Service Category: Development

Senior CDM Consultant

Job Purpose

To be a key member of the CDM Team, principally involved in the provision of CDM Consultancy Services under the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015 acting in the role of CDM Principal Designer and Client CDM Advisor along with providing Health & Safety Consultancy Services when required.

You will be part of a commercial consultancy with an enviable client list consisting of high-level global investors and corporate occupiers, including M&G, L&G and Aviva.

TFT is passionate about people development and will provide you with excellent and progressive career opportunities.

Key accountabilities and deliverables

1. Experienced in the delivery of the statutory duty of Principal Designer and the non-statutory roles of Principal Designer Advisor and Client CDM Advisor under the CDM Regulations 2015.
2. Identify, assess, prepare and communicate Pre-Construction Information on behalf of Clients
3. Identify and, where reasonably practicable eliminate, reduce or control foreseeable risks that may arise during pre-construction phase, via Design Risk Review Workshops / Safety in Design Reviews
4. Understand/evaluate Construction Phase Plans, Method Statements, Design Risk Management & Risk Registers.
5. Review/comment upon designs in respect of health & Safety and ensure relevant information is sourced/collated in order to produce/review a Health & Safety File and ensure compliance.
6. Undertake the role, duties and responsibilities to assist Clients, Principal Designers, Designers and Principal Contractors in understanding their statutory duties and ensuring the design process is compliant to CDM 2015 regulations.
7. Undertake Health & Safety Site Inspections and produce reports in accordance with current regulations.
8. Assist and support, in the continual development and improvement of the CDM consultancy services, both internally and externally, to aid the growth and turnover year on year.
9. Assist and support the CDM team and TFT colleagues in answering of PQQ’s, commissions, fee bids, Audits and corporate memberships/accreditations.
10. Assist and support the team in the provision of project financial information.
11. Be able to manage own projects and be involved in project finance management throughout the duration.

Key Skills/Knowledge/Qualifications

1. Minimum 5 years’ experience of working in construction under the CDM regulations is essential.
2. Demonstrable experience and ability in relevant sectors across the construction industry.
3. Knowledge of the Building Safety Act and secondary legislation
4. Ability to meet and exceed fee targets

Person Specification

1. Degree or equivalent in H&S or Built Environment Subject
2. Hold Incorporated Membership of the Association for Project Safety (IMaPS)
3. Commercial approach and understanding.
4. Able to work independently and be able to generate your own feeds and have a strong understanding of fee earning and billing
5. Ability to build client relationships with positive outcomes and obtain repeat business
6. Confident, client facing communicator both verbally and in writing
7. Must be a positive team player but able to work independently

Package indicators

• Flexible & hybrid working (3 days per week in the office)
• Competitive salary and car allowance
• Benefits: Fee Plus bonus scheme, mobile phone & laptop to support flexible and hybrid working, personal accident cover, private health care (after 6 months), life assurance, TFT wellbeing day and 25 days holiday
• Season ticket loan, cycle scheme and access to company pension scheme on completion of probationary period
• Excellent career progression and training opportunities.

About TFT

TFT is the leading independent firm of Development, Built Asset & Engineering and Sustainability consultants. We place the wellbeing of people and the performance of buildings at the heart of everything we do.

We’re proud of our reputation for integrity and delivering work of the highest quality, blended with commercial pragmatism. We offer a strong track record across all commercial property sectors, advising investors, developers, occupiers and owners on maximising best property asset values. Diversity and strength in depth is important to us. Whether it be a technical thought leader with a career’s experience – or a recently qualified rising star – in today’s risk averse world you need people on your side with a reputation for diligence, transparency, intellect and commercial insight. Clients see TFT as large enough to provide the expertise and resources to get the best from their portfolios, and small enough for it to matter personally.

We have over 180 employees operating from a network of offices in Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Dublin, Edinburgh, Guildford, London, Manchester, Leeds and Southampton.

TFT is passionate about people development and will provide you with excellent and progressive career opportunities and sponsored learning.

We are BCorp Certified!

