Sophie Hemmings’ holistic approach to impact

Sophie Hemmings has always felt a strong connection to nature, a passion that shaped her career in sustainability. With a background in green building certifications and a role at Arup during a pivotal time in workplace design, Sophie found herself drawn to the WELL Building Standard. Her story highlights how WELL has transformed not only her professional trajectory but also her perspective on health, well-being and the power of truly inclusive spaces.


How did you first hear about the WELL AP? What made you interested in the credential?

I’ve always been really drawn to nature and the environment, which naturally led me to study sustainability and build a career in this field. My first four years were spent working with green building certifications like BREEAM. That gave me a broad understanding of all kinds of sustainability topics and exposed me to different building types and construction approaches across the industry. It was a great way to get started and really immerse myself in the world of sustainable development, working in an industry that has a huge global impact.

I joined Arup in April 2020, right in the middle of the first COVID lockdowns. It was an unusual time to start a new role, but they gave me the opportunity to broaden my skillset and it was a risk worth taking. There was a huge surge in WELL projects at the time, and my background in certifications made me a great fit to work on these early adopter projects. It didn’t take long for me to realise just how impactful WELL can be—it brings a deeper understanding of health and well-being to the table. When used alongside other certifications, it helps create a more holistic approach to sustainability, covering both environmental and social aspects. After about a year working with a handful of WELL projects so early on, it made sense to become a WELL AP.

What’s one way becoming a WELL AP has impacted your life and/or career?

Becoming a WELL AP has really changed the way I look at the spaces around me and how they affect my day-to-day life. It’s made me realise just how important it is to design places that support not just physical health but mental well-being and social connections too. I’ve also learned that everyone experiences spaces differently—we all bring our own perspectives and interpretations, which has definitely made me more thoughtful and inclusive in my work.

Our new offices in London and Birmingham have achieved WELL Platinum certification, and I’m proud to have contributed to both projects. In Birmingham, I worked alongside the design team to align strategies with our company values and explore additional measures to attain Platinum status. For London, my role has been focused on supporting the FM team post-certification, helping them maintain their commitments and ensuring the workspace continues to provide an excellent environment for colleagues. It’s genuinely rewarding to see the positive impact these spaces have on my friends and colleagues, and I never expected to have the chance to help shape such meaningful work environments.

What are some things you’ve been able to do (or you plan to do) as a WELL AP you couldn’t before? Why are those things important to you?

One of the most rewarding aspects of my journey with WELL projects has been the chance to work alongside people in fields I never thought I’d encounter. Facilities management and HR teams, for example, are vital stakeholders in delivering successful WELL buildings, which I had never really collaborated with before. I’ve also had the privilege of connecting with neurodiversity and inclusivity specialists within Arup. This experience has greatly expanded my network and pushed me to engage with teams outside my usual scope, seeing building projects from new perspectives. It’s made the process richer, more integrated and ultimately more effective in achieving holistic and sustainable outcomes.

Did anything about the WELL AP process surprise you—from registering for the exam to your experience post-accreditation? What was it? How would you prepare WELL AP candidates for that?

The WELL AP network has been such an interesting discovery for me. With other AP accreditations I’ve done, they tend to focus on specific roles like sustainability consultants or building design and construction professionals. But the WELL AP community is so much broader—it’s made up of those usual experts, of course, but also includes people like life coaches and professionals from all sorts of different backgrounds. It’s been great knowing that the reach of this standard is more than just the design and construction of buildings.

What’s something about the WELL AP—or the WELL movement in general—that isn’t often discussed, but you think deserves more attention?

In my role at Arup, I advise across a client’s portfolio of assets, covering a range of ESG topics as well as WELL at scale initiatives. WELL programs are a great fit with the social side of ESG, and while there’s been some discussion around this connection, I think ESG practitioners aren’t fully aware of how the two overlap yet—probably because the social aspect is still developing. It’s an exciting space to work in, especially as it offers a real chance to explore and strengthen the link between health, well-being and social sustainability.

Do you have any advice you’d give potential WELL AP candidates?

My advice for potential WELL AP candidates would be to embrace the idea that health and well-being are fundamental to sustainability. It’s not just about meeting environmental standards but also creating spaces that support the people who use them. Keep in mind that WELL is about inclusivity, ensuring that everyone—management staff, occupants and even future tenants—benefits from the design.

From my first WELL project, The Acre, I learned how a holistic approach to sustainability can have a real impact. By retaining and reimagining the building, we prioritised health and well-being while addressing environmental and social benefits, creating a space that balanced both needs for future tenants. This balance is key to excelling as a WELL AP and making a difference—every design choice, no matter how small, can significantly improve people’s lives.


What does well-being mean to you? How do you incorporate it into your life and routine?

Just like I’ve mentioned before, it’s not just about physical health—mental well-being is equally important. I’ve always been really into fitness—running, cycling and keeping up a healthy diet—probably because I was quite a sickly person before. But in the last few years, I’ve shifted more focus toward taking care of my mental health too, using different support systems to help. The biggest change, though, was such a simple one: being more open and honest. It’s made a massive difference, not just for me personally but also in my relationships. It’s had a positive ripple effect on my friendships, and I’ve noticed that mental health is becoming much more openly discussed in our sustainability team as well, which has been so encouraging.


Is there a specific WELL concept, feature or set of features that have really resonated with you and that you’ve incorporated into your own life?

I feel like the Movement concept really resonates with me, because I’m so aware of how important regular movement is (even if I don’t always practice what I preach!). What I love about the concept is that it introduces small, thoughtful interventions—like the strategic placement of stairways—that most people might not even notice. These subtle design choices can gently encourage people to take the stairs instead of the lift every now and then. It’s all about those incremental changes that are so easy for individuals to adopt without even realising it, but they can make a big difference over time.

What projects do you have planned for the future? How will your WELL AP credential support the project’s success?

Over the past few years, I’ve been working on a WELL at scale portfolio for a global client, and last year was particularly successful with several major achievements. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see how far we’ve come, and I’m looking forward to building on that progress. There’s been so much to learn from this experience, and I’m excited to carry those lessons forward into future portfolios to keep delivering meaningful outcomes.

Learn more about what it takes to become a WELL AP!