SKA Rating

Sustainable Fit-Outs, Higher Performance

SKA Rating is a sustainability certification for commercial fit-outs, helping businesses improve ESG performance, energy efficiency, and environmental impact. Suitable for offices, retail, and higher education, it ensures cost-effective, responsible design and construction.

Welscape provides expert SKA consulting to streamline certification and maximize sustainability benefits.

What is SKA Rating?

SKA Rating, developed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), is a sustainability certification designed for commercial office, retail and higher education fit-outs. Unlike whole-building certifications like BREEAM or LEED, SKA focuses solely on interior refurbishments, helping businesses integrate sustainability without major redevelopment. It’s a practical tool for reducing environmental impact, improving energy efficiency, and creating healthier, more productive workplaces.

Its flexibility makes SKA an accessible and cost-effective certification for both landlords and tenants, providing a clear roadmap for sustainable improvements while delivering measurable environmental and financial benefits.

Benefits of SKA Rating

🏢 Enhanced Market Appeal for Landlords & Developers

A SKA-certified fit-out makes properties more attractive to tenants, demonstrating a commitment to sustainability and workplace well-being. With growing demand for green-certified offices, landlords benefit from higher rental yields, reduced vacancy rates, and stronger long-term asset value.

💼 Cost Savings & Efficiency for Businesses

SKA-certified spaces integrate energy-efficient lighting, improved ventilation, and resource-conscious materials, leading to lower operational costs and reduced carbon emissions. Businesses can cut energy bills, optimize resource use, and create a more efficient, sustainable workspace.

🌱 Stronger ESG & Compliance with Sustainability Regulations

With net-zero targets and ESG reporting requirements tightening, SKA certification helps businesses stay ahead of carbon reduction policies, GRESB reporting, and UK/EU green building standards. This ensures compliance with corporate sustainability frameworks, avoiding financial risks from stranded assets or regulatory fines.

👩‍💼 Healthier Workspaces & Employee Well-being

A sustainable fit-out directly benefits employees by improving air quality, natural lighting, and acoustic comfort, fostering a healthier, more productive work environment. Studies show that well-designed offices reduce absenteeism, boost concentration, and enhance overall job satisfaction—a key factor in talent retention and workplace performance.

♻ Circular Economy & Sustainable Resource Use

SKA encourages responsible material sourcing, waste reduction, and resource efficiency, helping businesses transition to a circular economy model. By prioritizing reuse and recycling, companies reduce embodied carbon and cut down on construction waste, ensuring long-term sustainability.

📈 Future-Proofing & Sustainable Innovation

As sustainability becomes a core expectation in commercial real estate, SKA-certified offices are future-proofed for evolving environmental and tenant demands. Certification showcases a commitment to innovation, corporate responsibility, and long-term workplace sustainability.

How SKA Works: The Certification Process

Achieving SKA certification involves a structured process, ensuring that your office fit-out aligns with sustainability best practices. Welscape provides expert support at every step to make the journey seamless and efficient.

How is SKA Rating Scored?

SKA Rating uses a three-tier scoring system to assess how well a commercial fit-out aligns with sustainable best practices. Each project is evaluated against Good Practice Measures (GPMs) across key environmental and well-being categories, determining whether it meets Bronze, Silver, or Gold certification. The more sustainability measures implemented, the higher the certification level achieved.

A Bronze-rated project meets the minimum sustainability requirements, incorporating a foundational level of Good Practice Measures. This ensures key sustainability elements such as energy efficiency, responsible material sourcing, and waste reduction strategies are in place, setting a solid baseline for future improvements.

Silver certification demonstrates significant progress in environmental performance, integrating advanced sustainability strategies that enhance resource efficiency, carbon reduction, and occupant well-being. Projects at this level typically incorporate more comprehensive water-saving technologies, enhanced air quality measures, and higher standards of circular economy principles.

Gold is the highest SKA rating, awarded to projects that exceed industry best practices and fully embed sustainability, energy efficiency, and occupant well-being into their design and operations. Achieving Gold certification signifies that a fit-out has implemented the most ambitious sustainability measures, maximizing its impact on carbon reduction, workplace health, and long-term operational savings.

Key strategies to consider:

✔ Energy Efficiency & Smart Controls – Implementing LED lighting, automated energy management systems, and efficient HVAC solutions to reduce carbon footprint and operational costs.

✔ Sustainable Materials & Circular Design – Using low-carbon, recycled, and FSC-certified materials, along with modular furniture and demountable partitions for long-term flexibility and minimal waste.

