talent Archives - BCO - British Council for Offices

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.

Arup, Standard Life and Fieldfisher. Three major corporate occupiers united by a shared focus: relocation to premium office space in Birmingham city centre.

To find out more about this ‘great office migration’ and what’s behind the increasing focus on Birmingham city centre, the BCO’s Midlands committee teamed up with the West Midlands Combined Authority, West Midlands Growth Company and CBRE Investment Management. Together they held a seminar, hosted by Insider Media deputy editor Ian Griffin, at 10 Brindleyplace.

Why Birmingham? Why now?

According to Theo Holmes, BCO Midlands committee member and CBRE’s head of office agency for the Midlands, this is not a new trend, but it is one that has accelerated in recent years.

The movement towards Birmingham city centre gathered pace post-Covid as the role of the office changed significantly, said Holmes. Businesses today increasingly want to locate where their customers, competitors and talent are, and the city centre provides that ecosystem.

Historically, there was a perception that graduates would leave Birmingham. Today, more and more are choosing to build their careers in the city. And with more than 200,000 students and graduates across the region’s universities, businesses are increasingly recognising that the talent they need is already here.

For Chris Lawes, sector lead of business, professional and financial services at West Midlands Growth Company, Birmingham’s appeal comes down to three factors: scale, skills and connectivity.

The West Midlands is the largest regional economy outside London, with a substantial professional and financial services workforce and a strong graduate pipeline. Businesses can also access London, Europe and international markets through Birmingham’s transport infrastructure.

Relocation, relocation, relocation

Lucy Thompson, head of property and workspace at Standard Life, Ranjit Dhindsa, Birmingham office leader at Fieldfisher and Alison Kilby, associate director at Arup, all played key roles in shaping where their organisations’ new Birmingham offices would be located. All chose the city centre.

Standard Life relocated to 10 Brindleyplace from its campus-style office in Wythall, reducing its footprint by 90% to 25,000 sq ft.

The decision was not simply about reducing space. When organisations are making location decisions, access to talent is often the deciding factor and for Standard Life, attraction, retention and future skills requirements all influenced the move.

“Birmingham’s future talent pipeline is one of its biggest strengths,” said Thompson. “That’s a powerful argument when making long-term investment decisions.”

Future skills requirements are becoming increasingly important. AI, digital skills and technology capabilities are reshaping workforce needs and Birmingham is positioning itself at the centre of those growth sectors.

Following the business

Fieldfisher was formerly based at Blythe Valley Park, near the M42. While geographically close to Birmingham, Dhindsa described it as a location that could feel disconnected when meeting clients and professional advisers.

The law firm recently relocated to 2 Chamberlain Square, placing it at the heart of the city’s professional services community.

While Birmingham is a global player, it also has a local feel too – the kind of place where you can see a lawyer, banker and surveyor on the same short stroll through Colmore Row. For professional services firms that proximity matters.

“We want to be close to all our intermediaries,” said Dhindsa. “We’re just following the business.”

Getting connected

Arup previously occupied a campus-style location in Solihull and spent around £80,000 a year transporting staff to and from the site.

“When we originally moved, we were promised transport links and infrastructure improvements that never really materialised,” said Kilby. The city centre offered significantly better accessibility.

Having made an early decision to relocate to One Centenary Way, Arup gave employees the opportunity to help shape their future workplace. What emerged was a consistent desire for better amenities, stronger connectivity, improved workplace experience and more sustainable offices.

Ultimately, Kilby said, the only place those ambitions could realistically be achieved was within Grade A city-centre office space.

Electric dreams

ESG considerations were central to decision-making across the panel.

Standard Life relocated into an EPC A-rated, all-electric building, with carbon reduction, sustainable design and public transport access all influencing the project.

At Arup, ESG shaped both the building and fit out strategy. The company challenged developers to remove gas systems, prioritised all-electric solutions and focused on reducing embodied carbon through reused materials and low-carbon products.

Arup estimates the move will reduce commuting related carbon emissions by around 80% and business travel emissions by approximately 20%.

Birmingham’s story

The panel agreed that Birmingham’s wider growth story remains an important factor when competing for investment.

Boards often sit in London and assess opportunities across the UK and Europe. Making the case for Birmingham requires a compelling narrative around talent, innovation and future growth.

It’s why the city’s mic-drop moment at UKREiiF where Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands launched Britain’s biggest and most powerful mayoral development corporation, speeding up £11bn of regeneration, was so important.

As the city continues to promote major regeneration opportunities, investment districts and growth sectors, it strengthens the case for businesses choosing Birmingham as a long-term base.

Why Birmingham city centre works: 10 key takeaways

Talent wins
When organisations make location decisions, access to talent is often the deciding factor. Birmingham’s graduate population and growing professional workforce are major draws.
The office has changed
Modern workplaces are no longer just places to work. They are increasingly designed to support collaboration, culture, innovation and employee engagement.
Accessibility matters
Access to rail, tram and wider transport networks makes Birmingham city centre significantly easier for employees, clients and visitors to reach.
Follow the business
Professional services firms increasingly want to be where their clients, advisers and industry partners already are, creating a powerful city-centre cluster effect.
Smaller offices can support bigger ambitions
Standard Life reduced its footprint by around 90%, while Fieldfisher took additional space with growth in mind. The focus is less on square footage and more on what the workplace enables.
Change is cultural
Successful relocations require more than a property transaction. Employee engagement, communication and early involvement are critical to bringing people with you.
ESG is fundamental
Sustainability is now embedded within workplace decision-making, influencing everything from building selection to fit-out materials and commuting patterns.
Grade A space is part of the attraction
Modern occupiers increasingly expect high-quality buildings with strong amenities, sustainability credentials and a better overall workplace experience.
What happens outside work matters
Restaurants, cultural venues, events and social opportunities all contribute to recruitment, retention and stronger workplace culture.
A compelling growth story
Competing for investment means competing with cities across the UK and Europe. A clear narrative around talent, innovation and future growth remains essential.

If you’d like to find out more about the BCO’s events, check out our calendar here: https://www.bco.org.uk/events