Call for Northern engineering firms to join The Engineers Reuse Collective to help drive carbon reduction in construction
The Engineers Reuse Collective (tERC), a not-for-profit group aimed at advancing reuse in the built environment as part of efforts to transition the construction sector towards Net Zero Carbon, is hosting a Manchester meet to encourage Northern engineering firms to join.
Taking place Wednesday 18th June at 6pm at the Renold Building, Manchester, tERC’s meeting aims to raise awareness of the group’s vision, share inspiring case studies and encourage engineering firms from across the region to join the group.
According to the UK Green Building Council, the built environment is responsible for approximately 25% of the UK’s carbon emissions, with embodied carbon accounting for about one-third of this total. The group seeks to address these issues by promoting reuse as a critical component of reducing carbon emissions.
The collective was founded last year by six leading UK engineering practices - Civic Engineers, Elliott Wood, Heyne Tillett Steel, Buro Happold, Webb Yates Engineers and Whitby Wood – with support from The Institution of Structural Engineers, and has grown rapidly since. Andy Yates, former director of Webb Yates Engineers, is leading the initiative, which aims to align engineering practice with circular economy principles and reduce the carbon footprint of construction projects.
The group’s objectives include promoting and implementing reuse in the built environment through collaboration and engagement with stakeholders, sharing knowledge on effective solutions and lessons learned, encouraging clients and collaborators to maximise asset reuse, and advocating for policy changes to remove barriers and accelerate industry-wide adoption of reuse practices.
As part of its approach, tERC hosts cross-practice meetings, technical forums, and develops industry resources, including roadmaps and standards, to facilitate reuse. Over the course of the last six months, various collective meetings focussing on ‘Talking ReUse’ - sessions on the reuse of steel and foundations - and meetings where members have presented best practice case studies have taken place. The collective has established a series of cross-practice working groups focussing on technical aspects of reuse of steel, timber and foundations, with technical details to be shared with group members later in the year.
Gareth Atkinson, director at Civic Engineers, remarked: “The shift to Net Zero is going to need a tremendous effort by all involved, and adopting circular economy principles and reusing materials and buildings is the key.
“Our aim is to create the strong collaboration, leadership and system thinking we need to collectively accelerate action. We hope that by bringing tERC to Manchester, where there are so many inspiring stories of reuse such as at Mayfield and Campfield Market, coupled with outstanding talent, we will encourage many more engineers to join us.”
Andy Yates commented: “The climate crisis is here, and as engineers we have a vital role to play in supporting the transition to circular economy principles to urgently reduce the carbon intensity of the built environment. Sharing insights and greater collaboration are critical, and we want to engage and encourage engineers across the UK and beyond to get involved and make a difference.”
The Engineers Reuse Collective intends to position itself as a central advocate for accelerating reuse in the built environment and contributing to industry-wide progress on sustainability.
Left to right: Ben Tapley, Whitby Wood; Laura Batty, Heyne Tillet Steel; Andy Yates; Anna Beckett, Buro Happold; James Morgan, Heyne Tillett Steel; Harriet Browning, Civic Engineers; Tom Webster, Webb Yates; Gareth Atkinson, Civic Engineers and Tom Hesslenberg, Elliott Wood]