Issuu

One Magazine

David Wickens

Cover: Leticia Tiekubea, Supervisor at 140 Aldersgate.

Head of Workplace Operations & Chair of Landsec | Aspire

AAs we hurtle towards 2025, let’s take a moment to reflect on the many things Landsec | Aspire has achieved this year.

2024 has been an incredibly busy year. Our fundraising activities –including the Quiz Night in May, the Golf Day in July and the SNOWDON 360° challenge in October – have helped us raise a total of £20,805 this year and £68,506 overall to date for our charity partner, Caxton Youth Organisation. In addition, Aspire members rolled up their sleeves back in February to renovate the charity’s Pimlico base and, throughout the year, Service Partners have responded to requests from the Caxton team for assistance with various issues. The result is 479 volunteering hours being clocked up this year, and a grand total of 1096 since the beginning of our partnership! Thank you to everyone for your sterling efforts to support this brilliant organisation, which transforms the lives of young people with physical or learning disabilities.

This year there have also been some important changes from a business

perspective. Following our Future of Facilities programme, 1 April marked the start of our new Service Partner contracts. BGIS, Recorra and Regular Cleaning joined the Aspire family, followed by BM Caterers in September. We also introduced Aspire | Halo – our Health and Loyalty Offering – in April, ensuring every member of Aspire has access to a suite of employee benefits, irrespective of which Service Partner they work for. If all that weren’t enough, September saw the launch of our new uniform collection and in October Landsec’s Workplace Operations team moved from 16 Palace Street to their new home at 123 Victoria Street.

So, it’s definitely time for everyone to take a well-earned break for the festive season! You can start by spending a few minutes looking at all the great photos in this issue from our annual Aspire party and Christmas Jumper Day.

I wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful and healthy 2025.

It’s Christmas! Ho, ho, ho…

With sparkling trees, festive music and seasonal treats, there’s been a fantastic atmosphere across the London portfolio this month.

AAs well as Landsec’s first-ever Christmas lights switch-on and the traditional Seasonal Cheer events, customers have also enjoyed some Christmas mini markets this year.

The big switch-on

The inaugural Christmas tree lights switch-on took place at 80 Victoria Street on Tuesday 3 December. Oliver Knight, Landsec’s Head of Workplace, did the honours, aided by a supersized version of Raymond Briggs’ Snowman. Customers enjoyed mince pies and mulled wine, provided by our new Service Partner, BM Caterers. Organised by Landsec Experience, the big switch-on was followed by a fun quiz upstairs in the Landing café. All the Christmas trees and reception decorations were supplied by Fredericks of London and organised by the Rapport team.

Christmas Giving Tree

Meet the team

Seasonal Cheer

The annual Seasonal Cheer programme, which offers complimentary Yuletide refreshments and music to our customers, made a welcome return to the London portfolio on 11 and 12 December. Organised by Landsec Experience, the events brought real warmth to all properties and the festive food and drink on offer – including mince pies, sausage rolls and mulled wine – proved very popular.

Mini markets

The pop-up Christmas mini markets held at 62 Buckingham Gate, Nova South and 80 Victoria Street have also proved a real hit this year. Organised by Quentin Meliz, FOH Experience Manager for Rapport, these events featured stalls from three local businesses: Happy Vanilla (selling Japanese crochet), Debbie LloydSmith (candles) and El Cofre de Mya

(jewellery). The events provided a festive buzz in the reception areas and customers were delighted to have the opportunity to tick a few items off their Christmas shopping lists. “The markets went well,” says Quentin, “especially at 62 Buckingham Gate, which was the location where vendors reported the highest sales, and the feedback I received was great.”

The Giving Tree

Aspire colleagues from Rapport once again arranged for all properties to support the charity KidsOut through the Giving Tree campaign. Based on the Secret Santa concept, customers have been able to take tags from reception staff that feature a child’s name, age and gift wish, which they can then purchase and donate for a disadvantaged child to enjoy. Thank you to everyone who generously gave presents to make Christmas more special for these children.

Thank you!

You’ve all been busy spreading the Christmas magic – but none of this happens without a lot of preparation, time and effort. A big ‘thank you’ to all Aspire members involved in our Christmas activities – with special thanks to Emma Semple of Landsec and Quentin Meliz & Jessica Pilakis of Rapport, along with Tim Froggatt and Lottie Summers of BM Caterers.

Quentin Meliz and Emma Semple.

“Thank you for attending our first Landsec lights switch-on at 80 Victoria Street.”

OLIVER KNIGHT Head of Workplace at Landsec.

Check out all the event images now.

tTacos and tequilas were top of the menu at this year’s legendary Landsec | Aspire Christmas party. Held at Barrio in Shoreditch High Street on Friday 6 December, the event brought together colleagues from across the London portfolio to PartyAsOne.

