The Better Buildings Partnership (BBP) is today launching a major real estate industry training course focused on integrating Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) into the property investment management process. The launch of the much-anticipated course comes just months after Sarah Ratcliffe, CEO at BBP, declared a sustainability skills emergency within the sector and encouraged the use of appropriate leadership and infrastructure to bridge the knowledge gap. 

The training course has been envisioned by BBP members and will be developed and delivered by Hillbreak, a market leading ESG training and advisory firm. 

The ground-breaking new course has been developed especially for real estate professionals working for fund management and investment advisory institutions, Real Estate Investment Trusts and private property companies. The programme will bring together participants from varied roles, such as fund, asset and development management, deal teams, investor relations and product development, thereby maximising the level of insight that can be gained from interacting with peers working across the spectrum of the property lifecycle.  

The course comes at a very significant time for the real estate sector with the climate crisis and ESG now firmly established as priorities for investors, owners, occupiers and other stakeholders. Participants will benefit from having a better command of how to respond to the ESG risks and opportunities that will increasingly impact upon their decision-making, and have a better understanding of the principles, disciplines and tools required to develop strategies and solutions for their portfolios and assets.  

The development of the course was initiated and supported by BBP members Hammerson, LaSalle Investment Management, Legal & General Investment Management and Nuveen Real Estate. Additional support has been provided by Derwent London, Great Portland Estates, Logicor, Picton, Royal London Asset Management and Savills Investment Management. These leading property owners will continue to oversee the programme through a Steering Group, ensuring that it meets the needs of the industry and continually develops to reflect the practicalities of responding to ESG and climate risk across real estate portfolios.  

The training involves two half-days of interactive teaching supported by preparatory and post-course learning delivered via a dedicated online platform. Learning materials and formats will include classroom-style learning, interview-based video and podcast content, together with written resources and case studies. There will be bespoke materials specific to role types, ensuring maximum relevance to the individual and their organisations.  

The first training course will take place in June and class sizes are limited to optimise peer-to-peer learning through real-world insights.  

To find out more about the course, and to register for places, please visit the Hillbreak website here. 

Louise Ellison, Chair of the BBP and Group Head of Sustainability at Hammerson said: “Access to targeted, practical ESG training that focuses on equipping people with expertise they can deploy directly within their roles is essential for our sector to move forward quickly on climate change.This programme provides an excellent response so I am really delighted to have been part of its development and to see it launched.” 

Sophie Carruth, Head of Sustainability at LaSalle Investment Management said:“A key tool in the delivery of Net Zero Carbon is the upskilling of the people in each sector so I am excited to see the launch of this ESG training which we designed specifically for property professionals.  I believe it will be hugely impactful and will drive progress across our sector” 

Miles Keeping, co-Founder of Hillbreak and Chair of the Green Property Alliance said:“It’s very exciting to be able to bring this much needed training initiative to the market. Hillbreak was formed to help meet the significant need for ESG training and we’re delighted to have the opportunity to partner with the BBP on this ground-breaking programme.” 

For press enquiries please contact Sophia Tysoe, Stakeholder Engagement and Communications Executive, Better Buildings Partnership: s.tysoe@betterbuildingspartnership.co.uk

Notes to Editors:  

About BBP 

The Better Buildings Partnership (BBP) is a not-for-profit collaboration of the UK’s leading property owners who are working together to improve the sustainability of the UK’s existing commercial buildings. The organisation's aim is to deliver market transformation through sustainability leadership and knowledge sharing across the UK property industry. The BBP currently has 40 members who represent in excess of £250bn Assets Under Management (AUM). More information about the BBP can be found here: www.betterbuildingspartnership.co.uk 

About Hillbreak  

Hillbreak delivers impactful training and advisory services for organisations seeking purpose and competitive advantage in a rapidly changing world. Its mission is to expedite the transition to a sustainable policy, business and investment environment by bringing intelligence, challenge and inspiration to its clients and stakeholders. Please see www.hillbreak.com for further information about Hillbreak.