As TFT’s impact on the world has grown with the size of our business and the scale of our client services, we are determined that our future growth continues to be positive and sustainable. BCorp certification enables us to do just that, by recognising the highest standards of social and environmental performance and aligning our ongoing efforts with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. https://www.tftconsultants.com/tft-is-a-certified-b-corp/

DEI at TFT

At TFT we don’t aim to tick boxes and count numbers and percentages, we create an environment where anyone, from any background and life experience, can do their best work. We empower you to bring your full, authentic self to work. We are diverse by nature and inclusive by choice.

If you’re driven to perform, you’ll fit right in, we approach work fearlessly, learn quickly and improve constantly. A bright idea can come from anyone. We believe diversity drives innovation.

Our approach to diversity, equity and inclusion is simple – we welcome everyone.

Director Cost Consultancy – flexible location

As a result of continuing business growth and client demand, we have an exceptional new opportunity for a Director of Cost Consultancy to grow the service line and deliver work for our clients, working for high profile investor, institutional logistics and retail clients. You will assist in leading the Cost Consultancy service line with the Senior Director across TFT, forging relationships with both internal and external investment and institutional clients to deliver market leading consultancy advice.

As well as working to develop and grow the service line across TFT, you will be working with existing clients such as Railpen, Aviva Investors, Legal & General, Grainger, Knight Frank Investment Management, GIC, abrdn, and M&G delivering on a range of high-profile projects across several sectors, including industrial, office, residential, purpose-built student accommodation and build to rent.

As a commercially focused consultant, you will be helping us to grow our Cost Consultancy services with the lead Senior Director, maintain and further develop client relationships and diversify the range of our current service offering, as well as progressing your own career. You will be expected to help lead the CC service line and support the below actions:

1. Coordinate business development, marketing, resourcing, and knowledge sharing, across all offices
2. Champion the service line internally; driving improvements to working practices including templates and quality control
3. Advocate and oversee operational and process improvement, promoting innovation and new ways of working.
4. Drive and manage consistency and adherence to best practice
5. Promote the service line externally for new and existing clients, supporting marketing as required
6. Identify service line priorities and link back to the service line business plan, update annually
7. Set service line SMART actions and deliver; updating progress quarterly
8. Celebrate service line successes internally and externally
9. Ensure marketing materials are up to date – case studies, capability statements
10. Develop a community of practice and share across the firm
11. Support the development of others within the business

Key accountabilities and deliverables

1. Manage and drive TFT’s Cost Consultancy bringing a profile of technical strength and commercial excellent, to complement the existing team, and that established by TFT across the UK.
2. As well as being a hands-on delivery role, you will work with the Cost Consultancy Senior Director to help develop and deliver against a business plan for Cost Consultancy across TFT.
3. Support the management and development of the technical team, to deliver quality cost consultancy services to existing and new clients.
4. End to end cost consultancy delivery
5. Achieving performance targets (fee delivery and business development)
6. Liaise with the Service Hub Leaders across Built Asset, Development and Engineering & Sustainability to align services with strategic goals and performance standards
7. Network effectively with existing commercial clients and agreed targets.

Performance criteria

1. Relevant degree equivalent qualification and MRICS
2. Personable and confident with industry contacts
3. Hands-on high-quality delivery of technical services, demonstrating expertise in Cost Consultancy
4. Gain client trust with regard to commercial confidentiality be a direct contact for instructions.
5. Demonstrable ability to influence, lead and respond constructively to challenges
6. Existing cost consultancy client base with potential to generate new work and introductions.
7. Attain financial targets (2.5 base salary for Directors), and support and manage the performance of others
8. Engage with the team to win work and deliver profitability

Skills and behaviour

1. Inspire others to achieve, and help in their development, through mentoring, coaching and achieving engaging appraisal discussions.
2. Demonstrate excellent team skills, embracing the support and expertise of the wider TFT business
3. Prioritise work effectively to enable quality of work and wellbeing for self and team
4. Client facing and comfortable in business development
5. Able to handle multiple jobs and manage your own workload
6. Risk-manage through best practice aligned with TFT Risk Management Guidance protocol
7. Confident and concise communicator both verbally and in writing
8. Technology oriented to share information centrally

Knowledge

1. Be aware of the latest commercial property challenges technically and commercially
2. Be aware of market trends to inform business direction
3. Identify areas of personal development to enhance performance.
4. Be aware of the latest TFT research on Redefining Building Performance, and such other industry/TFT research that is relevant to clients

What’s in it for you?

