A new look as it is more important than ever to talk about net zero

News & views03.10.238:30 AM by Andy Cameron-Smith

Our portal looks a little bit different. Just over two and a half years since we launched, we have decided this is the right time to refresh our brand to reflect how we have grown the portfolio in that time and to match our future ambitions for Unlock Net Zero.

The new Unlock Net Zero logo

Against the backdrop of recent policy announcements, we feel that it is more important than ever to talk about net zero and talk about net zero in an open and honest way. We have always said this portal is about the practical reality of the transition and that means reflecting on the scale of the challenge as well as highlighting the opportunities the transition presents.

I promise the timing is coincidental (we have been planning this for a while). Whilst the look and the presentation of our material is new, one thing that has not changed is our intention.

We continue to stay true to our values of educating, informing, and connecting our audience on the practical reality of the net zero transition for the UK housing and built environment sectors and the supply chain that supports them. This means we continue to build out the content on this knowledge portal with the latest thinking and examples of decarbonisation activity together with the further development of our events programme to encourage debate and discussion on the opportunities and challenges facing the sector as it navigates the transition.

So, what is new?

You can see that we have updated our brand identity. Our new logo is based around an “opened” zero icon, which represents the unlocking of the zero in net zero. We continue to use the full name in our logo because we feel the strength is in the verb “unlock”. It signifies unlocking the potential the transition presents.

We will use the new zero icon across our social media channels and look for it to become the key visual identification for Unlock Net Zero moving forward. As part of this exercise, we will also be increasing our social media presence with a new Instagram account to help us share information on the practical reality of the transition across as many mediums as we can.

We have also developed a suite of sub brands to support activities across our portfolio. These all use the same core zero icon with a new colour palette to identify the different strands of activity:

Unlock Net Zero Live, our dedicated two-day conference and exhibition held in conjunction with Homes UK
Unlock Net Zero Awards, our recognition and championing of the progress on the journey to decarbonisation across the UK housing sector
Unlock Net Zero Webinars, our monthly webinar programme exploring topics relevant to decarbonisation activity across the housing and built environment sector

Here on the portal, as well as colour and layout, you will also note that we have taken the opportunity to restructure our content.

Our first section will now be known as Insight and Comment, where we will cover thought leadership and viewpoints on decarbonisation topics from operators within and outside of the sector. Our second main section will be Projects and Innovation. Here we will put the focus on practical examples of decarbonisation, innovation, and new thinking in action. Our resources section will continue to provide access to the latest reports, white papers and strategies engaged in decarbonising the UK energy system and economy and the events diary will continue to profile the events Unlock Net Zero and Ocean Media are running together with events of relevant interest to the decarbonisation journey.

Another change is that you will now see visual representation of our core messaging across all our material. These messages are:

we need action (the time for talking is over)
we need urgency (we can’t afford to wait for a single “right answer”)
we need to learn from doing (this is what our portfolio is all about, sharing learnings on what practically does and does not work)
we need solutions at scale (this is almost not a technical question but a logistical one on how we deliver in volume).

Continuing the theme of it is more important than ever to talk about net zero a final call out for nominations for our 2023 Climate Champions Power List. This annual publication celebrates the actions of individuals to promote sustainability and climate action across the housing and built environment sectors.

It is not based on job titles and hierarchy; it is based solely on individual contribution. Therefore, we need your help to identify who these individuals are. Completely free to enter, all we need is 250 words to tell us why they should be on the list.

Need some more convincing? 2022 Power List member, Jon Daley, head of sustainability at G2M Group said of his recognition:

“Both a career highlight and huge honour for me was winning a place on the Unlock Net Zero 2022 Climate Champions’ Power List. It was an incredible feeling to receive recognition by the panel of sector experts in winning such a coveted prize for my passion to deliver and maintain sustainable homes, neighbourhoods, and lives.

“Whilst it gave me an opportunity to celebrate the success I’ve had in my career, it also gave me the chance to network with fellow winners, learn more about different parts of the sector for my own best practice and most importantly, use the platform as a force for good towards a sustainable future for us all. I’d urge anyone who is passionate about sustainability to either enter on behalf of themselves or to nominate someone to carry on this celebration in bringing change to our sector, country, and world.”

So, if that inspires you, here is the link to nominate a colleague, a contact, a supplier, a peer or even yourself. This year we are also highlighting the efforts of a rising star and a lifetime contribution, so if you know of people that fit that title, nominate them today. Nominations will close at midnight on Thursday 12th October.

A big week for us. We hope you like the new look and feel. We are constantly evolving the portfolio as the transition evolves, so let us know your thoughts.