One
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One Magazine
Cover: Dileta Marques, Catering Manager
David Wickens Head of Workplace Operations & Chair of Landsec | Aspire
AAs we gear up for the all-important festive season, there is also much to celebrate on the business front.
Landsec’s recent results for the half year ending 30 September made very pleasing reading.
Central London delivered 5.5% likefor-like growth in net rental income, with occupancy up to 97.9%. This demonstrates that customer demand for our best-in-class space remains high, underlining the importance of the work that the Landsec | Aspire team does every day to make our buildings clean, effective, attractive and safe. Keep up the good work, everyone!
In this month’s issue, we welcome our brand-new Service Partner, BM Caterers. You can read all about their offer at our cafés – newly rebranded as ‘LANDING’ – in 80-100 Victoria Street, One New Change, n2, Eastbourne Terrace and Dashwood. The BM team are also providing the food for
booked lunches and events at all our Myo sites. Tim Froggatt, Account Director for BM Caterers, is the subject of this month’s ‘5 minutes with’ column, so you can get to know him a bit better.
In addition, we feature the experiences of the Aspire Steering Board members who bravely rolled up their sleeves to work alongside frontline colleagues for our Back To The Floor Day. Aspire members had lined up some challenging tasks for them – from welcoming guests and checking IT equipment, to cleaning toilets, monitoring tap temperatures, washing windows, pruning plants and sorting rubbish. They all enjoyed spending time with their teams and many of them gained valuable insights that will be the catalyst for change, in order to improve efficiency and drive innovation.
A place of rest and pause is LANDING
With refreshed menus, a new approach and a relaxed café vibe, we are delighted to introduce BM Caterers as a new Service Partner within Landsec | Aspire.
BM Caterers joined the Aspire family on 30 September, being responsible for our café offerings at 80-100 Victoria Street, One New Change, n2, Eastbourne Terrace and Dashwood, as well as taking care of hospitality for booked lunches and events at all Myo sites.
Formerly known as Bartlett Mitchell – after its founders, Wendy Bartlett and Ian Mitchell – BM provides café & restaurant, executive dining and conference catering services for businesses across the UK in sectors including finance, legal, education, media, health and technology. The BM team serves around 40,000 customers every day, across 100 locations, fuelling people for the challenges of the business day and keeping a deep love of food at the heart of its operations. It’s a recipe for success – the company’s focus on building partnerships has earned it a 98 per cent retention rate among its clients.
For Landsec, BM has a 21-strong catering team working in the kitchens and serving areas across the London portfolio. The two main restaurants are at 80 Victoria Street and One New Change, where hot and cold meals are served, while the cafés at n2, Eastbourne Terrace and Dashwood offer a range of cold sandwiches and snacks, as well as hot and cold drinks.
Landsec’s cafés have been rebranded as ‘LANDING’, a name developed by BM in collaboration with the Landsec team. With a nod to the name ‘Landsec’, the new brand suggests a place of rest and pause. The new LANDING catering venues are designed to be comfortable and welcoming spaces, where people can unwind for a while from their busy schedules.
Pete RedmanChef Director.
Joanna Stachurska -
Adenike (Nikki) OshobukolaBM Caterers.
Putting people first
Tim Froggatt, Account Director for BM, is clear about what makes the company special and helped it to win the Landsec contract. “We refer to our team members as ‘BM family’ and it’s a genuine culture within our organisation,” he explains. “I know it can sound a bit of a cliché, but the team really is the most important thing for us. We genuinely treat our staff like family members.” Tim’s claim is backed up by the firm’s success this summer in the Best Companies programme, with BM achieving two-star accreditation for its ‘outstanding’ commitment to workplace engagement.
Anna Clegg, Project Director –who manages change for BM and was responsible for the contract mobilisation – agrees and points to the ‘O’ in the company’s ‘FOODIES’ values. The acronym stands for Fundamentally food, Obsessive about people, Open and honest, Dedicated to customers, Innovative in everything, Entrepreneurial teams and Support you can trust. “This culture is not lip service,” says Anna. “It’s engrained and deeply embedded in all of us. As a team, we have a lot of strengths and we work well together. This is especially
important when you’re opening a new contract, as there can be a lot of pressure points.”
Lottie Summers is BM’s Operational Support Manager, with responsibility for all Landsec and Myo sites. She also thinks that teamwork lies at the heart of BM winning the Landsec contract. “I’ve only been with BM for a year, but I know I can tap into anyone in the business and they will be willing to help and support me. Landsec is such a big contract that we needed everyone to come together to make it happen.” She explains that BM is also very supportive of people wanting to move up through the ranks, which she thinks can be difficult in the catering industry. “If you start off as a barista or a kitchen porter, you could end up as a chef or in marketing,” says Lottie. “The progression is brilliant – and we do good food as well!”
Pete Redman, Chef Director, responsible for food at all BM sites nationwide, also singles out the strength of the BM team as vital in securing the contract with Landsec. “We work with a lot of passionate and skilled individuals,” he says, “and that comes across in our food offer and service.”
