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We are pleased to see that delegates have been quick to secure tickets now that bookings for the 2024 Annual Conference have opened to both BCO members and non-members. If you are planning on joining us in Bimingham this year, we strongly encourage you to book sooner rather than later.

Book Now

DISCUSSIONS & SEMINARS
 

This year’s plenary sessions will hear from leading voices that will bring to light multiple perspectives and discuss the challenges and opportunities ahead. Seminars will reflect the extraordinary times in which we live and work, and will provide a forum for an intimate exploration of a variety of topics including AI and culture. Join the debate on the power of partnership in development and regeneration projects, the impact of social value on lending for developers, and what today’s life science occupier looks like. Read more.

TOURS
 

Over the past decade, this city, famously known as the ‘workshop of the world’ has lived up to its name, quietly delivering a number of sizeable new developments, including 103 Colmore Row, Enterprise Wharf,  and the Paradise regeneration project. We are pleased to say the conference programme will offer opportunities to tour a number of these schemes. There are currently 14 options to choose between, from innovative buildings and offices to cultural walks – there are plenty of tours to inspire. Be sure to secure your top tour choices as soon as possible! View the full list.

GOLF CLUB 
 

Join us on Wednesday 22 May at the Arden Golf Club to play the Arden Course. Located in the heart of the Midlands, the Forest of Arden is set in 10,000 acres of Warwickshire parkland and ancient woodland and is recognised as one of the premier golf destinations in the UK. The Arden Course, designed by Donald Steele in 1992, has played host to a succession of international tournaments, including the British Masters and the English Open. The day concludes with BBQ lunch and prize giving. Check the itinerary.

CYCLE CHALLENGE
 

This year’s cycle challenge, in support of The Brain Tumour Charity will take place from Sunday 19 to Wednesday 22 May. The ride will depart on Monday morning from Newcastle. With distant views of the North Pennines, the ride will showcase the best the northeast has to offer before heading further south offering distant views to the Yorkshire Dales in the west and North York Moors and Howardian Hills in the east. On the final day riders will skirt the edge of the Peak District before arriving in Birmingham on Wednesday afternoon! Further details.

The BCO’s NextGen community is growing fast. Numbers have increased up more than a quarter over the past year to more than 1,200 members, making the NextGen contingent a third of the total BCO membership. This vibrant community will play an important role in this year’s conference. This year’s offering includes a series of events targeted at NextGen members, as well as several networking opportunities.
Further details. 

Download Brochure
View Conference

#BCOconference   #Birmingham2024

Friday, 8 March 2024

12 pm – 3 pm
The Guildhall, York

We are excited to announce the first of two speakers for our inaugural Northern Lunch!

Gerald Jennings

Gerald Jennings, Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

Gerald is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and has worked in the property sector for over 30 years. He joined Land Securities in 1999 after spending 14 years with the Burton Group formerly known as Arcadia, where he was responsible for the company’s property portfolio throughout the UK. Before stepping down in 2015, Gerald was Land Securities’ Retail Portfolio Director based in the company’s Leeds office.

Gerald is a passionate member of the business community and has also been actively involved in several social enterprises and charities. Amongst his roles, he was Chairman of the contemporary art gallery at The Tetley and a Non-Executive Director at the Ahead Partnership. He helped set up and introduce the Leeds BID and was a Governor at the Leeds City College group (now known as the Luminate Group) until the new campus at Quarry Hill in Leeds was developed and opened in September 2019.

He is currently a Non-Executive Director at Henry Boot PLC, the Chairman of Social (Leeds), and the Chairman of the Morley Town Deal Board. He also runs his own property investment and consultancy business, G R Jennings Properties Ltd

The networking lunch will be held at The Guildhall, York on Friday, 8 March 2024. The Guildhall has been recently restored by the City of York Council and offers a captivating space to host the BCO’s first Northern Lunch. 

Come and enjoy the vibrant and historic atmosphere whilst networking over a delicious three-course meal. This event offers attendees the opportunity to connect with industry leaders and share insights into the future of the workplace. Following lunch, attendees will also hear from our industry speaker, Gerald Jennings.

Book Now

To book a table or place, simply download the BCO Northern Lunch Booking Form and return to:

Pru Sly, Createvents, 450 Brook Drive, Reading RG2 6UU

E: pru@createvents.co.uk | T: 01183 340085

Tables are allocated on a first come/first served basis, so we encourage you to book early to ensure a prime position.

