Landsec | Aspire One Newsletter - Issue 90 September 2023

Part of the Nova campus, n2 is an oasis of calm in vibrant Victoria. Inside, you’ll find a quality build and premium finishes: an office space designed, built and maintained to the highest industry standards. See pages 008-031

TO CELEBRATE A YEAR OF CUSTOMER SERVICE EXCELLENCE AND TO THANK OUR ASPIRE COMMUNITY FOR THEIR GLITTERING PERFORMANCE, WE’RE LOOKING TO RECOGNISE AND REWARD IN STYLE.

YOU’RE INVITED

Dress Code : Formal (Optional) / Smart Casual

GLITZ & GLAMOUR 2023

2023 STAFF RECOGNITION AWARDS INVITATION ONLY

2023 SEASONAL SHENANIGANS PartyAsOne

One Magazine

eEarlier this month, Landsec announced the addition of a further 100,000 sq ft of flexible office space under the Myo brand.

Plans have been unveiled for a 23,000 sq ft site at Lucent, located directly behind Piccadilly Lights, in early 2024 and for 82,000 sq ft of space in Kings Cross in 2025. These sites are in addition to the three new Myo locations at New Street Square (45,000 sq ft), St Paul’s (46,000 sq ft) and Bankside (48,000 sq ft) that will be open by the end of this year. Along with the existing Myo sites in Victoria Street and Liverpool Street, these developments will boost Myo’s combined footprint to over 300,000 sq ft across seven central London locations by 2025. This is fantastic news and testament to the great work being done by the Landsec | Aspire teams at Myo Victoria Street and Myo Liverpool Street.

In this issue of Aspire One magazine, we meet some of our new colleagues at n2, the latest addition to the London portfolio. Located on the Nova estate, n2 brings 165,000 sq ft of prime office space on stream across its 18 floors.

I hope that those of you taking part in next month’s Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge are well advanced in your fitness preparations! It’s going to be an epic adventure and I hope the weather will be kind to the 34 brave souls (including me, for my sins!) taking on this feat of endurance. Photos of the event will be featured in next month’s edition.

This issue reports on recent news from across our Aspire teams, and our ‘5 minutes with’ column this month features Martyn Pharo, Workplace Manager for Landsec.

Alison Currell Senior Aspire Service Delivery Manager alison.currell@landsec.com

David Wickens

Head of Workplace Operations & Chair of Landsec | Aspire

n2, Victoria.

Cover: Phoebe Navin, Roving Administrator at Jaguar Building Services.

Paul Roberts, Managing Director at Jaguar Building Services, tackles the Old Man of Coniston during the Aspire Lake District Triple Challenge.

YORKSHIRE 3 PEAKS

14 OCTOBER 2023

The Yorkshire 3 Peaks is a 24-mile (38.6km) round trip route, and includes 1585m (5200ft) of ascent. This epic challenge takes on the peaks of Pen-y-Ghent (694 metres), Whernside (736 metres) and Ingleborough (723 metres), with the aim to complete the route in under 12 hours. These picturesque hills form part of the Pennine range, and encircle the head of the valley of the River Ribble, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

“Once more unto the peaks, dear friends”

Since 4 September, our AspireAssist team has been enlarged and transformed. The 24/7 HelpDesk and Landsec Property Administrator functions have been merged into an evolved and enchanced Assist team.

Now AspireAssist will raise and administer both the 24/7 HelpDesk support tickets and purchase orders, as well as dealing with all incoming calls to Landsec’s main switchboard. This change brings vast skill sets and experience together at ACE (Aspire Centre of Excellence) in One New Change, and focuses on delivering incredible customer service across our workplaces. Michael Rufai has joined the team as an AspireAssist Agent, while Alex Tan has been recruited as AspireAssist Supervisor. They join our existing team members: Shamora

Dalhouse (Aspire Service Delivery Manager), Jerome Baker, Grace Adefila, Hemanshi Rohit and Aaliyah Begum. Since we are in the process of expanding the team and still have some vacancies to fill, we will bring you a comprehensive update in our November issue. As we transition into a new way of working and complete additional training, we ask for your patience. If, in the meantime, you have any questions or require specific support in raising HelpDesk support tickets or purchase orders, please email assist@landsec.com

We’re bigger. Bolder. Better.

