About Our Guides - BCO - British Council for Offices About Our Guides - BCO - British Council for Offices

About Our Best Practice Guides

BEST PRACTICE GUIDES

The BCO publishes a series of best practice guides covering many aspects of office space. They are used widely across the industry by designers, contractors and professional service providers.

GUIDE TO SPECIFICATION

The BCO Guide to Specification is a flagship document outlining guidance on how to design, specify, create and develop office buildings to deliver the most productive, sustainable and healthy workplaces.

GUIDE TO FIT OUT

The Guide to Fit Out, a sister document, has a wealth of information and advice for those undertaking a fit-out project. It provides recommendations on what makes a scheme a great place to work.

Members have open access to digital copies of the BCO Best Practice Guides and they are available for non-members to purchase.

GUIDE TO LIGHTING

The world of lighting is currently going through some dramatic changes as there is a drive to reduce carbon emissions and lamp technology is evolving and changing at a fast pace.

WELLNESS MATTERS

The aim of Wellness Matters is to help the office sector understand what matters in terms of health and wellbeing, why it matters, when and who is best placed to lead the agenda.

Find the right membership level for you and your business.

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COMMITTEES AND TEAMS

The BCO is run by a series of committees covering research, the regions, our awards programme and the next generation.
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DIVERSITY, EQUALITY
and INCLUSION

The BCO champions diversity, equity, and inclusion, broadening the office sector and promoting participation from all backgrounds.
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SPONSORSHIP

As one of the premier award ceremonies in the UK property calendar the BCO Awards delivers real value to its sponsors.
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MENTAL HEALTH

The BCO is dedicated to supporting its members' mental health and wellbeing by providing links to sources of support through networks regionally and centrally. 
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Latest news

March 25, 2026
By BCO Media

BCO to update landmark guide on construction materials selection

The 2026 update will reflect significant developments in regulation, sustainability expectations, and technical standards, strengthening the focus on sustainable design and responsible specification.
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March 16, 2026
By BCO Media

Central London office market shows resilience despite economic headwinds

On 5 March 2026, the BCO NextGen London & South East committee, in partnership with Savills, hosted a webinar exploring the forces shaping Central London’s office market. The discussion highlighted a market that remains resilient despite economic pressures, with occupiers prioritising high-quality, well-connected office space to attract talent and drive productivity.
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March 11, 2026
By BCO Media

BCO welcomes release of Version 1 of the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard

As Version 1 of the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard is released, the BCO is pleased to see several recommendations from its expert committees incorporated into the Standard.
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