• Flexible & hybrid working
• Competitive salary and car allowance
• Fee Plus bonus scheme, mobile phone & laptop, personal accident cover, private health care (after 6 months), life assurance, 27 days holiday, 1 day charity leave per year and annual wellbeing day. Company contributory pension scheme after 3 months.
• Season ticket loan and cycle scheme on completion of probationary period.

About TFT

TFT is the leading independent firm of Development, Built Asset & Engineering and Sustainability consultants. We place the wellbeing of people and the performance of buildings at the heart of everything we do.

We’re proud of our reputation for integrity and delivering work of the highest quality, blended with commercial pragmatism. We offer a strong track record across all commercial property sectors, advising investors, developers, occupiers and owners on maximising best property asset values. Diversity and strength in depth is important to us. Whether it be a technical thought leader with a career’s experience – or a recently qualified rising star – in today’s risk averse world you need people on your side with a reputation for diligence, transparency, intellect and commercial insight. Clients see TFT as large enough to provide the expertise and resources to get the best from their portfolios, and small enough for it to matter personally.

We have over 180 Senior Directors and employees operating from a network of offices in Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Dublin, Edinburgh, Guildford, London, Manchester, Leeds and Southampton.

TFT is passionate about people development and will provide you with excellent and progressive career opportunities and sponsored learning.

We are BCorp Certified!

As TFT’s impact on the world has grown with the size of our business and the scale of our client services, we are determined that our future growth continues to be positive and sustainable. BCorp certification enables us to do just that, by recognising the highest standards of social and environmental performance and aligning our ongoing efforts with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. https://www.tftconsultants.com/tft-is-a-certified-b-corp/

DEI at TFT

At TFT we don’t aim to tick boxes and count numbers and percentages, we create an environment where anyone, from any background and life experience, can do their best work. We empower you to bring your full, authentic self to work. We are diverse by nature and inclusive by choice.

If you’re driven to perform, you’ll fit right in, we approach work fearlessly, learn quickly and improve constantly. A bright idea can come from anyone. We believe diversity drives innovation.

Our approach to diversity, equity and inclusion is simple – we welcome everyone.

TFT x Dress for Success: kickstarting careers

Career paths, just like life, don’t always take the expected route. That’s why we work to help people in our team and beyond it to find a new way forwards, to start a new career, or develop the skills they need to progress on their own path.

We teamed up with global charity Dress for Success to help support women looking to re-enter the workforce. We ran our first Career Day, welcoming 17 women to our offices for a day of learning, inspiration and advice designed to equip our guests with the skills and confidence to re-enter and thrive in today’s job market.

We kicked off the agenda with an introductory panel, where our team talked about the less conventional routes into their roles today. Then we ran sessions and workshops on everything from CV writing and interview skills to networking in a connected world.

Elsa Quinton, our Associate Director of Building Surveying, shared her unique journey into surveying, which began with a career pivot at the age of 30, after which she “effectively re-started my life, re-training and re-qualifying in a different industry and starting again at the bottom of the stack”.

Elsa’s story resonated with others in the room, and illustrates how different experiences can be brought to a new role, and why starting anew can be powerful even if it seems daunting. “The opportunity to help these women access new careers was exciting to me,” Elsa noted, emphasising her passion for training and developing others. Her role in the CV review process provided practical advice, giving our guests expert feedback to help their next applications.

Lorna Melton-Scott, Head of HR at TFT, gave a pragmatic approach to career progression, underscoring that success does not necessarily require high flying grades or a traditional academic path. Lorna’s segments on CV writing and interview preparation were particularly impactful. “It’s easy to forget how lucky we are,” Lorna reflected, touched by the gratitude and progress of the participants.

George Viner, a Graduate Building Surveyor, explained how he found surveying after a career switch, after more than 10 years as a self-employed tradesperson. George explained the highs and lows of his change in profession, then spent time talking with each of the guests to understand their journey and goals. A

“I was left feeling incredibly elated with a profound sense of community and a desire to continue to share my experiences with others in the hope to hear more of theirs. It left me considering the lack of open communication with the people around us and how talking more openly may help you and others!”

George Viner

Nicole Sedgley, Energy and Carbon Consultant, began the day by recounting her experiences as a woman progressing in a predominantly male course at university, through to securing her place at TFT. Her story highlighted the day’s objective: to build confidence and recognition of skills which we might undervalue in ourselves. Nicole found it especially rewarding to witness the transformation of attendees from nervous to empowered, a testament to the workshop’s impact.

