ACE reveals only a fifth of large consultancy clients ask for net zero designs

New figures released by the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) have revealed that while consultancies are making good progress towards unlocking a net zero future, client demand remains patchy, with only around a fifth (19 per cent) of large consultancy and around a quarter (24 per cent) of SME clients, asking for net zero compatible designs.

The numbers – pulled from ACE’s forthcoming industry benchmarking study – show the steps that are being taken to adapt to a net zero world, revealing a sector making strides in a number of areas:

• 90 per cent of large consultancies, and 50 per cent of SMEs, have made, or signed up to a public net zero pledge.
• 82 per cent of large consultancies, and 44 per cent of SMEs, have provided in-house carbon literacy training for non-carbon specialist staff.
• 55 per cent of large consultancies, and 33 per cent of SMEs, push clients to ask for a net zero design solution.

With built environment day taking place at COP26 today, the figures also show what more needs to be done, with only 19 per cent of large consultancies and 21 per cent of SMEs fully calculating embodied and whole-life carbon in the designs they produce.

Commenting on the results, ACE Director of Policy Matthew Farrow said: “Built environment day at COP26 will shine a spotlight on our industry’s progress towards net zero, but the key takeaway is that consultants are, by-and-large, making progress and taking positive steps.

“Through being able to offer net zero design as standard, and encouraging clients to make this the default option, consultants can enable clients to take informed and rounded decisions on carbon. With recent important initiatives such as the Construction Playbook and Value Toolkit giving the industry the tools to incorporate a fuller view of value in the design and delivery of projects, now is the time to put net zero at the heart of what we do.” 

ACE’s benchmarking project is the definitive study of professional consultancy and engineering companies operating in the social and economic infrastructure sectors. The detailed research explores all areas of business activity. Respondents’ market value was equal to £3.8 billion, representing approximately 60 per cent of entire sector. The full study will be released in December.