Useful Simple Trust

We are recruiting a Finance Director to play a pivotal role in shaping the financial future of our dynamic SME. Reporting directly to our CEO, you will manage a team of three (including IT) and oversee everything from financial strategy to risk management, compliance, and driving efficiencies. This is your chance to combine strategic vision with hands-on leadership in a supportive and forward-thinking environment. Apply now ➡️ https://lnkd.in/esGeJKZB. #WeAreHiring #FinanceDirector #LeadershipOpportunity 

How can architecture drive the transformation needed to meet net-zero goals?  This question was at the heart of the RIBA Journal and Autodesk roundtable last month in its mission to establish five key strategies to accelerate decarbonisation. Our Associate Director Claire Brady joined architects and sustainability leaders to underscore the critical role of innovation, education, and transparency in addressing one of architecture’s greatest challenges.   With the hope that technology could be used to help drive innovation in the way buildings are designed, Claire commented; “The ability to ship any material from anywhere and use unlimited resources, which is the approach we have adopted in the past, has allowed us to become a bit lazy.” Highlighting the need to shift away from resource-intensive practices toward technology-driven, systemic change, their key points included: 1️⃣ Designing from available resources rather than forcing materials to fit traditional ideas of architecture. 2️⃣ Leveraging AI and other tools to support low-carbon decisions in the early design phases. 3️⃣ Bridging embodied and operational carbon considerations for holistic sustainability. 4️⃣ Democratising access to decarbonisation tools so that practices of all sizes can benefit. 5️⃣ Prioritising knowledge-sharing and collaboration to close gaps in data and upskill the industry. 🔗 Read the full overview here - https://lnkd.in/eE_DAKux.  jan-carlos kucharek | Elias Anka | Golnaz Ighany | Marta Bouchard | Smith Mordak | Simon Sturgis | Tomas Miller | Denise Chevin MBE  #Sustainability #Architecture #NetZero 

We are excited to celebrate the launch of the Strategic Planning Group, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at transforming England’s approach to strategic, cross-boundary planning. Chaired by Catriona Riddell and founded by Prior + Partners, the Group brings together a diverse team of experts, including local authorities, academics, technical specialists, and government advisors, to support the creation of the next generation of Spatial Development Strategies (SDS).  Our CEO, Judith Sykes FREng, is bringing her experience in infrastructure planning and sustainable development to ensure an integrated approach to delivering multiple benefits.  🎯🌟 Its mission is to help shape cohesive, evidence-driven plans that tackle critical challenges in housing, infrastructure, climate resilience, health, and economic growth, while fostering sustainable and inclusive communities. This initiative represents an essential step towards ensuring England’s long-term social, economic, and environmental resilience. Shaun Andrews, Director of UK Planning Strategy at Prior + Partners, is quoted; "Strategic planning has a vital role in addressing health equity, delivering economic growth, and creating sustainable communities. We’re proud to bring together such a talented group to drive this forward." 🔗 Read the Press Release in full here - https://lnkd.in/e3EEcEnZ. Group Members: Judith Sykes FREng | Pooja Agrawal | Andrew Carter | Mark Dickens | Paul Frainer | James Harris | Hannah Hickman | Bev Hindle | Alexandra Notay |  Vicky Payne | Zack Simons | Peter Studdert | Graham Thomas | Anna Rose | Simon Ricketts | Andrew Wood | Richard Wood | Alex Yendole Useful Simple Trust | Expedition Engineering Ltd | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | Planning Inspectorate #StrategicPlanning #Collaboration #InclusiveGrowth 

Retaining and upgrading existing buildings not only supports ESG goals but also minimises embodied carbon, an urgent priority as the industry addresses net-zero targets. Our work with Needspace? on the Clapham North Arts Centre is a concept design that embraces circular economy principles. By proposing to deeply retrofit the constrained site, we maximised building retention while increasing the development area by 35%. This phased approach to achieving an EPC B rating demonstrates how commercial projects can balance sustainability, functionality, and growth. Circular economy principles were key throughout our review, prioritising reuse and avoiding unnecessary demolition, showing how regeneration can preserve resources while reducing waste. As the construction industry grapples with climate change and regulatory shifts, projects like this provide a model for achieving high-performance, energy-efficient spaces while cutting environmental impacts.  Interested in learning more about how we can drive value for both people and the planet? Contact our team today ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e-5CHdZs.    Wates Group | Expedition Engineering Ltd | Useful Simple Trust #CircularEconomy #SustainableConstruction #CommercialDesign 

An inspiring lineup for Circular Cities Week! Don't miss the opportunity to be part of the discussion - 'Is London Leading The Circular Revolution?' Book your ticket now ⬇️⬇️ Sophie Thomas | Thomas.Matthews | Useful Projects #CircularEconomy #CircularCities #London