With a Latin vibe, the venue proved the perfect spot for our seasonal shenanigans. Aspire amigos enjoyed complimentary drinks – including authentic Margaritas and ice-cold beers – throughout the evening, as well as platters of finger-lickin’ food.

While some chatted in the cosy caravan, others took to the dance

floor to strut their stuff to some classic tunes from the DJ – including a mass ‘Macarena’ session and even some breakdancing!

Later on, the glitter bar appeared and soon people were sporting sparkly decorations on their faces, arms and beards. Then it was time for the shot board – with some people unable to resist the opportunity to limbo under it!

Thank you to Kelly Barlow, Workplace Manager, for organising another great event and well done to all the partygoers who proved once again that Aspire members can party as hard as they work.

Feliz Navidad, everyone!

Check out all the event images now.

Check

Check out all the event images now.

Festive fashion for

Christmas Jumper Day

bBaby, It’s Cold Outside… but the Aspire family brought a warm glow to the London portfolio for Christmas Jumper Day on Thursday 12 December.

From the West End to the City, colleagues dug out their seasonal sweaters and festive accessories to help get everyone into the holiday spirit.

All the Yuletide favourites were on show: Santa Claus, elves, snowmen, figgy puddings, gingerbread men and Christmas trees, along with all kinds of winter wildlife, from robins and reindeer to penguins and polar bears.

A heartfelt ‘thank you’ to everyone who added some sparkle to our properties and brought smiles to the faces of our customers and guests.

One New Change.

Hill House.

New Street Square.

The Forge.

New

New Street Square.

62 Buckingham Gate.

New Street Square.

Nova Victoria.

New Street Square.

Nova Victoria. Nova Victoria.

Zig Zag Building.

5 minutes with…

Dennis Harwood

Strategic Account Manager, Bidvest Noonan

What do you like to do outside of work?

I enjoy spending time with my children, who are aged 3, 6 and 14. This includes taking them to kickboxing classes and swimming lessons. As a family, we really enjoy being outdoors. The kids love nature and animals – especially my son, who’s a little David Attenborough! When I was younger, I used to practise boxing and play football but now I just enjoy watching these sports.

What’s on your bucket list?

I’d like to show my kids various parts of the world – some of the places I’ve experienced myself and other places I have yet to visit. Also, I’d love to jump out of a plane – with a parachute, I hasten to add!

Are you a fan of anything or anyone?

I’ve supported Queens Park Rangers through the good times and the bad – it’s been mostly bad recently! I try to attend at least a couple of games each season.

Do you have any mantras in business or in life?

Adapt and overcome. It’s a phrase that stems from my time in the military.

What would you say is your greatest achievement?

My family (at the risk of sounding a bit cheesy). I’m also proud of the time I served in the army. I joined the Royal Green Jackets (the Rifles) when I was 17 and I had completed four tours of duty by the time I left at the age of 22. These were in Northern Ireland, Iraq (twice) and Kosovo. Other places I visited whilst training included Oman, Kuwait, South Africa and Belize. The experience I gained during those years definitely gave me the tools I needed to succeed.

Have you been inspired by anything you’ve seen, read or experienced lately?

I have had the pleasure of working with some great colleagues over the years, who I have seen many times do great things under pressure – dealing with anything from serious first-aid incidents to fires and building evacuations.

What do you know now that you wish you’d known when you were younger?

That things are never as bad as they seem, and failure is only the start of being successful.

Do you have any regrets?

That the performance of my Fantasy Football League team has dipped recently! We have a fun league that includes people from across the Aspire family. I was in top spot a few weeks ago but, sadly, not any longer.

Do you have any pets?

We have tortoise called Toto that Santa brought for my son last Christmas.

What’s your all-time favourite movie?

That’s a difficult one. I think I will have to go with Goodfellas.

What was your first ever job?

From the age of about 10, I worked on my dad’s fruit and veg stall in Portobello Market. It had been his father’s business before him. It was a good learning curve but he didn’t pay me as much as he paid his other staff!

What would you say is your best skill in business?

Resilience, which comes from my time in the army; I was put in a lot of difficult situations from a young age. I matured a lot and learned a great deal, which I was able to take into the security industry. I enjoy being in the thick of things and thrive under pressure. Now, in my role, I have to take a step back from the front line and be more strategic.

What’s your favourite part of your working day or week?

I like visiting different buildings and interacting with people.

And your least favourite?

Spending too long sitting behind a desk.

Thank you to the OryxAlign and Recorra teams for collaborating to enable the donation of some laptops to our charity partner, Caxton Youth Organisation.

