Solutions and Innovation

At UKGBC we take a collaborative approach to identify and showcase innovative solutions and support with their scaling and implementation.

Why Solutions & Innovation?

The built environment is both a major contributor to the climate and ecological crises, and a key part of the solution. At UKGBC we recognise that the scale and urgency of these challenges cannot be address with business as usual, but radical transformation. This requires innovation in technology, business models and ways of operating, and ensuring these innovative solutions scale at the pace required. 

UKGBC takes a collaborative approach to innovation, working with a diverse variety of stakeholders, including: 

In this section

  1. Showcasing Sustainable Solutions for the Built Environment – to research, review and raise awareness of sustainable solutions
  2. Scaling Sustainable Solutions for the Built Environment – to accelerate the widespread implementation of sustainable solutions in the built environment

Showcasing Sustainable Solutions

One of the barriers to change is awareness: the built environment is rich with promising innovations, but many go unseen or underutilised. UKGBC works to identify and amplify cutting-edge solutions by collaborating with venture capitalists, start-up hubs and accelerators, academic institutions, and the wider industry. We review and spotlight these solutions across a range of platforms to help the industry understand the possibilities.  

Activities and Outputs

Solutions Library

UKGBC’s Solutions Library is a growing catalogue ranging from technologies and products, to business and financial models that address key sustainability challenges
Explore

Case Study Library

UKGBC’s Case Study Library showcases projects worked on by UKGBC members that highlight innovative approaches and key learnings across one or several of our impact areas
Explore

Trends Report

UKGBC’s annual Trends Report captures emerging themes and patterns in innovative solution development, whilst providing context on their adoption and driving forces in the UK market
Read our 2024 Trends Report

Showcase events

UKGBC’s showcase events are a chance for solution providers to showcase their solutions to our wider membership.
Find out more

Scaling Sustainable Solutions for the Built Environment

This initiative aims to move beyond awareness and into action, accelerating the real-world implementation of innovative sustainable solutions across the built environment. Many innovators fall victim to the ‘valley of death’ between initial R&D and full-scale commercial deployment due to a variety of barriers, some specific to the built environment. By bridging the gap between innovation and implementation, UKGBC is helping to create the enabling conditions for sustainable solutions to scale.  

Activities and Outputs

Matchmaking service

UKGBC’s matchmaking service engages with our membership to understand their sustainability challenges and live project opportunities, and connect them with relevant solution providers.
Engage with Matchmaking service

Research into barriers and enablers to solutions scaling

Through research and guidance, UKGBC explores the practical, regulatory, financial and cultural challenges that limit solution adoption in the UK market – and identify ways to overcome them.

Engagement on live projects

Through this multi-year initiative, UKGBC wants to engage and support members on their journey from piloting solutions to wider implementation.

This initiative is made possible thanks to the support of our valued partners on the Scaling Initiative:

Solutions Library Partner

Our solutions library is made possible due to the generous support of our solutions library partner.

Discover Innovation

Future opportunity

Innovative Start-Up Forum

UKGBC is convening its Innovative Start-Up Members with representatives from across the built environment value chain to discuss solutions to challenges and enable better collaboration.
Ongoing Forum
Forum
Birmingham Innovation roundtable

Related resources

Events