Random Reflections from a Property Adviser (November 2023)

I have attended a few LeadersMeetsonline sessions and participated in one during the ‘lock down’ when I represented the Wales Region. It was interesting to read this piece on Collaboration: Strategy and Culture …‘Culture eats strategy for breakfast’… relevant to all sectors, including the ‘Built Environment’ / Construction sector.

I remain impressed by the breadth and depth of available training / learning courses at the Supply Chain Sustainability School: definitely worth checking out. Here are a few links to training sessions coming soon:

Virtual Conference the School is hosting for COP28 which is open now for registrations: Wednesday 13 December 10am – 12.30pm.

Within the last month, a client that I had been advising over many months completed a Lease on a new 52,000 q ft industrial building at St Modwens Park, Newport. No, this isn’t a boast. More to the point, as a member of the Institute of Economic Development professionals, I am simply highlighting the link (in this case) between construction and economic development, helping my client business to carry out sustainable growth in a building rated BREEAM very good, and rated EPC A. In other words, beyond the value of the sector per se, it contributes to, and facilitates, economic development for businesses, enterprises, health, education et al.

For the very first time, I attended the CAT (Centre for Alternative Technology) Conference. It was an interesting programme. Two things occurred to me on reflection: (i) The number of spin out businesses from CAT is quite significant; (ii) CAT is a graduate school of the environment with diverse Masters courses. E.g., Sustainability & Adaptation, Green Building, Sustainability in Energy Provision and Demand Management etc., etc.

Recently, the Institute of Engineering & Technology launched their new report on neurodiversity in engineering and technology. The report and associated materials can be read here: IET report on neurodiversity in engineering and technology (theiet.org)

Finally, but not least, I very much enjoyed the CEWales site visits to 2 sites in Swansea, namely: The Hafod-Morfa Copperworks (now the home of another Penderyn Distillery outlet), and The Palace Theatre. Effectively, and succinctly, these projects could be described as bringing back into ‘beneficial (economic) use’ historic heritage assets via the route of retrofitting and rehabilitation. Definitely not easy but worthwhile vis-à-vis sustainability, education, enhanced collaboration and ‘new retrofit skills’ development in the widest sense.