Two members of Claremont’s Warrington team have become RICS accredited SKA assessors to help clients achieve sustainable best practice in office interior design and fit-out projects.
A SKA rating is an environmental assessment method, benchmark and standard that helps landlords and tenants evaluate non-domestic fit-out projects against a set of sustainability good practice criteria.
The assessment comprises more than 100 best practice measures which cover materials, pollution, wellbeing, transport, energy and CO2 emissions, waste and water.
Claremont’s Gareth Bunting – Estimator and Quantity Surveyor and Emily Guttridge – Quantity Surveyor have both completed RICS’ training programme and can now help occupiers achieve either a bronze, silver or a gold level of certification.
Richard Brook, Claremont’s Construction Director said: “Our decision to invest in SKA is an investment in the future of office interior design and fit-out. Our SKA accreditors will ensure environmental best practice informs how we approach, design and manage projects, plus it will give clients the insights and proof they need to show that their workplace supports their own ESG commitments.”
Gareth Bunting, RICS accredited SKA assessor, said: “SKA assessments can help occupiers to understand and identify how they can make the biggest impact in terms of sustainability before they embark on a project. It’s an important way to educate businesses, encourage them to make more sustainable choices and achieve a standard which has increasing importance to employees and stakeholders.”
So far, Claremont’s SKA team has assessed St Modwen’s 2 Devon Street project in Birmingham which achieved SKA Gold. The team is also working on a project with Manchester Metropolitan University.
Claremont’s investment in SKA assessment training forms part of its wider sustainability programme – which includes an annual target to reduce carbon emissions by 5%, offsetting 200 tonnes of carbon in 2022, a newly launched subsidised EV scheme for staff and an imminent investment in solar panels at its Warrington head office.
Claremont is one of the UK’s leading office interior design, fit-out, furniture and technology companies and delivers workplaces that motivate and inspire. Delivering projects across the UK from its offices in Warrington and Bristol, Claremont offers a full range of commercial and office interior solutions including workplace analysis and consultancy, office space planning and interior design, fit-out, refurbishment, office relocation, furniture supply and installation as well as the integration of audio visual, multimedia and wireless technologies.