With thanks to our sponsors:

CREATING VIBRANCY

We are delighted to announce the full programme for the BCO Annual Conference 2024 in Birmingham. This year will see a brilliant series of events taking place pre-conference, along with a host of learning and networking opportunities throughout. As ever, it will be a test of stamina for those taking part! 

Scroll down for more information and to download the conference brochure.

Book Your Place

This year’s BCO Golf Cup will take place at the Forest of Arden, with golfers playing the Arden course, designed by Donald Steele in 1992. The now renowned BCO Cycle Challenge will see cyclists pedal 270 spectacular miles across 3 days, and will raise funds for The Brain Tumour Charity, our partner charity for the conference.

Hear from leading voices during the plenary sessions that will bring to light multiple perspectives and discuss the challenges and opportunities ahead. Seminars will reflect the extraordinary times in which we live and work, and will provide a forum for an intimate exploration of a variety of topics including AI and culture. 

The tours will provide an alternative option to the conference seminars and they will uncover the city’s rich architectural heritage, and explore the headquarters of some of the most innovative companies.

BCO NextGen will again offer a supplementary programme for young professionals within the sector, providing activities that sit alongside the main itinerary, to add value to the conference experience and encourage greater participation from this important community within the BCO.

Want to know more? Download this year’s conference brochure. Here you will find detailed information on all aspects of the 2024 conference programme, including the party at the Luna Springs in Digbeth, one of the most iconic neighbourhoods in Birmingham, as well as the photography competition, back for the 5th year running.

“I encourage you all to join us as this is an important moment for the office, where the future of the
workplace continues to be a topic of debate”. Read more from Peter Crowther, BCO Senior Vice President and Conference Chair.

Download Brochure
 

Key recommendations include the development of the BCO’s ‘2030 vision for the office’. Four priority focus areas are identified in the Research Programme Working Document, which sets the agenda for upcoming research over the near and medium term. These are economy, business, technology and ESG (environmental, social and governance).

The agenda is a direct response to the current and ongoing dynamics in the office sector. It seeks to focus the BCO’s research on the areas where in-depth understanding is most needed of fast-moving trends and emerging opportunities. The publication aims to lay the groundwork for a new vision of the office as an economically productive, occupier-first, technologically enabled and sustainable part of our built environment.

The papers are introduced by a forward from Bill Hughes, Global Head of Real Assets at Legal and General Investment Management, and have been authored by leading industry specialists, who explore economy, business, technology and ESG, respectively:

  • Nick Axford, Global Head of Research at Avison Young,
  • Chris Kane, Co-Founder at EverythingOmni,
  • Nigel Miller, Managing Director at Cordless Consultants
  • and Hannah Davis, Director at Faithful+Gould.

Each paper identifies a series of key changes facing the office sector and how the BCO will lead investigation and discussion around them, resulting in new innovation and exemplar solutions.

This includes:

  • re-evaluating the notion of offices as capital assets in light of the broader role of offices as a source of community and place-making in the UK’s new and shifting economic geography;
  • responding to the rise of consumer power and rapidly changing business priorities by establishing an improved dialogue between the property industry and its occupiers;
  • developing strategic industry guidance around technology and its adoption in build and fit-out process;
  • working towards a common definition of ESG principles and providing technical guidance on full life cycle sustainability for office designers, planners, operators and asset managers.

An integral part of the brief for each research pillar was the need to consider change, not only in terms of the detailed issues being faced today but, critically, to take a longer-term perspective in order to anticipate challenges and turn them into opportunities.

Each pillar topic also considers the social relevance of the office as a fully integrated part of the broader infrastructure of UK cities and towns.

Intended to spark discussion, the BCO’s Research Committee will use this publication as a basis for its ongoing research around these subjects.

Members can download the BCO Programme Working Document here.

Helen has over 30 years’ experience in the construction and property industry. Having started her career as a quantity surveyor, she joined GPE as Project Manager, before becoming Head of Project Management and then Director of Projects in 2017 and 2019 respectively. More recently Helen’s role has been expanded and now includes responsibility for GPE’s Building Surveying and Technical Service teams.

Helen is an active member of the Construction Productivity Taskforce – which brings together leading figures in the construction industry to undertake practical interventions designed to make the sector more productive. The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) also welcomed Helen as Industry Chair earlier this year for its Building and Places Group.

