Office Matters: The BCO Podcast

British Council for Offices

Office Matters is a podcast brought to you by the BCO in which we delve into everything workspace and work places, from the people that make it happen, the places that it helps create, the planet that we need to protect as we redesign, retrofit and deliver fresh workspaces and the policies and practices that are impacting the sector today and tomorrow.

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47 episodes
Updated July 27

Episodes47

Newest first

Oct 6, 2025 · 34 min
Workspace Unwired: An enlightening approach
In this episode of Workspace Unwired BCO chief executive Samantha McClary is talking to Andy McBain, head of future of workspace and design at Natwest, and senior vice president of the BCO, about why customer experience is central to making workspaces work, why next year’s BCO conference is a must attend and why as a sector we need to get so much better at talking about the value we bring to the wider economy. The pair talk about the importance of human-centric design, the power of partnership and why we should all be seeking enlightenment. Succession’s Brian Cox might make an appearance too. And while his most famous catchphrase may not be uttered, there is a little, very appropriate swear. What is it? Well you’ll have to listen in. Enjoy! For listeners interested in delving deeper into the research mentioned in this podcast, visit https://www.bco.org.uk/publications/about-our-reports Reports are free for BCO members to download
Sep 22, 2025 · 40 min
Workspace Unwired: Why mentoring matters
In this episode of Workspace Unwired, BCO chief executive Samantha McClary sits down with Square Dot’s Joe Huddleston to talk about the power and purpose of mentoring. In this 40 minute conversation we touch on the BCO’s own mentoring programme and how those not yet part of it can get involved, but also dive deeper into what makes for a good mentor and mentee and why, if we really want to create the best workplace and workspace of tomorrow, we need to properly unlock the value of mentoring. As a proud Brummie, Joe also shares his thoughts on the renaissance of the Midlands powerhouse and the challenges and opportunities the city’s office sector faces. Find out more about the BCO's mentoring programme at https://www.bco.org.uk/nextgen-mentoring-programme
Sep 8, 2025 · 1 hr 10 min
Workspace Unwired: 10 principles for a better built world
In this episode of Workspace Unwired, BCO, chief executive Samantha McClary sits down with Ben Cross, the self-confessed failed architect and founder of More, a development management company that unapologetically believes that a focus on ROI delivers more than just a healthy bottom line. In this long listen, Ben talks about his contrarian approach to development management, his commitment to always asking why, and his passion to put heart, feeling and personality into every place we create. He’s a strong believer that refurbishment should be the strategy going forward, that every building has a purpose and that doing the right thing can be a by-product of doing the financially savvy thing. Listen in as we unpack 10 new principles for a better built world.
Aug 25, 2025 · 39 min
Workspace Unwired: Beyond the aesthetic
In this episode of Workspace Unwired, BCO chief executive Samantha McClary sits down with Knight Frank’s Betsy Brady for a look at how people working in the workspace sector have an opportunity to develop happiness. It’s not as woo-woo as it sounds, promise. Creating places where people want to be, to collaborate, innovate and work is crucial in developing truly functional and sustainable offices today. Listen in to find out more about why you need to consider psychoacoustics just as much as your floor to ceiling heights and amenity if you want to give people a reason to be in the office and why understanding humans might be a better sales pitch to occupiers that some good patter on rents. And, if you’re are at all feeling down about the future of offices – and the wider real estate sector – then you absolutely need to listen to this conversation with Betsy. She’s the perfect advert for why a career in real estate is the best career you can build. Listen in to find out why.
Aug 11, 2025 · 32 min
Workspace Unwired: From adversarial to authentic
In this episode of the BCO’s Workspace Unwired podcast, chief executive Samantha McClary sits down with Emma Roche, a partner in law firm Greenwoods, to discuss the changing nature of the office world from a legal perspective. With reforms to the Landlord & Tenant Act, a mooted ban on upward only rent reviews and a wider variety of occupational agreements out there, Emma shares her views on potential fresh new legislation and gives us the lowdown on a new managed space agreement that does away with legalese and replaces it with more human and less adversarial language. Could this be the start of something new? Emma is more than just a leading lawyer – she’s been listed multiple times in the corporate occupier Legal 500 – she’s also a coach, grounding her practice in the teachings of philosophy. Keep listening as we delve in to why knowing our what and why couldn’t be more important when it comes to delivering workspace that works.
Jul 28, 2025 · 42 min
Workspace Unwired: Unrivalled access
In this debut episode of the BCO’s Workspace Unwired podcast, chief executive Samantha McClary sits down with Helen Hare, director of projects at GPE, to find out a little bit more about the newly installed president of the British Council for Offices. Listen in to find out what makes Helen tick, her journey into real estate and why, if you want to be successful, picking your team well and being an ace at project management are vital skills to have. We talk more about the value that comes from the BCO’s unrivalled access to excellence, the importance of talent in the sector, the need to close a growing skills gap, the importance of language, Helen’s responsibility as a visible role model and how the world of workspace and work places needs to be more widely recognised as contributor to growth. There’s all that and so much more. Enjoy.