BM offers its customers its own brand of award-winning coffee, Perkee, which has won two Great Taste awards. There are two types of Perkee coffee: Perkee Soppexcca, a Fairtrade coffee from Nicaragua, and Perkee Santo, an organic coffee from Brazil.
Perkee Soppexcca is a co-operative that has transformed the lives of its members and their community. Soppexcca aims to empower women farmers, who make up around 40% of its members. Profits from the sale of Perkee Soppexcca are ploughed back into the community by the co-operative to improve education, mitigate climate change and provide health services. BM helped to fund the building of a biscuit factory in the community to supplement the farmers’ income during the months between coffee harvests.
With less than 5% of the coffee grown worldwide being organic, Perkee Santo is a special coffee. The organic and biodynamic farming methods on the Camocim Estate result in pestresistant beans and higher-quality coffee, while also enriching the soil and improving the environment.
BM’s direct trading partnership with the enterprise ensures the organic producers benefit from rates even higher than Fairtrade ones.
Back in the UK, Perkee customers in the food service industry benefit from extensive support from BM including barista training at the company’s Barista Academy in London and branded items –from uniforms and crockery to sugar sachets, takeaway cups and reusable cups. Meet the team
Great coffee from BM
Darren Collier - Mobilisation Chef.
A new approach
The BM team intend to provide a more diverse food offer for LANDING than was previously available, but it’s not only the food that is changing. The visibility of the whole team has been stepped up. “It’s important when managing multiple sites that you’re having regular catch-ups,” says Lottie Summers. “Good communication is really important.” Pete Redman agrees: “How we engage with the team is different,” he says. “We’re not distant; we base ourselves in the locations so that we can talk to the chefs. The whole senior team is rarely in the office – just being visible makes such a difference.”
BM’s management also encourage team members to go and work in different BM locations in order to meet other colleagues and learn from each other. “If the team are happy and it’s a good workplace,” says Pete, “the food gets better, the service gets better and staff retention improves.”
Refreshed menus
The BM team have already introduced new food at the LANDING venues, as well as BM’s own coffee brand, Perkee, which is served at almost all its locations across the UK. “We want to provide really fresh and authentic food,” says Pete, “and – as much as we can – prepare it live in front of customers to build engagement and create an atmosphere.”
“The feedback has been really good,” says Lottie. “It’s definitely a change in service and offering. The ramen bar at 80 Victoria Street has been especially popular.” BM has also introduced breakfast specials to Landsec’s sites. These include proven BM favourites such as smoked salmon and cream cheese on rye bread, an avocado and feta open toast and – a special treat on Fridays – the sausage and cheese bagel.
Anna Clegg believes the food offer is superior to what was available previously. “I think the quality of food
is a differential,” she says. “Our coffee has been well received, as well as the salads and snacks. Even the cakes have been elevated. We’ve still got further to go but, compared to 12 weeks ago, we’ve definitely taken the food up to another level.”
A supportive mobilisation
Although there have been some challenges in mobilising the sites, the collaborative Aspire culture has shone through once again. Tim explains that, as the previous catering suppliers were tenants rather than Service Partners, some items of equipment had become quite outdated. “We have had to deal with some repair and maintenance issues,” he says. “We have had help from other Service Partners to sort these – everybody has been very accommodating to get us to where we need to be.” The BM team have refurbished the kitchens, although there are still some logistical challenges in some locations. “It’s early days,” says Tim, “but we’re making rapid progress.”
“Every site we mobilise is a challenge,” says Pete, “just because you have to figure it out – customers, timings, hot spots, likes and dislikes – and build that relationship. We have locations across the UK and find that things that work in some locations just don’t in others.”
Lottie explains that part of the challenge lay in the fact that it was a multi-site mobilisation with all locations opening on the same day. She is, however, delighted with the success of the TUPE transfer of staff from the two previous incumbents. “Every caterer has different expectations and standards,” she says, “so when you’re TUPEing a team over, there’s lots of work to do with them in terms of teaching our policies. It’s a new way of thinking, but everyone has settled into it really well.”
Iga Girczik - Hospitality Manager.
Lottie Summers - Operational Support Manager.
Below: The kitchen team at 80 Victoria Street’s LANDING (L to R): Miriam Mwaim (Kitchen Porter), Adrian Miron (agency Chef), Iga Girczik (Hospitality Manager), Antonio Bovaird Postiglione (Head Chef) and Conroy Nicholson (Chef).
Dileta Marques - Catering Manager.
Conroy Nicholson - Chef.
Migle MazeikaiteBM Caterers.
