Page 40 - The Constructor 2017

Scholarships and Awards

Sustainability Scholarship
Anthony Hull is a Project Manager with Network Rail, currently working on the design development
of Crossrail 2, in preparation for the submission of a Hybrid Bill to Parliament. Prior to joining
Network Rail, he was a Policy Manager with the London Development Agency. After graduating from
university, he worked in the House of Commons as a researcher for a Member of Parliament, before
joining the Kent Local Strategic Partnership, where he developed and implemented a construction
skills strategy. He has a BA degree in Politics and History from Durham University and an MSc in
Construction and Enterprise Management from University College London.
Anthony’s research examined the barriers that prevent project managers from integrating all
aspects of sustainability, economic, social and environmental - into the design and construction of
infrastructure projects. With a focus on railway schemes, the research explored what project
managers understand about sustainability, the extent to which it is currently integrated into scheme
design and construction, what the barriers that prevent integration are and what needs to happen in
order to improve. Alongside research within the infrastructure project management community, a
comparison with other construction organisations was undertaken. The study concluded that the
early design stage is crucial in developing the project sustainability requirements, coupled with the
need for improved engagement from senior leaders and clients; all of which must be underpinned by
an improved understanding of the costs and benefits of investment and development of appropriate
performance measures
Holly Gregory is a Sustainability Consultant who joined Atkins on their Graduate Program after
graduating from the University of Birmingham with a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science. She has
specialised in sustainability and carbon management and her experience includes carbon
footprinting, optioneering, delivering carbon and sustainability training and developing sustainability
strategy. She has worked on several high- profile UK construction projects including HS2, Thames
Tideway Tunnel, Heathrow and Gatwick expansions and within the nuclear industry. As of January
2017, Holly is working as a Sustainability Consultant at DNV GL, but Atkins and her managers and
colleagues there have continued to support her in her research project and to complete her
Sustainability Scholarship.
Considering both embodied and operational carbon emissions across a project’s whole-life, i.e.
assessing its whole-life carbon (“WLC”) footprint, is vital to maximising carbon reduction in the
construction industry. The uptake of WLC assessment on construction projects, however, has been
limited, primarily due to the lack of consistency in assessment methodologies, which has devalued
assessment results. Industry standards and guidance on WLC carbon assessment do exist, however
they have not been successful in standardising all methods and assumptions applied by different
consultants or industry practitioners. This research has identified the specific inconsistencies that are
occurring through undertaking a case study critique, and consulting industry practitioners on the
similarities and differences in their assessment approaches. The outcome of this research are
recommendations, which highlight the specific areas where further standardisation is required to
improve the accuracy and consistency in WLC assessment across the industry.

SUSTAINABILITY
What is Sustainability?
As many of our members will be aware, the Worshipful Company of Constructors, alongside the
Chartered Institute of Building and the University College of Estate Management sponsors annual

40 | Autumn 2017 | The Journal of the Worshipful Company of Constructors