Aspire One Newsletter - Issue 83 February 2023

One

It’s time to shine a light on those Landsec | Aspire members who excel in their work behind the scenes to ensure excellent customer service.

See pages 006-019

Cover: Isabella Nagel and Carl Henriksen from OryxAlign. Below: Air guitar to the classics at PartyAsOne 2022.

The future office

Rising expectations in a hybrid world landsec.com/future-office

tThe recent research paper from Landsec, entitled ‘The Future Office: Rising Expectations in a Hybrid world’, makes interesting reading. Combining our own analysis with data acquired from surveying 800 workers in the UK, the report finds that hybrid working presents an opportunity for landlords and employers to collaborate to create workplaces that enable businesses to thrive

The pandemic highlighted that productivity and flexibility are not mutually exclusive. It showed that providing employees with freedom over how, where and when they worked could help alleviate some of the existing challenges of workplaces. According to the report, the result of this external shock was to “usher in a new purpose for the office in boosting creativity, collaboration and problem solving”. In the survey, 79% of respondents felt a strong hybrid working arrangement was

important when choosing an employer. In addition, 70% said they found it easier to protect their mental health when working at least part-time from the office.

So, the role played by the office has only increased in value. Little wonder, then, that Landsec recently announced the letting of a further six floors – totalling over 60,000 sq ft – of office space at n2, the latest addition to our Nova family in Victoria. With more than two-thirds of the building now pre-let ahead of completion this spring, it’s clear that demand for high-quality, sustainable office space remains strong.

Continuing on this positive note, in this month’s issue we shine a light on three of the many unsung heroes across the Landsec | Aspire community and we share some news from our charity partner, Caxton Youth Organisation. Happy reading!

David Wickens Head of Workplace Operations & Chair of Landsec | Aspire

1952 - 2023

Tweneboah Koduah

It is with great sadness that we have to report the passing of a Landsec | Aspire collegue, known by everyone as Koduah, after a short battle with cancer.

Koduah worked as a Security Officer at 123 Victoria Street. When he joined Bidvest Noonan in 2006, he was first based at 80 Victoria Street but then moved to 123 in 2012. Sadly, he was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer recently and passed away less than two months later on 24 January.

Koduah, who had just turned 71, was born in Ghana and served for 10 years in the Ghanaian army. Then he moved to Germany, where he lived for almost 30 years. His two daughters still live in Germany and his funeral is being held there. According to his manager, Clinton Krishna, Koduah’s military training was clear to see because he was always smartly dressed, with shiny shoes. “He was also a stickler for time,” says Clinton. “If you were early, you were late for him!”

According to Clinton, Koduah was physically very strong and keeping fit was important to him. “He was never off sick,” says Clinton, “and he was one of the best workers you could hope to find in a man of his age.”

A humble and contented man, Koduah was very popular with clients and staff alike. “He was a gentleman,” says Clinton, “and the funniest guy. He had a great sense of humour – always smiling and joking. He’s missed so much. I was very fond of him.”

Koduah is survived by his wife, Florence, his two adult daughters, Cheriene and Dyan, and their children. “He was very proud of his grandchildren,” says Clinton, “and was always showing me photos of them in his wallet or on his phone.”

The Aspire community extends sincere condolences to Koduah’s family, friends and colleagues.

Office Space by Landsec

We all know someone who goes above and beyond to provide an excellent customer experience. In this issue, we sing the praises of three previously unsung heroes from across the Landsec | Aspire team.

Information technology with

Isabella Nagel

PROJECT COORDINATOR

IIsabella Nagel (known as Bella) is Project Coordinator for OryxAlign, our IT Service Partner. She has been heading up the project management of the rollout of the Landsec Cyber Acceleration (LCA) project, which aims to help Landsec improve its cyber security posture. The LCA project started in January 2022 and was to run for a year but has been extended until March due to the amount of work required at each site. The project covers 32 Landsec sites nationwide, including 19 in the London Portfolio. “The scope is to onboard all Service Partner network endpoint devices,” says Bella, “and also carry out remediation works to increase security.” The endpoints in question are workstations and servers, rather than handheld devices. For example, the PCs at building reception desks but also less obvious kit such as CCTV, lighting and access control servers.

