Accelerate to Zero

In this episode, Gavin is joined by Rob Morrison, Impact Manager at BE-ST, to discuss the relaunch of Retrofit Scotland and what it means for Scotland's built environment sector. Together, Gavin and Rob explore the scale of Scotland's retrofit challenge, the barriers holding the sector back, and how Retrofit Scotland is working to connect the people, knowledge and infrastructure needed to...

This episode of Accelerate to Zero explores how better building data and control systems can unlock significant improvements in energy performance and comfort across the built environment. Gavin Johnson speaks with Joe Miles, founder of Atamate Building Intelligence, about his journey from environmental engineering and construction into developing a wireless building control platform designed to m...

This episode of Accelerate to Zero explores how education is helping shape the next generation of built environment professionals. Gavin Johnson speaks with Lee Ciarsolo, architect and lecturer at City of Glasgow College, about the 10th anniversary of the HNC Computer Aided Architectural Design and Technology course. They discuss how the programme combines design, technology and sustainability, gi...

In this episode of the Accelerate to Zero podcast, Gavin Johnson is joined by Charlie Forshaw from Rainmaking and Douglas Morrison from BE-ST to explore the partnership behind the Thames Freeport Sustainable Construction Lab. The conversation looks at how collaboration, AI planning tools, new financial models and industrialised construction approaches could help unlock greener, faster and more aff...

In this episode of the Accelerate to Zero podcast, Gavin Johnson is joined by Allan Smith from Morrison Construction and Catriona Jordan from Built Environment - Smarter Transformation (BE-ST). They explore how a long running collaboration has supported the delivery of low energy buildings through testing, shared learning and supply chain engagement. From early Passive House training to full scale...

In this final Accelerate to Zero episode from BE-ST Fest 2025, Hannah Lloyd speaks with Roddy Yarr, Director of Sustainability at the University of Glasgow, about turning net zero ambition into action. From decarbonising a complex estate to navigating cost, infrastructure, and live operational challenges, Roddy shares how the university is moving into delivery and why collaboration at a regional s...

In this episode, we’re joined by Tara Gbolade, co-founder of Gbolade Design Studio, to explore what it really takes to scale climate solutions in the built environment. From wildlife led masterplanning to large scale retrofit programmes, Tara shares how a people first, data led approach is shaping projects across the UK. The conversation covers collaboration, skills, and why looking beyond project...

At the Accelerate to Zero Awards 2025, Brogan MacDonald was recognised as a BE-ST Beacon for her leadership in advancing low carbon, circular and regeneration-focused work across the built environment. Her influence spans both her professional role at Ramboll and her wider advocacy, where she champions sustainability, equity and systems change.  In this episode of the  Accelerate to Zero  podcast,...

In this episode, host Hannah sits down with Amandeep Kalra, CEO and co-founder of GreenFlip, a climate tech startup on a mission to make decarbonising investable. Amandeep's path to founding GreenFlip started in a cold, damp council flat in southwest London and led through architecture, social housing delivery, and the messy reality of trying to retrofit 29,000 homes without the data or tools...

In this episode of the Accelerate to Zero Podcast, Hannah Lloyd speaks to Matthew Clubb, founder of mwclubb and double winner at the Accelerate to Zero Awards, recognised for his leadership in community-led retrofit and tackling fuel poverty. Matthew shares his journey from oil and gas engineer to climate-focused architecture, and explains why retrofit is one of the biggest opportunities we have t...

In this episode of the Accelerate to Zero podcast, Hannah Lloyd is joined by Lizzy Westmacott , Associate Director and Regional Head of Sustainability at ECD Architects , to explore what it really means to scale low-carbon solutions in the built environment. The conversation builds on the Scaling Solutions theme highlighted at BE-ST Fest, where Lizzy took part in the panel From Pilot to Portfolio:...

Today we are recording live from BE-ST Fest where we are focusing on ‘Scaling Solutions’. This means we’re exploring how we chart a viable path to a sustainable future. Over the past few years, we’ve seen inspiring projects that prove change is possible, from new materials, products, and systems, to radical rethinking around how we deliver the kind of better new and existing, housing and infrastru...

