What is a Principal Designer?

The role of the Principal Designer has been a hotly-debated topic in the built environment. Here's what it means. 2024 has been a big year for the built environment. With…

Net zero carbon buildings explained: here’s why they matter

If we’re to address our role in the ongoing climate crisis, the built environment needs to explore and champion the potential for net zero carbon buildings. In 2023, the UK…

Why SMEs should reconsider apprenticeships

If you've considered launching an apprenticeship scheme but have reservations, here are a few reasons why now is a great time to reconsider. The popularity and awareness of apprenticeships is…

Your guide to the 12 types of surveyor

Surveying is a broad term that applies to a variety of different professions in the built environment. Here are 12 you need to know. It's easy to be overwhelmed by…

Your mini-guide to parametric design

Parametric design can help architects rapidly produce designs that meet complex and varied requirements. Architects are no strangers to working within a set of rules and restrictions. While architecture is…

What is urban greening (and how is it creating the cities of the future)?

Urban greening isn’t just making the cities of the future green – it’s helping them become sustainable, too. Here’s how. The built environment is at a crossroads. As a sector,…

8 reasons you should launch an apprenticeship scheme with UCEM

Here are several reasons why you should consider launching your apprenticeship scheme with UCEM as your education provider. Degree apprenticeships are an increasingly popular model of learning in the England.…

Your guide to change management (and why it matters)

If the last few years have taught us anything about business, it’s that change is a fact of life. From the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of remote working to…

Fostering a future-ready workforce through collaboration

Rapid technological advancements, net zero commitments and the need for robust safety reforms are putting new demands on the built environment sector’s human capital. UCEM’s latest report, ‘Collaborative Futures: Competence,…

Human-centred design 101: here’s what it means for architecture

Applying human-centric design principles to our buildings and structures can have a wide range of benefits for both their occupants and the environment. From air quality and noise pollution to…

8 exciting career paths in the built environment

The built environment is an exciting sector full of opportunities in a wide range of areas. Here are a handful of examples. When you think of the built environment, you’d…

Menopause and the built environment: how can employers better support women?

If industries like construction want to improve female representation, they need to create an environment where women experiencing menopause feel supported. Representation of women across the built environment is slowly…