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

July 10, 2025
By BCO Media

BCO report calls for new approach to space planning as office use reaches critical shift

The British Council for Offices (BCO) has published new research revealing a fundamental shift in how UK offices are used, with major implications for developers, investors and occupiers. The report, authored by Nigel Oseland of Workplace Unlimited, shows that the long-standing benchmark of 80% office utilisation may no longer be fit for purpose. Post-pandemic data […]
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July 01, 2025
By BCO Media

Helen Hare elected president of the British Council for Offices

Helen Hare, director of projects at GPE, has been elected president of the British Council for Offices (BCO) with immediate effect. She succeeds Peter Crowther, chief executive of Tatton Estate and co-founder of HERE. Andy McBain, head of future of workspace & design at NatWest Group, takes over from Helen as vice president, while John […]
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June 19, 2025
By BCO Media

Chancellor’s £15bn local transport boost is just the ticket for unlocking regional office development

The £15.6bn earmarked for local transport by Rachel Reeves last week is a welcome intervention that will have impacts beyond those set out in the Spending Review. It is not just about moving people; it is a strategic investment in our urban centres that has the potential to spur economic growth through regional office investment. […]
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