Archives for April 2025

As a leading provider of sustainability and net zero advisory services, Envision has experienced significant growth. In this rapidly evolving sector, strong leadership is crucial to navigating challenges and identifying opportunities for sustainable growth. Recognising the importance of diverse perspectives and strategic expertise, Envision is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Heyworth to its Board as a Non-Executive Director. With extensive experience in corporate finance, Chris brings valuable insights and leadership that will support the continued growth and strategic direction of the company.

Chris has a distinguished career spanning 21 years in corporate accounting, including in his current role as Group Chief Financial Officer of BC Partners, prior to which he was in leadership positions at Investec and Goldman Sachs. Chris has demonstrated exceptional expertise in corporate governance, growth and financial oversight, that is essential to our continued success.

Simon Rainsford, Managing Director of Envision commented: “We are delighted to welcome Chris to our Board. His proven track record and deep knowledge of financial management and governance will be instrumental as we navigate our continued growth. We look forward to his contributions and collaboration.”

Chris added: “I am honoured to join the Board of Envision. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to an organisation that is at the forefront of sustainability in the built environment. I look forward to working with the leadership team to drive its vision forward.”

The Company

Envision is a leading sustainability and energy consultancy that provides specialist support towards sustainability within the built environment. With four directors at the helm, we have experienced a rapid growth over the last few years and are looking to expand our operations team to provide vital support services as we expand further.

Envision specialises in providing end-to-end support to its real estate clients. We pride ourselves on fostering a flexible, creative and fun working environment.

We take pride in our pro-active approach, supporting our clients with close and tailored support. Our pragmatic and hands-on approach means that we are retained by the largest UK property funds, publicly listed developers as well as leading constructors.

Our team (currently 27 employees) is based across two offices, one in London and one in Oxford. The Operations Team, consisting of three people, is based across the two offices.

The Role

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Operations Administrator looking to take the next step in their career. Based in our London office, you will join our growing team, directly reporting to the Business Operations Manager, where you will provide business operations support across both our London and Oxford offices.

The role will involve, but will not be limited to:

• General Office Organisation:
  o First point of contact for incoming telephone enquiries & general queries across the business
  o Maintaining office supplies
  o Organising business cards & promotional stationary
  o Managing IT equipment & register
  o Organising software licenses
  o Liaising with our external IT Support team
  o Liaising with building management teams (London & Oxford)
  o Supporting the implementation of new IT systems
• Finance Support:
  o Supporting Finance Manager with invoicing and debtors/debt chasing
  o Managing staff Expenses & receipts
  o Co-ordinating the Company’s Carbon Footprint process
• HR administration:
  o Supporting staff recruitment, onboarding, training & personnel documentation
  o Undertaking DSE checks
• Organising Company insurance & registrations:
  o PL & EL insurance renewals, Healthcare and Life Assurance renewals, Atlas Citation (HR system), Synergy, etc
• Admin support for projects & proposals
• Supporting organisation of Company events, meetings & staff socials
• Supporting company marketing; LinkedIn, website, etc
• Deputising for the Business Operations Manager & Finance Manager when on leave
• Ad-hoc tasks as necessary to ensure the smooth running of the company.

About You

The successful candidate should be highly motivated, organised and possess excellent communication skills.

Essential Requirements:

• 3+ years’ experience in a similar role within the consultancy sector or a similar small
  organisation
• Strong organisational and planning skills in a fast-paced environment
• A creative mind with an ability to suggest improvements
• Good communication skills and excellent report formatting skills
• Proven experience in a senior administrator role with exceptional multi-tasking abilities
• An understanding of GDPR and dealing with confidential/sensitive information
• Knowledge of Office Administrator responsibilities, systems and procedures
• Highly proficient in MS Office (MS Word, MS Excel and MS Outlook, in particular)
• Experience of dealing with payments and financial queries
• Excellent time management skills and ability to multi-task and prioritize work
• Attention to detail and problem-solving skills.

Salary: £TBC (competitive)
Benefits: Company health insurance, Life assurance and Pension, Enhanced parental packages, Employee Assistance Programme, Remote working allowance, volunteering days, cycle to work scheme, social events, flexible hybrid working
Contract: Permanent, Full-time
Location: Central London with visits to Oxford office

Various Green Building certifications can be applied to residential developments. Completing a Green Building Certification on a scheme has a number of benefits, including:

• Demonstrating the developer’s commitment to quality and sustainability.
• Fulfilling the ESG requirements of a funder.
• Being an attractive asset to tenants and homeowners, and providing confidence in the sustainability performance of their new homes.
• Schemes with Green Building Certifications can be submitted to improve a GRESB score.
• Sustainability measures included in a scheme as part of a Green Building Certification can reduce energy and running costs.

Two of the most common certifications in the industry for residential schemes are Home Quality Mark (HQM) and BREEAM In Use Residential (BIU), both delivered by the BRE, however their application will depend on the stage in which the project is within its lifecycle. 

What is Home Quality Mark?

Home Quality Mark (HQM), soon to be renamed BREEAM New Construction Residential, is a voluntary standard that provides an independent assessment of a new home’s performance in terms of sustainability, quality, and occupant well-being. Homes are assessed against a range of criteria, including running costs, health and well-being, environmental footprint, and digital connectivity. They are awarded stars depending on the number of features incorporated and can be awarded up to a 5-star rating.

An HQM assessment is completed during the design and construction of a development. The assessment phase ends when the development reaches Practical Completion (PC).

What is BREEAM In Use Residential?

BREEAM In Use (BIU) Residential is a sustainability assessment method for existing residential buildings, focusing on their operational performance, sustainability improvements, and certification. BIU aims to enable property investors, owners, and managers to drive sustainable improvements in their assets and showcase high ESG standards.

BREEAM In Use assessments are completed on existing, operational buildings or recently completed schemes.

Depending on the number of features evident on site, a building can achieve up to an ‘Outstanding’ rating. 

How do they align?

The fundamental difference between HQM and BIU is the phase of assessment within the building’s lifespan. HQM is completed during design and construction, whereas BIU can be conducted at any point throughout the operational life of the development.

Many credits achieved as part of a HQM assessment are equivalent to the requirements in BREEAM In Use. Developments that have undertaken HQM can more readily achieve BIU certification once the building is occupied, as many of the features designed and constructed into the scheme are recognised under the BIU process. There are also a number of credits where the requirements mostly align, with only minor additional evidence required to achieve the BREEAM In Use credits. Reviewing BREEAM In Use requirements during the design and construction phase, in line with an active HQM, can help achieve the highest possible rating for the scheme, once in use.

Envision has prepared a guide to how these credits align, which can be downloaded here. To find out how Envision can support you with your HQM or BREEAM In Use Assessment, please get in touch at contact@envisioneco.com.