Bella is part of a technical team at OryxAlign who are dedicated to the LCA project. Their work includes the rollout of replacement endpoints, backups, next-generation EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) technology and software patches. So far, over 380 endpoints have been updated as part of the LCA project and then incorporated into OryxAlign’s Managed Services Framework. Bella’s work requires close collaboration with other Aspire Service Partners, and often their subcontractors, to determine the impact of the work required. “It’s not always the same sub-contractors from site to site,” says Bella. “I think in total we have engaged with over 70 providers at some point to find out what their endpoints facilitate, where the kit is, how old it is and whether it’s within the scope of this project.”

Bella (bottom left) and OryxAlign.

Older hardware is more susceptible to cyber-attacks and often newer endpoints are required to run the latest software. Searching out every device on site can be tricky. “What often happens,” explains Bella, “is that they get forgotten about because they’re in a cupboard far away; they do something that nobody needs on a daily basis.”

Born in South Africa, Bella moved to the UK in 2018 to progress her career. She started at OryxAlign as a Service Coordinator, working with service delivery and procurement, and then moved into the Projects Team in 2021. Describing herself as “definitely a foodie”, she likes eating out and all the delightful activities London has to offer. She also enjoys travel, saying: “One of the perks of living in London is that Europe is so close.”

Bella is highly regarded by her colleagues at OryxAlign. “She has worked tirelessly over the last year with all Aspire Service Partners,” says Peter Schwartz, Landsec Account Director at OryxAlign. “She has established working relationships and has taken the time to get to know the partner community and the value they provide to Landsec. Bella is passionate about what she does and always has a smile on her face.”

Angela Millen, Head of Professional Services at OryxAlign, agrees: “Bella’s dedication and perseverance throughout the project have ensured milestones and targets have been achieved. She is highly respected by Landsec, its partners and her colleagues, who all agree she is doing an outstanding job to support the delivery of the Landsec Cyber Acceleration programme.”

Did you know?

If your workmate excels in one of the Landsec | Aspire values, you can nominate them for a Player of the Month award. See page 30 for details.

Engineering with S

Salman Hasnat ENERGY MANAGER

Salman Hasnat is Energy Manager for NG Bailey, our engineering Service Partner. His role involves analysing how buildings across the London Portfolio are performing in terms of energy use and finding ways to be more sustainable. This work plays a vital role in helping Landsec to achieve its science-based target of a 70% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030, compared to the 2013/14 baseline, and the transition to net zero.

Based at NG Bailey’s office in 20 Farringdon Street, Salman is often out and about, visiting Landsec buildings. He has monthly meetings with our Workplace Managers and Energy Manager. “We go through the monthly Measurement & Verification (M&V) report,” says Salman, “which highlights the monthly consumption for electricity and gas and our progress towards the 2030 target.”

NG Bailey also provides data to Femi Olunuga (Aspire Data Analyst) for his own dashboards and for the display at the Aspire Centre of Excellence at One New Change. This display shows progress toward the 2030 target and sometimes makes comparisons between energy use at Landsec and popular events, such as football matches at Wembley Stadium. NG Bailey also has its own Data Analyst and Salman acts as his mentor. Salman is responsible for all 17 of NG Bailey’s buildings in the London Portfolio and Landsec is the main focus of his work, although he sometimes helps out other members of the NG Bailey team, if required. “We raise a ticket if any plant is running out of hours,” explains Salman, “so that we can find out why. Sometimes there is maintenance work happening that we are not aware of.”

Although tenants are recommended to maintain the set point of 21˚C in

Office Space by Landsec

their offices, they are able to adjust the temperature according to their desired comfort level. “We work collaboratively with Landsec management, who liaise with customers to help reduce energy intensity,” says Salman. “Part of my role is identifying assets that can be changed to drive energy reduction,” he continues. “For example, we are replacing the calorifiers at 123 Victoria Street so that we can switch off the burners completely in the summer, which should result in a dramatic drop in gas consumption.”

According to Salman, the best thing about his job is the direct impact it has on sustainability targets. “We’re helping with the climate issue,” he says. “We are all aware that we have a responsibility to lower CO2 and reduce global warming.”

Salman has been working for NG Bailey for two and a half years now. He joined the company as Data Analyst and became Energy Manager just over a year ago. Born in Bangladesh, he moved to Italy at the age of six, so he’s fluent in Italian and Bengali. After completing an HND in Mechanical Engineering in Italy, he moved to the UK in 2014. “I didn’t know any English at all,” says Salman. “I came from a small village in Italy where no one spoke it. It was a big challenge for me to express myself but I dedicated myself to learning English.” While working, he enrolled in Westminster College in 2018 and completed a BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment.

