Only Connect Networking Podcast

One of Urbano's longest standing and most loyal members, Mark recorded a podcast with Leo Bones of EQ Investors. EQ Investors are an award-winning discretionary fund manager, focused on sustainable and impact investing, based in the City Of London.Leo is part of the business development team at EQ and has over 30 years experience within the financial services sector.Mark and Leo take a meandering trip back through their networking history which started back in Shoreditch in the mid 2000s. Along the way, Leo shares with us his approach to networking, how he connects with people and the changing landscape around finance, investment, ESG and sustainability. He also shares his views on what makes a good networking event and network - and what doesn't! For more information on EQ Investors, click here: EQ InvestorsFor more information about Mark, Talent Lab & Urbano Network - and to leave feedback - click here:  https://www.talentlab.co.uk/networking/Support the show

Julie is a long-standing member of Urbano and a very experienced networker. Last year, Julie took the courageous step of leaving the world of employment and PAYE to start her own business, Pro Team BD.Pro Team BD is an outsourced marketing services provider and amongst a range of things, Julie speaks about networking for yourself and your own business against for an employer.This episode is full of good advice on how sales people must not sell at networking events to find value.To find out more about Julie and her company here: Pro Team BD.For more information about Mark, Talent Lab & Urbano Network - and to leave feedback - click here:  https://www.talentlab.co.uk/networking/Support the show

Recorded during Women In Construction Week and on International Women's Day, Mark Herring interviews Jess James,  MD and owner of Jaw Sustainability, whose company celebrates its fifth birthday party on the day of publication of this podcast,Mark and Jess discuss how she she has grown her company , how she has used networking to develop business opportunities, and how spends her time productively at MIPIM, the international property show which takes place next week in Cannes, France.Jess also discusses her experience of sexism and discrimination in a male-dominated industry.To find out more about Jess' company, Jaw, click here: Jaw SustainabilityFor more information about Mark, Talent Lab & Urbano Network - and to leave feedback - click here:  https://www.talentlab.co.uk/networking/Support the show

Support the show

A lovely conversation with Lucy Dunne for this episode who you will gather is a lot younger than Mark and offers a fresh perspective on networking which should be an especially valuable listen for those new to the world of business networking and find the prospect of meeting new people daunting.Lucy is Marketing and Social Value Coordinator at Rooff who are members of Urbano Network. She has taken part in a previous podcast recording of our online speaker panel event on New Procurement Regulations which featured Rebecca Rees of Trowers & Hamlins and Caroline Brockof this parish & Talent Lab.I chatted to Lucy about how she finds networking as a young woman in a male-dominated industry like construction. The story of how she got her job through Claire Bullen is also exactly why any connection can deliver new opportunities.For more information about Mark, Talent Lab & Urbano Network - and to leave feedback - click here:  https://www.talentlab.co.uk/networking/Support the show

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

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

Simon is a founding director of global architecture practice, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) where he leads a global practice of over 500 employees.In 2020, Simon was elected President of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and took up the role on September 1st, 2021.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." Mark Herring, Urbano Network's Connector-In-Chief, interviewed Simon following his recent presentation for Urbano's Build community, on how networking and the connections he has made back as far as his student days, have helped him and AHMM develop into globally renowned figures in world architecture.This audio includes only the interview with Simon Allford.Support the show (https://www.urbanonetwork.co.uk/membership)

Simon is a founding director of global architecture practice, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) where he leads a global practice of over 500 employees.In 2020, Simon was elected President of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and took up the role on September 1st, 2021.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."Mark Herring, Urbano Network's Connector-In-Chief, interviewed Simon following his recent presentation for Urbano's Build community, on how networking and the connections he has made back as far as his student days, have helped him and AHMM develop into globally renowned figures in world architecture.This podcast includes both the interview and Simon's presentation at The Building Society.Support the show (https://www.urbanonetwork.co.uk/membership)

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 (https://www.urbanonetwork.co.uk/membership)

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 SpeakerPeter 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

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

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

Following the recent next step of the road map to the end of lockdown, hospitality venues have been allowed to serve people outdoors and subject to other Covid measures, including social distancing. This Wednesday, we will bring together those who manage and market venues to look ahead to get a picture of what the summer will look like.Leading our speaker panel will be Katie Avon, Director of Marketing for Grosvenor Britain & Ireland, whose heartland is London's West End where they support 1,000 businesses. Joining Katie, who will discuss the group's al fresco dining plans for Mayfair, will be will be representatives from Church House Westminster, Dishoom, Lambeth Palace & Rich Mix, and others from across London. Please book this free interactive discussion to share your plans and expectations.We also invite Urbano member businesses and others who are managing the return of staff to their offices and shared office spaces to book and give their own timetables for staff returning. In what we hope will be a showcase for those places openings to visitors, we want to provide a supportive event which allows a realistic exchange of the expectations of corporate and personal customers.Support the show

The Government has published the draft guidance which accompanies the January 2021 consultation on the Future Buildings Standard, Part L and Part F of the Building Regulations and how amendments to regulations and documents will affect new commercial and existing residential property, including refurbishments and extensions. Our guest for this session was Owen Edwards, Technical and Training Director at Butler & Young. Butler & Young Approved Inspectors is a nationwide fully integrated multi disciplinary compliance service from a national network of offices. Owen looks at the newly published Performance-Based Policy Framework for assessing energy use and carbon emissions in large commercial and industrial buildings. Responses to the consultation have to be in by April 13th, 2021.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

This event examines changes to the Future Homes Standard, including Approved Documents for Part F, L and guidance on overheating in residential buildings (new and existing).  This presentation also looked at how the changes to Building Regulations will address the next stages in the promised journey towards zero carbon in construction.The guest for this session was Geoff Wilkinson, Managing Director of Wilkinson Construction Consultants, award-winning Approved Inspectors. Geoff is a qualified Chartered Surveyor and  Fire Engineer, and appears frequently in the national and international press, TV and radio, and writes a regular column on Building Regulations in Architects Journal.Support the show

In 2021, two important changes are set to advance the opportunities for smaller companies to win work through public sector tenders. The first is the Social Value Framework which went live on January 1st, and other is the Green Paper on Transforming Public Procurement out for consultation until March 10th.Our panellists are Ben Carpenter, Chief Executive of Social Value UK, the professional body for social value and impact management, and Rebecca Rees, Partner at Trowers & Hamlins, where Rebecca, a national expert in public procurement law, co-leads the Public Procurement Practice. Ben & Rebecca will examine the key elements in both regulations, including the likely implications and identified issues - and opportunities for smaller companies in national and local contracts. We will then also hear from Neil Capstick, Founder of The Social Value Practice and Executive Compass, and a seasoned social value and procurement professional.  Neil look at potential barriers and opportunities social value presents to SMEs when bidding. Our fourth panellist is Urbano's Co-Director, Caroline Brock, ex Work Winning Associate at AECOM and now a tender writer and bid management strategist & consultant who helps both large companies and SMEs win work in the public sectorSupport the show