“Reintroducing women to work environments after childbirth, career breaks, or any other reason that has put their career progression on pause should be met with both empathy and understanding, and practical support, which is what I believe the day did well.”

Nicole Sedgley

Jacqui Allen, who leads TFT’s Built Assets Consultancy, articulated the broader mission of the day, which was to directly engage with and support disadvantaged women. “The chance to work directly with disadvantaged women in the workplace doesn’t come along all that often,” Jacqui observed, acknowledging the unique challenges faced by many participants. Her dedication to making a tangible difference was clear, as she motivated everyone with her belief in hard work and determination.

This Careers Day not only provided practical skills but also instilled a sense of hope and direction for many of the talented and capable women who joined in because they were ready to make their mark. We’ll be working with those who need it to help write CVs, provide work experience and more in the future. Will our industry’s next great talent pivot into our industry – or our team – from somewhere else entirely? We hope so. Stay tuned!

It’s Mental Health Awareness week

‘Movement: Moving more for our mental health’ is the theme of Mental Health Awareness Week 2024.

We know that regular physical activity can improve mental health and quality of life, as well as bringing physical benefits. Not all of us are running marathons or logging serious mileage on the bike, movement is one aspect of mental health which can be introduced into our working life alongside many other beneficial habits.

LionHeart, the independent charity for RICS professionals past and present, and their families, exists to bring mental health support in line with the needs of our working lives. They have a wealth of knowledge and a valuable set of services which are tailored to help professionals whenever life throws them a curve ball in their careers. Have a look at their website here for more information.

As well as being supported by LionHeart’s great work, we are lucky enough to have six Mental Health First Aiders among the TFT team. These volunteers are there to help those who need it in the moment, because crises and challenges can arise at any time.

If you need some guidance you can visit the Mental Health First Aid England website.

TFT’s Mental Health First Aiders are:

Lorna Melton-Scott – Head of HR

Lisa Collings – HR & Ops Network Executive

Neil Granger – Senior Director

Mollie Earnshaw – Senior Marketing and Events Manager

Julia Cox – Office Manager

Mental Health First Aid: what is it, and why do we need it?

We took a chance to speak To Lisa Collings about why she became a Mental Health First aider and what more we can do in the workplace to support our colleagues’, and our own, mental wellbeing:

What made you want to be a Mental Health First Aider?

I wanted to become a MHFA primarily because I wanted to be able to help others in the same way that help was given to me when I needed it. Life can be extraordinarily challenging at times and having someone who can listen and who understands how you’re feeling makes such a huge difference to your mental health. Being heard and supported when you are at your most vulnerable is so important.

How do you feel having Mental Health First aiders benefits the workplace?

I think having MHFA’s at work demonstrates a genuine care for everyone who works at TFT. Most of us spend a minimum of 7.5 hours a day working, 5 days a week. It’s imperative that we look out for each other when we spend so much time working alongside each other. We are all human and will experience trials and challenges at some stage of our lives, looking out for each other at work and learning how to offer support is a vital part of the work environment. Our people are our greatest asset, we need to take good care of us!

How can we/the workplace do more to improve Mental Health at work?

Improving mental health at work can be simply making sure you have a lunch break, or having a walk to reset yourself when things get too much. Checking in on someone who is looking fraught or upset, suggest getting a coffee to open a conversation if you’re worried about someone. Also, we have our weekly fitness sessions which is a great way to get some movement into your day which kick starts the endorphins. Controlled breathing is an effective stress reduction method, take a long, slow, deep breath in through your nose, hold it for a few seconds and then gently slowly exhale through your mouth, lowering your shoulders as you breathe out.

What are some things that we can all put into our day to day to improve our own and our colleagues’ Mental Health?

There are many elements involved in improving our mental health, some are well known, getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, making sure we get some exercise and getting out in nature whenever possible. There are also lesser-known ways of improving our mental wellbeing, for example did you know that humming can reduce stress?! And that colouring in can calm the brain and decrease your heart rate? I’m a fan of Headspace , aside from the many wonderful guided meditations and sleep aids they have mini meditations that you can do at your desk if you hit a stress flash point. Breathing as mentioned above is another proven method of creating calm.