Outside of work, Salman likes playing football. Although he used to play in a league back in Italy, now he just plays for fun with friends. He also enjoys spending time with his family, including his two daughters aged 3 years and 10 months.

Kris Shuttleton Lifts & escalators with

NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER

KKris Shuttleton is National Account Manager for Otis, one of our lift & escalator Service Partners. The Landsec contract is one of several that he looks after, making sure that operations and finances for his clients all work smoothly. “Landsec is one of our most prestigious accounts,” he says. “My job is about doing everything we possibly can to exceed the client’s expectations.”

Kris is responsible for Landsec sites nationwide, with Otis taking care of the lifts & escalators in around 50% of the whole portfolio. In addition to key Landsec retail assets such as the Bluewater, Gunwharf Quays and St David’s shopping centres, Kris takes care of all 12 of the Otis sites for Landsec in London.

Otis has 15 regional offices around the UK, with headquarters buildings in both Leicester and Brentford. Although Kris works from the company’s Leicester office, he bases himself in the V café at 80-100 Victoria Street for a day every

month. “It allows me to work with the Otis and Landsec teams on site,” he explains. “With lifts and escalators, there are always day-to-day issues,” he continues, “but when you’re on site you can maintain a good relationship with not only your own team but the client and other Service Partners. It makes life a lot easier when you’re all working collaboratively.”

Otis provides a 24/7 service, with around 25 engineers working across the Landsec contract in London. There are contractual targets for attendance time and the aim is always to have a first-time fix for service call-outs. “We want to have minimal downtime,” says Kris, who has worked for Otis for more than five years and on the Landsec contract for 18 months. “I appreciate the challenges when lifts or escalators are out in these buildings, especially in retail where it affects trade. I put a lot of pressure on myself to make sure we’re doing everything we can to eliminate any issues on a daily basis.”

Originally from Glasgow, Kris has lived in England for 17 years. After a degree in Business and Management Studies at Glasgow Caledonian University, his first job was as Commercial Executive for Celtic Football Club – even though he’s a die-hard Rangers fan! He worked in various industries, including publishing and construction health & safety, before finding his home at Otis. “Sometimes when you interview for a company, you just know instantly that it’s the right fit. I love it,” he says. “It’s so fast-paced and the clients I’m dealing with are all big players. It’s really rewarding and satisfying. No two days are ever the same and you’re dealing with some really prestigious buildings.”

Did you know?

Each month we salute the people recognised by you for exceptional performance or for simply being a great team member. See page 30 for details.

Wellness

with Jessica Pilakis

In this brand-new 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.

Jess says...

Your environment and the people around you play a huge role in your mindset, growth and overall success. You absorb their energies and start to think and behave like them without even realising it. Observe the energy you surround yourself with, whether that’s people or places. Try to choose the things that bring out the very best in you and keep you reaching for more. Surround yourself with the dreamers, the doers and the believers! The people who motivate you to reach your full potential.

Recognise the green flags in your life Seek out the people who really speak to you, and that you feel your most natural self with. Identify these people and let them know!

You can be a green flag for others too Observe the type of energy and people that gravitate towards you when you do this. Something to think about is: what would a green flag be for you? What quality do you admire in other people?

Their presence is calming

They respect your needs

You don’t have to try around them

They make you laugh

They respect your opinion

They listen without judgement

They make an effort

They are supportive

Wellness

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.

How do I move forward when overwhelmed?

Jess says...

The Landsec portfolio has many assets and can seem daunting, but sometimes the hardest thing to do is make a start. Change your focus to small steps. Focus on one task at a time. Create a list and tick things off as you go. These small daily accomplishments will keep you motivated and in control.

Once you start moving, you will gain momentum and before you know it you will have achieved what you set out to do!

When everything feels too much...

...focus on one step at a time

5 minutes with… Jenny Harper

Workplace Manager, Landsec.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I recently bought a house and now I’m spending most of my time doing it up. I love a bit of gardening too.

What was your first ever job?

I was a model for almost 20 years. I have featured in a Ferrero Rocher TV ad and have been on a couple of covers of Vogue.

What’s on your bucket list?

I’d love to go to Bora Bora. And I’ve never done a safari; I’d like to go to the Giraffe Manor in Nairobi.