Yassine Hussain, Electrical Technician with Jaguar.

Office Space

by Landsec

the new team n2

Now

Office Space by Landsec

Located

is almost completely let. “There is only an area on level 2 still available,” says Martyn Pharo, Workplace Manager.

Nova

Nestled alongside Nova North, Nova South and The Nova Building, n2 enjoys a fantastic location in thriving Victoria. The 18-storey development comprises 165,000 sq ft of office space, with terraces on every floor. With a focus on sustainability, business continuity and wellbeing, n2 is close to some of London’s most exciting eateries and entertainment venues. Little wonder, then, that the building – which reached practical completion at the end of June –

“And most of that level is plant. All space has been let as our Blank Canvas solution, so fit-outs are currently underway for our new tenants.”

Martyn Pharo is managing n2 with the help of Aimee Hodgkinson, Assistant Workplace Manager, and Jacob Berkeley, Workplace Trainee. The experience with n2 so far has been slightly unusual compared to other new buildings in the Landsec portfolio.

“In terms of a new building achieving practical completion,” explains Martyn Pharo, “it’s been different because it’s

directly above the ticket hall and tunnels of Victoria underground station and behind the Grade II-listed Victoria Palace Theatre, n2 is the latest addition to the

estate.

Derek Enim of Bidvest Noonan.

Phoebe Navin and Kacey Dent from Jaguar.

more of an extension to the existing estate. A lot of the basement plant already existed and the building has simply been plugged into it. We’ve had a fantastic team on site here at Nova for over six years now. As they are familiar with the site and highly experienced, it’s made the process of bringing n2 on stream much easier than it would be for a separate new building.”

The Service Partners taking up residence at n2 are NJC (cleaning), Bidvest Noonan (security), Otis (lifts & escalators), OryxAlign (IT & data services), Jaguar Building Services (engineering), Bywaters (waste management), Q&S (landscaping) and Rapport (front of house). Martyn Pharo is full of praise for the new Landsec | Aspire team at n2. “A good example of how they’ve excelled recently would be when a sprinkler head was activated on the 16th floor due to a

contractor accidently knocking it. The engineers, cleaners and security officers worked together to resolve the issue quickly.” Aimee Hodgkinson agrees that the Aspire team are performing really well at n2: “Nothing has been too much to ask of them. They’re doing an amazing job and I’m very proud to be part of the team.”

Heading up the engineering team at n2 is Supervisor, David Knights. New to the Jaguar team, David reports to Jay Nel, Account Manager. “It’s been a smooth transition,” says David, explaining that the team’s role to date has been to undertake plant checks, sort any snagging issues and enable the fit-out teams to complete their work. He describes the finish of n2 as “really impressive” and he says he also enjoys his short commute to work. “The location is brilliant,” he says. “I only live across the river Thames in Nine Elms,

so for me it’s a half-hour walk in the morning, which is nice.”

Working alongside David is Yassine Hussain, Electrical Technician with Jaguar, who has just completed his electrical qualifications. “I finished within a week of this building opening, so it was perfect timing,” says Yassine. “So far, it’s been interesting,” he continues. “We’ve been mostly getting to know exactly where everything is so we can react quickly when the building is busier. So far, so good! We’ve had far fewer issues than expected for a new site.”

Yassine explains that the energy centre for the building is below ground and shared by all four buildings on the Nova estate. “It was already there and had enough capacity for n2,” he says. Jaguar handles any energy issues from the exit point of the centre to the tenant floors.

Aspire ONE TEAM / ONE PURPOSE

Above: Jacob Berkeley, Landsec Workplace Trainee.

Below: Bladimir Gil Zuniga from NJC.

Office Space by Landsec

Also visiting n2 were Administrators for Jaguar, Kacey Dent and Phoebe Navin. Kacey and Phoebe take care of all reactive maintenance via the AspireAssist 24/7 HelpDesk and all planned preventative maintenance (PPM) for the Nova estate. They issue all PPM jobs for the month and assign work to Jaguar’s engineers. Then, once tasks have been completed, they upload them onto Jaguar’s system, logging the job and the time taken.