In this episode, we are joined by Professor Sean Smith from the University of Edinburgh. Sean has had an incredible career and has most recently launched Centre for Net Zero High Density Buildings. CeNZ-HighDB will develop, test and underpin delivery of identified new ‘green’ innovations including high-energy efficiency building fabrics, new lower cost rapid-fit heating technologies, novel communi...

In this episode, we are joined by Emily Carr, Emily is a chartered architect with experience in the historic built environment, now working as a design manager for Kier Construction. She is passionate about creating places that reflect today's society and current values, and preserve and celebrate the heritage of the building's context, while also embracing new technologies to create a more sustai...

In this episode, we are joined by Professor Robert Hairstains, Robert is the founding Director of the Centre for Advanced Timber Technologies (CATT) at the New Model Institute of Technology and Engineering (NMITE) and Head of the Centre for Offsite Construction + Innovative Structures (COCIS) at Edinburgh Napier University. His specialist expertise is in the fields of timber engineering and techno...

In this episode, we are joined by Gina Colley, Associate Director at ThreeSixty Architects. Gina is not only a former BE Changemaker but also a dedicated champion of ED&I, driving positive change within Threesixty Architecture and setting an industry-wide example of best practice.

Join us this week as we shift perspective once again, unlike the other episodes we aren't taking a deep dive into one material. And that's because today's guest is Laurent Verheyden, Managing Director from Soprema , who are a global company, manufacturing a large variety of products. In this episode, we'll be paying attention to their natural fibre ranges including circular textiles, wood fibre an...

In this episode of Accelerate to Zero, we chat with Max Garcia about his global journey to co-founding High Six, a modular design for offsite timber construction company. From Scotland to Canada to France, Max has worked at the cutting edge of innovation in the built environment. He shares how the 2010 Haiti earthquake shaped his mission, the exciting breakthroughs happening in construction, and w...

This episode features Energiesprong UK , independent retrofit experts revolutionising home energy refurbishment. Tune in to learn more about Transform-ER, a game-changing Innovate UK funded project tackling retrofit barriers like rising costs and underperformance. With 13 industry leaders, this initiative is designed to create a cohesive, industrialised sector that delivers high-performance, cost-...

Welcome back to the Accelerate to Zero podcast, where Sara Edmonds and Rob Morrison were joined by Emma Fletcher live from the BE-ST Fest Summit at Paisley Town Hall. Emma is the Low Carbon Housing Director at Octopus Energy. Her career has centred on leading high impact, high innovation projects in real estate, with a particular focus on housing, energy performance and green energy production. He...

Welcome back to the Accelerate to Zero podcast, where Sara Edmonds and Rob Morrison were joined by Joanna Yarrow live from the BE-ST Fest Summit at Paisley Town Hall. Joanna Yarrow was one of the keynotes of the conference and is an internationally acclaimed expert in sustainable living and a highly respected voice in sustainable business. In this episode she shares insight into her personal journ...

In this episode of the podcast, Sara alongside Ellora Coupe and Cara Holmes are discussing how to the drive uptake of retrofit across the UK. Together they explore how we can move beyond the technical jargon and connect with people on a more emotional level. Retrofitting isn't just about cutting energy bills, but improving the comfort and future-proofing of our homes.

This week Sara welcomes Helene Gosden, Associate Director at Arup, Donal Brown, Director of UK Programs at Ashden Climate Solutions, and Josiah Lockhart, Chief Executive Officer, Changeworks. From the future of retrofit finance to the importance of aligning stakeholders, this conversation provides a rich insight into how retrofit can transform our homes, improve lives, and tackle climate challenge...

In this episode of Accelerate Zero, co-host Rachel Owens, alongside industry experts Gemma, Rob, and Cara, dives deep into the financial challenges and innovative solutions surrounding the retrofit of our homes and communities. With retrofit finance often cited as a major barrier to scaling sustainable practices, this episode explores the existing financial products and the need for better coordin...

In this episode of the Accelerate to Zero podcast, we dive into the topic of retrofit skills with Douglas Morrison, Deputy CEO of Built Environment - Smarter Transformation (BEST), and Pippa Palmer, Founder of Polln and Co-chair of the National Retrofit Hub's Working Group 3. Together, they explore the challenges and opportunities in preparing the workforce for the massive task of retrofitting the...