One
The voice of Landsec | Aspire // Bringing our community TogetherAsOne
We’ve expanded the AspireAcademy to support your personal and career development – check out all the new courses available to Aspire members! See pages 006-017
LearnAsOne
One Magazine
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With the Aspire Induction 2025 available now, please contact your line manager for easy access to the online dashboard.
David Wickens Head of Workplace Operations & Chair of Landsec | Aspire
WWe’re looking forward to recognising the success of Landsec | Aspire individuals and teams at our annual awards in March, but there’s a lot to celebrate this month too.
Firstly, we’re delighted to be relaunching the AspireAcademy learning platform. Many new courses have been added – each falling under one of our Four Pillars of Learning – to support the personal and career development of everyone in the Aspire family. Please take a look at what is available and make use of these great resources.
Secondly, we recently celebrated the ‘topping out’ of our pioneering development, Timber Square in Bankside. This is a traditional milestone in construction, which is reached when the last beam is laid on a building and it reaches its full height. Timber Square comprises two net zero carbon buildings surrounding a new public square. We look forward to mobilising Aspire teams at the site later this year.
Please take a few moments to complete our Aspire Employee Survey, which you can fill out online until 7 March. We need your feedback in order to develop Aspire further and maximise the potential of our collaborative network. This is your opportunity to shape the future of Aspire.
Thank you to everyone who voted for the nominees in our annual Aspire Staff Recognition Awards. The votes are being counted and we’re looking forward to celebrating the winners in our eight award categories –including the brand-new Aspire Building Of Excellence Award for the overall best-performing site team – on 6 March. You’ll be able to read all about it in our next issue.
As ever, this edition of One magazine has news from across the Aspire network, including an update from Glenn Darlison (Aspire Service Delivery Director – Hard Services), our Player of the Month award and the chance to spend ‘5 minutes with’ Clare Crosland, Learning and Development Business Partner for Rapport.
Heidi
Scott
One Copywriter heidi@tigerbaydesign.co.uk
AspireAcademy
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
Your pathway to PERSONAL
DEVELOPMENT
The AspireAcademy is our resource centre for the personal and career development of everyone in the Landsec | Aspire family. As we’ve added lots of new courses – including both online programmes and in-person events – we’re relaunching this brilliant learning platform.
The expanded AspireAcademy will benefit Aspire members, Service Partners and, ultimately, customers.
“Each of our Service Partners makes a contribution of 0.25% of their total contract value to support the development of Aspire members through the academy,” explains Alison Currell, Aspire Service Delivery Director (Soft Services). “In addition to the learning we’ve developed in collaboration with our Aspire Service Partners, some Service Partners have donated selected courses that they use within their own organisations and
which would be helpful for their Aspire colleagues. We’re aiming to grow the number of courses available over time and I’m delighted to share that Rapport will be supporting the academy through the services of a Learning and Engagement Manager for two days a week from April.”
Rapport is currently recruiting for this new role. Once in post, the Learning and Engagement Manager will take care of administrative tasks, deliver specific training and provide general support for the work of the Academy.
“Career development is something we are very keen to promote. Let’s improve, challenge and inspire our workforce.”
Alison Currell, Aspire Service Delivery Director
— This training has been specifically developed to address all areas of service delivery and the impact of each Aspire member on the customer experience.
— This area provides access to certified courses and professional qualifications to support your career progression. The courses are developed for targeted groups of Aspire team members, so colleagues are nominated to take part by their management team.
— This training is designed to benefit team members not only in their work environment, but also in their day-to-day lives.
— These sessions may be supplied by Service Partners, developed by the Aspire Operating Board or drawn from recognised business platforms, such as LinkedIn.
4 Pillars of Learning
“The Rapport team are excited to be working with Landsec to provide specialist support for the AspireAcademy,” explains Clare Crosland, Learning and Development Business Partner for Rapport. “The Learning and Engagement Manager will work with all Aspire Service Partners to build on the excellent foundations of the Academy and create a culture of learning, inclusion, recognition and service excellence across all Workplace teams. The goal is to empower Aspire members to take ownership of their performance and apply their knowledge and skills to anticipate and exceed customer expectations, while also progressing their own careers.”
The learning currently available in the AspireAcademy is listed on page 10 – please take a look and think about which courses might be of benefit to you. If you want more details or to take
part in any courses, please speak to your Aspire Ambassador or your line manager. If there is a specific topic that you’d like to learn more about that isn’t currently covered, please send an e-mail to learnasone@landsec.com or speak to your Aspire Ambassador or line manager.
In-person Learning
Service Delivery
— Influencing Through Storytelling How to increase your confidence in meetings and presentations.
— AspireAssist Masterclass Understanding tickets and navigating the system.
— Enhance & Elevate How to elevate the customer experience.
— Leading Service Excellence Tools & techniques to lead teams effectively.
— Service Excellence Collaborating to achieve excellent service delivery.
— Leadership Focus Group Identifying challenges & opportunities in our one-team approach.