Sep 30, 2022 · 34 min
Talking Shop with the NextGen (ep.6) with Oliver Hall and Araceli Camargo
Designing for Neurodiversity: Research shows that members of the neurodivergent community continue to face struggles with disabling workspaces, with the British Council for Offices calling on landlords and occupiers to urgently design more inclusive office spaces. One in seven individuals in the UK is classed as neurodivergent, yet these individuals’ needs continue to be neglected by businesses. Those who belong to the neurodiversity community are currently underserved by and often unsupported in the current employment ecosystem. A BCO Research report published earlier this year was undertaken by Centric Lab and PLP Architecture and examines the needs of the neurodiverse workforce. To this end, the report was divided into four core sections: defining neurodiversity, the link between place and health, identifying the principles of an enabling work environment, and design insights for a work-enabling environment. It brings in research from the worlds of neuroscience, lived experience and design to create a holistic and ecological approach to the creation of enabling work environments. The intention has been to look at how neurodiversity, employment and office spaces intersect to enact health and social justice. Combining the insights of neuroscience and the expertise of design, it sets out new standards and recommendations and is intended as an introduction for those who are building and designing offices. In ep. 6 of Talking Shop, BCO NextGen London's Oliver Hall sits down with one of the report authors, Araceli Camargo, lead scientist at Centric Lab and a cognitive neuroscientist focused on how people interact with urban environments. The full BCO research report is available to download from the BCO website: https://www.bco.org.uk/Research/Publications/Designing_for_Neurodiversity.aspx
Apr 28, 2022 · 14 min
Talking Shop with the NextGen (ep.5) with Mike Burton and Chris Radley
In a 15-minute rapid-fire episode, Mike Burton (Director, AECOM) and BCO NextGen's Chris Radley (Associate, Fletcher Priest) chat about lessons learned from the pandemic, resilient buildings, tech and staying creative in the field of architecture. Mike leads AECOM's London Building Engineering team and is responsible for major UK and international projects. Mike has over 22 years of experience in sustainable design and delivery. Chris commenced with Fletcher Priest in 2011 and has worked on a range of workplace, leisure and hospitality projects at all design and construction stages. His portfolio includes projects of a variety of scales, both new-build and refurbishment leading from feasibility through to construction. Chris has also trained at the Centre for Window and Cladding Technology, and put these skills to use leading the design and coordination of the BCO Award-winning Brunel Building façade and external structure. #bconextgen #talkingshop #bconotebook
Jan 27, 2022 · 29 min
Talking Shop with the NextGen (ep.4) with with Conor Nolan and Nigel Miller
In episode 4, 2021's NextGen Rising Star Midlands Award Winner Conor Nolan speaks to Nigel Miller, MD of Cordless Consultants and author of BCO research report, ‘Impact of technology on the Covid-19 workplace.’ They discuss which tech trends are dominating regions the UK, barriers to adoption of smart tech in buildings and how H.R, I.T & FM in commercial real estate are having to work closer together than ever. #bconextgen
Sep 13, 2021 · 20 min
Talking Shop with the NextGen (ep.3) with Clare Bailey and Hannah Buxton
In the latest episode of Talking Shop, Clare Bailey, author of the BCO Research report, 'Affordable Workspace: A Solution, Not a Problem' (undertaken by Savills) speaks to NextGen's Hannah Buxton. "Productivity is up, but innovation is down." The two discuss affordable workspace at length, SME's, building reuse, social sustainability, community and the recent workplace challenges Gen Z and Millennials have faced #remoteworking
Aug 26, 2021 · 35 min
Talking Shop with the NextGen (ep.2) with Ken Giannini and Yohance Harper
In a varied discussion and debate, Ken Giannini (Director, MCM) and one of NextGen's Rising Stars Yohance Harper (Associate Partner, Quadrant) chat about the work they're doing, and share their thoughts on architecture, sustainability, mentoring and purpose. They also share all things inspiration, career journeys and future industry trends. “As a young architect, a previous boss told me to always challenge solutions from the past” – Ken Giannini Yohance reminds us that great architecture should make you feel something and stresses the importance of anything that helps you to grow - especially chatting to industry peers - you just never know what could come from mingling and #networking. “Buildings need to be platforms for partnerships.” If you look at your career, what would you like to leave behind and be known for? For Yohance, it’s people and places. #bconextgen #talkingshop
Jun 14, 2021 · 35 min
Talking Shop (ep. 1) with Gillian Stewart and Savannah de Savary
In the first episode of Talking Shop with the NextGen: Gillian Stewart (BCO Scotland's Chair and MLA Director) speaks to Savannah de Savary, Founder & CEO of Built_ID + Forbes 30 under 30 Social Entrepreneur and one of BCO Nextgen’s PropTech Company of the Year Award winners. They discuss the commercial real estate industry at large, PropTech, and how we get more young people a step up the construction career ladder and more.
