Sparks of 2026: #20 Meshwork - Making Connections That Matter
One of the standout developments shaping professional practice as we head into 2026 has been the rise of Meshwork, the internal network designed from the ground up around genuine CPD principles for architects, planners, and built environment professionals.
Run in partnership with Mesh Energy, Meshwork brings together architects, planners, developers, engineers, and installers around a shared goal: accelerating sustainable design and decarbonisation through community, collaboration, and practical knowledge sharing.
What really sets Meshwork apart is not just the scale of its community, but the calibre of expertise actively circulating within it. The platform combines CPD aligned seminars, webinars, and round-table discussions with an editorial and podcast output that consistently punches above its weight.
Recent podcast guests include Graham Hendra, Will Kirkman, and rising star architect Natalie Black from ENBEE. These are not surface level conversations. They are thoughtful, technically grounded discussions that explore how sustainability is actually being delivered in practice, from policy and planning through to design and implementation.
Alongside this, Meshwork members gain access to regular CPD level training sessions mapped to professional learning objectives, including themes aligned with the RIBA Core Curriculum and wider climate and carbon literacy goals. For practices already feeling the financial pressure of formal CPD routes, the value here is significant.
More importantly, Meshwork is not a passive content platform. The community itself is actively and constructively growing its network, sharing insight, challenging assumptions, and raising standards across the sector. The result is professional development that feels relevant, social, and genuinely useful, rather than a box ticking exercise.
For that reason, Meshwork earns its place firmly on our Sparks of 2026 list. It is a model of how CPD, community, and credible voices can combine to support better buildings and better professional practice at the same time.
