MD and Richard David, director, in Wales and West talk about being agents for change and enhancing diversity in our industry.
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Episode 6 - Mark Chamberlain, creating Westminster's flagship development in the heart of Paddington
In this episode, our director of London & East, Mark Chamberlain talks about creating Dudley House in Westminster. The project is a blue print for how the public sector can harness its strengths to deliver affordable homes and community infrastructure within a constrained urban location.
Click here to listen
Episode 5 - Simon Tranter and Sam Gamble, transforming construction through blockchain technology
In this episode, our head of sustainability for Interiors, Simon Tranter and Sam Gamble - Automated Markets, will be talking about transforming construction through blockchain technology.
Click here to listen
Episode 4 - Nick Mennell, the changing landscape of leisure
In this episode we catch up with our leisure sector manager, Nick Mennell, to discuss the changing landscape of the leisure sector.
Click here to listen
Episode 3 - Graham Dundas, financial strength in uncertain times
In this episode we catch up with our CFO, Graham Dundas, to discuss the importance of financial strength in changing and uncertain times.
Click here to listen.
Episode 2 - Jill Guthrie, being a leader in a digital world
Digital innovation is a hugely exciting area which is constantly evolving and changing the future of the built environment, we speak to Jill Guthrie, our digital manager, to discuss digital innovation in the construction industry.
Click here to listen.
Episode 1 - Claire Wrighton, Sustainability and the Carbon Trust Standard
As Willmott Dixon is re-certified to the Carbon Trust standard, we talk to Claire Wrighton, our sustainability data analyst, about what sustainability really means and why it is so important to Willmott Dixon and the wider construction industry.
Click here to listen.