Jul 17, 2020 · 10 min
The New Normal – Paul Patenall (ep. 1)
SHOW LESSCOVID-19 has changed the way we work. For the first time ever, the nation is working from home en masse. Office desks have been swapped for kitchen tables, meetings for video calls and suits for sweatpants. Already, this shift is posing new questions about the future of work and, in particular, the office. Will working from home become the ‘new normal’? If so many people can do their jobs from home, do firms really need to take out so much office space? How can the ‘future office’ learn from our present situation? Richard Kauntze, Chief Executive of the BCO, speaks with Paul Patenall, BCO President and Projects Director at U+I. Receive the BCO newsletter and stay up to date with future #bcoevents / webinars: Visit http://www.bco.org.uk/Events/Events.aspx
Jul 17, 2020 · 8 min
The New Normal - Elaine Rossall (ep. 2)
To what extent will working from home become the new normal? Richard Kauntze, Chief Executive of the BCO speaks with BCO Research Chair, Elaine Rossall, UK head of offices research at JLL about how we might work post-Covid-19, and the pandemic’s impact on infrastructure and the office sector.
Jul 17, 2020 · 14 min
The New Normal - Ken Shuttleworth (ep. 3)
To what extent will working from home become the new normal? Richard Kauntze, Chief Executive of the BCO speaks with 2017/18 BCO President, and founder of Make Architects, Ken Shuttleworth about how workplace designs may change as a result of Covid-19, whether there will still be an appetite for major workplace projects and the economic shock's impact on the industry. Shuttleworth joined Foster and Partners in 1986 and worked on some of the world's most iconic buildings, including The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation’s headquarters, 30 St Mary Axe ('The Gherkin’) and City Hall. He left Foster and Partners to set up his own practice, Make Architects, in 2004. The practice has completed a number of renowned buildings, such as the City of London Information Centre, the 55 Baker Street office development and the Olympic Park’s Copper Box Arena.
Jul 17, 2020 · 21 min
The New Normal - Despina Katsikakis (ep. 4)
"I have not had a desk in 25 years." In this episode of The New Normal, BCO's Chief Exec speaks to Cushman & Wakefield's Head of Occupier Business Performance, Despina Katsikakis about the impact of the lockdown on the wellbeing and productivity of employees, how this period of working from home will impact the future of work and how the demands and expectations of occupiers might be changed by COVID-19.
Jul 17, 2020 · 12 min
The New Normal - Chris Richmond (ep. 5)
Head of Real Estate at PwC & Board Member at British Council for Offices, Chris Richmond discusses the shift to mass working from home, and what he thinks workers most miss out on by not being in an office.
Jul 17, 2020 · 15 min
The New Normal - Mat Oakley (ep. 6)
How will COVID-19 impact the relationship between tenants and landlords? In the latest episode, Richard Kauntze discusses this and more with head of Savills UK and European commercial property research team, Mat Oakley. Mat specialises in the office, leisure and retail sectors. Mat's experience includes work on a variety of topics including various office markets, the impact of major infrastructure developments, advising on tenant mix for both in and out-of-town retail and leisure developments, environmental impact analyses and assessing demand for and master planning leisure developments.
Jul 17, 2020 · 21 min
The New Normal - Peter Rees (ep. 7)
As City Planning Officer for the City of London, Peter Rees led the planning and regeneration of this world’s business and financial centre from 1985 to 2014. Today, Peter is Professor of Places and City Planning at UCL. He lectures internationally and advises developers and cities around the world on urban planning and design. Peter is a founder member and director of the British Council for Offices and received the President’s Award in 2003 for “presiding over one of the most extensive periods of redevelopment in the City’s long history.” Famously, Peter preferred to keep the City as a place just ‘for business’. In this episode, Kauntze asks whether he thinks this could change in the coming years, perhaps as a result of COVID-19. Planning in The City is covered throughout the episode, as well as what office designers can do to make their office stand out, and give people a reason to not just work from home.
Jul 17, 2020 · 19 min
The New Normal - Bill Price (ep. 8)
Bill Price is a director at WSP and a structural engineer by background. His career has included buildings across many sectors usually delivering multidisciplinary engineering services. He was responsible for the early design development stages of the Shard and associated with all the projects at London Bridge helping to raise the profile of tall buildings in London especially around transport nodes. Since 2012 Bill has been closely associated with the delivery and thought leadership around rail overbuild. Bill authored and led the production of the WSP papers ‘Building our way out of a crisis’, ‘Out of Thin Air’ and ‘Out of Thin Air – one year on’. He has presented on the topic at many conferences and events in the UK, continental Europe and Australia. Bill has been a long term supporter of the BCO and led the conference technical tour programmes for New York, Madrid, Chicago, London and the recently postponed Toronto. In 2016 Bill co-edited ‘A Strategic Design Guide to Tall Buildings’ for the British Council for Offices and published by the RIBA.