Over the past year, the commercial property industry has navigated an evolving landscape, with challenges ranging from stricter sustainability standards to rising construction costs. And the recent change in government has added yet another layer of complexity. In response, those responsible for creating working environments have had to continue to adapt their strategies, to not only meet the shifting market trends but also evolving occupier preferences.
The British Council for Offices (BCO) continues to place a growing emphasis on the next generation of talent who are shaping the future of the industry and its response to the transforming office landscape. Now in its ninth year, BCO NextGen is a dedicated platform for under 35s, created to encourage, energise and support emerging talent and the fresh and innovative ideas they bring to the sector, fostering positive change in the process.
Operating across London, the South East and the South West, East Anglia, the Midlands, the North, and Scotland, regional committees help under-35 professionals build their networks while offering a platform for sharing ideas and building knowledge.
This year has seen BCO NextGen extend its partnerships network to deliver mentoring and networking sessions in collaboration with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Westminster and City Property Associations (WPA and CPA). Demonstrating an ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, BCO NextGen has also expanded its existing collaborations with Women in Property, Black Professionals in Construction and Career Ready into new regional areas.
This, combined with a free mentorship programme that provides more hands-on support, has increased the NextGen membership within the BCO from 25% to 30% over the past year. As a platform for the entire commercial property sector, its members come from a range of backgrounds, including design, development, property management, and leasing.
Beth Starling, chair of the BCO NextGen Committee for London and the South East, says: “The growth we’ve seen in our NextGen community this year has been nothing short of remarkable, which speaks volumes about the passion our young professionals have for shaping the future of the workplace.”
BCO NextGen’s activity focused on three main themes in 2024 – artificial intelligence, workplace culture and social impact – which have underpinned its various events such as its ‘Let’s Talk About…’ panel series, its contribution to the BCO Conference and the flagship NextGen Ideas Competition.
Alongside these initiatives, the NextGen community have also launched its own wellness programme offering activities like rooftop yoga, cycling and running clubs. As Ella Clark, vice chair of the BCO NextGen Committee for London and South East, says: “It has been great to see the NextGen Wellness programme continue to gain even more momentum this year, with the addition of the Run Club. It’s a great way to grow industry connections over common interests.”
The buildings tours have been another key focus of the year. Oliver Hall, immediate past chair of the BCO NextGen Committee for London and the South East, says: “The tours encourage our members to learn from one another while also spotlighting best practice and forward-thinking design.” This year’s tours included a range of environments from retrofit and boutique hospitality driven fitouts including the EQ-Bristol and MYO Piccadilly, which Hall notes, offered “a wider range of occupiers and developer typologies, and provided members and the public the opportunity to explore a variety of alternative design solutions and features.”
The tours are also a chance for project teams to share experience and best practice. As Starling says, “the building tours are wonderful journeys of discovery, where we’re not just looking at spaces, but really understanding the stories and thinking behind them.”
The BCO Conference in Birmingham saw an unparalleled NextGen presence. 180 NextGen members attended, with NextGen Committee members contributing to and curating sessions throughout the event.
Another key highlight of the BCO events calendar, the annual BCO NextGen Awards ceremony saw eight awards attributed to the most outstanding young professionals in the property industry and to those supporting them on their journey.
The Rising Stars from Buckley Gray Yeoman, Overbury, AtkinsRéalis, AECOM and WILL+Partners were applauded for their sustainability and social value engagement from supporting charitable initiatives to delivering spaces for knowledge sharing. Claremont was also acknowledged for its training initiatives that nurture its next generation.
As Bianca Spoeala, chair of the BCO NextGen Committee for the North, says: “The awards spotlight our NextGen professionals, empowering them to share their work, ideas and innovation. These are key for the workplace sector to thrive by keeping up to date with trends and pushing for diversity and inclusion.”
This year’s winners exemplify a relentless drive to advance the industry forward in terms of diversity, environment and education. As Hall says: “The awards show that we all have a role to place and that the sector is in safe hands with our next generation of experts and leaders.”