Certified/Qualified
— Becoming a Mentor How to inspire and manage apprentices.
— IOSH Environment for Business Practical environmental training for managers & supervisors.
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Climate Change and Carbon Basic knowledge for managers & supervisors.
Improve your English Developing vocab and grammar to build confidence.
— Self-defence How to boost your personal safety.
5 Ways to Wellbeing Improving your mental & physical health.
COMING SOON
— Female Personal Safety How to be and feel safe.
With courses delivered on selected dates at a range of convenient venues, please contact your line manager for more information.
123 Victoria Street.
Online Learning
These sessions may be developed by the Aspire Operating Board, supplied by Service Partners or drawn from recognised business platforms, such as LinkedIn.
Aspire Induction sessions
— Aspire Induction
An introduction to Landsec, Workplace and Aspire.
— Let’s Talk Cyber Security How to recognise and respond to cyber security threats.
Aspire Service Partner sessions
Air Source Heat Pumps
The basics of ASHP technology. Alison.com
Online learning for Microsoft Word, Excel & Outlook.
— Introduction to Modern Slavery How to identify and respond to modern slavery.
Remove Campaign First-aid guidance for exposure to hazardous substances.
— See, Check and Notify How to spot & respond to hostile reconnaissance.
St Mungo’s HomelessWise A unique response to homelessness.
With the Aspire Learning Library available now, please contact your line manager for easy access to the online dashboard.
Ged Santangelo - Account Director at Regular Cleaning.
ONLINE DASHBOARD FOR PORTFOLIO-WIDE ACCESS With the Aspire Learning Library available now, please contact your line manager for easy access to the online dashboard.
Aspire ONE TEAM / ONE PURPOSE
Featuring Kelly Barlow
Workplace Manager
ASPIRE ACADEMY PRESENTS
Aspire Induction 2025
We have updated our self-guided induction presentation, which is part of the Landsec | Aspire Learning Library and designed for everyone joining the Aspire community.
Production of the e-training was driven by Alison Currell, Aspire Service Delivery Director. “We wanted to provide an interactive introduction to Aspire,” says Alison, “that would be more engaging than simply reading a booklet. The fact that the training is completely self-guided means that it is really easy for managers to arrange its delivery and that it can be completed at the desired pace of the person being trained.”
The presentation begins by introducing Aspire members to Landsec and its ‘Build well, Live well, Act well’ sustainability strategy. Then the
With the Aspire Learning Library available now, please contact your line manager for easy access to the online dashboard.
training explains what Aspire is and introduces both the Aspire and Workplace teams. It talks about Aspire’s integrated service streams and the Service Partners that deliver them, as well as the core values of Aspire.
“The presentation also shows Aspire’s organisational structure,” says Kelly Barlow, Workplace Manager, who narrates the induction, “as well as introducing people to the AspireAssist 24/7 HelpDesk. The e-training also talks about the calendar of Aspire events and challenges, and tells people how to get involved, both in person and online.”
AspireAcademy
También disponible en español.
With Spanish the second most spoken language across the team, the Aspire Induction 2025 is now also available in Spanish.
Featuring Marlene Aguilar Team Co-ordinator – Workplace Operations
Exceptionally high levels of customer experience can only be maintained through continuous personal development and innovation. Let’s embrace the AspireAcademy and all the benefits it can bring.
David Wickens Head of Workplace Operations & Chair of Landsec | Aspire
Office Space by Landsec
DASHWOOD is decarbonised Hard services update
Dashwood has now been fully decarbonised and is operating on an installed and commissioned air source heat pump.
The planned rollout of air source heat pump (ASHP) technology continues apace and the first building to complete its retrofit is Dashwood, located in the heart of the City.
By helping to decarbonise the London portfolio, our ASHP retrofit programme will play a key role in Landsec achieving its pledge to reach net zero by 2040.
In the past couple of years, Dashwood has undergone major upgrades in a two-stage project, delivered by Redworx. Firstly, the critical cooling infrastructure was split from the building cooling demand, to ensure independent systems and resilience for the building. The second element was to ensure the building was delivering the cooling/heating capacity in the most efficient manner.
The multi-stage approach to the project was taken due to its complexity and to allow efficient management of floorspace demands,
alongside tolerance for the building amendments. The delivery phases included building-wide hydraulic reviews, understanding of the existing DesOps (Description of Operations, or the documentation of operational processes) and documenting the amendments required in the new way of working.
The successful delivery of this ASHP system sets a benchmark for the other retrofit projects that are underway at 80-100 Victoria Street, One New Change, 123 Victoria Street and 6 New Street Square.
Glenn Darlison Aspire Service Delivery Director
5 minutes with…
Clare Crosland
Learning and Development Business Partner, Rapport
What do you like to do outside of work?
I like to keep fit with yoga, strength training and walking. To unwind, I love painting dot mandalas, pottering in my shady garden or curling up with a good book – crime fiction is my favourite genre. Of course, nothing really beats a good catch-up with close friends or time spent with my family. Unfortunately I don’t see my sister or nephew that often, because they live in Columbia!