Brilliant
chefs and servers
BM was able to TUPE over 13 staff to help fill the 21 positions in the LANDING cafés and this process is seen as a real highlight of the mobilisation by BM’s management team. “Working with these new teams has been an absolute joy,” says Lottie. “When you gain new people from other companies, it is a bit scary but we’ve been really lucky with the team – they’ve been brilliant.” Anna agrees: “We’re very fortunate that they decided to stay with Landsec. They’ve been an absolute delight.” Pete is also grateful for the team’s loyalty and effort. “When you come in on the first day, you have to figure them out,” he explains. “They might not turn up, as that’s their right under TUPE. We were very lucky that everyone came over. They’re such nice people and such good workers. They’ve been absolutely brilliant. Without them it just wouldn’t have worked.”
Embracing Aspire
The BM team are full of praise for the collaboration and culture of Aspire. “I really like the Aspire model and what Landsec is trying to achieve,” says Tim. “Everyone is pulling in the same direction and having a common goal – to serve Landsec and its customers. There’s always a crossover of Service Partners in our contracts,” he continues, “but in other environments you need to search for it, whereas here it’s been at the forefront from day one.” BM has already been working closely with other Service Partners and Tim admits, “We would not be in the position we are currently in without building those relationships.”
Lottie believes that there is a lot of common ground between BM’s values and those of Landsec. “It’s been really nice to work with a company that has the same sort of views as we do,” she says. “Whichever Landsec site you visit, you always receive such a warm welcome and they make you feel part of the Aspire team.”
Sustainability matters
One of these shared goals is sustainability. BM recently employed an ESG Manager for the first time to take care of the company’s environmental, social and governance objectives. With Landsec committed to reach net zero by 2040, the activities of its Service Partners can make a real difference. Tim explains that BM uses compostable disposables where possible and tries to avoid split-pack ordering – in other words, staff order catering supplies in bulk to limit the number of deliveries and thereby transport miles, to reduce carbon footprint. BM considers sustainability throughout its operations, from the way it sources its ingredients to how waste can be reduced. The company has achieved a Bronze award for its ESG performance from EcoVadis, the globally recognised sustainability ratings specialist. BM was also the first contract caterer to achieve Planet Mark certification, and the company seeks to help customers make informed choices about their food and its impact on the planet through its Eat with the Earth in Mind range of lower-carbon, planet-friendly dishes. Summing up BM’s experience of Landsec | Aspire so far, Anna Clegg puts it neatly: “Aspire is a wonderful initiative and it engenders great partnership – and through partnership you’re going to get the results. We’re loving Landsec!”
“Everyone is pulling in the same direction and having a common goal – to serve Landsec and its customers. ”
Tim Froggatt, Account Director.
Meet the team
Anna Clegg Project Director
After completing an HND in Hotel & Catering, followed by a degree in Hospitality Management, Anna has worked in the catering industry since 1997. She’s been with BM for nearly eight years now. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending time with her family – including her 15-year-old daughter and two stepsons aged 28 and 30 – and country walks with the family dog, a Cockerpoo called Ron, who she describes as “bonkers”. She also likes to go out running, play badminton with her daughter and eat out.
Pete Redman Chef Director
Pete’s career began with a Saturday job in a butcher’s shop that had its own smokehouse. The chef from the restaurant next door invited him to work a service – that was Antony Worrall Thompson and the rest is history! After catering college, Pete began work in the industry in 1994 and has spent the past 12 years with BM. He still loves to cook, although it’s training others that drives him now. “What I can instil in terms of passion and drive into other people is what I get a buzz out of,” he says. Pete works out in the gym every morning and enjoys spending time with his sons, aged 9 and 13.
Lottie Summers Operational Support Manager
Lottie joined BM a year ago and says her time with the company has “absolutely flown by”. She’s not new to the catering industry, however – with her parents running a number of pubs and B&Bs in the Cotswolds, she’s been working in the hospitality trade since she was a teenager, including time spent as a kitchen porter, barista and bartender. Outside of work, Lottie loves nothing more than returning to the Cotswolds to spend time with her family and friends. Back in London, she enjoys eating out and socialising in bars and pubs.
Tim Froggatt Account Director
Tim trained as a chef in 1994 and worked in kitchens before moving into management roles from 2002. He first worked for BM from 2018 to 2022, before leaving to work on the client side. He returned to the company at start of the Landsec contract on 30 September. “The corporate catering industry has moved on immeasurably – in terms of quality, standards and innovation – from when I was cooking,” he says. When he’s not working, Tim enjoys golf, live music and spending time with his wife and dogs (you can learn more about Tim in our ‘5 minutes with’ article on page 36).
Tim FroggattAccount Director.
“From
bmcaterers.co.uk
Aspire’s strategy team goes Back to the floor
Members of the Landsec | Aspire Steering Board rolled up their sleeves on 13 November to take part in our Back To The Floor Day. Working alongside their colleagues on the front line, top executives from eleven of our Service Partners and Landsec got hands-on with a wide range of tasks. They not only enjoyed the change to their normal routine but also learned some new things in the process.
Gary BullenPresident UK and Europe for BGIS.