✔ Water Conservation – Installing low-flow fixtures, sensor-activated taps, and leak detection systems to reduce water consumption and improve efficiency.

✔ Indoor Air Quality & Ventilation – Upgrading HVAC filtration, introducing air purification technologies, and incorporating biophilic design to improve occupant health.

✔ Acoustic Comfort & Noise Reduction – Integrating sound-absorbing panels, carpets, and office zoning strategies to enhance focus and workplace productivity.

✔ Waste Reduction & Circular Economy – Developing waste management plans, prioritizing refurbished materials, and implementing supplier take-back schemes to support sustainable fit-outs.

✔ Sustainable Transport & Commuting – Providing cycle storage, electric vehicle (EV) charging points, and improved access to public transport to reduce carbon emissions.

✔ Well-Being & Biophilic Design – Adding green walls, natural materials, and access to outdoor spaces to create a healthier, more engaging work environment.

Step 1: Feasibility Assessment & Scoping

Before committing to SKA certification, we conduct a feasibility assessment to determine how achievable and beneficial certification will be for your fit-out. Our SKA assessors review the project scope, sustainability goals, budget, and existing building performance, identifying key areas where improvements can be made.

This step also involves defining which Good Practice Measures (GPMs) apply to the project. A custom SKA scorecard is then created, tailored to your fit-out’s requirements, providing a clear roadmap for certification and setting expectations for sustainability performance.

Step 2: Design Stage Guidance & Tracking

During the design phase, we collaborate with architects, designers, and contractors to seamlessly integrate SKA-aligned sustainability principles into the fit-out. This involves implementing energy-efficient lighting, responsibly sourced materials, waste reduction strategies, and water-saving solutions to enhance environmental performance.

To ensure compliance, regular progress meetings are held between the SKA Assessor and project team, where sustainability measures are reviewed and tracked. After each meeting or major project update, a detailed tracking document is issued to monitor evidence collection and ensure alignment with SKA certification requirements.

Step 3: Handover Assessment & Evidence Collection

Throughout the construction phase, our assessors track progress to ensure that specified sustainability measures are implemented correctly. We collect supporting documentation, supplier certifications, and on-site verification photos to demonstrate compliance with SKA criteria.

Once the fit-out is complete, we conduct a handover assessment, where all sustainability efforts are reviewed to confirm they meet SKA’s certification standards.

Step 4: SKA Certification Issuance

Following the handover assessment, we submit the final project report for certification. Once validated, the official SKA certificate is issued, awarding the fit-out with a Bronze, Silver, or Gold rating depending on the sustainability measures achieved.

From this moment, the project is formally certified, allowing businesses to promote their commitment to sustainability in ESG reports, stakeholder communications, and marketing materials.

Contact us.

hello@welscape.co.uk
+447542341750

George Michael Kakas
Director @Welscape

SKA Rating FAQs

  • SKA Rating is a sustainability certification developed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) to assess the environmental performance of fit-out projects in commercial properties. It evaluates refurbishments based on Good Practice Measures (GPMs) covering energy use, material selection, waste management, and occupant wellbeing. Unlike whole-building certifications, SKA focuses specifically on interior fit-outs, making it ideal for landlords, tenants, and developers looking to enhance sustainability without major structural changes.

    🔎 For a full breakdown of SKA Rating, visit Welscape’s SKA Rating page.

  • The fit-out sector represents a significant portion of commercial real estate investment, yet it has historically lacked clear sustainability benchmarks. SKA Rating provides a structured framework to assess and improve fit-outs, ensuring they meet sustainability goals while improving energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality. With many businesses choosing to refurbish rather than relocate, SKA helps extend real estate life expectancy while reducing environmental impact.

    📢 Learn more about SKA’s impact on fit-outs at Welscape.

  • Both SKA and BREEAM assess sustainability, but they apply to different aspects of a building:

    • BREEAM evaluates whole buildings, from design and construction to operation and long-term performance.

    • SKA Rating focuses solely on fit-outs, assessing sustainability improvements within interior spaces.

    This makes SKA a more flexible, cost-effective choice for tenants and landlords looking to align with environmental standards without the complexity of a full-building assessment.

    📌 For a detailed comparison, visit Welscape’s insights.

  • SKA Rating follows a tiered ranking system, reflecting how well a fit-out meets sustainability best practices:

    • 🥉 Bronze – Meets minimum sustainability standards, implementing foundational energy-efficient measures and waste reduction strategies.

    • 🥈 Silver – Incorporates enhanced energy efficiency, air quality improvements, and sustainable material selection for greater environmental impact.

