Built to Perform

Built to Perform

Built To Perform is a podcast dedicated to uncovering what it really takes to drive change, innovate, and perform in industries that shape our world.Hosted by James Hallworth, each episode features in-depth conversations with founders, innovators, and leaders who are breaking barriers in business, technology, and sustainability. From the challenges of decarbonizing real estate to the mindset shifts required for true innovation, Built To Perform explores stories, strategies, and lessons from those building solutions that matter.Whether you’re an entrepreneur, industry professional, or simply curious about the future of performance and impact, this podcast gives you the insights and inspiration to think bigger and build to perform.

  1. Nov 4 ·  Video

    Timber, EPCs and Measuring the Real Impact of Buildings | Built to Perform Joe Jack Williams

    Joe Jack Williams, Head of Regenerative Strategy at Bywater, joins James Hallworth to talk about what it takes for a developer to make buildings actively better, not just less harmful. A former mechanical engineer who spent 15 years as a researcher at Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, Joe explains why Bywater builds in timber, why moisture is a bigger risk with timber than fire, and where good intentions get diluted once a project moves into design and build. He also makes the case for measuring real energy use instead of relying on EPCs, and for an industry that shares more of what it learns. A practical conversation for developers, designers and anyone trying to close the gap between predicted and actual performance.  KEY MOMENTS 01:46 What regenerative strategy means in practice, and why aiming to make things better rather than less bad makes allies easier to find 06:43 Why Bywater is working to unlock timber construction in England, where very few buildings are built in timber 25:13 The biggest misunderstanding about timber: the real risk is moisture, not fire 27:08 Where ambition is most vulnerable to dilution, from the run-up to planning through to design and build contracts 41:06 Why EPCs measure improvement over a notional building rather than actual energy use, and the case for energy use intensity  Follow Joe Jack Williams and Bywater: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-jack-williams-99363958/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/bywatergroup/ Follow James Hallworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-hallworth-35406834/ Workman: https://www.linkedin.com/company/workman-llp/ Built to Perform is sponsored by Workman LLP. https://workman.co.uk  Produced by Vertical Drop: https://www.vertical-drop.com/

    Timber, EPCs and Measuring the Real Impact of Buildings | Built to Perform Joe Jack Williams

  2. Oct 21 ·  Video

    Fire Doors, Gateway Delays and What Building Safety Looks Like in Practice | Built to Perform Amy Farr

    Amy Farr, Head of Building Safety and Construction Compliance at Workman, joins James Hallworth to talk through what the Building Safety Act means in practice. She describes how resident alterations can breach fire compartmentation, why a building assessment certificate says more about management arrangements than about the building itself, and why simple repairs such as fire door self-closers can wait nine to 12 months for gateway approval in high-risk buildings. The conversation also covers leaseholder remediation bills and the possible move from 18 to 11 metres. A practical listen for asset owners, project teams and anyone responsible for an occupied residential building.  KEY MOMENTS  06:44 How tenant alterations, from open-plan conversions to TV brackets, can breach a flat's fire compartmentation 19:29 What a building safety case is, and what a building assessment certificate does and does not show 23:10 The gateway process: an eight-week review in theory, 44 to 60 weeks in practice 44:28 Why defective fire door self-closers matter, and the wait to fix them in high-risk buildings 52:59 Mortgage prisons and leaseholder bills: who pays for major remediation works  GUEST  Amy Farr, Head of Building Safety and Construction Compliance, Workman https://www.linkedin.com/in/commercialconstruction https://www.linkedin.com/company/workman-llp  HOST  James Hallworth https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-hallworth-35406834/ Workman https://www.linkedin.com/company/workman-llp Built To Perform is sponsored by Workman LLP https://workman.co.uk  Produced by Vertical Drop https://www.vertical-drop.com/.  Follow James Hallworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-hallworth-35406834/ Workman: https://www.linkedin.com/company/workman-llp/ Built to Perform is sponsored by Workman LLP. https://workman.co.uk  Produced by Vertical Drop: https://www.vertical-drop.com/

    Fire Doors, Gateway Delays and What Building Safety Looks Like in Practice | Built to Perform Amy Farr

  3. Oct 8 ·  Video

    From Real Estate Journalist to BCO Chief Executive, and Why Honest Storytelling Matters | Built to Perform Sam McClary

