News
Category
- A-Z Award Winner 12
- A-Z Postgraduate Scholarship 4
- Beacon 3
- Circular Economy 3
- Digital 5
- ED&I 2
- Energy efficiency 8
- Homegrown Timber 7
- Housing 5
- Innovation 4
- Local value add 1
- Modern Methods of Construction 6
- Offsite manufacturing 11
- Passivhaus 7
- Retrofit 13
- Robotics 2
- Skills 6
- Sustainable Materials 7
- The Circular and Sustainable Materials Accelerator 4
- Upskilling 8
BE-ST Fest 2026 hits the road with four regional events across Scotland
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.
Structural timber training programme to accelerate use of timber in construction launches at Futurebuild
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).
Strategic partnership between BE-ST and Carbon Futures to accelerate decarbonisation in the built environment
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.
New webinar series launched to supercharge skills development for timber in construction
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.
BE-ST contributes to ten events over three days in London
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.
Construction quality – the lessons from Passivhaus
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.
Seeking partners to trial a nature based approach to SuDS maintenance
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.
New report highlights opportunity to strengthen Scotland’s construction workforce pathways
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.
A National Housing Catalogue for Scotland: an idea whose time has come?
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.
BE-ST trains more than 140 apprentices across Scotland for Scottish Apprenticeship Week
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.
Collaboration and significant investment aims to accelerate rollout of ‘game changing’ VASO by Eco technology
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.
More Homes Scotland - accelerating housebuilding across Scotland
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
Sustainable timber construction research transformed into new V&A exhibit.
CITB awards £430k impact funding to accelerate low-carbon timber construction
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.
Strategic partnership announced to increase UK’s use of sustainable building products
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
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!
The UK’s leading and largest construction show is back at Olympia London on November 19th and 20th, and it’s breaking all records!
Celebrating decarbonisation at the Accelerate to Zero Awards
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 appointed to accelerate built environment cluster activity
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.
Built environment innovation centre welcomes new board members
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.