The Graduate Perspective Series

My first month at LifeProven has felt both excitingly different and reassuringly familiar.

Following the completion of my joint honour’s degree in Economics and Geography from the University of Leeds and a previous internship at LifeProven under my belt, I returned with a foundation in sustainability and the comfort of already knowing the team. This provided a great starting point to build on my existing knowledge while gaining a deeper understanding of how sustainability is applied in practice. Stepping into a full-time role has meant taking on an active, hands-on approach in projects, accelerating my learning and exposing me to new aspects of sustainability in the built environment that I had not previously explored in depth.

One exciting project I'm currently supporting involves reviewing the sustainability performance of a portfolio of buildings. This has required me to analyse and review each building’s 2025 performance data, comparing it with their 2026 results and using the findings to recommend initiatives that could improve their sustainability performance in 2027.

As I worked through the scoring criteria across the three pillars of ESG (environmental, social and governance), I was struck by the fact that they are not mutually exclusive. While ESG provides an important framework for assessing different aspects of sustainability, I noticed similar considerations appearing across them. It became clear that sustainability improvements rarely fit neatly into just one pillar, as a single initiative can deliver environmental benefits, improve occupant wellbeing and strengthen building management.

For me, a good example of this is a ventilation upgrade, as installing a more energy-efficient system can reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions delivering environmental benefits while at the same time, better indoor air quality can improve occupant comfort and wellbeing, contributing to the social pillar. In addition, introducing air quality monitoring, performance targets and regular reporting can then help track these improvements and strengthen accountability, bringing in the governance element. This has shown me the need to explore beyond individual categories and always consider the wider impact of each decision.

Another lesson has been the importance of measuring progress, not just setting targets. Before working on this project, I hadn't fully appreciated the importance of looking back to inform future decisions. Setting ambitious targets is one thing, but measuring whether previous initiatives have delivered the intended results is equally important. Reviewing historical assessments has shown me how accurate data and consistent reporting help identify what is working, where gaps remain and where future investment could have the greatest impact. This has helped me begin to see sustainability strategies less as a fixed set of targets and more as an ongoing process of evaluating performance, learning from the results and identifying the next opportunities for improvement, in essence the centrality of continuous improvement in practice.

What has really helped bring all this hands-on learning together is the opportunity to explore sustainability at both the macro and micro scales. Alongside my project work, I've been completing a UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) course on carbon reduction in the built environment, which has broadened my understanding of the sector's environmental impact and the challenges of reaching net zero. While the course provides an industry-wide perspective, my work at LifeProven demonstrates how these wider ambitions translate into practical decisions, from the materials specified to the flow rate of a tap. Simultaneously using both these lenses, has enabled me to connect the finer details of individual buildings with the bigger strategic picture and understand how seemingly small improvements can collectively contribute to wider sustainability goals.

Alongside the technical learning, I have been finding my feet in my first full-time professional role since graduating. Balancing different projects and deadlines has encouraged me to become more organised, adaptable and confident in approaching unfamiliar tasks, while working closely with colleagues has helped strengthen my communication and teamwork skills. What has made this transition particularly enjoyable is the supportive and welcoming culture at LifeProven. From involving me in a diverse range of projects to encouraging me to ask questions and take on new challenges, the team has created an environment where I feel comfortable learning and developing my skills.

Beyond the work itself, it's also been lovely to reconnect with everyone. Whether through conversations in the office, after-work socials or even a Halloween-themed team lunch, these moments have made my first month more enjoyable. Having such a supportive team around me has made the transition from university to full-time work feel much easier.

I'm excited to continue learning, building my confidence and taking on new opportunities and challenges at LifeProven!

Talia Harshak
Graduate Project Lead

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