The Built Environment Sustainability Training (BEST) programme was officially launched at the Senedd, Cardiff Bay on Wednesday 1st May 2013 to an enthusiastic audience. Jeff Cuthbert AM Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology launched the BEST programme, commenting “Equipping our workforce with the skills to support ‘green' job opportunities is vital to make industry more competitive and help Wales to meet its ambitions to become a truly sustainable nation.  I welcome the focus on 'sustainability' and the priority to take a long-term view of the major skills required by an ever-changing industry. This is particularly relevant given the rate of technological change and the evolution of building practices and the need to keep pace and innovate and create a sustainable built environment.”  The BEST programme is supported by the European Social Fund, through Welsh Government.

Additional speakers at the event included Professor Phil Jones of Cardiff University who provided an uplifting speech on sustainability in the built environment, stating that the School of Architecture was pleased to be leading the BEST programme along with sponsors Asset Skills, Construction Excellence in Wales, CITB, the Energy Saving Trust, Proskills and Summit Skills. John Edwards of CADW provided a brief overview of retrofitting traditional housing in Wales and emphasised the lack of skills of the existing workforce on existing building techniques. Dr Julie Gwilliam, BEST Programme Director, provided an overview and how the project aims to provide additional training to the Welsh built environment workforce.

The event then broke off into three discussion groups including procurement, equality and diversity and Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship (ESDGC) to receive views of the attendees at the event.