Some other favourites of mine for coping with stressful times:

• It’s good to talk, sometimes just sharing a problem with someone lightens the load and gives you a little more clarity.
• Writing things down is another way of unravelling unruly thoughts and giving your mind a bit of order when it gets chaotic, or creating some simple mind maps to work out a problem.
• Journalling is an effective way of making sense of things when emotions and stress get a bit overwhelming.
• Music is always a powerful tool, whether it’s blasting some Foo Fighters or playing some ambient, calming sounds. Music is therapeutic.

TFT is at UKREiiF 2024   

UKREiiF kicks off May 21st, as the wider built environment industries descend on Leeds to talk about the connections between people, places, and business. With its remit to ‘accelerate and unlock sustainable, inclusive, and transformational investment’, TFT will be joining the conversation on both the future of sustainable business, and supporting a more inclusive industry too.

B Corp: ‘To B or not to B?’ – May 21st, Rethinking Places Pavillion (13:00-14:00)

As more than 12,000 investors, developers, occupiers, and contractors gather at the Royal Armouries (just round the corner from our Leeds offices), we’re kicking off the programme with a B Corp focussed panel on day one of the conference.

Mat Lown, Chief Knowledge & ESG Officer, will be asking “To ‘B’ or Not to ‘B’ – Can B Corporations Help Address Our Sector’s ESG Objectives?” He’ll be joined by fellow B Corp panellists in our industry:

• Olaide Oboh of Socius (Panel Chair)
• Scott James of Ward Williams
• Catherine Ramsden of Useful Simple Trust
• Karyn Williams of Stride Treglown

The panel will cover the five B Corp pillars of Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers, in addition to how certification works for companies like ours in the built environment industries.

If you want to debate and discuss the future of our industry, and the role of B Corp in getting there, come and join in!

Diversity & Inclusion Networking Breakfast – May 22nd, Regeneration Brainery Studio (08:00-09:30)

The second day of UKREiiF begins with a Diversity & Inclusion Networking Breakfast, sponsored by TFT with Women in Property, Freehold LGBT+, the BAME Planners Network, Muslims in Rail and more in attendance.

Emily Brodie, Associate at TFT, will provide part of the introductory remarks for this event, speaking with more than 75 organisations leading the charge for a more diverse and inclusive industry.  

Freehold LGBT+ drinks reception – May 23rd, Revolucion de Cuba (08:00-09:30)

Finally, on the Wednesday evening, to bring our UKREiiF to a close we have the Freehold LGBT+ drinks reception at Revolucion de Cuba in aid of Stonewall Housing. Stonewall Housing is a brilliant charity dedicated to supporting the LGBTQ+ community with housing advice and supporting those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. TFT proudly co-sponsors this event for the second year alongside Lendlease and Cobalt. 

Sign up for the reception here.

Have you registered for UKREiif 2024? If so, we hope to see you there! If you haven’t, it’s not to late to join in. Register by clicking here.

It’s a new era for Office-to-Residential conversions in the UK, if we get the light right

In March 2021, the UK introduced legislation enabling commercial office buildings to become residential buildings, under Class MA permitted development rights.

Class MA permitted development rights aimed to repurpose under-utilised properties to help ease the housing shortage and provide commercial opportunities. Initial industry response was tempered due to certain restrictions, such as a three-month vacancy requirement and a conversion space cap.  Now, significant amendments brought in on 5 March 2024 have removed these barriers and herald a new era for office-to-home transformations.

New opportunities for converting commercial buildings

The 2024 amendments have widened the scope for office residential conversion, removing previous limitations. Now developers can explore the potential of converting office spaces into residential units without waiting for leases to end or being constrained by size limitations. This legislative flexibility encourages property portfolio owners and developers to consider speculative conversions, significantly benefiting the housing market and urban development.

The Importance of Adequate Natural Light

 A pivotal aspect of converting offices to residential units is ensuring “adequate natural light”. The term remains deliberately undefined in legislation, providing Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) the discretion to interpret it based on the specific context of each project.

While this approach allows for flexibility, it emphasizes the necessity for developers to adhere to guidelines ensuring homes are well-lit and comfortable. The Building Research Establishment (BRE) Guidelines and BS EN 17037 standards offer natural light parameters, and any successful office residential conversion projects must incorporate a thoughtful approach to providing daylight in living spaces.