    • 🥇 Gold – The highest level, awarded to fit-outs that demonstrate exceptional sustainability and occupant wellbeing strategies.

    🏆 Find out how to achieve the best SKA Rating for your project at Welscape.

  • In the UK, BREEAM is the closest equivalent to LEED, as it assesses sustainability at the whole-building level. However, for fit-outs, SKA Rating serves as an alternative to LEED Commercial Interiors certification, focusing on energy efficiency, material sustainability, and occupant wellbeing in refurbished spaces.

    🏢 For tailored SKA certification guidance, contact Welscape.

  • The timeline depends on project scope and assessment type:

    • Design-stage assessments take 4–8 weeks, depending on availability of design stage information and is often a continuous process until a final tender package is confirmed.

    • Final certification is issued after construction and evidence submission - around 1 month after practical completion is reached.

    • Projects that integrate sustainability strategies early tend to achieve faster certification.

    📅 Get started with SKA certification at Welscape.

  • SKA aligns with corporate ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategies by ensuring that fit-outs are energy-efficient, resource-conscious, and improve indoor environmental quality. It also supports EU Taxonomy for sustainable finance, making it easier for businesses to attract investors, improve ESG reporting, and future-proof assets.

    📊 Enhance your ESG strategy with SKA at Welscape.

  • Yes, SKA-certified projects align with GRESB (Global ESG Benchmark for Real Estate), providing quantifiable data on energy savings, material sustainability, and indoor environmental quality. It helps organizations meet corporate reporting and compliance requirements while demonstrating commitment to sustainable fit-outs.

    📢 See how SKA supports reporting at Welscape.

  • Good Practice Measures (GPMs) are specific sustainability criteria used to evaluate fit-outs, covering:

    • Energy efficiency (LED lighting, smart meters, HVAC upgrades).

    • Water conservation (low-flow fixtures, leak detection).

    • Sustainable materials (recycled, low-impact sourcing).

    • Waste management (recycling, landfill diversion strategies).

    • Occupant wellbeing (air quality, biophilic design, lighting optimization).

    📋 Find out how GPMs affect your project at Welscape.

  • Yes! Many projects use SKA alongside BREEAM, Fitwel, or LEED to achieve comprehensive sustainability and wellbeing outcomes.

    • SKA focuses on fit-out sustainability.

    • Fitwel enhances occupant wellbeing.

    • BREEAM/LEED cover whole-building performance.

    🏢 Maximize your certification strategy with Welscape.

  • SKA offers flexibility by providing Bronze, Silver, and Gold rankings. If a project falls short initially, an SKA Assessor can recommend improvements before resubmission.

    📢 Learn how to optimize your project at Welscape.

  • SKA was developed for the UK market, but its principles can be adapted internationally for any office, retail, or hospitality fit-out. Organizations outside the UK can consult RICS or SKA-accredited professionals to tailor assessments for local sustainability regulations.

    🌍 International projects? Contact Welscape to explore SKA certification beyond the UK.

  • The SKA Rating system originated as a research project initiated by Skansen, a UK-based fit-out contractor. The working title ‘SKA’—from the first three letters of the company name—became widely recognized in the industry due to its memorable and practical branding.

    📌 Learn more about SKA at Welscape.

  • SKA Rating applies to office, retail, and hospitality fit-outs, making it ideal for businesses seeking sustainability improvements without major structural changes. It can be used by tenants, landlords, and developers to assess and enhance energy efficiency, material sourcing, and occupant wellbeing during renovations or refurbishments.

    Check out Welscape’s page on SKA Rating to learn more.

  • To learn more about SKA Rating and how it can benefit your fit-out project, contact an accredited SKA Assessor or visit the RICS website for assessment tools and resources.

    Contact Welscape’s assessors for tailored SKA guidance and assessment.

  • • Lower operating costs – Energy-efficient fit-outs lead to reduced utility bills and operational expenses.

    • Better tenant attraction & retention – Sustainable offices promote wellbeing, productivity, and corporate responsibility, making buildings more attractive to occupiers.

    • ESG & regulatory compliance – Aligns with corporate sustainability goals and EU Taxonomy requirements for green investments.

    • Increased asset value – Certified spaces are more marketable, future-proof, and in demand among investors and tenants.

    Check out Welscape’s page on Ska Rating to learn more.

  • • Self-assessment – The online SKA Rating tool is free for those who want to internally evaluate their project’s sustainability.

    • Formal certification – Engaging an accredited SKA Assessor such as Welscape will involve fees based on project scope, assessment complexity, and advisory support required. Certification costs vary depending on factors like project scale, evidence collection, and reporting requirements.