Empowering the next generation of workplace leaders

BCO NextGen is a dedicated programme to champion and support young people as they enter the office sector. I’m proud to be this year’s BCO NextGen Chair, writes Bianca Spoeala of Cundall.

The British Council for Offices is the leading forum for the UK’s office sector. Through discussion, research and collaboration, our members shape the workplaces of the future.

Our goal is to provide more than 3,000 of our members and non-members with a platform to share ideas, expand their sector knowledge, and build their network with like-minded professionals. This helps to establish strong building blocks for young people at the start of their careers.

By enhancing skills and honing talent through learning, we aim to foster leadership skills in those individuals who will take our sector forward.

A new crop of talented, visionary leaders will be required across all industries to bring future workplaces to life. We’re looking forward to hopefully meeting many of those future champions at Place North’s Place Young Things event this week.

What to expect from BCO NextGen events

I work closely with our stakeholders to organise and host workplace events for the next generation of built environment professionals.

All our events are led by BCO NextGen committee members, who are dedicated to showcasing the best of the sector.

The aim is to shine a spotlight on real-world best practice in offices across the North, with research and insight, talks, tours, and awards that highlight some of the most unique projects in the North.

If you’ve not been to a BCO NextGen North event, they provide an insight into such projects, including the challenges overcome, and offer the chance to speak directly to project teams involved in bringing the spaces to life.

This year, our North committee has focused on delivering a series of educational events that uncover what the workplace sector looks like now – and what the future will bring.

Together, we have visited several new and retrofit projects to explore the benefits and discuss what the next generation expects out of both approaches.

In 2025 and beyond, we will be looking at what occupiers want moving forward, including how creating a positive, memorable workplace culture and adding social value will help to drive more people into their offices.

We’ll be unpicking innovation and trends and discussing how the next generation of office superstars can help, exploring topics like sustainability, energy performance, and employee health and wellbeing.

Learn from the North’s brightest and best

BCO NextGen North members also benefit from our free BCO mentoring programme, which forges supportive relationships with industry leaders to help our members learn and develop.

It’s a safe space to explore career development, set goals, and gain independent feedback on how to respond to challenges.

We also regularly hold in-person and virtual events to introduce members to industry experts who have committed to becoming a mentor. The level of commitment is up to the individual: how often you meet depends on what you need, but generally it is quarterly.

Training for the future

As a BCO NextGen North member, you can also partake in training opportunities. Our public speaking sessions are a real highlight, designed to help aspiring leaders build their communication confidence, find their own voice, and showcase their ideas effectively.

Members have free access to BCO research on a wealth of office-related issues and topics, providing members with first-hand knowledge to keep well-informed on the latest industry developments.

The recent BCO report, Towards Experience Utopia, tells employers and office designers to treat employees like customers that need to be acquired and retained. The report was commissioned by the BCO Occupiers Group, which comprises representatives of leading employers, such as NatWest, PwC, Deloitte, Hines, Goldman Sachs, Gilead, BT, and Citi. It delves into the latest thinking on the implications of the rise in hybrid working and the profound transformation in the office sector as a result.

In all, the aim of BCO reports like this is to equip the current and next generation of office professionals with the insights and know-how that will be essential for your future workplace projects.

If you are aged 35 and under and work in the office sector in the North of England, you can apply to be a BCO NextGen member by visiting our website: bco.org.uk/membership/membership-nextgen

• Bianca​​​​ Spoeala is senior marketing and business development executive at Cundall, and chair of BCO NextGen in the North