Davis Langdon moves to fill sustainability skills gap

Davis Langdon has introduced sustainability training for all its technical workers.

The programme will include training in issues such as carbon emissions, climate change and waste management. Staff who complete the course will be qualified to give sustainability advice to clients.

The move comes as a sustainability skills crisis takes a grip on the industry, caused by a sudden rise of the number of green projects.

John Connaughton, a partner in Davis Langdon who specialises in sustainability, said there was a knowledge gap that had to be filled. He said: “We have recognised that not all of our staff are trained in this area and cannot become sustainability experts overnight. So we have set up a development programme to raise awareness of the sorts of issues they should be clued up about so they can effectively inform clients.”

The programme will be introduced in London within the next two months and, if successful, will be rolled out across the UK. The training will include lectures, seminars and conferences, as well as information from podcasts and video presentations.

Davis Langdon’s sustainability experts will also advise clients on waste management, and will work on behalf of the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP).

The company is employed by WRAP on a framework deal to act as a liaison with industry. WRAP wants clients to introduce site waste management plans on all projects.

Ed Brown, a senior consultant at Davis Langdon, said: “We are trying to get everyone to set requirements to reduce wastage and come up with a cost-neutral plan. Ideally we want to see this then become part of a contract between the client, contractor, consultant and architect to meet these requirements and reduce the amount of waste on projects.”

Davis Langdon’s plan for a sustainability drive comes two months after it launched its carbon index. This assesses a building’s environmental impact and provides it with a carbon index number. The consultant then advises clients on how to lower that number. The index can be used to measure new builds, refurbishments and fit-outs.