What’s on your bucket list?
Plenty of travel destinations where nature is a focus – I would love to spend some time in Costa Rica, for example. On a chillier note, I’d absolutely love to see the Northern Lights. I’ve been fortunate to have done a fair bit of travelling in my life. My favourite part of the world to date is probably South America.
Are you a fan of anything or anyone?
I’m a huge Leonard Cohen fan and was lucky enough to see him live in concert at the O2. It was his last tour, shortly before he died. There’s something so spiritual and haunting about his lyrics and music. I’ve been listening to him for over 30 years and never get tired of it.
Do you have any mantras in business or in life?
“We are what we repeatedly do.” It’s a lesson in making the right choices in life, really.
What would you say is your greatest achievement?
Swimming from Asia to Europe!
This was about a decade ago, when I swam across the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul. It took me one hour and one minute to swim the 6km distance. I don’t swim as often these days but still enjoy time in the pool now and then.
Have you been inspired by anything you’ve seen, read or experienced lately?
I’m consistently inspired by the energy, ideas and creativity of the people I train.
Do you have any regrets?
I don’t have any regrets as such. There are, of course, things I wish I had done differently – but then, I wouldn’t be who I am today.
Do you have any pets?
Sadly, I am allergic to most furry creatures! However, I can spend hours watching the birds in my garden.
What’s your all-time favourite movie?
There are too many to mention!
Suffice to say, I do love a psychological thriller.
What was your first ever job?
Working as a lifeguard at my local swimming pool in Wales. Actually, I was doing three jobs at the time – also working as a barmaid and washing dishes in a Little Chef – to save up in order to go travelling in my gap year. It enabled me to spend a couple of months in Switzerland and then four months in Australia.
What would you say is your best skill in business?
I would say that my two best skills are resilience and creativity.
What’s your favorite part of your working day or week?
Delivering training to an engaged group of people. This is something that I have the pleasure of doing once or twice a week in my role.
And your least favourite? Any kind of admin chore!
“Delivering training to an engaged group of people is something that I have the pleasure of doing once or twice a week in my role.”
Clare Crosland
Caxton Youth
Organisation
Pimlico progress
Work is progressing for our planned improvements at the Pimlico home of our charity partner, Caxton Youth Organisation.
As we await planning permission for the redevelopment of Midge Island – the charity’s outdoor pursuits centre on the River Wey in Surrey – we are focusing our efforts on Caxton Youth’s London base in our ‘Making Pimlico Perfect’ initiative.
We recently made progress with the first phase of this work, which is an overhaul of the chill-out room at the back of the building. In a visit this month, Aspire members stripped the space back to a shell in preparation for redecoration, which will take place soon. Thank you to everyone who helped with this work.
Window wonders!
As previously reported, the Principle Cleaning team at Cardinal Place help to keep the windows clean at Westminster City School.
Their efforts have brought a shine to the building’s glass, particularly in areas that had not been cleaned for many years. Now the team are extending their support for the local community by undertaking a comprehensive clean of all the school’s windows in a programme that will take a year to complete.
“The cleaning work will be done in four phases, during periods when the school is closed,” explains Vitor Ferreira, Account Director for Principle. “Phase one was completed in December and we are now working closely with the school to organise the remaining three phases. Working in partnership with Landsec, the Principle team are always grateful for the opportunity to help the local community.”
Police pop-ups
The teams at 123 Victoria Street, Zig Zag Building and Nova hosted pop-up events by the Metropolitan Police recently.
Officers were on hand to give information to customers and visitors on how to avoid being the victim of crime, including advice on property marking and being alert to mobile phone theft. In particular, the Met is urging people to be aware of ‘hugger muggers’ –strangers who are overly friendly in pubs and clubs, a tactic used as a distraction to steal wallets, phones or other valuable items.
Landsec | Aspire STAFF RECOGNITION
AWARDS 2024
Awards Ceremony
Thursday 6 March (Invitation only)
IS YOUR WORKMATE A GREAT TEAM PLAYER? You’ve had YOUR SAY
Thanks, you responded with an incredible
310 VOTES
Voting has now closed - all votes are being counted and the winners will be announced at the award ceremony on Thursday 6 March 2025.
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 January ‘25
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
Perseverance pays off
CCongratulations to Jake Palmer and Francesca Bartlett of BGIS on winning Player of the Month awards.
Jake (Supervisor) and Francesca (Senior Customer Experience Manager) arranged for Gratte Brothers, OryxAlign and Protec to attend The Forge at short notice to install access control systems for a new customer.
“If it wasn’t for Jake’s perseverance,” says Ellie Delamain, Assistant Workplace Manager, “the signing of the lease would have been delayed, which would have been detrimental to the business. There were several obstacles along the way but, with the team’s hard work, we managed to successfully overcome these and have one happy, new customer!”
Thank you, Jake and Francesca!
Jake PalmerBGIS Supervisor 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.
