Sandbox from Buro Happold

What really counts when it comes to measuring the ‘S’ in ESG?  In this week’s FOMO5, taken from our latest ‘Sandbox’ podcast episode, ‘ESG Beyond the Buzzwords,’ Bianca Laura Latini, Associate Director, Buro Happold, breaks down what meaningful social impact measurement should look like in practice. As she puts it: “You are talking about complex things like community impact, individual health, mental health and wellbeing…  “We are particularly talking about decisions that impact people and the environment that they exist in.”  Listen to the full episode for insights on: • How ‘outcomes-first’ thinking transforms decision‑making • The role of wellbeing, inclusion, and community resilience • How to measure what matters - not just what is easy to count  Bianca is joined by our regular host Andy Duncan and colleagues Trevor Keeling, Director, and Richard Twinn, Associate Director, Buro Happold.   For all the insights, listen to this week’s short episode. Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.         

Think You Know ESG? Our experts break it down.   ESG is everywhere, but what does it actually mean for your organisation, your projects, and the decisions being made behind the scenes?  In our latest podcast episode, ‘ESG Beyond the Buzzwords: Inside the decisions shaping our lives’, Buro Happold experts break down what ESG really looks like in practice - beyond headlines and high-level policy.  In this week’s short FOMO5 episode, taken from the full discussion, Richard Twinn, Associate Director at Buro Happold, explains how ESG has evolved from Corporate Social Responsibility:  “Businesses are being required to report against some of these ESG frameworks as part of their annual reporting, and this is mainly talking about the disclosure side and the investment side… but how that actually gets implemented in practice on projects - that’s where the really interesting stuff lies.”  Richard is joined by our regular host Andy Duncan and colleagues Trevor Keeling and Bianca Laura Latini.  If you want to understand ESG in a way that genuinely helps you make better decisions, this episode is worth a listen.   Keep an ‘ear’ out for next week’s FOMO5, where our experts dive deeper into how we measure the ‘S’ in ESG.  Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.        

What if three letters were quietly influencing the decisions that shape your daily life without you even realising it?  ESG. We hear this ‘buzzword’ everywhere - but do we really understand what it means, why it matters, and how it is transforming the built environment?  In the latest episode of our ‘Sandbox’ podcast, host Andy Duncan is joined by Buro Happold experts - Trevor Keeling, Bianca Laura Latini, and Richard Twinn - to strip ESG back to its foundations and explore what it actually looks like in practice.  Tune into discover:   What ESG really is beyond the ‘buzzwords’  The shift from box‑ticking to genuine mindset change  How ESG shows up on real projects, from design standards to long‑term legacy  Measuring the social side of ESG   The practical challenges organisations face  What ESG could, and should look like 20 years from now  Whether you are working in the ESG space or simply interested in how our built environment shapes how we live, this episode is full of sharp insights and practical takeaways.  Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.       

How does infrastructure investment shape lives and communities? Find out why future-focused planning matters in this week’s ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5 episode...  When it comes to our infrastructure systems in the UK, focusing on the short-term can often lead to more extensive long-term costs. From potholes and power outages to rail disruptions and water shortages, under-investment impacts everyone.   As climate risks and societal demands grow, the need for proactive infrastructure planning has never been greater. Infrastructure innovation isn’t just about engineering - it’s about resilience, wellbeing, and quality of life.  Joining our regular host Andy Duncan are Buro Happold experts Paula Gough, UK Infrastructure Development Director, and Chris Glover, Director, Utilities and Energy.    Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.     

Building for Resilience: How can our UK infrastructure be future-proofed against a changing climate? Find out more in this week’s Sandbox FOMO5 episode...  The UK has seen a rise in extreme weather. Storms that were once ‘one-in-20-year' events now happen annually, while flooding and heatwaves dominate headlines. These events are no longer rare and our critical systems are under stress like never before.  Resilience and climate goals are intertwined. Without robust infrastructure, carbon reduction efforts stall, and nature-based solutions fail. The cost of inaction isn’t just financial - it is environmental and societal. From re-defining design standards to integrating solutions across sectors, there is much that can be done to overcome these challenges.   This topic is discussed in this week’s Sandbox FOMO5, taken from our latest podcast episode, ‘Resilient by design: Infrastructure for a sustainable future’.   Joining our regular host Andy Duncan are Buro Happold experts Paula Gough, UK Infrastructure Development Director, and Chris Glover, Director, Utilities and Energy.    Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.