How niche is communications for the 'built environment'?

As the many people who work in the communications departments of architecture practices, construction and developers know, the 'built environment' is often seen as a niche pursuit in the eyes of the wider communications world. At ING, we have been working hard to change this perception and it has been such a nice start to the week to see ING Media and the 'built environment' featured in PRWeek's UK Top 150. My comments from the feature are below.

'The built environment was once described to me as a niche sector, which amused me as our work covers the buildings that we live and work in, as well as the infrastructure that connects us. Think property development, architecture, cities, engineering, construction, infrastructure, placemaking and interior design. A very broad - and important - niche.

ING had been growing at an extraordinary rate as the relatively conservative nature of the industry really started to appreciate the power of communications. 2019 was slightly more subdued as the sector, funded by UK and international investment, waited for more certainty on Brexit.

To attract more talent, we launched the ING Academy, a three-day residential programme where our expert team teach the specifics and nuances of our sector to communications professionals.

The impact of COVID-19 is undeniable, but we take some comfort that our sector is built on long-term visions that take months, years and decades to complete. We anticipate that recovery will be measured in years rather than financial reporting periods. We are happy to be patient.' #builtenvironment #communications #infrastructure #prweek