Funded by Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST), the City of Glasgow College will partner with the Institute of Innovation & Knowledge Exchange (IKE) and Robertson Group to facilitate the systematic assessment, benchmarking and evaluation of innovative ideas, technologies, and processes, enabling companies in the built environment to inform decision making, in relation to key transformation and business improvement initiatives to deliver business and capability growth.

The Built Environment Innovation Assessment (BEIA) will provide a 360-degree diagnostic of an organisation’s innovation position through the eyes of its customers and stakeholders and assess all operations of the organisation. Ensuring a coherent and integrated approach to continuous improvement planning, the platform will support organisations to demonstrate positive value and impact, providing a key input to the organisation’s overall strategy.

Roy Gardner, vice principal at City of Glasgow College, said: “With a long-standing relationship with the Construction & Built Environment sector in Scotland, City are delighted to be driving this pioneering project that will enable the sector to understand and more importantly measure its innovation capabilities.  

“The BEIA project will not only provide a consistent benchmarking approach for businesses of all sizes in the sector, but it also exemplifies our approach to using collaboration and partnerships to enable change, and we’re delighted to be continuing our work with the IKE Institute and entering new areas of work with our valued partners at the Robertson Group.  

“Thanks to colleagues at BE-ST for providing this valuable funding, which I’m sure will make a real impact on how the Construction & Built Environment sector in Scotland adopts and diffuses innovation.”

Michelle Medhat, director, operations & strategic development at the IKE Institute, added: “Change in the construction and built environment sector is happening at a rapid pace. With net zero and sustainability demands, skills shortages, and a flood of emerging technologies, innovation is not just an activity on the periphery of business but now is a central thread that will determine a business’ ability to thrive and grow.

“This collaboration will help build a groundbreaking online tool for those working in the construction and built environment sector to assess their innovation capabilities, learn where their gaps are, and how to fill them. It will, without a doubt, be an essential component for businesses wanting to drive innovation forward and maximise on the profit potential of every project they engage in.”

Mike King, executive technical director, Robertson Construction Group, said: “As the lead industry partner in this project, we are committed to ongoing innovation in the sector. Continuous improvement is instrumental in ensuring the future of the industry, which is constantly adapting and embracing new technologies, but our ability to evaluate effectiveness will be drastically improved with the development of BEIA.

“We will help develop and pilot the platform to further its development before roll out to the sector enabling companies responsible for the delivery of the built environment to fully assess and understand their innovation capabilities and the positive impact it has on their business.”

Scott Bissett, associate impact manager at BE-ST, concluded: “To meet the UK’s carbon emissions targets, a transformative increase in innovative capacity within the construction sector is essential. The BEIA project serves as a crucial digital tool, providing time-saving efficiencies and democratising access to innovation assessment. It represents a timely and significant asset in enabling meaningful change across our industry and aligns strongly with our mission to accelerate the sector’s just transition to net zero.

“Stakeholder engagement will commence in January 2025 with an industry roundtable, exploring industry standards and trends for innovation in construction, followed by a workshop for construction firms to understand their innovation needs and pain points.

“This is a unique opportunity to understand the culture and skills required of construction and built environment businesses to maximise the adoption of innovative practices, and the project team are excited to provide open access to free resources allowing construction and built environment businesses to build capacity and skills related to the adoption and diffusion of innovation.”