Chris Goad CEO of Regular Cleaning
Chris got stuck in at New Street Square, along with Darrell Taylor (Operations Director) and Ged Santangelo (Account Director). The trio were put to work cleaning toilets, shower drains and washrooms, as well as undertaking jet washing, steam cleaning and estate cleaning on the ‘Tomcat’ ride-on floor scrubber. According to Chris, the most difficult thing about his shift was: “The pace at which our colleagues have to get through their tasks – never a moment to stop!” The senior team enjoyed working with Regular’s cleaners. “We had such a giggle,” says Chris, “and they were adamant I was going to do everything! I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with our colleagues, understanding the challenges they face and working together to find solutions. The team were superb and very patient with me!” The experience also provided some insights for Chris. “Some of the equipment needs to be more agile,” he explains. “The janitorial trollies are too big – we need to find a smaller, smarter solution.”
Adam Bramley Operations Director for Briggs & Forrester
Adam had never taken part in this kind of event before. He worked alongside the team at Myo New Street Square in the morning and colleagues at Myo Victoria Street in the afternoon. His tasks included routine maintenance checks, monitoring of tap temperatures, flushing of low-use outlets, painting and fabric repairs. According to Adam, the most challenging thing was: “Being on my feet all day,” – he admits that he slept very well that night! He describes the most enjoyable part of the experience as: “Spending the day shoulder-to-shoulder with our Myo team and seeing firsthand what a great job they do.” Adam was pleased to find that his colleagues seemed happy, were working well and reported that they had everything they needed. He obviously found the day valuable, as he adds: “I intend to do this again across our wider business and will encourage my senior team to do the same.”
Alison Currell
Aspire Service Delivery Director (Soft Services) for Landsec
Alison spent time on the AspireAssist 24/7 HelpDesk for her first ever Back To The Floor Day. Working alongside the team in the Aspire Centre of Excellence at One New Change, she was tasked with reviewing HelpDesk tickets. “The multitasking that the team do is far more than I thought,” admits Alison. The most enjoyable aspect for her was: “Spending time with the team and taking their feedback – understanding the daily challenges they face and seeing the great work they do for our customers.” As a direct result of Alison’s experience, she and Shamora Dalhouse, Aspire Service Delivery Manager, aim to focus on making the team more visible to customers. “This will mean attendance at customer meetings,” explains Alison, “and banners with photos of each team member on, so our customers can put a face to the name. We’ll also be investigating the possibility of our customers being able to choose which agent they live chat with.”
Amanda Kay Managing Director of Amplify
Amanda went back to the floor at Myo Liverpool Street and Myo St Paul’s. She has not taken part in an official event of this kind before, although she says, “I’ve certainly rolled up my sleeves to help the team in the past. Amplify is still young, and I’ve pitched in wherever needed!” Amanda found that both Myo locations were unusually quiet for a Wednesday, but the team kept her busy with various tasks, including welcoming members and guests, assisting with room setups and supporting members with their queries and requests. “It became apparent quite quickly that our team has a deep understanding of their operations and members,” says Amanda. “Myo is a complex environment, and it takes time to fully grasp the nuances.” Amanda worked alongside Fabi Da Silva at Myo St Paul’s and Arlean Carlos at Myo Liverpool
Street. “I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Fabi at St Paul’s and getting to know Arlean, our newest crew member, at Liverpool Street. It was inspiring to see how both team members use their curiosity to suggest improvements to the member experience and the Myo brand,” says Amanda. “For example, Fabi, who often fields questions from walk-ins, has proposed using a QR code to direct people to the website and contact page, streamlining the process and showcasing the depth of Myo’s brand and portfolio. Arlean, with a background in corporate hospitality, has identified opportunities to enhance meeting room setups, particularly when food is involved. These small tweaks can significantly improve the overall hospitality journey.” Amanda found her day “really fun” and also educational: “I gained a much deeper understanding of the complexity and variety of our team’s daily tasks, including the frequent lastminute changes, quick fixes and ‘on the spot’ problem solving.”
Gary Bullen
President UK and Europe for BGIS
Gary Bullen, President UK and Europe for BGIS, spent his day with members of the BGIS team at One New Change. “We did full plant room inspections across a number of critical buildings,” says Gary, “and QHSE (Quality, Health, Safety and Environment) updates.”
Fortunately, Gary didn’t find the work too challenging and says the most enjoyable thing was engaging with the team. “It was a fantastic opportunity to chat to the team about the positives and negatives of the role and any challenges they have,” he says. “I’ve already had a number of follow-up improvement actions for BGIS to implement.”
Mark Fairweather Managing Director of D2E
Mark Fairweather, Managing Director of D2E, also found the experience insightful. He hadn’t done such an activity before but says: “I have planned in monthly days with my field team for 2025.” Mark participated in a kick-off meeting for a lift replacement project, working alongside representatives of the supplier and CDM (Construction Design and Management) co-ordinator, as well as D2E and Landsec. “Project kick-off meetings are always enjoyable,” says Mark, “as pre-planning is so important to the success of the project.”
