Long Story Short

Birmingham is on an exciting journey. While the city still feels the buzz from delivering a successful 2022 Commonwealth Games, this international showcase event proved that the city could deliver on the global stage and has created momentum to kickstart its ambitious plans to make the city more sustainable. A new plan for the city – Our Future City Framework - will look to shape Birmingham's development until 2040 and continue its transformation into a location for sustainable growth. Birmingham ranks at 36th place in Arcadis' Sustainable Cities Index, and while our research shows the city has a good equilibrium between each of the pillars of People, Planet and Profit – it also highlights challenges, such as deep levels of inequality. So how can the city raise its score and build on its successful delivery of the 2022 Commonwealth Games to become a truly global, inclusive and greener city? Hear from Deborah Cadman, Chief Executive of Birmingham City Council and Simon Marks, Arcadis' Birmingham City Executive.

London is rightly famed as an iconic global city, and it's also leading the way in its journey towards net zero. While the city ranks an impressive 6th place in the latest edition of Arcadis' Sustainable Cities Index, our research also highlights the challenges of a city dealing with deep inequalities and a lack of inclusivity in its economic sustainability. So, how can London continue building a greener future for its 8.9 million citizens and ensure they reap the benefits? And what role should businesses play in shaping this brighter future? Hear all this and more from leading voices in London, Peter Hogg, Arcadis' Cities Director, Alison Griffin, Chief Executive of London Councils, and Sam Longman, Head of Sustainability and Corporate Environment at Transport for London.

Manchester and Leeds are two Northern cities known for their drive and ambition. But just how sustainable are both cities? In this episode, broadcast from the Great Northern Conference, we take a deep dive into how Manchester and Leeds performed in the latest edition of Arcadis' Sustainable Cities Index. Our research ranks 100 global cities on environmental, economic and social factors. Both cities score in the top 40 – but how can they boost up the rankings? Hear from Nick Kealey, Local Government Account Lead at Arcadis, Jessica Bowles, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Impact at Bruntwood, and Brian Ford, Head of Capital Development at University of Leeds. This is the first in a series of episodes on Arcadis' Sustainable Cities Index. Look out for episodes on the story of Birmingham, London and more!

We've heard about hydrogen and its potential to be used as an alternative energy source, but why is it only now being taken seriously? As the world recognises the urgency to shift to renewable energy to meet net zero goals, is this the time for hydrogen to be truly utilised? In this podcast episode, we explore all things hydrogen – the good, the bad and the future of the most abundant element in the universe. How will it impact our everyday lives; where is it being used currently; what myths need busting, and most importantly do the benefits outweigh the risks? Listen to our guests Natalie Sauber, Future Mobility Director at Arcadis, William Rowe, CEO and Founder of Octopus Hydrogen and Mark Danter, Senior Strategy Manager at Northern Gas Networks discuss hydrogen and the challenges that lie ahead.

Our guests Smriti Singh, Lead for Healthcare Transformation at Arcadis and Simon James, CEO of KIMS hospital, discuss our healthcare systems post-pandemic and the challenges ahead. What did COVID teach us about what we need from our hospitals? From diverting resources and space, to infection control, our major medical centres had to be repurposed at breakneck speed to respond to a virus we knew nothing about at the time. We examine what hospital buildings will look like and be needed for, what patients will experience, what staff need and how we can make our healthcare more human in this topical episode.

First came PropTech – the digital transformation of the property industry – and now we have PlaceTech, bringing technology to our public spaces. Our guests Ruxandra Radulescu, Paul Unger and Nilesh Parmer cut through the jargon and discuss how the human experience of places is changing.

The way we work is changing. As society re-emerges from lockdown, our needs and expectations have changed. The post-pandemic workplace must be reshaped and re imagined, but how can we create spaces that are flexible, adaptive and blend to these changing needs? In a world where work is no longer restricted to within the same four walls, what does it mean to create a truly destination work environment where people want to be and want to thrive? And how do we balance social and economic pressures with the challenges of sustainability and climate change? In this special edition of Long Story Short, we talk to Sarah-Jane Osborne, our Head of Workscape at Arcadis, about the rise of agile working and how we are reimagining the future of the workplace.