Helen has been involved with the BCO since 2013, when she led the tours programme for the BCO’s annual conference in Madrid. More recently, Helen was the Chair of the Judging panel for the BCO Regional Awards for London in 2022 and 2023.

Helen Hare, GPE's Director of Projects

Helen joins current President, Despina Katsikakis of Cushman & Wakefield, and Senior Vice President, Peter Crowther of Bruntwood, on the BCO’s Board of Management.

  • Helen brings a wealth of knowledge to her new role as Junior Vice President as well as a passion for unlocking the potential of young people in the real estate sector and building the confidence of those new to the industry.
  • In her role at GPE, she holds responsibility for the delivery, procurement and maintenance of all projects across the development and flex workspace programme, future pipeline and existing managed portfolio.
  • In addition to her role at the BCO, Helen is a regular speaker at industry events and acts as a mentor for Mentoring Circle, an organisation which seeks to address the gender diversity gap at senior leadership level in the built environment.

Helen Hare, Director of Projects at GPE, said:

“It is an honour to be asked to join the British Council for Offices as its Junior Vice President. Having been part of the organisation for over ten years’ and seen first-hand its importance for informing, inspiring and sharing best practice, taking on a leadership role feels like a natural transition and I look forward to working with the BCO team as it continues to support the ongoing evolution of the office sector.”

Richard Kauntze, Chief Executive of the BCO, said:

“Helen is a great addition to the BCO’s Presidential team. She has been a long-standing supporter of the BCO for many years, and I have no doubt that Helen will make an outstanding contribution to our organisation. Helen’s extensive experience will be invaluable to the BCO as we continue to make the case for the office as an integral part of our cities.”

About the BCO

The British Council for Offices’ (BCO) mission is to research, develop and communicate best practice in all aspects of the office sector. It delivers this by providing a forum for the discussion and debate of relevant issues.

Established in 1990, the BCO is the UK’s leading forum for the discussion and debate of issues affecting the office sector.

Its members are all organisations involved in creating, acquiring, or occupying office space, whether architects, lawyers, surveyors, financial institutions, or public agencies. The BCO works to advance the collective understanding of its members, enabling them to work together to create more effective office space.

Media Contact:

For further information please contact ING Media
BCO@ing-media.com / + 44 (0) 20 7247 8334

The awards dinner, with guest speaker Jeremy Vine, attracted over 1,200 key players from the industry. The winners of the BCO Regional Awards were among the attendees at Grosvenor House in London, hoping to take home the National Award for their category. 

The winners of the BCO National Awards 2023 are:

  • Best of the Best – Barclays Glasgow Campus
  • Corporate Workplace – Barclays Glasgow Campus

    Highly commended – TJX Watford Campus

  • Commercial Workplace – One Portwall Square, Bristol
  • Fit Out of Workplace – Diageo 1HQ, London
  • Projects up to 1,500m² – Threesixty Architecture Studio, Inverness
  • Refurbished/Recycled Workplace – Sycamore House, Stevenage

    Highly commended – Calico, Manchester; The Kensington Building, London

  • Innovation – Five Bank Street, London
  • ESG – HERE Building, Thames Valley Park
  • Test of Time – White Collar Factory, London

    Highly commended – Waterfront Point, Widnes

  • President’s Award – HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) Locations Programme

Barclays’ campus has successfully regenerated a derelict site on the bank of the River Clyde. It particularly impressed the judges with the benefits it has delivered for both employees and the wider community through considered placemaking and social initiatives. Combining such initiatives with exceptional workplace design makes it a “truly outstanding” project, the judges remarked. Notable for its focus on creating an inclusive and “barrier-free” working environment, the campus also deploys renewable energy technologies and houses an educational Sustainability Centre.

Another campus, home to TJX in Watford, was a highly commended Corporate Workplace for its positive contribution to the local area, where the retailer has been a key employer for 25 years.

Innovation in design and delivery earned One Portwall Square the Commercial Workplace prize. The judges were particularly struck by the building’s pioneering mixed mode ventilation and cooling systems. Generous floor to ceiling heights, roof terraces on every level and a touchless journey throughout the building also contribute to its success.

Described as “clever and thought through” by the judges, Diageo’s new global HQ is the winner of the Fit Out of Workplace award. As part of the refit of the space, generous interventions such as a striking feature staircase make connectivity a focal point. The judges also noted that state of the art technology has been deployed with a user experience that is both functional and inspirational.

