BCO Ideas Competition: Meet the judges

The BCO Ideas Competition isn’t just an opportunity for our six finalists to stand up on stage and present their idea for the future of the workspace to an audience. It’s an opportunity to impress some of the most influential leaders in the industry. 

This year, we have seven judges from GPE, Derwent London, General Projects, Knight Frank, Broadway Malyan, Hawkins/Brown and NCG Global. They, together with the audience, will select the pitch that will make it into the BCO Incubator to be turned from a big idea into the real thing.

Let’s meet the judges and find out what they will be looking for at the finale on 22 October.

Frank Blande, head of sustainability, GPE

What are you most looking forward to as a judge for the BCO Ideas Competition?

I’m hoping to hear the ideas that make me think, “I wish I’d thought of that”. Especially if they help create more sustainable, future-proofed workplaces.

What makes a good idea a great investment?

For me, high impact, low carbon, commercially viable.

What makes a presentation stand out for you?

Keep it clear, keep it simple and let your enthusiasm for the concept show.

Why is it important to share and pitch ideas that could change the future of the workspace?

Fresh ideas are how we move forward – we won’t solve tomorrow’s problems with yesterday’s thinking.

What advice would you give to our finalists to secure your vote?

Be bold, be clear and show how your idea makes buildings better for people and the planet.

Kathryn Cripps, partner & head of asset management, Knight Frank

What makes a good idea a great investment?

For me, the best ideas solve a real problem in a simple and practical way. I’m always drawn to ideas that make you stop and think, “Why aren’t we already doing that?” The really exciting part is when someone can show how that idea could genuinely make a difference in the real world.

What makes a presentation stand out for you?

Authenticity. I’m far more interested in someone who clearly believes in their idea than someone delivering a perfectly polished presentation. If they can explain a complex idea simply, show why it matters and take the audience with them, that’s what stands out.

What advice would you give to our finalists to secure your vote?

Don’t worry about being perfect. Focus on the problem you’re trying to solve, explain why it matters and be clear about the difference your idea could make. Most importantly, let your passion for it come through.

Jacob Loftus, founder & CEO, General Projects

What are you most looking forward to as a judge for the BCO Ideas Competition?

Ideas without too much industry baggage. Sometimes a fresh pair of eyes sees the opportunity everyone else has learnt to overlook.

What makes a good idea a great investment?

When 2 + 2 = 5. The best investments bring together the right people, place and ideas to create something worth more than the sum of its parts.

What makes a presentation stand out for you?

Clarity, less is more, conviction and a bit of personality. 

Why is it important to share and pitch ideas that could change the future of the workspace?

Cities are never finished; they’re constantly evolving and the workplace will continue to evolve with them. We need new voices willing to question what we’ve always done and look to what’s next. 

What advice would you give to our finalists to secure your vote?

A little bit of provocation goes a long way. Challenge something we’ve all quietly accepted as “just the way it is”.

Beth Starling, associate interior designer & workplace strategist, Broadway Malyan/ National NextGen chair, BCO

What are you most looking forward to as a judge?

I’m most looking forward to seeing the innovation, creativity and fresh thinking coming from the next generation of workplace professionals. It will be particularly rewarding to see the finalists bring their ideas to life after all the hard work, preparation and public speaking training they have undertaken.

I’m also excited to hear perspectives that may challenge existing assumptions about what a workplace should be. The competition is a great opportunity to see how the next generation is thinking about the future of work, and how their ideas could help create spaces that are more sustainable, inclusive, adaptable and inspiring.

What makes a good idea a great investment?

For me, a great investment is an idea that is both ambitious and achievable. It should address a genuine challenge or opportunity, while also having a realistic path towards implementation.

I’m looking for ideas that can create meaningful value for the people who use and experience a workspace, whether that is through improving wellbeing, increasing flexibility, supporting sustainability, strengthening inclusion or enabling greater innovation. A great idea should also have the potential to evolve and create a lasting impact, rather than being exciting only in the short term.

Most importantly, it should spark excitement while also making the audience think: Could this really work, and what could it achieve for the future of the workplace?

 What makes a presentation stand out for you?

A presentation stands out when the speaker is confident, clear and genuinely connected to their idea. If you believe in your idea, that belief becomes convincing and it helps the audience believe in it too.

The strongest presentations usually have a clear story: they define the problem, explain why it matters, present the solution and demonstrate the impact it could have. Good preparation is important, but so is allowing your personality and passion to come through. The best presentations leave you with a clear understanding of the idea and a reason to remember it.

Why is it important to share and pitch ideas that could change the future of the workspace?

Sharing and pitching new ideas acts as a catalyst for exploration, research, innovation, and improvement. It gives us the opportunity to question the way things are currently done and consider how our workspaces could better respond to changing needs.

The future of the workplace will not be shaped by one person or one discipline. It will come from a range of perspectives, experiences and ideas being brought together. Creating a platform for people to share ambitious thinking helps us push boundaries, learn from one another and identify ideas that could lead to meaningful change.

