COP26: Spotlight on Glasgow

You probably know by now that the United Nations climate change conference COP26 is currently underway in Glasgow, Scotland - but did you know that Jacobs has a long-standing relationship with Scotland’s largest city?

We have a 127-year heritage in Glasgow, and throughout Scotland, we’re delivering complex, sustainable projects and programs focusing on critical issues. We’ve become one of the largest companies in Scotland working on projects in a whole range of disciplines and areas from the Glasgow office, including transport, infrastructure, environment, defense and nuclear. Our Glasgow office is also home to staff working across both our People & Places Solutions and Critical Missions Solutions businesses, as well as corporate functions.

We’ve developed a world-class team in Glasgow, with our 1,000-strong talent pool working on a broad range of projects in Scotland, the wider U.K. and across our global operations. Our people build expertise and best practice in the city by working on international projects and transferring this capability to our wider skills base. This helps sustain Scottish talent and ensures our clients benefit from diverse and agile experience.

And it’s not just on projects that #OurJacobs teammates in Glasgow are making a difference.

Since our global giving and volunteering program Collectively launched in June 2020, the Glasgow team has contributed donations to a total of 128 different charities, including Social Bite, a local charity venture run by and on behalf of the homeless, that both the Glasgow and Edinburgh offices have supported over several years.

In September 2021, 18 Jacobs’ staff took part in Social Bite’s inaugural Break the Cycle 100km cycle between the Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow and Cramond in Edinburgh. As one of the top three corporate fundraisers, Jacobs contributed a total of £14,400 raised through the Jacobs Collectively Program. The funds will contribute to the development of two Social Bite Villages in Glasgow and London, each making use of vacant land to provide prefabricated homes and a community hub for up to 20 people affected by homelessness.

Meet our Glasgow team

Some of our Glasgow teammates have shared what COP26 means to them. Read on to find out.

Ronier Deumeni - Electrical and Instrumentation Control Automation Engineer

COP26 for me is an opportunity for leaders to take a strong measure and review their national emissions, assess the effects of any actions taken, and monitor progress towards the overall aim, to reduce carbon emissions and improve the environment.

Peter Hall - Strategic Pursuit Lead

COP26 to me is a chance to find solutions to problems in our society that are becoming more and more prevalent. We are all socially aware of the impacts on our climate and want to affect change. Personally, I think it’s a great opportunity to spotlight Glasgow as a city and use its role as host to drive sustainable initiatives in the city.

Jo Jeffreys - Sustainability Engagement Manager

To me, COP26 is all about making the climate crisis mainstream to the public, upskilling people and sparking real positive change through tangible actions; not just high-level brushstroke “commitments”.

Rachel Goodacre - Head of Product Marketing

COP26 is our chance to ignite change to fix things for the generations to follow. What could be more important than that?

Sarah Shanahan - Operations Lead

As COP26 shines a light on Glasgow, it provides a brilliant opportunity to enthuse and inspire our young people. Schools across the globe are joining the climate conversation and through Jacobs Butterfly Effect, the next generation will build a better future.

Clare Eagle - Transformation Director

COP26 is so important because only through global collaboration and agreements, do we stand any real chance of making an impact to the effects of global warming and our ability to achieve net zero. In Energy, Security & Technology, we are helping our industries, clients and communities transform commitments into actions that support a net zero future.