With the charity’s on-site team growing, Caxton Youth had asked whether Landsec | Aspire might be able to donate any spare IT equipment. Peter Schwartz (Senior Technology Consultant with OryxAlign) and Oliver Swan (Senior Portfolio Manager with Recorra) liaised to arrange for six surplus laptops from OryxAlign to be wiped and refurbished by Recorra’s dedicated IT Asset Disposal (ITAD) department. OryxAlign also provided brand-new keyboards and mice, along with power supply units and a few other items.

Caxton Youth is very grateful for the additional laptops. Many thanks to Peter, Oliver and their teams for making this happen.

Laptops for Caxton Youth WrapUp London

Thank you to everyone who donated a winter coat or helped with collecting them for the WrapUp London initiative.

Organised each year by the charity, HandsOn London, the collection of pre-loved coats ensures that homeless and hard-up people across the capital can keep warm in the winter months. Well done to our wonderful frontof-house teams who organised the donation points and enabled an amazing 18 sacks of coats to be collected across the London portfolio.

Peter Schwartz -

Senior Technology

Consultant with OryxAlign.

united

MYO BRINGS THE Christmas style

Members have been enjoying the beautifully styled Christmas trees across the Myo portfolio. These have been installed by The Glasshouse, an award-winning social enterprise working with women in prison to grow, nurture and sell plants. Based at East Sutton Park women’s prison in Kent, The Glasshouse aims to reduce reoffending by providing horticultural training and employment for women prisoners reaching the end of their sentence.

Myo One New Change.

Myo Bankside.

Myo One New Change.

Myo update

As Myo continues to grow, we’re beginning to promote Myo King’s Cross, our seventh site and our largest to date. As the site’s mobilisation in spring 2025 is now just around the corner, you can find out a bit about Myo King’s Cross below.

Next year is shaping up to be another exciting and busy one for the whole Myo team, so I want to take the opportunity to thank everyone for their efforts this year and wish you all a relaxing and enjoyable festive break.

Becca Munroe

Operations and Experience Director

Located at 50 York Way, N1, Myo King’s Cross is just three minutes from Farringdon Elizabeth Line. The development offers 80,000 sq ft of flexible workspace and is the third Myo site to target WELL Platinum certification. It has been designed using sustainable

materials and has two dedicated wellness spaces. As well as private offices suitable for 12 to 200 desks, Myo King’s Cross features meeting rooms, terraces, focus booths, breakout areas with city views, a members-only gym, showers, bike storage and The Stables, a 200-capacity events space in a grade II-listed building.

Welcome to Eden

We have a new starter in the Myo/ Landsec team – Eden Scott joined us recently as our Member Experience Executive at Myo Bankside. In her spare time, Eden enjoys going to the cinema, spending time with friends and singing in her local choir.

Myo King’s Cross

Landsec | Aspire is always looking for your feedback to help us give praise where it’s due. Whether you’re a team member or a Landsec customer, let us have your Player of the Month votes and winners will be featured in One Magazine.

What are the Aspire Staff Recognition Awards?

Every month a ‘Player / Team of the Month’ is selected from nominations by you, other Aspire team members and Landsec customers. Winners receive a certificate and some well-deserved prizes. It is a credit to everyone that each month lots of nominations are received, illustrating just how good the Aspire team is and how team members are held in such high regard by the people they work with.

How do your workmates excel in the Aspire values?

— Bold

— Inclusive

— Driven

— United

Aspire PLAYER OF THE MONTH November ‘24

Each month we salute the people recognised by you for exceptional performance or for simply being a great team member. Nominations can now be made by emailing aspire@landsec.com or directly via WhatsApp on 07834 431208

Gentle Jaman

CCongratulations to Jamansing Thakali, Security Officer at 100 Victoria Street, on winning a Player of the Month award.

A Landsec executive recently witnessed professional and kind conduct from Jamansing and took the time to e-mail Jordon Joseph, Workplace Manager to praise his actions.

An elderly man had come into the building, which is located opposite the entrance to Victoria Underground station. With a train ticket in his hand, he was clearly quite confused and thought that the security speedgates led to the tube station.

Jaman dealt with the situation in an assured and calm way, explaining to the man gently, several times, that he was in an office rather than the train station. According to the Landsec employee, Jaman “spoke to him with dignity, compassion and respect”. He politely accompanied him out of the office and helped him get to the Underground entrance.

“I must say I am not surprised at all,” comments Jordon Joseph. “It just shows how much of an amazing job he does on a daily basis, and it comes as second nature too!”

Thank you, Jamansing!

Jamansing Thakali at 100 Victoria Street. driven

Our story began in 1944, when Harold Samuel set up Land Securities, carrying out vital work to rebuild communities after World War Two. Since then, we’ve continued to focus on acquiring places that will bring long-term value to our business, customers and communities.

It’s these places that have continued to evolve as the expectations of our customers, guests and communities have changed over time. And it’s that skill to constantly change and improve that means when we look to the future, we’re developing with the feedback of those who live and work there to ensure long-term success.