For the past five years, industry leaders, policymakers, innovators and practitioners have travelled to Glasgow for BE-ST Fest. In 2026, the festival evolves into a new regional format with four individual full-day summits taking place across Scotland, creating more opportunities for local collaboration, discussion and action. 

A major new industry training programme designed to accelerate the use of timber in construction across the UK has officially launched at Futurebuild 2026, backed by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

BE-ST and Carbon Futures have announced a new strategic partnership designed to combine their respective strengths and deliver greater impact on their shared mission to accelerate the decarbonisation of the built environment. 

In support of a major new initiative, the Timber in Construction Skills Programme, a new series of webinars has been launched to equip the industry with essential skills – Timber in Construction 101 – completely free for anyone interested in using timber.

Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST), Scotland’s innovation centre for construction and the built environment, has delivered a three-day programme of activities as part of and alongside Futurebuild and UK Construction Week 2026 in London.

The paper, Delivering Quality, stems from a joint collaboration between Passivhaus Trust (PHT) and BE-ST and has been developed by Tier 1 contractors (T1C) and key stakeholders.

Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) play a vital role in managing surface water and reducing flood risk. Over time, however, metals and other contaminants can build up in SuDS soils, potentially affecting how well they perform and shortening their lifespan.

A new report published today sets out how Scotland can strengthen the flow of new entrants into the construction and built environment workforce, helping ensure the sector has the people and skills needed to deliver against the country’s future ambitions.

Scotland’s housing emergency is often discussed in terms of ambition or funding. Yet as efforts to increase supply gather pace, the real challenge is often delivery: planning and regulation, cost certainty and a fragmented system where projects rarely build on one another. 

To mark Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2026, BE-ST has delivered an intensive programme of specialist training to more than 140 apprentices and pre-apprentices this week in Glasgow and Dumfries & Galloway to build the skills needed for Scotland’s low carbon future.

A major disruptor in the UK construction sector, based in the South of Scotland, is benefitting from a £330,000 grant to propel its pioneering recycled‑glass building technology.

The Scottish Government has announced More Homes Scotland, a new housing agency. This is an exciting announcement and a significant step forward for creating the mechanisms we need to overcome Scotland’s housing emergency which was declared in May 2024. 

Sustainable timber construction research transformed into new V&A exhibit.

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has awarded £430k from its flagship Industry Impact Fund to develop a comprehensive industry training programme to accelerate timber construction in the UK.

ASBP and BE-ST announce strategic partnership to drive sustainable transformation in the built environment across the UK.

Thames Freeport launches Sustainable Construction Lab as first retrofit works begin on the Becontree Estate.

The UK’s leading and largest construction show is back at Olympia London on November 19th and 20th, and it’s breaking all records! 

Last night BE-ST (Built Environment – Smarter Transformation) celebrated the Accelerate to Zero Awards with over 200 stakeholders from across the built environment and construction sectors.

BE-ST has been appointed by Scottish Enterprise to undertake work which develops its role as a Cluster Management Organisation for the built environment. BE-ST will map current cluster activity, foster cross cluster collaboration, identify opportunities for economic growth, and unlock the full potential of Scotland’s innovation landscape.

BE-ST has welcomed eight key figures in the built environment and construction sectors onto its board. The new members bring experiences from industry and beyond, as well as expertise from retrofit, sustainability, property, energy, digital, innovation, and infrastructure.