    Sam McClary spent around 20 years as a real estate journalist before becoming Chief Executive of the British Council for Offices (BCO). In conversation with James Hallworth, she describes what changed when she moved from reporting on the industry to being part of it: seeing what goes into a headline rent, and finding a community more open about its failures than she expected. The episode covers the lost middle and social mobility, why the sector needs to tell its own story more honestly, leading with vulnerability, the case for real estate's slower pace, and why the operation of a building now matters as much as where it is. FIVE KEY MOMENTS 06:39 What the headline rents don't show: the margins and pressure behind a building 16:28 The lost middle, social mobility, and why the industry needs to share its data and stories 32:10 Why honesty, transparency and vulnerability matter to how Sam leads 36:56 Why real estate's slowness can be a superpower as well as a limit 52:46 Operational performance against location, rent and specification, and why the basics matter GUEST Sam McClary, Chief Executive, British Council for Offices linkedin.com/in/samanthamcclary British Council for Offices linkedin.com/company/british-council-for-offices HOST James Hallworth   / james-hallworth-35406834  Workman https://workman.co.uk/ Produced by Vertical Drop. Follow James Hallworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-hallworth-35406834/ Workman: https://www.linkedin.com/company/workman-llp/ Built to Perform is sponsored by Workman LLP. https://workman.co.uk  Produced by Vertical Drop: https://www.vertical-drop.com/

    From Real Estate Journalist to BCO Chief Executive, and Why Honest Storytelling Matters | Built to Perform Sam McClary

  4. Sep 23 ·  Video

    Why Great Buildings Should Be Invisible - Daniel Pagella | Built to Perform

    James Hallworth is joined by Daniel Pagella, Senior Director of Asset Management at ARC (Advanced Research Clusters), the science and innovation real estate business backed by Brookfield. Daniel explains why ARC talks about partners rather than tenants, how Mother Labs became one of the first commercially run service laboratory models in London, and why the best building performance is the kind occupiers never notice. The conversation also covers the community programming running across ARC’s campuses, and why the UK’s attitude to risk and failure still lags behind the US. KEY MOMENTS  09:00 How Cobalt Light Systems grew out of a single bench in ARC’s Harwell cluster and was later acquired by Agilent Technologies. 20:00 The launch of Mother Labs, one of the first commercially run service laboratory models of its kind in London. 33:00 Why the best building performance is invisible, illustrated by the everyday frustration of mismatched room temperatures. 53:00 The cultural gap between UK and US attitudes to risk, failure and backing innovation.GUEST Daniel Pagella, Senior Director of Asset Management linkedin.com/in/danpagella GUEST COMPANY ARC linkedin.com/company/arcgroup-io HOST James Hallworth linkedin.com/in/james-hallworth-35406834 HOST COMPANY  Workman https://workman.co.uk/ SPONSOR  Season 2 of Built to Perform is sponsored by Workman. Produced by Vertical Drop. Follow James Hallworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-hallworth-35406834/ Workman: https://www.linkedin.com/company/workman-llp/ Built to Perform is sponsored by Workman LLP. https://workman.co.uk  Produced by Vertical Drop: https://www.vertical-drop.com/

    Why Great Buildings Should Be Invisible - Daniel Pagella | Built to Perform

  5. Sep 9

    Fixing the Mid-Level Gender Drop-Off - Vanessa Murray & Ceri Moyers |Built to Perform

    Built to Perform opens Season 2 with Vanessa Murray and Ceri Moyers, co-founders of The Circle Partnership, an advocacy and talent programme for mid-level women in the built environment. James Hallworth talks to them about why the industry loses so much female talent at mid-career, how policy and culture pull in different directions, and what changes when male leaders treat this as their conversation too. Season 2 of Built to Perform is sponsored by Workman. FIVE KEY MOMENTS 02:11 Vanessa Murray sets out the three forces behind the mid-level drop-off: life changes, workplace culture and women's own self-limiting beliefs.14:08 Vanessa Murray compares shifting an industry's culture to turning a tanker, and explains why The Circle Partnership is focused on making a deliberate, if modest, shift.17:13 Ceri Moyers explains how benevolent sexism can remove a woman from an opportunity in a meeting she isn't even in.33:41 Ceri Moyers on why peer networks matter for career progression and for long-term health, citing burnout statistics for women in male-dominated sectors.44:11 Ceri Moyers' advice to mid-career women: define success on your own terms. HOST James Hallworth linkedin.com/in/james-hallworth-35406834 HOST COMPANY Workman: https://workman.co.uk/ SPONSOR Season 2 of Built to Perform is sponsored by Workman. https://workman.co.uk/ PRODUCTION CREDIT Produced by Vertical Drop: https://www.vertical-drop.com/ Follow James Hallworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-hallworth-35406834/ Workman: https://www.linkedin.com/company/workman-llp/ Built to Perform is sponsored by Workman LLP. https://workman.co.uk  Produced by Vertical Drop: https://www.vertical-drop.com/