The prize for Projects up to 1,500m² went to Threesixty Architecture’s own studio in Inverness, for making an impact larger than its relatively small scale and demonstrating a commitment to “walking the walk”. To support the recovery of the high street, the office plays host equally well to yoga classes as a venue for the RIAS convention. A sensitive approach to construction procurement saw the extensive use of local trades to create a beautifully crafted workspace.

The judges found Sycamore House’s transformation from tired and underutilised storage shed to cutting edge office “truly inspirational”. In the Refurbished/Recycled Workplace category, award-winning building, modern and flexible workspaces combine with vibrant communal areas to encourage interaction between occupiers. Large meeting spaces, a welcoming café, winter gardens, and clever use of height and volume create a space that the judges said feels genuinely collaborative.

The BCO celebrated the abundance of high-quality entries to the Refurbished/Recycled Workplace category by highly commending two projects. At Calico, a clear distinction between Grade II-listed building fabric and new interventions – including art, colour and texture – won the judges over. The Kensington Building was recognised for its beauty, biodiversity and sustainability credentials.

At Five Bank Street, the judges felt that the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD) demonstrated a passion for doing the right thing, both socially and environmentally, while providing a state-of-the-art office environment for its workforce and clients. A materials passport and deconstruction guide for the project was one of the reasons the judges decided it was worthy of the Innovation award. On-going post occupancy evaluation also stood out as exemplary. 

Through the creative repositioning of the HERE Building, a forensic approach was adopted to tracking and minimising its carbon impact. The winner of the ESG award exemplifies how data-led design can deliver an aspirational product. Its timber atrium is a tangible expression of how ESG has permeated every aspect of the project, redefining how a business park can meet the needs of today’s occupiers.

White Collar Factory, a previous winner of the BCO’s National Innovation Award in 2018, was presented the Test of Time award. Described by the judges as “a very brave project” that created the next generation flexible office, the building has allowed businesses to grow, during and beyond the pandemic, and is now fully let.

Highly commended for the Test of Time award, Waterfront Point felt to the judges like “a real home” for the workforce of Halton Housing and has been easily adapted to reflect changes to the business post-Covid.

The President’s Award was presented to HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) Locations Programme, a more than decade-long workplace restructure and estate transformation within one of the UK’s biggest employers. In that time, 11 new or refurbished HMRC offices have been in the running for the BCO’s Regional Awards. 73,000 civil servants now benefit from smarter working and a more supportive culture – increasing colleague satisfaction to 88%. At the same time, the new regional centres enable better service to taxpayers, while supporting levelling up and local communities.

Despina Katsikakis, President of the BCO, said: “In addition to impressive estates savings, what is of particular importance to the BCO is how workplaces are making a positive social impact. As we consider the future role and value of offices, a programme that actively focuses on creating more resilient cities, communities, and societies is highly commendable. We are honoured to give HMRC our 2023 BCO President’s Award for just such a programme.”

Richard Kauntze, Chief Executive of the BCO, commented: “It’s always a joy for the industry to come together at the BCO National Awards to celebrate best-in-class office design. This year, all of the winners demonstrated a clear passion and commitment which goes beyond simple commercial excellence.  Putting ESG at the heart of their decision-making was undoubtedly more evident, shining a light on the meaningful role that offices play in society.”

Mike Burton, Director at AECOM and Chair of the BCO’s National Judging Panel, added: “Visiting and evaluating the shortlisted projects for this year’s BCO National Awards has been a pleasure. It has been truly inspirational to see such a high level of holistic design thinking and innovation. The winners have set new standards for the next generation of offices, and I would like to congratulate all of the teams involved.”

ENDS

For further information please contact ING Media
BCO@ing-media.com / + 44 (0) 20 7247 8334

Notes to editors

About the BCO

The British Council for Offices (BCO) is the UK’s leading member organisation representing the interests of all those who occupy, design, build, own or manage offices in the UK. Since inception in 1990, the BCO has provided thought leadership and best practice in all issues related to the creation and use of office space – through to its research, awards, conference and events programmes.

www.bco.org.uk

X: @BCO_UK
Instagram: @BCO_UK
Facebook: BCOonline

About the BCO National Awards

For more information about the BCO Awards and the winners, please visit the BCO website (www.bco.org.uk). Entries for the 2024 BCO Awards competition open on Wednesday 4 October 2023 and close on Friday 24 November 2023.