Mark was pleased to find that D2E’s pre-start checklist is very thorough and covered all the details required. Following the meeting, the project team walked to the site in question to view the access routes.
Robbie Kitson
Associate Director at Jaguar Building Services
Robbie Kitson, Associate Director at Jaguar Building Services, worked alongside the Jaguar team at Nova South for his first ever experience of going back to the floor. “The team arranged for me to conduct some planned preventative maintenance tasks,” says Robbie. “This involved inspecting some electric vehicle chargers within the basement levels three and four car parks and taking readings from the pressurisation unit water make-up meters.” The team also responded to a ticket from the AspireAssist 24/7 HelpDesk. “There was a report of an overflowing water closet,” explains Robbie. “Upon inspection, we found scaling where the syphon unit connected to the flush pipe within the cistern. We attempted to descale, to no avail, so we then replaced the syphon unit from site stock and left
the water closet in working order.” Robbie says he enjoyed spending time with the engineering team and chatting to them. “I particularly enjoyed Mesba Ahmed – our new improver, from Circle Collective – showing me around the basement plant rooms. His enthusiasm was infectious; he genuinely seemed to be enjoying his job.” Robbie’s time on site gave him an idea for an improvement that could be made. “When we were looking for spare parts within the storeroom, I noticed there didn’t seem to be any order or system to which spares were stored where,” he says. “I have instructed the Nova management team to look into providing additional racking or shelving within the storeroom and rationalising how we store spares so they can be located efficiently.”
Carl Henriksen CEO of OryxAlign
Carl spent his first Back To The Floor Day with a planned preventative maintenance visit to The Forge, including Myo Bankside. This involved checking all IT infrastructure equipment in the back-office and front-of-house locations, with both visual and configuration checks. Carl enjoyed meeting and speaking with the operational teams on site and gaining an understanding of their experience of working with technology. He also spotted some opportunities for improvement during his shift. “Some processes were manual,” he says, “and there is scope for automation, which we are investigating.”
Tom Lloyd CEO of Principle Cleaning Services
Tom Lloyd spent his day working with the window-cleaning team in Victoria. Tom is an old hand when it comes to Back To The Floor Day, as Principle runs one every year. Tom and his colleagues carried out some planned preventative maintenance work using a scissor lift. He says the most challenging thing about working with his employees was: “Keeping up with them! Obviously, the team are very experienced, so they could clean a lot quicker than me!” Tom enjoyed getting to know the colleagues he was working with, as well as the sense of accomplishment when the work had been completed. “I learnt just how diligent and hard-working our team are. They are very proud of what they do and have excellent attention to detail, always wanting to please their clients. I wouldn’t make any operational changes to the way they do things,” continues Tom, “but I did spot some areas that are not in our remit that could do with cleaning, so I asked them to look at offering that to an occupier.”
Lilia Lamberto Managing Director of Operations for Principle
Lilia really got stuck in with the team at The Zig Zag Building. “They gave me the good jobs,” she says, “cleaning toilets, showers and reception.” She thinks the most challenging thing was remembering all of the steps in the right order to clean the toilets. “It is definitely more technical than it seems,” she explains, “to ensure there is no crosscontamination.” Lilia enjoyed working with the team and says she particularly liked seeing Tom Lloyd (her CEO) being told he had missed a bit when cleaning windows! Reflecting on the experience, she says: “I learnt that our team are wonderful, responsible individuals who take great care when working. Operationally, I wouldn’t make any changes. However, I would praise them even more for all their hard work. It’s not as easy as it seems!”
Sue Payne Managing Director of Quality & Service (Q&S)
Sue was kept busy with installing interior plants at 123 Victoria Street, along with some maintenance of the exterior beds at Nova. The most challenging aspect of the outside work was the cold, according to Sue, whereas inside the most difficult thing was physically moving the displays. Sue enjoyed chatting with the Q&S team and bringing life –through greenery – to an empty office space. “It reinforced what an amazing group of gardeners we have in the Landsec team,” says Sue, “with a smile on their faces, quietly and proudly going about their work, creating and maintaining wonderful urban green spaces. It was lovely to see how they support each other, whilst also recognising the benefits of positive collaboration with other Service Partners.” On an operational level, Sue wants to review whether there is a way to make access to the greenhouse, which is located on the roof above Wagamama, more efficient.
Emma Williams
Operations Director for Rapport
Emma is experienced in going back to the floor, as she does it each year with Rapport for International Receptionists’ Day. Emma was tasked with supporting check-ins and reviewing the standards on the reception desks and equipment at 123 Victoria Street, 80 Victoria Street and Nova. Asked about the most challenging thing of her day, she says: “Being client facing and not knowing the visitor management system.”
The most enjoyable thing for her was: “Spending quality time with the team, discussing the impact of Aspire on them as a team and individuals.”
Emma noted some possible areas for improvement during her shift. “Each desk is different,” she explains, “and there are opportunities to standardise equipment and the reception offer, so as to strengthen the consistency in service offered to Landsec guests.”