Navigating Design Challenges

Turning an office into a cozy home isn’t as straightforward as it might seem, especially when it comes to making sure every room gets enough light.  Offices often have lots of windows, but the deeper the building, the harder it is to get sunlight into every corner. This challenge requires some creative thinking in design – like arranging spaces so that living areas get the most light, and accounting for obstructions from neighbouring buildings which potentially only allow light to enter the building at a steep angle.

In spaces which only have a high Lux level at the front of the room (with poorer light levels to the rear), the recently revised BRE assessments present a hurdle. These guidelines now require minimum Lux levels be achieved to 50% of the room area, meaning a more uniform light level.  The guidelines supersede the Average Daylight Factor (ADF) assessment metric, which had allowed developers to ‘average’ a concentrated pool of high daylight across the total room area, compensating for poor light levels to the rear.  The updates allow for a better occupant experience, and will challenge design teams to meet those levels in many office conversions.

Examples of different room and window configurations in relation to daylight (lux) distribution

Simplified Prior Approval process

While some guidelines have created new challenges, the Prior Approval process for office residential conversion is a more streamlined one compared to traditional planning applications.

This eight-week process focusses on critical aspects like the provision of natural light, living space standards, and noise impact from any commercial occupiers on residents. This expedited approach should mean a quicker start to conversion projects, although developers must meticulously plan to meet these requirements.

Capitalising on repurposing office assets

For developers interested in office to residential conversion, the updated regulations present a valuable opportunity to contribute to urban redevelopment and meet housing demand. Professional expertise in daylight and sunlight planning is instrumental to navigate the complexities of conversion projects, ensuring that new homes are bright, welcoming, and compliant with the rules.

We have several projects advising on this matter, so we are well placed to provide wider advice on new potential developments going forward.

If you require a high-level feasibility review from a daylight perspective, please let us know and we would be happy to help.

Key Contact – Daylight and Sunlight, Right to light:

Richard Nosworthy, Director

rnosworthy@tftconsultants.com

+44 7918 973822

Ireland has committed to decarbonisation. Can its built environment deliver?

Ireland’s commercial real estate industry is on the cusp of a significant transformation as it prepares for the introduction of the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) aimed at decarbonising the built environment. In addition, those in Northern Ireland may soon have their own Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), based on the UK system for regulating energy efficiency in buildings. Are both regions ready to act on those goals?

TFT’s Dublin office lead, Kevin Brannigan, and Senior Director Neil Granger recently contributed a piece for React News outlining the challenges facing Ireland when it comes to decarbonising its existing buildings.

You can read that article here.

New decarbonisation legislation: why now?

Incoming legislation and enforcement are part of international efforts to mitigate climate change by enhancing building performance and reducing embodied carbon in the construction and maintenance of buildings. The adoption of MEPS in particular presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities for Ireland. Navigating those will require a nuanced understanding of the country’s building stock and infrastructure, as well as taking lessons from other markets.

The MEPS is rooted in EU directives for member states to set minimum requirements for energy performance of new and existing buildings, and also to drive renovation which creates more efficient buildings. The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) requires member states to establish energy certification schemes for buildings, meaning all buildings newly constructed, sold, or rented out must have an energy performance certificate (EPC) which provides data including energy consumption and carbon emissions. Furthermore, the Energy Efficiency Directive also requires member states to set out a long-term strategy for the renovation of buildings, with the aim of improving their energy efficiency.

But how do these directives interact with the built environment industry, and what is the state of the market for new technologies, tools and practices which will help create more efficient buildings?

The full picture of decarbonisation

The current standard of sustainability reporting in the real estate industry is a primary concern. Reports which do not provide actionable insights, repeating only best practice advice against industry standards, often leave building owners no wiser as to how they should improve their assets.

Each building presents a unique and complex picture of performance. Finding scope to improve requires a multidisciplinary approach.

TFT analysis combines sustainability expertise with building surveying and engineering skillsets to offer detailed reports which focus on how buildings can improve. Our goal is to bridge the gap between theory and practice, creating more valuable buildings today, with future resilience built in.

