Ola Obadara is Senior Vice President of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB). With more than 25 years’ experience in property development, she is Group Director for Property Projects at the City of London Corporation

Are architecture graduates facing a tougher future because of AI?

As AI continues to transform the built environment sector, concerns are growing about its impact on employment opportunities for emerging professionals. But is artificial intelligence really to blame for the…

AI is transforming clean energy – but where will the talent come from?

By Dr Mahmoud Dhimish Senior lecturer and programme leader of MSc Renewable Energy and AI The UK energy sector is rapidly expanding its use of artificial intelligence, from forecasting renewable generation…
Claire Hookham from the University of the Built Environment outside Chester Grosvenor Hotel in Chester

The Chester Grosvenor: When the heart of a city falls silent

The temporary closure of The Chester Grosvenor Hotel due to Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) concerns is more than a building safety story. Drawing on personal experience and management expertise,…
Council housing

Council housing – another brick in the wall?

By Jason Phelps Senior lecturer, School of the Built Environment On Monday 29 June, the MP for Makerfield, Andy Burnham, set out his vision - should he get the keys…

Six new renewable energy careers AI is helping to create

By Linda Serck As renewable energy expands and the grid becomes more complex, employers are looking for graduates who can speak two languages at once: energy and data. Across the…
Is it 'game over' for the High Street? How PlayStation's digital shift could reshape retail real estate once again - by Jordan Turner from the University of the Built Environment

Digital-only PlayStation: Is it ‘game over’ for the high street?

By Jordan Turner As policymakers champion the revival of Britain's high streets and town centres, PlayStation's move towards a digital-only future raises fresh questions for retailers, landlords and investors. Could…
Speaking at University of the Built Environment’s summer 2026 graduation, Richard Kauntze, former Chief Executive of the British Council for Offices and UBE Honorary Fellow, shared the career lessons he learned from nearly four decades in property

‘Be in the room’: Richard Kauntze’s eight lessons from a life in the built environment

By Linda Serck Speaking at University of the Built Environment’s summer 2026 graduation, Richard Kauntze, former Chief Executive of the British Council for Offices and University of the Built Environment…

‘What stops us from creating beautiful places?’ – Dr Wei Yang OBE

By Linda Serck Speaking at the University of the Built Environment’s summer 2026 graduation, Dr Wei Yang OBE urged graduates to carry their curiosity into the next stage of their…

‘Talent is everywhere but opportunity is not’ – Clare Johnson MBE, RICS

By Linda Serck Speaking at the University of the Built Environment’s summer 2026 graduation, Clare Johnson MBE, Regional Market Director for Central UK at RICS, told graduates that their non-traditional…

Why Britain’s homes and high streets need a heatwave rethink

By Linda Serck Britain’s homes and high streets were designed to keep heat in, now we have to learn to keep it out. Following the June 2026 heatwave, University of…
Tudor house - University of the Built Environment

Professor Ashley Wheaton: ‘The average home needs to last for 1,000 years’  

By Linda Serck  How long should a house last? According to one striking calculation cited by Professor Ashley Wheaton, the answer could be around a millennium. Here we examine what…
How Britain's gaybourhoods shaped the modern city - University of the Built Environment.

How Britain’s gaybourhoods shaped the modern city

Hurst Street, Birmingham By Linda Serck  Today, places such as Soho, Canal Street and Kemptown are celebrated cultural LGBTQ+ landmarks. Yet their origins lie in a hidden geography of social exclusion, secrecy and anonymity. What…