Responsible for security at n2 is Sean Bates, Estate Security Manager. Bidvest Noonan had 36 Security Officers on the Nova estate but, since practical completion of n2, the company has

employed a further 14. “They are not all dedicated to n2,” explains Sean Bates, “but they have been recruited because of n2 and the extended public realm at Nova. The estate is opened up more, through Allington Street and along Bressenden Place.”

The security teams work 24/7, in night and day shifts. When the tenants at n2 have moved in, there will be one Security Officer in reception, one in the post room, one in the control room and one patrolling the perimeter. Sean Bates is very happy with progress at the new building. “It’s gone really well,” he says. “We recruited the team and had a good mobilisation period. Currently,

This new 165,000 sq ft, 18-storey office building evolves the successful Nova formula with a sustainability conscious design, a progressive approach to work and wellbeing, and a vibrant, connected community in the heart of Victoria.

Sean Bates, Estate Security Manager.

we’re busy dealing with any security concerns for Landsec – such as extra access controls and panic alarms for reception – and updating procedures, such as for fire alarms.” The security team has also been assisting with the logistics of getting contractors into the building without them going through n2’s reception, so as not to interfere with viewings. “The contractors’ entrance is at Nova South,” says Sean, “so they access n2 via the basement.”

Until tenants arrive in the building, Security Officers will also continue to take care of reception duties. Taking calls on the front desk on the day of our visit is Tofik Mussa, Security Officer. Although he’s experienced in the security industry, he is new to Landsec | Aspire and has been at n2 since the end of June. He likes the building and says he’s looking forward to tenants moving in. In terms of wellbeing, n2 is aiming for Gold certification from WELL, the internationally recognised organisation

for building standards in terms of human health and wellbeing. The building is designed to aid productivity and collaboration through light and spacious interiors, an outdoor terrace on every floor and plenty of greenery. The building also has great end-of-journey facilities including secure cycle parking, a bike repair station, changing rooms, showers and lockers. There is also access for all occupiers to a communal clubroom and skyline terrace on level 15. The clubroom can be used for eating lunch and informal meetings, as well as being booked for events. It is equipped with a large TV and refreshment facilities, with the terrace offering fantastic views towards South London. “We’ve never had a clubroom before,” says Aimee Hodgkinson. “That’s a first for the London portfolio and it’s really exciting. The views from the terrace on a clear day are stunning.”

By targeting the highest standards available for office buildings, we’ve created a workspace that helps customers get the most from their working day, and – more importantlyis a pleasure to be in.

Office Space by Landsec

Tofik

Mussa, Security Officer.

Aspire ONE TEAM / ONE PURPOSE

David Knights, Supervisor at Jaguar.

n2 was designed to minimise negative impacts and maximise positive impacts on the environment, achieving a BREEAM ‘outstanding’ rating for sustainability.

David Griffin from NJC.

Sustainability was also very much in mind when Landsec commissioned n2’s architects. The building has achieved a BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) rating of ‘outstanding’ for sustainability. With a focus on interior planting and exterior landscaping, there is a biodiversity net gain. The property also features low-water-use fixtures and fittings, low-impact materials and on-site recycling that enables 100% of waste to be diverted from landfill.

The third string to n2’s bow that has helped ensure an irresistible proposition for tenants is excellence in terms of business continuity. The Nova campus features resilient power supplies, electrical infrastructure and supply capacity provided by a new main substation, constructed by Landsec, as well as standby generators. In addition, n2 has achieved Platinum certification from WiredScore – the highest award possible, proving that a building meets exceptional standards for the quality of its wired infrastructure, resilience and wireless network.

A great workplace experience starts from the moment you walk through the door. The amenities and facilities we provide ensure our workplace is one people want to spend time in.

Staff at Caxton Youth Organisation, Aspire’s charity partner, are delighted to have received branded workwear, which has been kindly donated by NJC.

Brand new

WORKWEAR FOR CAXTON YOUTH

The team of youth workers and office staff have received a total of 26 items – including fleeces, T-shirts and longsleeved tops – that feature the Caxton logo and identify them as staff.