Bill Swan Managing Director of Recorra
Bill spent his day completing various waste management jobs at the company’s materials recovery facility (MRF), as well as at The Forge and One New Change. Although he has not taken part in this particular initiative before, Bill says that he tries to work alongside his frontline staff at least once a month. “For Back To The Floor Day, I went on our MRF picking line; operated one of the forklifts, moving cardboard bales; helped our driver tip recycling bins; and used the compactors we have on Landsec sites.” He says that using the forklift to stack bales was quite a challenge “It’s been a while since I was behind the wheel of one of these trucks, and the guys we have are very skilled at doing this efficiently and accurately.”
Bill says he enjoyed chatting with the staff, hearing about their day and having the opportunity to thank them for the brilliant work they do on a daily basis. The experience also gave some valuable insights. “When I was working on the MRF line, sorting mixed recycling, I was struck by the large volume of white bathroom hand towels that the team had to deal with. These shouldn’t be in mixed recycling and are better collected separately. We need to identify where they are coming from and talk to those buildings.” Bill also noticed that the battery-recycling containers were poorly labelled in the bin room and says he intends to get Recorra’s marketing team to make some better stickers and posters.
“It was great spending time with the team and understanding how much hard work goes into delivering amazing standards day in and day out.”
Ged Santangelo Account Director, Regular Cleaning
Bill Swan - Managing Director of Recorra.
EXCELLENCE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE
WOW, we won!
We’re thrilled to report that Myo Victoria won the Excellence in Customer Service (London Region) category at the FlexSa (Flexible Space Association) Awards on 28 November. The team received the accolade at a Gala Awards Dinner at The Landmark London, one of the capital’s most prestigious hotels. Becca Munroe, Operations and Experience Director, comments: “It’s a testament to all the team members that come together to deliver a great service to our customers and members each and every day.”
myo.co.uk
Myo update
As we prepare for lots of festive activities across our Myo locations, we decided to get ahead of the game by holding our own team celebration in November! It was an opportunity for us to get together after a busy year of mobilising and stabilising the Myo sites and, needless to say, great fun was had by all.
It’s fantastic to see our Service Partners continuing to collaborate at Myo sites, learning from one another and working together to make the member experience extra special. Thank you all for your hard work and dedication.
Becca Munroe
Operations and Experience Director
Welcome, Sandra!
We’re delighted to introduce our new Member Experience Executive, Sandra Dulkyte, who started with us last month. Sandra is working as part of the team at Myo Victoria. “Every day is different and there’s still lots to learn,” says Sandra, “but I am enjoying my role and I feel settled in.” When she’s not working, Sandra enjoys long walks in nature, reading and watching movies.
Member activities
Recent pop-up experiences have included visits by a masseuse to Myo Liverpool Street and Myo Victoria, offering chair massages to help members destress, and wellness bags that were distributed across all locations to mark International Men’s Day on 19 November. Members at Myo Liverpool Street also enjoyed a Coffee Masterclass this month.
Christmas party
The Myo Operations and Experience team came together on Friday 22 November to celebrate the festive season in style with a party held at Myo Piccadilly. Over 30 people from Amplify, Bidvest Noonan, Briggs & Forrester, Principle and Myo attended the event and enjoyed tasty snacks, a fun quiz and posing with props in the photo booth.
Pop-up experiences
Wellness bags
Festive Party 2024
Sandra Dulkyte
5 minutes with… Tim Froggatt
Account Director, BM Caterers
What do you like to do outside of work?
I am a keen golfer, playing at least twice a week. Having rediscovered the game in my late 30s, my best days are behind me but I still play off a respectable 12 handicap. I trained and worked as a chef and still enjoy cooking, especially over fire. I also like to spend time with my wife and dogs, often on walks along the Kent coastline.
What’s on your bucket list?
I don’t really have a bucket list. I’m quite impulsive so if something interests me, I generally find a way to do it – I tend not to store things up for later. If I had to pick something, it would have to be playing one of the great golf courses like Augusta or Pebble Beach.
Are you a fan of anything or anyone?
I love live music and the adrenalin of live performance. I’m very much into the nostalgia of bands I enjoyed at a younger age, which are touring again now that I have the time and disposable income to purchase tickets. I go to around 20 gigs a year and am very excited to have tickets for Oasis at Wembley next year.
Do you have any mantras in business or in life?
I try not to let the day of the week affect my mood or objectives. I also try not to carry events from one day to another – acknowledge that something has happened, deal with it and move on.
What would you say is your greatest achievement?
I think my greatest achievements should be judged by others. Personally, I am proud of former team members who have developed their skills whilst working with me.
Have you been inspired by anything you’ve seen, read or experienced lately?
Yes – a poem read at a funeral called ‘The Dash’. It reflected on life as a starting point and end point with no context in the middle (the dash symbol between the dates on a tombstone). That resonated with me. Fill your time with things that make you and your loved ones happy.
What do you know now that you wish you’d known when you were younger?
Let it go! What happened yesterday should not affect today.