The rise in demand for places where people can live, work and spend their leisure time all within their local communities has led to a resurgence in the 15-minute community. The concept has been around for several years and, in short, seeks to rethink how communities are planned by focusing on reducing car-dependency and long commutes. It improves quality of life by ensuring all essential amenities can be reached within a 15 or 20-minute journey from home, whether on foot, bike or by public transport.In this episode, Peter Hogg from Arcadis is joined by Laura Citron, Chief Executive at London & Partners, and Anthony Breach, Analyst at Centre for Cities to discuss whether 15-minute communities are the shape of our cities in the future or are they only half the answer? And are they urgently needed for revival after the pandemic or do 15-minute communities miss the point of what cities are for?

When COVID-19 struck, our cities fell silent. With the hum of traffic replaced by birdsong, the sudden uptake in walking and cycling gave us a vision of a low-traffic future. Healthier, less congested and with less pollution, many cities rapidly introduced schemes to make streets less car-centric, and friendlier for pedestrians and cyclists. But how successful have these interventions been?In this episode, Keri Stewart and Samantha Thirwell from Arcadis join Richard Dilks from CoMoUK to discuss the future of travel. Are car-free cities really the answer? And, in rethinking how we travel, what would make our roads better for everyone?   

With 1.9 million UK households digitally excluded, COVID-19 has exposed the widening gap between the digital have’s and have not’s. But it’s also signposted to some of the benefits that ending digital poverty could bring.In this episode, Mark Harrop from Arcadis, Dave Nielson from Fusion21 and Paul Finnis from Digital Access for All, share their passion for addressing digital poverty and make the case for free social broadband.

From the Government slogan - “Stay home. Protect the NHS. Save Lives.” - to the 8pm Clap for Carers, the NHS has been front and centre of the fight against COVID-19. But has our relationship with our national health service changed? And what have we learnt from the pandemic that could change the future of healthcare provision? With capacity threatening to reach breaking point, the speed at which the seven Nightingale Hospitals were established showed us just how much can be achieved in a short space of time, by working together. But even though the immediate health crisis may have abated through efforts to protect the NHS, critical patient issues such as cancer, diabetes and mental health care still need to be addressed. From providing new beds to working more closely within communities, is the NHS up to the challenge? And what role should we be playing in looking after our own health and wellbeing to help protect the NHS? Chris Waine from Arcadis and our guests Richard Noble and Robert Hakin from Leeds Teaching Hospital discuss the future of healthcare and more in the episode nine of the Long Story Short podcast series.

Welcome to the second series of Long Story Short, the Future Cities podcast from Arcadis UK. Series one was all about the way we live, work, play and thrive in our cities. But like many things, in the wake of COVID-19 we are refocusing. So in this series we examine the huge changes the world is going through as it slowly starts to reopen and societies try to reclaim a little normality.  

Imagine the town centre of the future and the changes that need to be made to achieve it: what will it look like? Who will it serve and what part does it play in its community?Urban centres are, and should be, responding to the needs of their communities, the challenges of changing retail habits, declining footfall, and the need for greater flexibility in our spaces.In light of COVID-19, how can local high streets recover and take advantage of people’s changing behaviours and values in relation to supporting local businesses, reducing travel and being more sustainable? Our guests David Jobling, Director at Arcadis and Bill Grimsey, from the Grimsey Review, discuss this and more in the first episode of a new series of Long Story Short.