🌟 New podcast alert! 🌟 In the latest episode of the Total Innovation Podcast, Ian Small joins Simon Hill to share some insight into his work as a disruptor in the Water sector and the creation of the Water Innovator Alliance.    The Alliance is bringing startups and innovators together to tackle some of the sector's most pressing challenges: pollution, water scarcity, infrastructure inefficiencies, and navigating complex regulatory barriers. While the industry often resists large-scale transformation - constrained by legacy players and rigid five-year regulatory cycles – there is immense potential for change. By fostering innovation in areas like leakage prevention, pollution reduction, and data analysis, we can make meaningful strides toward a more sustainable future for water 💧   🎙️ Tune in and listen to why collaboration is key to pave the way for innovators to drive impactful solutions -  https://lnkd.in/ebK3b39D.    Wazoku | Expedition Engineering Ltd | Useful Simple Trust  #WaterInnovation #Sustainability #Collaboration 

Am I all talk and no👖? Sometimes it feels like it, especially when I have a full month of keynotes and presentations. Thankfully though, I am grounded by going back to working, creating, innovating and campaigning at Useful Simple Trust and etsaW. People ask me to talk mainly about #circulardesign and I do - to designers, politicians, business owners, fund managers, resource managers (and anyone else who listens!). This time I wanted to demonstrate what goes through my head when I think about designing for a circular system. It can be difficult to put into words - the complexity and rush of questions and thoughts about impacts, challenges, issues and how to tackle things. So, I made a film. About my brain. And I showed it. I think people got the message 🤯 that #circularity is a complex concept and even more complicated as a reality but somehow we need to start shifting to it. Design Week called it an 'eloquent kick up the arse'. I will take that! Starting with #designforplanet with Design Council for a great 2 days in The Manchester Metropolitan University (you can watch the inside of my brain and all the other interesting talks here: https://lnkd.in/eQmh246R) Then onto the inaugural Sustainability in Design Conference for the Ministry of Culture and the formidable Sumayah Al-Solaiman in Riyadh. Finally, spent a day workshopping with Tara Hanrahan with the inspiring Design Declares family with Jo Barnard Alexie Sommer and Sandrine Herbert Razafinjato, and debating with Afreen Saulat and Tobias Revell. A great conversation. (As I said, when we formed Thomas.Matthews in 1997 we had no support network on sustainability and had to forge noisily ahead alone really. Design Declares is the movement we needed then and need now. If you design then join up right away.) This month has been a whirlwind of events - all so enjoyable with kindred people and intelligent debate. Big thanks to all that came and listened (and watched) and all those that have reached out since. I am looking forward to the Design Revolution ✊ (Also, a wonderful thank you to Katie Walsh from The Re-Pete-Project who gave me the most gorgeous (and highly practical) anorak from her circular collection. I have yet to take it off!)

Thrilled to see Argyll, one of London’s leading workspace providers, publish their first ESG Impact Report 🎉 This report marks a major milestone in their sustainability journey and highlights their achievements over the past year - from renovating heritage buildings to improving energy performance, calculating their baseline carbon footprint, and committing to science-based reduction targets. It’s inspiring to see Argyll taking meaningful steps toward a more sustainable and socially responsible future. 🔗 Read the full report here - https://lnkd.in/e5EsbbPs. #Sustainability #SocialImpact #ESG  

❗Our 2025 Graduate Civil and Structural Engineer applications will be closing on Wednesday 27 November❗   Do you want to be a Structural Engineer with a company that pushes boundaries, embraces innovation, and believes in creating sustainable, world-class structures?   Or is Civil engineering designing sustainable drainage systems to creating flood resilience plans, working on everything from city-wide masterplans to public spaces more your vibe?   Kickstart your career with purpose and apply now ⬇️⬇️⬇️   Structures Graduate https://lnkd.in/ewrTaPqJ   Civils & Masterplanning Graduate https://lnkd.in/eifQK5tr   We look forward to receiving your application! #Graduates #LearningAndDevelopment #Engineering

Collaborative team time well spent on the subject of 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴... this time at the Society of Antiquaries, sharing a courtyard with the Royal Academy of Arts... creating the space to think feels like a privilege in our busy worlds but is essential for exploring and deploying this important skill. At the Useful Simple Trust we have designed a programme with Constructivist specifically to develop and amplify our Critical Thinking approach- a skill we believe has always been essential in our purpose driven work, and becomes ever more fundamental in an increasingly complex and challenging world. As an Employee Benefit Trust with a mission to 'blaze a trail in the regeneration of our built and natural environment to meet the needs of all people and planet' we reinvest our profits in ‘educating ourselves and others’ as part of our ethos. To be maximising our impact, we know we can’t be static... this in turn benefits our clients and collaborators in better solving critical challenges. This is a photo of some of us in the RA courtyard trying out a game which Oliver Broadbent experienced at the Royal Designers for Industry Summer School and translated to us… where we are an initially disorganised system coming to eventual equilibrium. And then something changes… Thinking in #systems is a core part of our work- for learning, there is nothing better than feeling it live, making it memorable so we can apply it every day responsively, habitually, intuitively, surprisingly, iteratively, and have fun whilst we do it. Sometimes it feels good to be human! Having been in the ‘observatory’, this session was the ‘map room’, next we will visit the ‘decision engine’ and finally the ‘agora’, working our way through a critical thinking loop. Looking forward to working through the next phases with my UST colleagues Expedition Engineering Ltd, Useful Studio - Architecture, Thomas.Matthews , Useful Projects.