“We did not previously have any kind of uniform,” explains Rose Swainston, Caxton’s CEO, “so the branded clothing increases our visibility in the community. It helps our young people and passers-by to identify our team when we are out and about on trips. We also intend to wear the T-shirts during meetings at our club when we have new members, so they can tell who the staff are more easily.”

Many thanks to Peter Joyce, Account Director at NJC, and his team for organising this fantastic donation!

You heard it through the Grapevine

This month we welcome Sonia Freire to the Landsec | Aspire family. Now working as part of Rapport’s front-ofhouse team at 80-100 Victoria Street, Sonia has spent the past 15 years as a hairdresser and salon manager. Of her new job, Sonia says, “I’m absolutely loving it.” Born in Madeira, Sonia has studied and lived in the UK for most of her life. “I am a very happy and positive person,” she says, “who loves to learn, grow and always be ready for new challenges.” Her hobbies include going to the gym, reading self-development books, going to the cinema and socialising with friends and family.

Congratulations to Marco Cuenca (pictured), who has taken the reins as FOH Supervisor for Rapport at Lucent, Landsec’s brand-new building in the heart of the City. Marco has been part of the Aspire team for almost two years, starting as Dedicated Cover Receptionist and later moving to 62 Buckingham Gate. “Thanks to experience gained working in different environments,”

QR codes for plants

Take a look in the V-Café at 80 Victoria Street and you might spot something new – QR codes have been added to the plants there. Using any smartphone camera, customers and visitors can scan the QR codes to access detailed information about each plant. The QR code takes the smartphone user directly to the website of the Royal Horticultural Society, which has approved the initiative, where information includes each plant’s Latin and common names, size, preferred growing conditions and general care.

says Marco, “now I have the chance to bring my positivity and passion to building a great community where flexible workspaces merge with beautiful green areas, making Lucent the new oasis of central London.”

Two new faces have joined the AspireAssist team in the Aspire

Centre of Excellence at One New Change. Michael Rufai has taken up the role of AspireAssist Agent, while Alex Tan has been recruited as AspireAssist Supervisor.

Welcome to the Aspire family, Sonia, Marco, Michael and Alex!

The project at the V-Café is a trial, with plans to roll the scheme out to the rest of the Cardinal Estate and then to properties across the London portfolio.

“We’ve had great feedback from customers about the planting at 80-100 Victoria Street,” explains Chloe Miller, Workplace Assistant, “so we wanted to capitalise on that. We also hope to erect information boards about the planting that feature QR codes on the Cardinal Estate in the future.”

V-Café.

5 minutes with…

Martyn Pharo

Workplace Manager at Landsec

What do you like to do outside of work?

In like watching TV and taking the dog on a long walk with a pub lunch at the weekend. I enjoy listening to electronic music at home and on my commute. I also play acoustic guitar and I’m a bit of a ‘bedroom DJ’ – I’ve got a complete set-up for spinning a few discs. Eating out is another pastime; I like all sorts of food but Turkish and Italian are two of my favourites.

What’s on your bucket list?

I’m fortunate to have been to a lot of places but I’ve not visited Thailand and I’d like to go there.

Do you have any mantras in business or in life?

You should always be prepared to step outside of your comfort zone. It helps you to progress, whether that’s at work or in your private life.

What would you say is your greatest achievement?

In terms of work, that would be managing Nova. I started at Landsec in the Accounts Payable department, paying invoices. I never expected to manage a site of this magnitude. In my personal life, I’d say my greatest achievement is learning to play the guitar through watching YouTube videos, which I did about six years ago.

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

Not to stress about the little things in life, whether that’s at work or at home.

Do you have any pets?

Yes, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel called Loui. He’s a real attentionseeker. He likes to be around people all the time. He’s practically glued to your side – sometimes it gets a bit much!

What’s your all-time favourite movie?

It’s difficult to pick one favourite but I enjoy movies with clever twists like The Sixth Sense or Fight Club, as you can watch them a second time with a whole new perspective.

What was your first ever job?

I worked as a window cleaner in Bromley for a few months when I left school at 16, just while I was finding a permanent job. Then I got an apprenticeship in building maintenance, working at the ITN and Channel 4 Studios in Gray’s Inn Road.

What would you say is your best skill in business?