Do you have any regrets?
No specific regrets. There are things that I would do differently if I had the chance again – but I can’t, so I don’t dwell on them!
Do you have any pets?
We have two Border Terriers called Mabel and Dorothy. We got Mabel during the pandemic but we realised she was a bit neurotic and needed a partner in crime, so we bought Dorothy as company for her. Strangely, even though we bought them two years and 70 miles apart, we subsequently found out they are half-sisters, as they share a father!
What’s your all-time favourite movie?
I don’t have a favourite movie but I tend to revert to early 90s comedies – films I can sit down in front of and not really concentrate on, but will make me smile. Something with silly humour, such as Kingpin, The Wedding Singer or Happy Gilmore.
What was your first ever job?
I worked as a shop assistant selling fruit and veg in the local village store in Shoreham, near Sevenoaks, where I was brought up. That might be where my love of fresh produce came from.
What would you say is your best skill in business?
I am a team player; I feel I’m extremely collaborative, sharing best practice and acknowledging others’ ideas for the best interests of the business or client. I like to think that if a colleague needs something, they don’t need to think twice about reaching out to me.
What’s your favourite part of your working day or week?
Getting home to be greeted by Mabel and Dorothy – it doesn’t matter how my day has been, they are still so happy to see me.
And your least favourite?
I manage five locations across the estate and I must admit that I don’t enjoy the underground travel between sites!
Celebrate the festive season
11th & 12th December
Enjoy carol singers, entertainment, festive food, drinks and merriment.
Wellness
with Gio
In this regular feature, we are sharing wellness tips from Gioia Oliva, Reception Supervisor with Rapport. Having studied psychology, Gio is passionate about health and well-being, both inside and outside the workplace.
Have you noticed an increase in men sporting handlebar moustaches this month? You might have missed it, but November is also known as Movember, a global initiative that raises awareness of men’s health – particularly prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.
While growing a moustache is the key tradition, the month is really about sparking vital conversations around health. Here are some tips to boost men’s wellbeing:
— Regular check-ups: Did you know that men are less likely to visit the GP when needed? Make sure to book annual checkups to catch any health issues early.
— Exercise: Men are also less likely to engage in regular physical activity compared to women. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate activity most days to improve both physical and mental health. Exercise not only keeps you fit but also releases endorphins, boosting your mood and reducing stress.
Mental health: Men are often less likely to seek help for emotional struggles –but, remember, mental health is just as important as physical health. Don’t bottle it up. Talking about your feelings can make a world of difference.
— Healthy eating: Men are more likely to have diets lacking in fruit and vegetables. A balanced diet – rich in fruit, vegetables and lean proteins – helps maintain energy levels and supports long-term health.
— Sleep: Studies show men are more likely to get insufficient sleep, which can impact physical and mental wellbeing. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night to stay sharp and well rested.
— Stay connected: Men can often struggle with social isolation. Strong relationships are vital for mental health. Make time to stay in touch with friends and family for support and well-being.
Movember encourages men to take charge of their health, serving as a reminder to look after both body and mind. Use this amazing initiative to reach out to partners, fathers, brothers and sons, and remind them that they’re loved and cared for – sometimes, that can mean more than anything.
Making Pimlico Perfect
Ask GIO
If you have any questions or well-being topics that you would like us to cover, email aspire@landsec.com in confidence. Your privacy will be respected.
Caxton Youth
Here’s an update on our planned improvements for the facilities of our charity partner, Caxton Youth.
As you may recall, while we’re awaiting planning permission for building works at Midge Island (Caxton Youth’s outdoor pursuits centre on the River Wey in Surrey), we are focusing on enhancements to the charity’s London base in an initiative we’re calling ‘Making Pimlico Perfect’. Phase one at Pimlico will comprise improvements to the room at the very back of the building, which is used for various activities, including as a chill-out space. A site visit by Aspire members took place recently to plan the upgrade works for this area, which are scheduled for February. Details of some volunteering opportunities will be announced soon.
CHRISTMAS JUMPER DAY
December
JOIN THE FUN AND FEATURE IN ONE MAGAZINE
Bring Your Culture To Work Day
23 October
Members of the Principle Cleaning team enjoyed a sumptuous feast as they celebrated global festivities at 80 Victoria Street.
“The atmosphere was full of great energy, laughter and delicious food from different cultures,” says Vitor Ferreira, Account Director for Principle. “We had the chance to try food from 13 different countries, all prepared by our team.”
A standout moment for Vitor was the Salsa dance class that took place as part of the event. “Colleagues jumped in,” he says, “having a fantastic time, learning new moves and sharing some fun. A big thank you to everyone who took part and shared some of their culture with us!”
Meet the team
Moving support
Service Partners rallied around last month to support the Landsec Workplace Operations team as they moved office from 16 Palace Street to their new home at 123 Victoria Street. The entire Workplace Operations team moved – lock, stock and barrel – during the period of Friday 18 October to Monday 21 October. Overseeing the operation as Project Lead was Marlene Aguilar, Workplace Operations Team Co-ordinator.