Are you a fan of anything or anyone? Paris is my home from home. I’m a HUGE fan.

Do you have any mantras in business or in life?

Face-to-face interaction over e-mails and unnecessary meetings any day!

What would you say is your greatest achievement?

I’m not sure what it is, but I know that I haven’t done it yet! Have you been inspired by anything you’ve seen, read or experienced lately?

I find President Zelensky inspiring. He’s managing to get his country through a war and promote Ukraine across the world. I’m amazed by what he’s done.

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

I wouldn’t change what I knew or how I acted when I was younger, because then I wouldn’t be the person I am now.

Do you have any pets?

No, but I used to have two frogs called Jack and Daniels. I won them at a fairground in New York.

What’s your all-time favourite movie?

The Big Lebowski for comedy value and City of God for the cinematography.

What would you say is your best skill in business?

I’d like to think that people see me as approachable and fair. I’m also willing to learn anything I don’t know. You’re always learning.

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

Catching up with people –I’m fortunate to work with some great Service Partners and have some fun customers. Keeping those relationships on point is key to being able to provide the service that we do.

And your least favourite?

Admin. I think we can get so bogged down with admin that we forget the bigger picture.

Aspire Beach Ball.

Aspire Quiz Night.

NGB at 123

Well done to Vincent Loftus and the rest of the NG Bailey team at 123 Victoria Street for resolving an electrical issue very swiftly.

Landsec management received positive feedback from a company in the building that had lost power in its kitchen. The NG Bailey engineers were quickly on the scene, identified a dishwasher as the source of the problem and resolved the issue.

The customer wrote in an e-mail: “I would just like to thank and highlight Vincent and his team again for the quick response in restoring power to our kitchen and isolating the faulty dishwasher.”

Thank you, Vincent and team!

You heard it through the Grapevine

In this section of One magazine, we share snippets of news from across the Aspire family. It’s where we welcome new faces, bid fond farewells and celebrate promotions and other achievements. Please send your news to aspire@landsec.com

This month we welcome Faye Akosua Nimoh to her role providing dedicated cover for Rapport across the London Portfolio. A Law graduate, Faye is taking at Barrister Training Course and is interested in politics. She even spoke as a delegate at the recent London Labour Regional Conference. In the past she has participated in youth athletics championships, taken to the catwalk at a number of fashion shows and even hosted an awards show on TV. “For leisure, I like to go to concerts, listen to music and attend sporting events,” says Faye. “I am excited for what this Rapport/Landsec adventure is going to bring!”

Riccardo Sessa has also joined Rapport as Receptionist at One New Change. Riccardo was born in Frascati, a little village near Rome, and raised between Italy and Croatia. He studied Geology – specifically Seismology and Oceanography – and he loves sports. “I practised judo professionally for about 15 years,” he says. “I retired in 2012 and now I do springboard diving, which is one of my biggest passions.” In his spare time he also enjoys long walks and swimming.

AspireAnalytics

January 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

Last month - January

(Unless stated otherwise)

Need specific data?

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.

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.

Femi Olunuga Landsec | Aspire Data Analyst aspireanalytics@landsec.com

Recent activities and achievements at Caxton Youth Organisation

As part of the charity’s Independence Programme, the young people of Caxton Youth Organisation have been enjoying cooking in the kitchen at the youth club in Pimlico and then eating together.

Caxton Youth is working with Change4Life, who are training their staff to lead sessions in healthy cooking. Each week, one leader and two volunteers shop for ingredients with a £10 budget and then prepare a meal in the kitchen. Then all members sit and enjoy the food together around 8pm. All dishes are vegetarian and menus to date have included tabouleh, mushroom carbonara, pizza, pasta and lentil shepherd’s pie.

At the end of last year, the young people elected the Caxton Government, which is similar to a school council and provides valuable feedback on everything that happens at the charity. The candidates held hustings where they made speeches and then members voted in polling week to elect four representatives – known as Youth Ministers – to serve for a year. The Youth Ministers meet monthly to discuss various topics. For example, the charity has a new strategy in place to enable more young people in Westminster to access Caxton Youth. This involves growing the team, upskilling staff and refurbishing the building – the members are very excited about this and want to repaint the club in yellow!

