Office Matters: How one bright idea can change the way we measure workplace sustainability

What do you get when you combine a passion for workplaceprojects, a talent for problem solving and a determination to make sustainability more tangible?

Lauren Lemcke.

In this latest episode of the BCO Office Matters Podcast,BCO chief executive Samantha McClary sits down BCO NextGen Ideas Competition winner, AECOM's Lauren Lemcke, to talk about careers, carbon, confidence and the power of agood idea.

In this 30-minute recording we find out how Lemcke was ledinto quantity surveying by an inspiring mentor, is now on a mission to inspire others to build a career in the sector, and find out more about her BCO NextGen Ideas Competition-winning CarbonLegacy concept and what, almost oneyear on, winning the competition has meant for her personally and professionally.

If you missed Lemcke's powerful pitch at last year's event,her CarbonLegacy proposal seeks to tackle two challenges at once: reducing embodied carbon and creating meaningful social value. The idea is simple but powerful. By linking carbon savings to community investment, projects can be rewarded not only for doing the right thing environmentally, but for creating a positive legacy in the places where they operate.

But the Ideas Competition isn't just about having a greatidea, it is about bringing it to life and in this episode Lemcke shares her inside knowledge on the process of taking an idea from a rough concept to a TED-style presentation, the value of mentoring and public speaking training, and how the NextGen Ideas Competition has opened doors to new opportunities, industry connections and greater confidence.

Listen in to:

• Discover the story behind CarbonLegacy, the innovative idea connecting embodied carbon reduction with measurable social value.
• Hear a fresh perspective on quantity surveying, and why cost consultants are more critical than ever in delivering viable, sustainable workplaces.
• Be inspired by Lemcke’s NextGen journey, from firstentering the competition to becoming a mentor helping the next wave of industry talent.

Enjoy!