“The move was a big job,” says Marlene. “It was a tough and demanding task but, thanks to the unwavering dedication and hard work of our Service Partners, it was executed seamlessly. Their assistance was invaluable – we couldn’t have accomplished the move without them and I want to thank each one of them for going above and beyond to support our team.”
Many thanks to the following Aspire members for their exceptional efforts,
which were instrumental in making the office move such a success:
Principle Cleaning: Vitor Ferreira, Diana Tupiza, Wilson Sterling, Lee Nelson, Juan David Gomez, Dean Bester, David Spillet, Bruno Alexandrino, Marin Rupa, Alex Lambru and Rodrigo Diaz.
Jaguar Building Services: Jay Nel, Tomasz Blachowski, Shaun Heally, Jamie Stevens, Dean Brown, Paul Stephenson and Simon Ruck.
Furniture donation
As part of efforts to support the local community, the Principle Cleaning team at Cardinal Place recently delivered some furniture to Westminster City School.
The furniture had been kindly donated by a local company and members of the Principle team transported it to the school and installed it in its new home in the top-floor library.
In true Aspire fashion, Marcus Henry (Mailroom and Retail Compliance Manager for Bidvest Noonan at Cardinal Place), helped to co-ordinate timings between the school and Wilson Sterling, Vertical Manager for Principle.
Thank you to Marcus, Wilson and the willing volunteers from Principle Cleaning.
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
The Regular Cleaning team has welcomed several new members recently. Javier Rosario Feliz joined on 1 November and oversees cleaning on the Nova Estate. He deals with reactive calls and ensures that all areas are kept clean. Outside of work, Javier likes to produce and play music. He also has his own clothing brand!
Hector Chicaiza joined the Regular team at the Nova Estate last month. He oversees cleaning in the public realm – maintaining cleanliness, reporting any near misses and dealing with any customer queries. At weekends, Hector is part of Nova Residential, where he is in charge of collecting waste from resident areas. In his free time, he enjoys playing football and spending time with his family.
The final new face at Regular Cleaning this month is Osei Boachie, who joined on 11 November. Osei oversees the cleaning of the corridors and lifts in the basement at n2. When he’s not working, he enjoys going to the gym, learning about IT and gaming.
Caxton Youth
Many thanks to the Jaguar team for making a thoughtful donation to our charity partner, Caxton Youth, recently. When some redundant equipment needed to be removed from a loading bay, one of Jaguar Building Services’ suppliers offered the company £350 for the old machinery.
Simon Ruck, Supervisor for Jaguar, suggested that the money be donated to one of the company’s charity partners, and it was decided that Caxton Youth should be the beneficiary.
On behalf of Caxton Youth, thank you to the Jaguar team for their generous support.
Poppy Appeal
Thank you to all customers, Aspire members and visitors who made donations to this year’s Poppy Appeal.
Our Rapport colleagues ensured that poppies were available at receptions across the London portfolio for a fortnight to raise money for the Royal British Legion, which works to support current and former members of our armed forces. “We also hosted pop-up stalls for donations, to further engage with our customers,” says Jessica Pilakis, Rapport’s Guest Services Manager.
Landsec was also delighted to once again facilitate collections by representatives of Serco UK & Europe, a customer at 100 Victoria Street, outside the building on 5 and 6 November. Located right by the exit from Victoria Underground station, the Serco staff typically raise around £20,000 over the two days. Rapport reports that a fantastic grand total of £4,768 was raised for the Royal British Legion across all the building receptions. Well done to everyone involved in this fundraising for a worthy cause!
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
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
Bubble trouble
WWell done to the team at 80 Victoria Street on winning a Team of the Month award for pulling together to deal with some wet foam dripping from the building recently.
It was a mystery why the wet foamy substance was falling from the building above Waterstones on the afternoon of 31 October, although it was no doubt related to some contractors working on the roof. However, Regular Cleaning and Principle collaborated to resolve the problem speedily.
Initially, Principle had an operative available to clean the ledge and gutter but not a scissor-lift driver to provide powered access – due to annual leave –so Regular Cleaning offered the services of a driver. In the end, the Principle team were able to provide a driver who could help and the issue was resolved early
the next morning. The security team from Bidvest Noonan also assisted, overseeing access for the scissor lift and erecting barriers to ensure safety for the public. Special mentions must go to Darrell Taylor (Operations Director) and Nicky Rifat (Director of Vertical Services) of Regular Cleaning and Wilson Sterling (Vertical Manager) of Principle Cleaning.
“We were very impressed with how responsive our Service Partners were, considering it was a request late in the day,” says Jordon Joseph, Workplace Manager, “and we were happy to see them collaborate to achieve the common goal.”
Alison Currell, Aspire Service Delivery Director (Soft Services), agrees: “This is a fantastic example of Aspire Service Partners from the same service stream working together to resolve an issue.”
6PM