    Fixing the Mid-Level Gender Drop-Off - Vanessa Murray & Ceri Moyers |Built to Perform

  6. 12/17/2025

    Built to Perform with James Hallworth – Ep.14: Francesca Brady on Air Quality & CRE's 1960s Data

    In this special Season 1 Finale—which is actually the very first episode ever recorded (the pilot!)—host James Hallworth speaks with Francesca Brady (Co-founder, AirRated) about the CRE industry's biggest blind spot: the failure to prioritize Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). Francesca details her journey pioneering AirRated, the bizarre resistance she's faced, and why we still don't treat our offices like high-performance spaces. Key Insights on Health, Performance & Outdated Standards: The 1960s Problem: Our core building standards, like those governing thermal comfort and performance, are still based on data from the 1960s and do not reflect the modern workforce or changing climate.The High-Performance Lie: We treat offices nothing like high-performance spaces, even though facilities like casinos and athletic centres are finely tuned for alertness and performance.The Sensor Trap: Installing sensors without context creates fear. Data without explanation does not educate; it just makes site teams feel they are being "exposed" or doing a bad job.The COVID Setback: Francesca argues that the knee-jerk reactions to COVID-19 ultimately set the IAQ industry back, diluting the original, strong business case centered on economic benefit and duty of care.Clean Air Has No Smell: Scenting office spaces to improve the "experience" introduces unnecessary Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOCs). The key takeaway is simple: clean air has no smell.The Investment Barrier: IAQ is seen as a "gaining" (in productivity and reduced absenteeism) rather than an easily quantifiable "saving," which makes it harder to secure investment in ROI-focused commercial real estate.This episode is a must-listen for anyone who designs, manages, or occupies commercial property, offering raw, practical insights into where the industry is structurally broken and how to fix it. Timestamps 00:00:31: Introduction: From Petroleum Geology to Co-founding AirRated00:01:28: Why Indoor Air Quality was considered a "dark art"00:04:35: The COVID Setback: Why the pandemic didn't help the IAQ industry00:06:15: The Paradox: Making buildings more airtight compromises health00:08:16: Why Offices are Not Treated as "High-Performance Spaces"00:08:57: The Problem with 1960s Building Data00:11:37: The Incentive Barrier: Why Asset Managers resist new initiatives00:12:47: Consulting at the Coalface: Bridging the gap between Landlord and FM00:14:48: The Fear Factor: Why site teams are emotive about new sensor tech00:16:40: Limitations in Existing Stock vs. Operational Management00:17:50: The Business Case: Strengthening GRESB scores to drive adoption00:19:54: The Fear of the Invisible: Why Landlords are afraid to collect air data00:23:02: Why commercial properties are generally "unexceptional" (and that's a good thing)00:23:50: TVOCs Explained: The New Car Smell and Off-gassing00:25:44: Design vs. Health: Why phone booths lack ventilation00:27:56: The Dangers of Scenting Workplace Spaces00:28:47: The Takeaway: Clean Air Has No Smell00:29:29: The Tech Focus: IAQ + Workplace Utilization Monitoring00:31:40: Hotspotting: Switching desks to solve a ventilation problem00:33:14: The Health Equation: Why air is missing from the wellness conversation00:37:15: The Reality of Getting Venture Capital00:40:38: Evolution or Revolution? Why CRE needs the latter00:42:08: Final ThoughtsFollow James Hallworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-hallworth-35406834/ Workman: https://www.linkedin.com/company/workman-llp/ Built to Perform is sponsored by Workman LLP. https://workman.co.uk  Produced by Vertical Drop: https://www.vertical-drop.com/

    Built to Perform with James Hallworth – Ep.14: Francesca Brady on Air Quality & CRE's 1960s Data

  7. 12/10/2025

    Built to Perform with James Hallworth – Ep.13: Stefan Schmidt on Energy Data & Long Tail