Being empathetic. I try to put myself in other people’s shoes to understand what they’re thinking and figure out how to tackle a situation. I’m very much a people person.

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

My favourite thing about my job is how diverse it is. You never know what’s going to happen on any one day. It’s very dynamic and keeps you on your toes.

And your least favourite?

Being tied to the desk, dealing with e-mails. I like to be out and about, learning from our Service Partner colleagues and helping to solve problems.

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

Yes, I watched a Netflix documentary on the Tham Luang cave rescue, where a football team of 12 children and their coach were trapped in a cave following heavy rainfall. The rescue was very complex and involved sedating the children and taking them under the water with breathing apparatus on. The rescue effort involved as many as 10,000 people in total from across the world, who all came together to successfully rescue all of them – a great example of collaborative effort to achieve something most thought was impossible.

with Jessica Pilakis Wellness

In this regular feature, we are sharing wellness tips from Jess Pilakis, Deputy Guest Services Manager for Rapport. A qualified beauty therapist with over a decade’s experience in spa and resort management, Jess loves everything to do with fitness, health and wellbeing.

The Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro Technique is a time-management tool that can help boost your productivity.

When followed correctly, this method can help you to work more efficiently, getting more done in less time. The technique is designed to reduce the impact of internal and external interruptions on focus and flow. Why not give it a try? You may find that you benefit from a sense of accomplishment, while also reducing your risk of burnout

Developed by Francesco Cirillo when he was a university student in the late 1980s, the technique uses a timer to divide work into 25-minute chunks, separated by short breaks. Since Cirillo’s kitchen timer was in the shape of a tomato, each work period is known as a ‘pomodoro’, the Italian word for tomato.

Here are the steps you need to follow to try the Pomodoro Technique:

1 Identify the task or tasks that you need to complete

2 Set a timer for 25 minutes

3 Work on your task with no distractions

4 When the alarm sounds, take a short break (5 to 10 minutes)

5 Repeat the process three more times

6 After completing four pomodoros, take a longer break (20 to 30 minutes) before starting again.

Ask JESS

If you have any questions or wellbeing topics that you would like us to cover, email aspire@landsec.com in confidence. Your privacy will be respected.

ACE One New Change

Why not try the Pomodoro Technique in a personal booth at the Aspire Centre of Excellence (ACE)?

ACE is designed to be a hub for collaboration between Landsec and our Service Partners, with the aim of promoting excellence in customer service and our personal booths are ideal for reducing external interruptions.

AspireAnalytics

August 2023

Leveraging the power of data to provide insights is a critical component of the Aspire strategy. With Landsec creating more dynamic ways of capturing data, we have been able to crunch large and diverse volumes of data that relate to our properties, assets, customers and the Aspire team. Some of this analysis has brought visibility to grey areas

in our operations, supporting the workplace team in making datadriven decisions. Most importantly, it also showcases the good work every member of the Aspire team does in our respective areas to improve the customer experience and, obviously, reveals the opportunities that are available for improvement. Below are some interesting highlights.

Need specific data?

With Landsec constantly striving for innovative ways to improve our customer service, data is the key. If you would like more information on a more specific set of analytics, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Umair Sohail Landsec | Aspire Data Analyst aspireanalytics@landsec.com

We recognise & reward

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.

Aspire Recognition Awards.

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

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

All tied up

CCongratulations to Riccardo Sessa, Corporate Receptionist with Rapport at One New Change, on winning a Player of the Month award.

When a young man attending a job interview with one of the tenants at ONC arrived in a rather stressed state, Riccardo didn’t hesitate to step in and do his best to put the gentleman at ease. Then, noticing that the candidate didn’t have a tie, Riccardo offered him one from the amenity box behind the front

desk. Then he went the extra mile by helping the fellow to tie it properly, making sure he looked smart and professional for his interview.

The young man returned the next day to say that he had got the job! He attributed some of his success to the tie provided by Riccardo, who was overjoyed to hear the good news.

“Riccardo consistently goes out of his way to provide top-notch service to all our customers,” commented Quentin Meliz, Cluster Supervisor for Rapport.

“He’s a true gem.”

Well done, Riccardo!

Riccardo Sessa and Vera Kostova from Rapport at the recent Aspire Sports Day.