Advertise on podcast: Only Connect Business Networking Podcast

Presenting this session, which examines newly opened The Spine building, is Robert Hopkins, Regional Director of AHR, the award-winning architecture and building consultancy practice - and Urbano Network members.  Robert is design/project lead on The Spine, the new northern home for the Royal College of Physicians in Liverpool, which aims to be one of the healthiest workplace environments in the world when it opens its doors in May 2021. Biophilia is at the heart of AHR's approach to the design of The Spine and the building has been designed adhering to WELL Standard principles.  Robert discusses how biophilia and other innvovations around workplace wellness and design have informed The Spine's design and construction.  About our speaker  Robert has over twenty years’ experience in the design of award winning buildings and delivery of several large and complex education projects in the UK and internationally. Robert is lead on the design of The Spine, the new £35m northern headquarters for the Royal College of Physicians in Liveropool which incorporates biophilic design features to create an inspirational workspace. Support the show Support the show

Simon is a founding director of global architecture practice, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) where he leads a design studio of 200 architects. Simon is a frequent writer, critic and advisor, a visiting professor at Harvard, a trustee of the London School of Architecture and the Chickenshed Theatres Trust. In 2020, Simon was elected the next president of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and took up the role on September 1st. On his election, Simon said he wanted to create "a more open, productive, engaged and reinvigorated RIBA" that addresses "global climate change and architecture's pivotal role in a post-pandemic world." This event will hear from Simon on his plans to deliver on his priorities and where he sees the future of architecture within the fast-changing landscape of the built environment, leading into an interactive Q&A, with networking to follow. Our hosts - The Building Society - is a co-working space and collaborative community for everyone working within the build environment sector, created by Urbano Members Structural & Civil Engineers, Elliott Wood. This is a place where we can all start to engineer a better society.  Support the show Support the show

Introduction to the Security Overlay to the RIBA Plan of Work', and its place in RIBA work stages Support the show

Urbano has championed green and sustainable business practices since 2002 in Shoreditch where we created our first networking community. To achieve the targets in the Paris Agreement will involve more collaboration, more engagement, and a different way of measuring profitability.  Urbano has highlighted and supported environmental awareness in business since 2002 and support organisations like the Good Law project. We will also be looking to undertake an audit for Urbano's parent Talent Lab to become a UK member of B Corp, the global body for-profit businesses to demonstrate their commitment to having a positive impact on society and their environment. This event will look at the steps that for-profit companies need to take to become a member of B Corps UK with Urbano Supporters, EQ Investors.  SPEAKER Kate Sandle - Director of Programmes & Engagement at B Corp UK.  Since the launch of the B Corporation movement in the UK, Kate has been key to building the community of companies who are reinventing business. By voluntarily meeting higher standards, Certified B Corps are distinguishing themselves by measuring their impact and offering a positive vision of a better way to do business.  As Director of Programmes & Engagement at B Corp UK, Kate works with existing B Corp members to strengthen the community and delivers campaigns to champion and build awareness of the movement. Kate will share with us how they are driving and promoting the role business plays in society  This event is supported by EQ Investors, who recently scooped the award for 'the best adviser firm for ESG' at the Professional Adviser Awards 2021. are a purpose-driven investment management firm helping individuals and institutions who care about social and environmental impacts. Support the show Support the show

This episode features a recording* of Sophie Kennedy, Joint CEO of EQ Investors, one of Urbano's most loyal members and supporters.  EQ Investors are an award-winning discretionary fund manager, focused on sustainable and impact investing, based in the City Of London. In this episode takes an in-depth and personal look at the challenges facing those in investment and finance to  deliver sustainable, wealth creation. During the course of her discussion with Mark Herring, she looks how those City are changing , what options there are for those individuals who want to look after their families for the longer term. Included in the discussion are issues around labels like ESG. Sophie also gives feedback on COP26 and how they worked with other B Corps to push for changes to company's Articles of Association as an important step to delivering measurable corporate benchmarks built around sustainability. For more information on EQ Investors, click here: EQ Investors For more information about Mark, Talent Lab & Urbano Network - and to leave feedback - click here:  https://www.talentlab.co.uk/networking/ * The sound quality of this episode was affected by a very loud air conditioning unit which we couldn't turn off.  The important messages are still audible though with an industrial background. Support the show Support the show