As we anticipate the finalisation of the MEPS legislation, several practical challenges emerge:

1. New habits and new technologies

The transition to decarbonisation requires moving beyond like-for-like replacement at the end of a building’s lifecycle. For instance, Scotland’s forthcoming ban on combustion in buildings highlights the shift towards electric solutions, such as heat pumps, rather than pure gas systems, or connection to low carbon heat networks. These are common technologies in some European markets, but have been seen as emerging technologies here in Ireland, and in the UK.

Whereas the concept of upgrading systems rather than simply replacing them is not standard practice, building owners in Ireland need to factor this into their maintenance programmes and noting where void periods can allow timely upgrades to keep their buildings ahead of the curve and avoid more costly works further down the line.

2. Supply chain and skills

One reason why heat pumps are seen to be novel in the Irish market is because we do not have as sophisticated a supply chain and are still working out how best to retrofit these systems in our building stock. In regions which embraced heat pumps already, like Germany and Scandinavia the technology has become an established part of the building stock.  

Ireland’s shortfall in specialist skillsets and a market for the products themselves is something the government can address by investing in training for these areas of expertise. Meanwhile, building owners can be proactive to get advice from their consultants and project teams on learnings from established markets, but will likely face higher initial costs to bring those technologies in effectively.

3. Infrastructure and grid capacity

Ireland’s commitment to decarbonise its built environment is limited by its infrastructure capacity and flexibility. Both urban and rural areas will confront similar infrastructure challenges, including the need for significant additional electrical infrastructure which will be limited by available city centre space, and connectivity in rural locations.

The overall readiness of the grid is a key concern: how many all or part-electric buildings can be served by Ireland’s power output? Outside Dublin, all-electric buildings are rare, and any available capacity will soon be taken up as forward-thinking developers seek to get ahead of the market.

Learning from other policies for decarbonisation

The transition to MEPS offers a chance to learn from established markets. Scotland’s forthcoming Heat in Buildings Standard (HIBS) and MEES in England and Wales provide useful precedents for both domestic and non-domestic, noting that further consultation is ongoing, specifically on the implications of HIBS for non-domestic buildings.

There is a consensus among consultants that the way HIBS is applied to commercial buildings is not currently well defined. In particular, there is a lack of detail on how to deal with heritage buildings, which present a major opportunity to improve our sector’s performance as a whole.

Moreover, the broader policy recommendations towards net zero carbon, such as those proposed by the Green Building Councils and British Property Federation (BPF), offer a broader view for a roadmap to integrate sustainable practices into the real estate sector, drawing from initiatives in Europe and in North America. Embracing whole-life carbon, creating a base of skilled support for new solutions, and properly incentivising investment remain challenging but there are good ideas for making progress.

Cause for optimism

While we hope legislation will set the pace and encourage a higher-performing built environment overall, we also see a clear commercial and strategic benefit to seeking more ambitious targets independently.

Staying ahead of the market, and ahead of occupier expectations, is essential to avoid assets being seen as poorer quality or ultimately becoming stranded. The industry’s progress to mitigate these risks over the decades ahead will propel (and be propelled by) by technological advances and legislative frameworks that are yet to come.

By demanding actionable reporting and focusing on the specific challenges of today’s buildings, stakeholders can pave the way for future innovations and industry advancements.

Whether you are preparing for the implementation of MEPS, or seeking a more strategic, holistic approach to improving your buildings, TFT is on hand to provide detailed, actionable analysis that sets you up for success.

Are you part of Ireland’s transition to a more sustainable built environment? Are you looking for support to understand these goals and adapt existing buildings to meet them?

Get in touch with Kevin Brannigan and Neil Granger to find out more.

Staff Stories – Alasdair Balfour

Meet Alasdair Balfour, a Director from the Edinburgh office.

In this video, Alasdair gives us a deep dive into his experience and how he got to where he is today, the motivations behind his work, as well as giving us insight into his life outside of work.

Want to watch the rest of our Staff Stories? You can watch them all here.

TFT supports purchase of Dublin’s Shelbourne Hotel, for Archer Hotels

On the corner of St Stephen’s Green sits the Shelbourne Hotel, one of Dublin’s architectural and social landmarks, and a fascinating building too! Our team got behind its iconic Georgian façade to understand the building, its current condition and its future outlook, for Archer Hotel Capital.