The Platinum sponsor of the BCO National Awards 2023 is ISG. Gold sponsors are AECOM, Glamox Luxonic, SAS International and Troup Bywaters + Anders. Silver sponsors are Barr Gazetas, GPF Lewis, Quantem, Quartz and Rider Levett Bucknall.

The BCO Awards are in association with EG.

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Despina Katsikakis, Executive Partner & Global Lead, Total Workplace at Cushman & Wakefield, has been elected as President of the British Council for Offices (BCO) with immediate effect. She succeeds Mark Kowal, Partner at Sheppard Robson. Peter Crowther, Managing Director at Bruntwood, becomes Senior Vice President today.

Despina is one of the leading voices in the office sector. She has over 35 years of experience advising global companies such as Microsoft, Barclays,Unilever and BP as well as investors of landmark developments worldwide. She pioneered the role of workplace consultancy in the 1980s and led the transformation of the workplace as an experience. In her role at Cushman & Wakefield and, as President of the British Council for Offices, she continues to lead on latest trends, guiding the approach towards offices that enhance employee wellbeing, deliver social value and business performance.

Since joining the BCO’s Board of Management in 2021, Despina has advocated for a human-centric approach to workspaces. She chaired the 2023 BCO Conference in Dublin, which explored how offices can contribute to ensuring the social, economic and environmental sustainability of cities. As BCO President she will champion the role of the office in supporting resilience and providing inspiring places for people and society to thrive.

Mark Kowal’s 16-month presidency focused on the overarching ambition of maintaining the relevance of the BCO in a fast-shifting context. This saw a launch of bold changes to the BCO’s Guide to Specification to address both hybrid working and revised net zero carbon targets.

Other changes to the BCO’s Presidential Team include Peter Crowther’s promotion to Senior Vice President. Peter is Managing Director at Bruntwood and joined the BCO Board of Management in 2022. He served in the BCO Northern Region Committee and the National Awards Judging Panel.

The BCO’s Honorary Treasurer, James Clark, Partner at Core Five will also be standing down and is to be succeeded by Bruce Paterson, Founding Partner at Quantem.

Despina Katsikakis, an Executive Partner at Cushman & Wakefield

Despina Katsikakis, President of the BCO and Executive Partner & Global Lead, Total Workplace at Cushman & Wakefield, said: ‘It is an honour to be appointed President of the BCO. With the role of the office increasingly focused on people, experience and social impact, under my leadership the BCO will focus on the unprecedented level of change that is affecting our industry, to drive research and provide a forum for discussion of how we can develop new skills, measures and indices that will shape inspiring offices for a resilient future. I am looking forward to working closely with the BCO committees and members to share knowledge, ideas and debates.’

Mark Kowal, Immediate Past President of the BCO and Partner at Sheppard Robson, said: ‘It has been an honour to be President of the BCO and I thank the organisation and its Board of Management for all their support. In my term, I was committed to readdress the role of the office in our lives, and shape how buildings can encourage innovative and fresh thinking, while introducing greener solutions. My focus remains on supporting the BCO as Immediate President and I wish best of luck to Despina for her presidency.’

Richard Kauntze, Chief Executive of the BCO, said: ‘I am delighted to welcome Despina Katsikakis as President of the BCO. Despina is a hugely respected and experienced thought-leader on the workplace and, as Senior Vice President, led the BCO’s sell out annual conference in June. I wish her every success for her presidential year.       

I would like to thank Mark Kowal for his exceptional hard work and dedication during his presidency. As the office sector emerged from the pandemic, under Mark’s leadership the BCO has continued to strengthen its role as a leading voice in office design and workplace trends. Mark was an outstanding President of the BCO and should be hugely proud of all he achieved.

I must also express my gratitude for James Clark, who is stepping down as the BCO’s Honorary Treasurer, for his commitment and service to the organisation. It is a pleasure to welcome Bruce Paterson as the incoming Honorary Treasurer.”

 – ENDS-

 

About the BCO

The British Council for Offices (BCO) is the UK’s leading member organisation representing the interests of all those who occupy, design, build, own or manage offices in the UK. The BCO leads on thought leadership and best practice in all issues related to the creation and use of office space – through its research, awards, conference and events programmes. You can learn more about the BCO at www.bco.org.uk.

For more information, please contact:

ING Media
bco@ing-media.com
+ 44 (0) 20 7247 8334

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