A charity and industry-led network of over 400 member organisations working to improve the sustainability of the built environment, launched in London in 2007.
The UK Green Building Council, known as UKGBC, is a charity and industry-led network for the construction and property sector. It has over 400 member organisations from right across the value chain, including builders, designers, developers, manufacturers, investors, local authorities and charities. Its members work together to find sustainable ways of designing, constructing and running buildings. It supports members to adopt sustainable solutions, and it argues for green building policy with government. It is a UK charity rather than a company that builds or sells anything.
UKGBC was launched in February 2007 by the construction and property industry at the Ecobuild exhibition in London. Its founding members, many of whom are still active, were central to its creation. Its stated mission is to greatly improve the sustainability of the built environment. That matters because buildings account for a large share of the country's carbon emissions, and changing how they are built, heated and reused is one of the biggest challenges facing the sector.
The organisation describes itself as an industry-led community that aims to inspire, challenge and empower members to adopt sustainable, viable solutions. It has a Scotland membership offer as well, which shows its reach beyond England. Its work is often described under themes such as engineering, energy and infrastructure, and public sector and charity. Its member list gives a picture of how widely the idea has spread among UK builders and property owners.
The pages we read did not give a headquarters address or a staff figure, so we have not stated either. UKGBC is listed on employer sites for graduates and people interested in climate careers, and the job advert we saw was for a UK-based role. As a charity and network, it works with members through working groups, events and published guidance, and its team is generally made up of policy specialists, sustainability experts, event and member relationship staff, communications people and operations staff. Its culture is described in its own words as collaborative and member-led, which is a claim we have not tested.
Working in or around an organisation like UKGBC suits people who care about climate and the environment and want to change how buildings are made. Useful subjects include geography, sciences, economics, engineering and politics, and the work involves writing, researching, persuading and bringing people together. Its website lists current roles and shows the topics members are working on.
Website: ukgbc.org
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