It is important to be at the cutting edge of workplace thinking, not simply to follow change but to help shape it. Even ideas that are not immediately implemented can start valuable conversations and inspire further development.

What advice would you give to our finalists to secure your vote?

My advice would be to be clear about the problem you are solving, why it matters and how your idea could make a real difference. Show us the ambition, but also demonstrate that you have thought about implementation, impact and the challenges you may face.

Most importantly, believe in your idea. If you are passionate, prepared and able to communicate your vision clearly, that will come across. Give us a reason to remember your idea and, ultimately, a reason to want to see it become reality.

Benjamin Lesser, head of design & innovation, Derwent London

What are you most looking forward to as a judge for the BCO Ideas Competition?

I’m looking forward to hearing fresh perspectives from the next generation of our industry. The most exciting ideas are often the ones that challenge established thinking and open up new possibilities.

What makes a good idea a great investment?

Great investments create long-term value for people, businesses and places. The best ideas balance ambition with commercial viability and have the potential to scale.

What makes a presentation stand out for you?

A standout memorable presentation tells a compelling story with clarity, confidence and purpose. I’m always looking for presenters who can communicate complex ideas simply, explain why it matters and make me care about the outcome.

Why is it important to share and pitch ideas that could change the future of the workspace?

The workplaces of tomorrow will be shaped by the ideas we discuss and debate today. Sharing and testing new concepts is essential if we want to create more productive, sustainable and inspiring environments for people in the future.

What advice would you give to our finalists to secure your vote?

Show me that your idea is innovative, challenging yet achievable. If you can clearly articulate the issue, why it matters, the challenge, the solution and the impact, you’ll have my attention. 

Nick Gaskell, partner & workplace sector lead, Hawkins\Brown

What are you most looking forward to as a judge for the BCO Ideas Competition?  

We talk about understanding the generation who will be shaping and using our future workspaces but often make sweeping generalisations – I’m looking forward to insight into how the NextGen really think.

What makes a good idea a great investment?
More than ever, our viable ideas need to achieve “wins” across multiple challenges – like aligning financial and environmental interests – otherwise the consensus needed to move forward is very challenging.

What makes a presentation stand out for you?

Answering the “so what?” question with clarity – not only articulating a challenge and what should be done, but why it matters… and to who?

Why is it important to share and pitch ideas that could change the future of the workspace?

The world is changing so rapidly – technologically, environmentally, socially… without free and creative sharing of ideas, our workspaces will fall behind and become redundant.

What advice would you give to our finalists to secure your vote?

I’m looking for originality and helping to move the conversation on; someone who has gone beyond identifying a trend and provided creative insight that we haven’t heard before. Easier said than done.

Thomas Proctor, founder & CEO, NCG Global

What are you most looking forward to as a judge for the BCO Ideas Competition?

I’m looking forward to seeing where the next generation wants to take our industry and being inspired by ideas that challenge my own thinking. At NCG, we’re always considering how technology can make buildings work better for people, so fresh perspectives are particularly valuable. I’m also keen to share lessons from my entrepreneurial journey and help the finalists think about what it takes to put their ideas into practice.

What makes a good idea a great investment?

A clear problem, measurable value and a credible plan to deliver it. I want to understand the outcomes, the potential returns and the risks involved. Evidence that early adopters are willing to commit their time or money is especially compelling. So is knowing the idea has been tested with peers and stakeholders, whose input can make it stronger. That opportunity to challenge and develop ideas is a real strength of this competition.

What makes a presentation stand out for you?

Clarity and focus. Make it easy for me to understand your idea, why it matters and what you want me to remember. A concise story, supported by well-chosen evidence, can be incredibly powerful. I also want to see your enthusiasm come through: when you understand your subject and care about the outcome, it gives people confidence in you.

Why is it important to share and pitch ideas that could change the future of the workspace?

Ideas get stronger when you open them up to different perspectives. Sharing your thinking with people who design, deliver, own and use workplaces helps you test assumptions and spot things you might otherwise miss. That feedback can shape a promising concept into something that works in practice. Pitching also helps you find the people who believe in the idea and can help you take it forward.

What advice would you give to our finalists to secure your vote?

Give me three clear things to remember: the problem you’re solving, the difference your idea will make and how you’ll take the first step towards delivering it. Back those points with evidence and be honest about what still needs testing. Above all, believe in yourself and let that conviction come through. You’ve earned your place in the final; make the most of the opportunity.

Tickets for the BCO’s NextGen Ideas Competition are fast selling out, so make sure you secure your spot at what will be one of the most inspirational, educational and innovative events on the real estate calendar this year.

Book your ticket here.

Huge thanks to the BCO’s Ideas Competition supporters, including platinum partner Knight Frank and gold partners Hawkins\Brown and NCG Global and to NatWest as our venue host.