Our work helped Archer to undertake its purchase of this iconic asset with confidence, and to inform future plans for looking after and improving it. TFT provided a holistic view of the building, from its structure to its mechanical & electrical services, assessing its sustainable performance and future potential.

This holistic approach to Technical Due Diligence is increasingly important for our clients, who seek our multidisciplinary team of surveyors, engineers and specialists in sustainable performance, to provide a broader view of the potential risks and opportunities which each building offers.

Getting a full and detailed picture of an asset in this way is essential to realise the value of our built environment today, and to make it more resilient for the future.

You can read more about this purchase in The Irish Times: https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2024/03/29/shelbourne-hotel-in-dublin-sold-to-archer-hotel-capital/

Senior Building Surveyor

An excellent opportunity for a Chartered/Senior Building Surveyor to become part of our growing building surveying team in our London office working on a wide and varied range of building surveying disciplines in a commercial environment. We have an enviable and national client base including The Crown Estate, Aviva, Legal & General and M&G among others.

You will have the opportunity to gain more autonomy, build client relationships and have the potential to specialise in a chosen area as you progress through your career. You will be part of a flexible and very supportive environment with great opportunities for career progression.

Key accountabilities

Primarily working within the commercial sector undertaking a wide range of building surveying, but not limited to:

1. Contract administration
2. Technical Due Diligence
3. Dilapidations
4. Building Pathology
5. General building surveying commercial work in line with a Chartered Building Surveyor role

Performance criteria

1. Degree in Building Surveying & MRICS
2. Accurate report writing skills
3. Experience of working in a pro-active commercial environment
4. Sound knowledge of building contracts in a commercial context
5. Proven ability to meet and exceed fee targets and generate new business through building successful client relationships
6. Commercially astute
7. Embraces technology
8. High level of up-to-date technical building knowledge

Skills and behaviour

1. Must be a good team player and able to work independently
2. Confident and concise communicator both verbally and in writing
3. Business focused and willing to be involved in business development and building client relationships
4. Thorough understanding of the needs and demands of clients
5. Full driving licence and access to a car

Package indicators

Competitive salary plus benefits: Car allowance, Fee related bonus scheme, iPhone & Laptop to support flexible & hybrid working, Private Health Care (after 6 months), career development investment, Personal Accident cover, Life Assurance, 25 days holiday, long service awards, 1 day charity leave, professional membership subscription and company pension scheme (after 3 months)

Cycle scheme and interest free season ticket loan available on completion of probationary period.

About TFT

TFT is the leading independent firm of Development, Built Asset & Engineering and Sustainability consultants. We place the wellbeing of people and the performance of buildings at the heart of everything we do.

We’re proud of our reputation for integrity and delivering work of the highest quality, blended with commercial pragmatism. We offer a strong track record across all commercial property sectors, advising investors, developers, occupiers and owners on maximising best property asset values. Diversity and strength in depth is important to us. Whether it be a technical thought leader with a career’s experience – or a recently qualified rising star – in today’s risk averse world you need people on your side with a reputation for diligence, transparency, intellect and commercial insight. Clients see TFT as large enough to provide the expertise and resources to get the best from their portfolios, and small enough for it to matter personally.

We have over 180 employees operating from a network of offices in Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Dublin, Edinburgh, Guildford, London, Manchester, Leeds and Southampton.

TFT is passionate about people development and will provide you with excellent and progressive career opportunities and sponsored learning.

We are BCorp Certified!

As TFT’s impact on the world has grown with the size of our business and the scale of our client services, we are determined that our future growth continues to be positive and sustainable. B Corp certification enables us to do just that, by recognising the highest standards of social and environmental performance and aligning our ongoing efforts with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. https://www.tftconsultants.com/tft-is-a-certified-b-corp/

DEI at TFT

At TFT we don’t aim to tick boxes and count numbers and percentages, we create an environment where anyone, from any background and life experience, can do their best work. We empower you to bring your full, authentic self to work. We are diverse by nature and inclusive by choice.

If you’re driven to perform, you’ll fit right in, we approach work fearlessly, learn quickly and improve constantly. A bright idea can come from anyone. We believe diversity drives innovation.

Our approach to diversity, equity and inclusion is simple – we welcome everyone. We wouldn’t approach a building survey in a one-dimensional way, so we don’t our people.