Talent Lab brought together three very knowledgeable and experienced bid professionals to share their experiences on working on mega and major client bids. The discussion led on to what would improve the process - and ultimately help create winning submissions, including whether the bid stages most companies follow are fit for purpose. Panel: Caroline Brock, Director, Talent LabMike Raynor, Raynor Bid ConsultancySamantha Burns, Head of Bid Management and Direction, EiBFacilitated by Mark Herring, Director, Talent Lab  and Producer of the Urbano Network Only Connect Podcast Also available as a video: https://vimeo.com/902956885 Support the show

Talent Lab brought together three very knowledgeable and experienced bid professionals to share their experiences. The discussion led on to what would improve the process - and ultimately help create winning submissions, including lessons shared on how to write better Invitation to Tenders (ITTs). Panel: Caroline Brock, Director, Talent LabMike Raynor, Raynor Bid ConsultancySamantha Burns, Head of Bid Management and Direction, EiBFacilitated by Mark Herring, Director, Talent Lab  and Producer of the Urbano Network Only Connect Podcast Also available as a video: https://vimeo.com/912701916 Support the show

Since Urbano began in 2011, we have had a proud track record of championing opportunities for women, and our UWACTE (Urbano Women In Architecture, Construction, Technology & Engineering*) community helps women in Urbano member firms to develop and enhance their connections across our network Joining Mark Herring, our Connector-In-Chief at Urbano is our guest speaker - Nicola Gillen - EMEA Lead, Total Workplace at Cushman & Wakefield. GUEST SPEAKER & PRESENTATION Nicola Gillen - EMEA Lead, Total Workplace at Cushman & Wakefield  Nicola specialises in the relationship between design, people, behaviour and the built environment and is widely recognised within the industry as a leading authority on workplace strategy, design and behaviour change management. Nicola has 25 years’ experience delivering workplace strategy and innovation internationally. An architect and author, she is lead author of RIBA's guide ‘Future Office’. Nicola’s presentation will be drawn on the ‘Future Office’ and her work as co-author of another RIBA publication ‘ReThink Design Guide for a Post Pandemic world’ (published in January 2021), an innovative design guide with expert guidance on designing in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic. Nicola will also share insights into how employees are coping right now through Cushman & Wakefield’s unrivaled bespoke Experience per Square Foot™ a data-driven initiative that captures information from thousands of respondents in over 100 countries designed to measure what matters most to employees. @CushWakeUK Support the show Support the show

https://historicengland.org.uk/whats-new/news/greening-historic-homes/ Using the report as a starting point, we look at the specific challenges around retrofitting in historic and listed buildings, and traditional homes - especially those in conservation areas - where owners are looking to install heating and power systems in line with government targets to reduce zero carbon emissions. About our Guest Speaker Peter Cox is Managing Director at Carrig Conservation International Ltd and a Fellow at The RSA. Peter and his company Carrig International have a proven track record in dealing with all levels of listed buildings, protected structures and monuments. Peter Cox is well known and respected internationally and contributes much to international standards, Government policies and lectures extensively on the international stage.  Support the show Support the show

"Thousands of small businesses to benefit from new government buying rules, boosting local jobs, growth and innovation" This headline was published by the UK government to highlight its priorities for the new Procurement Act, including “driving economic growth and strengthening supply chains by giving SMEs.. a fair chance" of winning a larger share of direct tenders and places on project supply chains. As Urbano Network, we have been helping bring SMEs into procurement by creating business communities to engage business owners and encourage collaboration, drive innovation and create real new business opportunities through training and explaining the benefits of becoming a supplier to the public sector. This podcast is a recording of our recent Urbano speaker panel event, where  representatives from AECOM, Peabody, Mace, and Trowers & Hamlins and an audience of SMEs discuss the impact of the new rules and policies. Please email feedback etc to [email protected] Support the show

