We’re proud to announce that our Chief Executive Graham Ross will be a featured speaker at the upcoming Congress of Business (COB), set to return on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 as part of the first-ever Glasgow Climate Week. This significant event, building on the success of its inaugural launch last year, is a collaborative effort led by the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the British Chambers of Commerce, Scottish Chambers of Commerce, and the University of Glasgow.

The primary objective of COB is to foster purpose-led discussions among global influential leaders from the urban development and finance sectors, with a shared goal of accelerating action on Net Zero. With COP26’s Glasgow Climate Pacts as a focal point, COB aims to equip businesses with the necessary tools and insights to drive meaningful change towards a sustainable future.

Glasgow, as the legacy city of COP26, serves as an ideal backdrop for this event, offering a platform to engage with the business community and facilitate purpose-led conversations. As a pacer event between COPs, Glasgow Climate Week will feature a diverse range of activities aimed at making a powerful and lasting commitment to tackling the climate crisis.

As part of the COP26 legacy programme led by the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and Circular Glasgow, Austin-Smith:Lord were selected in 2022 to join Glasgow’s Climate Heroes Network, supporting the Developing the Young Workforce programme to inspire young people to contribute to the future green economy. Additionally, Austin-Smith:Lord were amongst forty businesses across Glasgow chosen to receive a fully funded “Step Up to Net Zero” work placement. This opportunity provided a hands-on resource focused on advancing Austin-Smith:Lord’s own net-zero ambitions.

We have had the privilege of leading multi-disciplinary teams for the second and third phases of the Glasgow District Regeneration Frameworks (DRFs), covering 8 of the 9 City Centre Districts. These DRFs are 10-year regeneration plans with a series of short, medium- and long-term actions that combine strategic planning and placemaking with shorter-term operational and environmental improvements.  The frameworks were developed over an 18-month period based upon an evidence base, tested throughout the process by community and stakeholder engagement.  Almost 11,000 people have participated in DRF engagement so far.

Each District Regeneration Framework is intended to be a Handbook for Change setting out practical steps to enhance everyday quality of life for those who live, work, study in and visit the City Centre.

Our work on the DRFs has been recognised through various awards. Phase 3 (covering Cowcaddens, Townhead, the Learning Quarter and the Merchant City) is currently shortlisted in the Scottish Design Awards (masterplanning category) with the winner to be announced in June. This follows on from two previous wins in the same category (DRFs Phase 2 in 2020, and Broomielaw DRF in 2019).