    In this episode of the Built to Perform Podcast, host James Hallworth speaks with Stefan Schmidt, Co-founder of MeterZ, about removing the barriers to decarbonization in commercial real estate. Stefan shares his unique journey from Big Tech to sustainability engineering, revealing why the global focus on electrifying cars misses the biggest environmental problem: the long tail of inefficient buildings. Timestamps: 00:00:20: Introduction: From Microsoft Marketing to Energy Engineering 00:02:38: The Millennial Epiphany: Why working in Big Tech wasn't a "positive contribution" 00:04:21: The Slow Pace of CRE: Why the industry ranks lowest in digitization (above hunting) 00:05:57: Walking the Beat: Manual Meter Reading at Oxford University Labs 00:07:43: Barriers to Change: The Scientist who resisted optimization to protect mind-controlled flies 00:08:00: WiredScore & Smart Score: Giving the industry a North Star certification framework 00:10:09: The Long Tail Problem: Why PropTech is for the few, not the many 00:12:44: Energy Data & GDPR: The complex truth about the Landlord-Tenant data standoff 00:21:34: Investor Fear & Data Privacy: Why companies resist sharing data (and the $70 billion problem) 00:27:00: The Manual Trap: The absurdity of people spending 5-8 days a month doing meter readings 00:33:05: The Renewables Myth: Why optimizing efficiency must come before installing solar panels 00:36:52: The Staggering Stat: Mobility vs. Buildings (The largest climate impact) 00:43:08: Evolution or Revolution? Why the industry needs to evolve, not upend everything 00:44:50: The Solution: Creating scalable, cost-effective solutions for regional offices and industrial parks Follow James Hallworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-hallworth-35406834/ Workman: https://www.linkedin.com/company/workman-llp/ Built to Perform is sponsored by Workman LLP. https://workman.co.uk  Produced by Vertical Drop: https://www.vertical-drop.com/

    Built to Perform with James Hallworth – Ep.13: Stefan Schmidt on Energy Data & Long Tail

  8. 12/03/2025

    Built to Perform with James Hallworth – Ep.12: Rob Insley on Retail & Partnerships

    In this candid and powerful episode of the Built to Perform Podcast, host James Hallworth speaks with Rob Insley (Head of Operations, Bloobloom) to address the core struggles and friction that exist in the Landlord-Tenant relationship and the culture of retail. Rob shares his journey from 30 years in corporate retail (Vision Express) to working with a high-performing startup, revealing why the old corporate KPIs and legacy decisions are no longer relevant. Key Insights for CRE & Retail: The Side Hustle Lie: Rob delivers a controversial truth, calling the belief in side hustles and passive income "one of the biggest lies we're feeding to the younger generation". He stresses that true success is built on sheer hard work and dedication.Fixing the Friction: Rob argues that the adversarial Landlord-Tenant dynamic has to end. The solution is for every landlord to initiate direct, human contact with the business founders to develop a relationship and mutual trust.The Data Gap: Retailers desperately need tailored data (like zonal footfall and customer demographics) to succeed, but landlords often provide only meaningless, arbitrary financial numbers.The Partnership Model: Rob believes that a bad landlord is detrimental to a retailer's success. Conversely, the most successful estates treat every retailer as part of a "family of businesses".This episode is essential for anyone who wants to move beyond the transactional mindset and learn how to foster high-performing, human-centric partnerships in commercial property. Timestamps:  00:00:32: Introduction & Rob Insley’s Career Journey 00:04:48: The Corporate Wall: Moving from Vision Express to the Bloobloom Startup Mentality 00:10:07: The Adversarial Relationship: Landlords, Tenants, and the Feudal Hangover 00:19:15: The Brand Test: The Difference a Landlord’s Due Diligence Makes 00:23:13: The Bad Landlord Effect: Why Lack of Support Kills Retail Success 00:29:46: The Data Gap: Why Arbitrary Footfall Numbers Are Useless to Retailers 00:33:57: Change Management: The Importance of the Human Element and Active Listening 00:43:51: The Side Hustle Lie: Why Passive Income is a Myth and Hard Work is the Only Path 00:48:54: The Fix: Why Landlords Need to Have Direct, Human Contact with Tenants 00:51:04: Evolution or Revolution? Why Evolution is Better for the Industry's Story Follow James Hallworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-hallworth-35406834/ Workman: https://www.linkedin.com/company/workman-llp/ Built to Perform is sponsored by Workman LLP. https://workman.co.uk  Produced by Vertical Drop: https://www.vertical-drop.com/

    Built to Perform with James Hallworth – Ep.12: Rob Insley on Retail & Partnerships
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About

Built To Perform is a podcast dedicated to uncovering what it really takes to drive change, innovate, and perform in industries that shape our world.Hosted by James Hallworth, each episode features in-depth conversations with founders, innovators, and leaders who are breaking barriers in business, technology, and sustainability. From the challenges of decarbonizing real estate to the mindset shifts required for true innovation, Built To Perform explores stories, strategies, and lessons from those building solutions that matter.Whether you’re an entrepreneur, industry professional, or simply curious about the future of performance and impact, this podcast gives you the insights and inspiration to think bigger and build to perform.

Information

  • Creator
    Built to Perform
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Built to Perform
  • Show Website
    Built to Perform