A packed agenda of BCO conference 2024 activities over three days in Birmingham

The British Council for Offices (BCO) Annual Conference took place last week, offering a packed agenda filled with insightful sessions, building tours and networking opportunities. Held at the The ICC - International Convention Centre in Birmingham, the conference attracted delegates from across the built environment to discuss the evolving nature of workspaces and the impact of technology and creativity on future work environments. Squaredot were delighted to take part in the conference over the three days, hosting tours and chairing a plenary session, which you can read more about below.

Building Tours

Delegates had the unique opportunity to go on one of 14 building tours hosted across the city on Thursday. Representing Squaredot Kris Krokosz, Director, and Joseph Huddleston, Business Design Development Executive, welcomed delegates to 55 Colmore Row, hearing from Simon Lamprell of AHR on the buildings refurbishment as well as presenting Joseph's recent design work for RICS from an ESG point of view, moving their members lounge from the ground to fifth floor.  We also had the opportunity to introduce tour-goers, Squaredots workplace strategy and designs that helped moved Savills onto the 6th floor, with fabulous views across the Cathedral Square below.

Other great tours took place across the city, from the centrally located Paradise Birmingham development, down to Birmingham City University’s STEAMhouse scheme and across to Digbeth Estate for a walking tour. As the BCO conference this year focused on ‘Creating Vibrancy’ we were keen to show off the diverse, colourful and multi-faceted built environments that Birmingham offers.

Plenary Session: The Impact of Tech and the Creative Sector on Future Workspaces

On Friday morning the conference featured a pivotal plenary session chaired by Kris Krokosz, Director at Squaredot. This session, titled "The Impact of Tech and the Creative Sector on Future Workspaces," brought together industry leaders to discuss the intricate dynamics of workplace culture in the age of hybrid working.

Key Speakers:

Alex King: Lecturer, Birmingham City University

James Watts: Birmingham Office Lead, Arup

Leah Jones: Interim Deputy Director Workplace Experience, Government Property Agency

Tim Oldman: Founder and CEO, Leesman

Tim Sparks: Project Executive, Workplace Design and Delivery, Google

The plenary session addressed the necessity of collaboration and co-creation within tech and creative industries, emphasising the role of physical colocation in fostering innovation. Panellists debated whether these requirements are universal across business sectors, particularly as hybrid working becomes more prevalent.

The discussion delved into maintaining workplace culture amidst a fragmented workforce, exploring how traditional office environments contribute to collaboration, peer support, and knowledge transfer. The panel highlighted the importance of designing attractive workplaces that integrate smart technology, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles, AI, and various amenities to attract and retain talent.

Key Themes and Insights:

• Engineering Serendipity: Tim Oldman discussed the challenge of “engineering serendipity within workplace consultancy and design”.
• Learning and Campus Environment: Alexandra King emphasised that in-person learning on campus often leads to higher achievement compared to remote settings.
• Diverse Social Interests: James Watts noted that younger employees seek diverse, out-of-hours activities in the workplace beyond traditional socialising, such as workshops and creative sessions; “Younger employees have diverse social interests that they are keen to share and bring into the workplace, requesting out of hours activities to connect with others; other than just going to the pub; soldering iron and fixing sessions, 3d printing robot wars and board game workshops.”
• Privacy and Workspace Design: Tim Oldman pointed out that home environments typically offer better acoustic and visual privacy, which workplaces need to address, particularly for video calls and private discussions.
• Measuring Meeting Productivity: It was stressed that evaluating the productive output of meetings is more critical than merely focusing on spatial efficiency.
• Innovation Balance: Not all aspects of the workspace require innovation; some elements work well and should remain unchanged.
• Building Adaptations: Leah Jones highlighted the need for easily adaptable building configurations to support various workplace needs, as well as the importance of involving HR in resetting user behaviour. Leah also noted that “measuring intangibles against quantitative and qualitative is key for assets and amenities that are added to a workplace”.

The conference featured numerous activities and fringe events, enhancing the delegate experience. Welcoming BCO NextGen Mentees at The Library of Birmingham was a great opportunity to meet the future faces of the industry, and it was a privilege to catch up with those involved in the rewarding BCO initiative. Elsewhere, networking drinks and fringe events like Cundall ’s F1 Arcade and a visit to 103 Colmore Row’s rooftop bar offered informal settings to connect with peers, while enjoying atmospheric views across Birmingham’s skyline.

The BCO Annual Conference 2024 concluded with closing remarks from Peter Crowther, the conference host, celebrating the theme of "Creating Vibrancy" in the built environment. The event successfully highlighted the dynamic interplay between workspace design, technology, and creative sectors, providing valuable insights for attendees to implement in their respective fields.