Some really brilliant partnership work has been taking place as part of CY’s Employment Programme. The charity is forging links with a number of organisations including the Design Museum, London Zoo, Disability Sports Coach and NJC. These partners feature in a booklet that Caxton has put together to explain clearly to the young people who they are working with.

The charity is currently interviewing for a new youth worker to run this programme.

The focus of the Social-emotional Wellbeing Programme in recent weeks has been transitions and change, continuing the charity’s work around friendship and emotional development. This included the involvement of Tender, an issue-based drama and art group with a focus on relationships, and Caxton made a ‘support tree’ to show who members can go to for help.

Caxton’s Christmas party was a great success and the young people thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Due to the pandemic, this was the first Christmas party held since 2019, so many of the new members were very excited to attend for the first time. The

event was held in the upstairs room of a local church, with plenty of space for dancing. There was also an art table where members could make Christmas decorations.

In terms of the Sports and Art Programme, CY has continued to work closely with Disability Sports Coach, an external organisation that organises various fitness activities two nights a week. On a third night, Chelsea FC’s foundation sends a community coach called Dan – he comes in full Chelsea kit and the young people love him. The charity has access to a football, tennis and basketball court nearby on the Tintern Estate, so the young people can get involved in fitness activities outside as well as doing dance and other games inside the club.

ACE art created by Caxton Youth

mMembers of Caxton Youth Organisation, our charity partner, have created some fabulous pieces of artwork featuring Landsec buildings, which now take pride of place in the meeting room at the Aspire Centre of Excellence (ACE). The images were worked on over several weeks by members of the charity’s youth club in Pimlico. Supplied with digital images of a number of Landsec properties, the young people were able to choose which ones they wanted to feature and how to create their artwork. Two members of staff at Caxton Youth acted as facilitators for the project, demonstrating various techniques to the young people including collage, painting and digital media. Some members worked on their artwork alone, while others collaborated on a large canvas. Others used computer software to edit the images for their pieces.

Eliane Edmond, Head of Programmes at Caxton Youth Organisation, says it was a really fun project and everyone was pleased with the results. “I really like how they are such different interpretations,” says Eliane, “and each member’s personality is expressed in their art.” Thank you to the young people at Caxton for their wonderful creations. Many thanks also to the team at NJC for transporting the artworks safely from the Pimlico club to ACE at One New Change and to the staff from NG Bailey who displayed the artwork in our meeting room.

How do we support our charity?

Throughout the year, Landsec | Aspire organises a range of challenges, events and fundraising schemes. Every penny raised is donated to our charity, with £16,783 having been raised to date.

We are proud of what we have achieved and, with our 2-year target of £50,000 set by the Operating Board, we are dedicated to changing lives for the better, in every way we can.

justgiving.com/fundraising/ aspire-thamespathwalk

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.

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 Recognition Awards 2022.

Aspire PLAYER OF THE MONTH January ‘23

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

Closet hero

WWell done to Paul Sturt, Shift Supervisor with Jaguar Building Services, for scooping a Player of the Month award.

Paul had just finished his shift and left site to join his team for their Christmas meal when he received a call about a customer being stuck in a disabled toilet in Nova North. The company’s maintenance provider had already left for the day, so Paul returned to the

Certificate of Recognition Player

building. He was able to remove the door handle and open the door. Naturally, the customer was very relieved and thanked Paul for his help.

“All this meant that Paul was quite late for the meal,” commented Jay Nel, Account Manager for Jaguar, “but he didn’t hesitate to return when he was needed, even though the affected toilets did not fall under our remit.”

Well done, Paul!

Jef holds the fort

CCongratulations to Jef Adams, Estate Security Manager with Bidvest Noonan at Cardinal Place, for winning a Player of the Month award.

Following an accident that forced Clinton Krishna (Security Manager for 62 Buckingham Gate, The Zig Zag Building and 123 Victoria Street) to work remotely from October to December 2022, Jef took it upon himself to take ownership of Clinton’s sites. This included daily visits to the teams at all three sites, engagement with customers where appropriate, assisting in planned fire drills, being on hand to help the Workplace Managers and even dealing with an unannounced protest at 62 Buckingham Gate.

Sammy Harrington, Key Account Director for Bidvest Noonan, commented: “Although this put a strain on Jef, he still managed, with the assistance of Elvis Albert (Security Manager), to ensure that the management of Cardinal Estate did not suffer as a result of this extra-curricular effort.”

Thank you, Jef!