Building a Better Future with Five Rise
From Commercial Roots to a Greener Path
When my dad set up Five Rise back in 2012, we were focused on commercial work. We took on everything from refurbishments to roofing, growing steadily each year. It was a good business, but something was missing for me. The turning point came when I met an architect called Richard Dawson around five years ago. He was approaching domestic projects with sustainability in mind, suggesting solar panels, air source heat pumps, and recycled materials.
That struck a chord with me. In commercial building, jobs are often won on price alone, and sustainable choices rarely come out cheapest. Yet here was a chance to build in a way that gave something back. I decided then that Five Rise would make a clear distinction between business as usual and projects that had environmental purpose.
Taking Sustainability Seriously
At first, it was small steps. We committed to recycling waste properly and using materials that would not end up in landfill. But it quickly grew. Today, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. We have put the systems in place for ISO standards, joined the Passive House Trust and the Association for Environmentally Conscious Buildings, and we are on our way to B Corp certification.
For me, this is not a badge to stick on the website. Becoming a B Corp means we can prove that the way we operate holds up to scrutiny. We want our culture, our supply chain, and our impact to all reflect our values. It is not easy, and it has forced us to change the way we recruit and run our teams, but it is worth it.
Why It Matters
I have a seventeen-year-old daughter who often asks what I am doing to help the planet. That is a tough question when you work in construction, because the industry has created a huge amount of carbon. I did not want to be the person who shrugged and said, “that’s just the way it is.”
So yes, part of my motivation is personal. I want to look my daughter in the eye and say that we are building homes that are healthier, more efficient, and kinder to the environment. But there is also a practical side. Energy prices have soared in recent years, and tenants and homeowners alike are looking for homes that cost less to run. A property built or retrofitted to a higher environmental standard can command higher rents, achieve better valuations, and often unlock better finance deals too.
The Reality of Sustainable Building
It would be easy for me to gloss over the challenges, but honesty is important. Building sustainably does cost more money upfront. Materials such as wood fibre insulation are more expensive than oil-based products. Skilled labour is in short supply. And the government funding that exists is mainly focused on social housing, not private landlords.
Yet the long-term picture tells a different story. A home that is insulated properly, fitted with the right systems, and designed with energy efficiency in mind will cost less to heat and cool. Over time, that saves tenants money and adds value for landlords. Some lenders are even rewarding borrowers who improve the energy rating of their properties with lower interest rates.
Advice for Landlords and Developers
If you are considering making your portfolio more sustainable, my first piece of advice is simple.
Do not guess. Bring in a Retrofit Coordinator or a Passive House designer to look at your stock. Every building is different, and cutting corners is what leads to damp, mould, and failed insulation schemes.
Start with the low-hanging fruit. Things like better windows, improved ventilation, and solar panels can all make a real difference without requiring a complete strip back. Do not try to do everything at once. Incremental steps, done properly, will add up over time.
And above all…
Work with accredited people who understand how the different elements interact. Sustainability is not about one product. It is about a system that works together.
Projects That Inspire Me
I am proud of the projects we have delivered. In Huddersfield, we transformed a tired bungalow into a deep retrofit to AECB standards. In Bingley, we are building a full Passive House from the ground up. We are also in talks with social housing providers about long-term partnerships to deliver energy-efficient homes for tenants who need them most.
One of the things I am most excited about is a research project we are carrying out with three new eco-builds. Over the next ten years we will monitor their energy use, air quality, and running costs to produce real data on how these homes perform. It is not about keeping secrets. I want to share that knowledge with others in the industry, because I cannot build every sustainable home myself. If more builders adopt these methods, everyone wins.
Culture Comes First
Running a sustainable business is not only about materials and methods. It is also about people. At Five Rise we talk about becoming a “Five Riser.” That means you buy into our values, work as part of a team, and care about doing the right thing. It has not always been easy. Some builders do not like change, and a few have chosen to move on rather than adapt. But the people who stay are fully on board, and that makes us stronger.
I spend time on site talking to the team about why we do what we do. I challenge them when I see things that could be done better, whether that is waste management or attention to detail. We are not perfect, but culture is something we are constantly working on.
Looking Ahead
Over the next few years, my vision is clear. We want to build Passive House social housing at scale. That is why we have set up companies for timber frame and drainage alongside Five Rise, so that we can control quality and carbon data across the whole process.
We also want to continue helping landlords and developers improve their stock. There are thousands of stranded assets out there, buildings sitting empty or underused. Bringing them back into use sustainably is better for the planet and better for investors.
For me, profit has never been the only driver. Of course, we need to be commercially viable. But what excites me is being able to say that we are making a difference. If in five years’ time we have built hundreds of energy-efficient homes that families can afford to live in, that will mean more to me than any profit margin.
Five Rise Contractors
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