Firms seek 'next big thing' in green industry

Contractors BAM, Lend Lease, Willmott Dixon and Skanska are among 35 firms which will collaborate to put together a business plan for achieving green growth in the construction industry.

The initiative, organised by the UK Green Building Council, is aiming to find the next big thing that will deliver both economic and green benefits to the industry.

Paul King, chief executive of UKGBC, said he was hoping to find “real business ideas”, which deliver profit and environmental benefits.

He said: “The Green Deal is a good example where we have gone from a theoretical problem about how we refurbish our homes to having real businesses gearing up for it.”

He said this was about industry taking a lead and making green growth happen itself without looking to government. He added that the project would redress the balance of the green debate to bring it back to having a solid grounding in financial pay-offs.

The project is sponsored by concrete supplier Aggregate Industries, Heathrow Airport, energy company E.ON and electricals manufacturer Mitsubishi Electric and has also attracted funding from the Technology Strategy Board.

Other firms in the group includes consultants Arup, EC Harris, engineer Atkins, developer Hammerson, retailer Marks and Spencer and housebuilder Barratts.

The group will present its ideas at a one off event in May.