Name: Emily Baigent
Title: Graduate energy, carbon, and sustainability consultant at TFT
What I do: I cover a broad range of sustainability services from energy modelling, sustainability strategy and reporting on ESG. My day job usually involves assessing an asset and proposing measures to improve its sustainability, whether in terms of operational carbon and energy intensity reductions or promoting the more sustainable management of a site. I am also an academic at heart and keep my eye on the latest publications covering carbon reduction and building research.
Why I got into the property industry: The subject of how people get into property is frequently discussed within our office as we look to expand our outreach work with schools. We have found that the majority of people get into the industry because they know a surveyor, consultant, architect, etc. If you don’t grow up with a family member or a family friend in the industry, the likelihood is that you will not be as likely to find your way into the sector on your own. My story is no different, although slightly less traditional. I had several career plans as a teenager; however, my plan before I went to university was to become a personal trainer for professional dressage riders. I’d had horses since I was a child and competed nationally at dressage from the age of 12, so staying within the sport felt natural until (very happily) I discovered surveying!
How I did it: I am fortunate enough to come from a family of engineers and had the opportunity to spend much of my childhood in our workshop. Amidst my plans to pursue personal training, a family member working within the property industry suggested I look at what a building surveyor does. I liked what I saw, so I applied to the University of Portsmouth, got a place, and started my studies. During my undergraduate course in building surveying, I started to become concerned about the extent to which the industry is responsible for contributing to the UK’s total carbon emissions. As a result, after graduating from Portsmouth, I moved to Edinburgh University to complete a masters in carbon management. I have been working as a sustainability consultant for TFT during my master’s and I am really looking forward to joining the team full time once I have handed in my thesis in August.
My biggest screw-up: Is it tempting fate to say that so far… so good?
The biggest misconception people have about the property industry: That it’s stuffy and boring. Buildings, energy, planning, and sustainability are engaging interrelated fields, essential to the daily lives of the whole populus. My day is varied, interesting, and frequently quite fun. I think that if more people had the opportunity to fall in love with the built environment, the world would be a far healthier and happier place to live.
My biggest bugbear about the industry/the one thing I would change about the industry: I find that striking a balance between commerciality and sustainability is difficult to achieve as someone who has studied – and now works in – climate science. Unfortunately, there are still too many commercial incentives for businesses to continue as usual while avoiding taking a more sustainable direction. The short timelines we must work with to meet inflexible climate targets are at odds with the slow pace of the property industry. I can also be frequently found grumbling to my colleagues about the amount of ‘greenwashing’ and misinformation which continues to be produced about schemes and technologies which may look sustainable on the surface but stand up to very little scrutiny once you start to peel back the layers.
When I became interested in ESG: Perhaps because of my age, I have been aware of the enormity of the issue of climate change since I was a young child. It’s the same awareness I now have as a young working professional. All that has changed is that my knowledge of the broad nature of ESG has deepened as I gain greater experience through working with – and learning more – about it.
Why I’m so passionate about DE&I: When you work in spaces that are designed for you, it’s easy not to notice when the very same spaces don’t work so well for others. If you’ve always walked into a room and only seen people who look, dress and sound like you, then it is much harder to imagine why the industry can still feel exclusive and alien to some people. Bridging invisible gaps in workplace accessibility and culture only happens when you become aware of where those gaps are. And you will only become aware of the gaps when you employ a more diverse range of staff. Diversity is the first step towards equity and inclusion.
I am a young, openly gay woman in construction and can honestly say I have always had the most amazing support from colleagues since I first entered the profession. In an industry that had so far to come just to catch up, my personal experience has been – and continues to be – incredibly positive. That experience has made me want to be more visible to younger people who can’t always see others like them in the property industry at the moment. Role models are so important for the next generation. I was lucky enough not to care about invariably being the only girl attending after-school science clubs or taking part in other activities otherwise dominated by boys. This is not true for all women, and showing young children of both sexes that there is room for women in property and is a huge part of addressing the gender bias in the industry.
I was equally sure of myself coming out as bisexual aged 16, to which I credit my wonderfully supportive peer group at the time in lieu of visible gay female role models in STEM at the time. Outreach is therefore an extremely important part of DE&I to me and has been something that I have actively participated in – initially at Portsmouth and Edinburgh Universities and now at TFT.
My main career goals right now: My main career goal is to make a measurable, tangible, difference in the transformation of the property industry to net zero carbon. It’s a deliberately broad goal as it’s impossible to say now what making a difference is going to look like in some years’ time. It will keep on changing as the industry evolves. However, the varied nature of what that will mean for my career path is intrinsically enticing as I really come into my element when I have enough – even more than enough – to keep me busy! I love the work which is currently being done within TFT and I find that my personal values align strongly with the company’s own corporate and social good values. I am also interested in policymaking, the role of NGOs and the future of climate activism within the industry.
Who I’d invite, living or dead, to a dinner party: Without a doubt it would have to be Tallulah Bankhead. If you don’t know who she was, try Googling her and let her quotes speak for themselves. Tallulah was an American actress and famous figure from the 1920s through to her death in the 1960s. For her generation, she was an utter revolutionary. For women born to later generations, she would be recognised as being a talented, witty icon of stage and screen. She suffered the simple but tragic misfortune of being born into the ‘wrong’ era and her mental health suffered horribly as a result. She eventually earned herself the number one spot on a list of 150 performers deemed ‘unsuitable’ for the public during the 1920s – a sign, at least in my books, that she must have been doing something right! She is now remembered as a pioneering feminist and is one of my all-time favourite historical figures. Without a doubt, she would make for an unforgettable dinner party guest.
What I do in my downtime: I am a very active person and make sure that I keep on the move as much as I can. I can normally be found in the great outdoors swimming, walking, or cycling. I also play a variety of racquet sports (very badly) and enjoy camping. I’m also a bit of a collector of hobbies so keep my interests varied, from music and my love for animals to playing sports, cooking, tackling DIY and travelling.
The job I’d be doing if I was not doing this: If I could choose again, I’d still go for this career path in a heartbeat. If that wasn’t an option, I would probably make a go of being a full-time athlete.
My advice for someone just starting out: I take it you’re familiar with the phrase ‘health is wealth’? This applies as much to mental as physical health. So much advice for young professionals is centred around throwing yourself wholeheartedly into activities, reaching out, networking, and working assiduously to build a unique personal brand. This is incredibly good advice and is what I follow. Nonetheless, it is important to remember that you can’t do any of this effectively if you’re burnt out and ignore your mental and emotional needs. Getting the basics right in your personal life is key: talk to friends, see a therapist, and make time for yourself. You’ll then have the headspace, clarity, and energy to push yourself as hard as you want, within your limits, in the workplace.
My motto/mantra: Be scared: but do it anyway. Dealing with imposter syndrome is a rubbish part of every stage of most people’s careers and I love to remind myself (with kindness) that fear is a useful – even a motivating – feeling because it usually means that you’re ultimately onto something good.
