All Social Value articles
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FeaturesMy route into construction … Saniat Chowdhury, assistant technical coordinator at Berkeley Group
In this latest instalment in our occasional series, Saniat explains why she switched from wanting to be an architect and why she has discovered far more opportunities to develop her career tthan she initially imagined
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CommentThe shape of place: designing social value through data and dialogue
Place-based social impact starts with understanding local needs. By combining open data with community voices, we can design projects that deliver meaningful change where it matters most, Ellie Jenkins writes
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CommentFuture-proofing construction: Why AI must start with people
The industry can harness artificial intelligence to future-proof the workforce. Its success depends on cross-generational training, Nicola Seddon writes
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CommentSocial value is not the problem – poor implementation is
Social value isn’t failing because the principle is flawed - it’s struggling because procurement systems lack the capability and confidence to deliver on their own ambitions, says Ellie Jenkins of Akerlof
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FeaturesSustainability: Decarbonising schools across the four UK nations
Governments are targeting individual sustainability and decarbonisation goals for schools across the UK, driving innovative approaches to building and retrofitting
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CommentWhy my generation is falling in love with construction
The desire to make a difference and help change circumstances and the environment for the better is alive and well in a generation of school leavers trying to work out what they want to do next, writes Oscar Sitwell
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CommentAssent collapse: Are we ready to cope in the face of a chain reaction?
The sudden failure of building control specialist Assent raises some awkward questions about construction industry resilience. Do we understand our process and how vulnerable it is to disruption, asks Simon Rawlinson of Arcadis
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FeaturesProductivity: How digital tools are making construction projects better
As change accelerates, advancements in digital tools happen in months not years – bringing a greater need for accessible and actionable data to navigate the market. Turner & Townsend Alinea, Digital Trees, Mace and Visibuild explore the impact of digital tools on construction projects
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CommentThe elephant in the lecture theatre: Why universities must rethink space, community and culture
The way teachers teach and students learn has changed and empty buildings and outdated facilities are draining resources. A culture shift is required if HE institutions are to avoid a slow decline into irrelevance, says Philip Watson
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CommentDEI is under threat – we urgently need systemic change
Five years on from our last survey, new research shows young people remain sceptical about a career in construction. Here’s how we take meaningful action, says Sonia Watson
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FeaturesMy route into construction … Aiysha Alli at Loughborough University
Aiysha initially wanted to be a pilot but is now well on her way to a career as an architect. She highlights the importance of work experience and mentors within the profession for helping her on her journey
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CommentWe have a system that avoids employment: The lessons to be learnt from City & Guilds research
Nicola Hodkinson discusses how the industry can fix the skills gap, speaking from the experience of running a company where apprentices account for more than 11% of the workforce
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FeaturesMaking sports meanwhile uses viable: the project manager taking on the planning system to get the nation moving
Building talks to former Aecom director Andrew Link about his initiative to make it easier and more affordable for sports clubs to access vacant development sites
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FeaturesLabour conference 2025: Housing secretary puts style over substance while Starmer takes aim at Reform
The government’s announcement about new towns and the housing secretary’s Trump-esque stylings put housing at the heart of the agenda at Labour’s conference in Liverpool. But there was little in the way of detail to back Steve Reed’s ‘build, baby, build’ slogan
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CommentHow Cornwall cracked the procurement code to deliver maximum local economic impact
When Cornwall Council set out to boost its local economy through capital delivery, it did not just tender a framework, it reimagined how public money could work harder for local communities. The resulting joint venture created a blueprint for local delivery which delivers the government’s goal of “getting Britain building” ...
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CommentData centres and energy demands – how do we square the circle?
The insatiable energy demands of AI-driven data centres could have a profound effect on UK energy markets. We need a joined-up conversation, says Simon Rawlinson of Arcadis.
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CommentFragmented and misunderstood – why our sector risks losing a generation
If we want young people to join our industry, we must show them an industry worth joining, says Ashley Wheaton, vicechancellor at the University of the Built Environment
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CommentA good start but there’s a lot more work to do: road testing the national infrastructure pipeline
Effective management of expectations is a key element of a successful product launch. Simon Rawlinson of Arcadis believes NISTA has set itself a massive task with the introduction of the new pipeline
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CommentGood luck, 10-year infrastructure strategy. You’re going to need it…
Events will determine the impact of Labour’s intricate infrastructure proposals and the current government turmoil suggests the clock is ticking, says Simon Rawlinson of Arcadis