The world of work is changing – and faster than we ever anticipated. With the spread of COVID-19 rapidly accelerating a massive societal shift towards home working, we ask whether now is the ideal time for businesses to think about making some more permanent changes, once the crisis is over?Could this be the end of the traditional, desk-bound 9-5, and what does this mean for how we’ll do our jobs in future? BBC journalist Emma Nelson chats with our guests, Suzanne Lloyd from Arcadis and Charles Hecker from Control Risks exploring how “from-my-home-to-your-home” conversations are rewriting our relationship with colleagues and clients. They explore how our employers are reacting to this sudden upsurge in demand for smarter, agile and more flexible working.And with our cities having previously been hubs for industry and commerce, could this new world of work change how we use our cities in future?

Do you love where you live? Whether a park, a building, a town or city, people and communities thrive when the spaces they live, work and play in are designed to meet their changing needs.This special episode was recorded in front of a live audience. Our guests Kat Hanna, Peter Hogg, Clare Wood and Andrew Tuck talk about what makes a great place. From historical places designed by and for able-bodied white men, to current trends of communal living – do we need to be riskier in designing and updating our spaces for the benefit of the whole of society?Find out what Arcadis’ latest research shows about the five most important things to consider when creating a place in our newest report Liveable Places.

Would you buy a home built in a factory? ​The scale of the housing crisis is well-documented; we all know the UK needs more homes. But what if there was a faster way to build better, more eco-friendly housing? ​This episode looks at whether modular, construction – in which homes are built in a factory and then assembled on site - could be the answer? And if it is the panacea we’ve been looking for, why aren’t all our homes being built in this way? We challenge some of the biggest misconceptions around modular development. From embedding new skills to solving societal issues around deprivation and housing poverty, we ask to what extent modular development could change how we build our homes, now and in the future? ​Our guests speakers are Ben Adams from Arcadis, Jez Sweetland from Bristol Housing Festival, Richard Hyams from AStudio Architects, Richard Brown, Centre for London and soundbites from Harriet Harriss at the Pratt School of Architecture, NYC. ​

Should nature’s benefits come for free? Everyone loves green spaces. Whether it’s a park, community garden or playing field, they are crucial to escaping the stress and pollution of our busy lives. But, do they do enough for a city?In this episode, we examine our natural assets and explore how natural capital, the basic conditions for human existence, builds a bridge between the environment, the economy and the communities in our cities. If we don’t factor it in to all our city planning, do we risk threatening our quality of life and wellbeing for future generations?

Humans vs robots. What is the role of humans in the future of driving? Driverless cars are on their way. Are we ready for them? In this episode we take a deep dive in to this emerging technology, exploring what people really think and how we can cut through the buzzwords to understand the impact on people and communities. We ask, is this really a good thing?Our guests are three people shaping the path for autonomous vehicles, Natalie Sauber from Arcadis UK, Luke Rust from Immense Simulations and Kat Hannah from Lendlease. Emma Nelson, freelance radio and TV presenter and reporter, hosts the conversation, examining whether driverless cars mean transport for all and looking at what our cities need to do to get ready for them.

What will be the last profession left standing? The way in which we work is changing at a rate never seen before. But what does this mean for how and where we work, and even the sort of work we will be doing? With a third of jobs expected to be wiped out in the next three decades, we ask what the last profession left standing will be.In this episode Emma Nelson, freelance radio and TV presenter and reporter, hosts a conversation with Lara Potter, Workforce for the Future Director at Arcadis UK, and Julia Hobsbawm OBE, author and leading voice on the world of work. They share their theories and experiences on why everything is changing so fast and what we can all do to keep up and stay relevant.

An automated future? Making our cities more human... Cities of today would be unrecognisable just 10 years ago. But have these changes made our cities better places to live, move, work and play in? And what does the future look like, not only for us but for our children, grandchildren and generations to come? In the first episode of this new series Emma Nelson, freelance radio and TV presenter and reporter, hosts a conversation between two city experts and tech obsessives, Sandeep Kapoor, Innovation and Growth Lead at Arcadis UK, and James O’Malley, technology journalist and former editor at Gizmodo. They tell us why an automated world will work for us as people, no matter how we feel about it. Plus, we look at what the people who shape our cities need to do to make the future human.