Build Sustainable Awards 2016

2016 Sustainable Building Awards Build 33 Company: Straw Works Ltd & The School of Natural Building (SNaB) Name: Eileen Sutherland and Barbara Jones Address: Hollinroyd Farm. Todmorden. OL14 8RJ Phone: 07840603204 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.strawworks.co.uk/ and http://schoolofnaturalbuilding.co.uk/ traw Works is excited to have been chosen to receive these awards from Build magazine and is pleased to have the opportunity to tell readers more about the company and its exciting future plans. The company is led by the Barbara Jones, straw bale building guru and author of ‘Building with Straw Bales’ http://www.strawworks.co.uk/buy-the-book/ and Eileen Sutherland who works with Barbara on the strategic direction and infrastructure of Straw Works. The company provides architectural design and planning services and consultancy on straw bale projects and building regulations and through Barbara has created more than 300 beautiful and durable residential and commercial buildings using straw bales and natural materials in the UK and Europe. The buildings range from tiny garden buildings to the UK’s largest straw bale building to date. The firm operates in two distinct markets, supporting both self-builders who want to learn the technique in order to build their own homes and individuals who want to train to be natural builders. In order to further facilitate the training of natural builders Straw Works established a dedicated facility ie The School of Natural Building (SNaB) in October 2014 SNaB is a not for profit Bencom, a Society for the Benefit of the Community and is the first school of its kind in the UK. Currently there are 43 students working through the practical & theoretical training modules at their own pace http://www.strawworks.co.uk/all-our-courses/ SNaB operates an accreditation of prior learning (APEL) system so that applicants can get credit and therefore exemptions for relevant, previous work experience. Every student has their own individual learning contract. This makes SNaB flexible enough for students to learn while still making a living and/or continuing with synergistic studies ie architecture/design etc. The SNaB modules are accredited by Barbara who has worked in the field for 30 years as there is currently no national framework for training of natural builders. In order to develop a framework, the accreditation bodies need a guaranteed market of 200 applicants per year. This is a tall order as the market sector is small and a considerable amount of awareness raising has still to be done to generate a critical mass. Straw Works and SNaB take every opportunity to speak, demonstrate and promote natural building. SNaB was recently asked to be a partner in a European project called, ‘Up Straw’ which focuses on increasing the number of public buildings built with straw bales in North West Europe. The other partners are: France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. As part of this project SNaB will build a visitors centre for Hastings Borough Council and will have the opportunity to develop materials for primary and secondary school pupils which will enable them to learn about building with natural materials. The School hopes to extend this work into undergraduate programmes particularly for students of architecture, engineering and building services. Ultimately, both Founders define the firm’s mission as; “to create an environment where the use of natural materials is accepted as common place in the construction industry. And where ordinary people have the opportunity to choose to build and participate in building affordable, beautiful, sustainable homes and buildings made from these materials.” This is achieved by implemented the firm’s core values; empowerment, sustainability, passion and fun. The utilisation of these and the achievement of the firm’s mission will be its ultimate focus going forward. Straw Works Ltd & The School of Natural Building (SNaB) Natural Building Materials Firm of the Year - West Yorkshire & Award for Excellence in Renewable Building Training Courses Straw Works is a straw bale building specialist which has, over the last few years, also moved into training, creating The School of Natural Building (SNaB) to train the Natural Builders of the future. We profile the firm and explore the dedication and commitment of its owners. S