We were delighted to welcome Penny Gowler, Director and Head of Sustainability at Elliott Wood to act as our guide to offer illumination and clarity on some key questions: What do we mean by net-zero carbon, carbon-neutral, embedded carbon, the life cycle of a building, carbon footprint, sustainability, retrofit, circular economy and reuse vs recycling? Can you compare and measure different material choices when discussing their sustainability and zero carbon impact? What regulations exist that govern the use of materials in the built environment?  Penny Gowler is a Chartered Structural Engineer. She has a strong interest in sustainable design and is a frequent speaker at events, including the recent RIBA Smart Practice Conference. Penny is Director and Head of Sustainability at Elliott Wood and is responsible for managing a team of 20 engineers and technicians working across a wide range of projects with typical construction costs of between £10m and £100m. Support the show Support the show

London, perhaps more than any other of Britain, has seen the slowest rate of economic activity compared to 2019 and the City of London has not yet returned to previous levels of office-based working. This event was a look at the future of London and the City with Catherine McGuinness, Chair of the Policy & Resources Committee of the Corporation of London. Catherine shares the Corporation of London's and her personal vision for the City and London as part of a post-Brexit and post-Covid Britain. A unique chance to share, shape and align your company's future relationship with the financial heart of the UK with a key policy maker. Support the show Support the show

Recording of Urbano Network speaker networking event with Will Hurst, Managing Editor of the Architects' Journal to discuss its Retrofirst campaign.  Following Will's presentation, various attendees - mostly professionals from across the built environment sectors - offered their own perspective and experiences on the challenges faced in prioritising retrofit over client's narrow, profit-first demands. Chaired and facilitated by Mark Herring, Urbano's Connector-In-Chief. Hosted by Trowers & Hamlins.  Urbano Network, The Sustainable Business Network,  is supported by Stewart Title, Rift R&D, & Talent Lab Ltd Support the show Support the show

Our speakers for this event were Sofie Pelsmakers and Ming Hu.  Sofie Pelsmakers first spoke at an Urbano Zero Carbon/Build & UWACTE event in 2013, following the publication of her book The Environmental Design Pocket (now on it's 2nd edition!).  An expert in sustainable design and architecture, she is co-founder of Architecture for Change, a not-for-profit environmental building and research organisation, with the mission of challenging the way we design and build.  She is now Assistant Professor of Sustainable Housing Design/Architecture at Tampere University in Finland and is co-author of the new book, Everything Needs to Change: Architecture and the Climate Emergency from RIBA Publishing.  Joining Sofie on this special event was Ming Hu, Assistant Professor at School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, University of Maryland.  Ming specialises in high-performance building design, parametric modelling, Life Cycle assessment and building performance measurement. Ming is author of Net Zero Energy Building: Predicted and Unintended Consequences.  Ming & Sofie explored the theme of 'Zero Carbon in Architecture & Construction: Challenges and Unintended Consequences' and offer us a global perspective on how different countries address the need to meet Paris Agreement climate change commitments. Support the show Support the show

Urbano hosts regular speaker networking breakfasts on topics of interest to our SME membership and audience which we release as podcasts following each event. In this episode,  Dr Armando Castro, Associate Professor at The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction, kicks off the session, along with Dr Kell Jones as they discuss the key findings of the newly released publication , ESG in the Real Estate Finance Industry. The post presentation discussion features a cross section of the event's attendees and is facilitated by Urbano's Connector-In-Chief Mark Herring. The event was hosted by Urbano Members Seddons and Urbano gratefully acknowledges the community support of Stewart Title, which offers insurance cover against losses arising from title related risks in property transactions. Support the show