Aspire One Newsletter - Issue 78 September 2022

The Aspire Thames Path Walk

David Wickens Operations Director & Chair of Landsec | Aspire

tThere are quite a few sore feet (including mine) around the Aspire network following our epic Thames Path Walk challenge. Everybody taking part managed to dig deep and get across the finishing line in some way or another – maybe the food and drinks waiting there had something to do with their determination! It was a fantastic effort from everyone and has raised an incredible £6,213 so far for our charity partner, Caxton Youth Organisation. On their behalf, I want to say a huge ‘thank you’ to everybody involved – those who walked, those who supported and those who organised the event (particularly Kelly Barlow and Alison Currell). Coming TogetherAsOne to do something amazing that makes a difference to people’s lives is what Landsec | Aspire is all about, so give yourselves a pat on the back! And, if you didn’t take

part, it’s not too late to show your appreciation for the Aspire hikers by making a donation.

Of course, it has been a memorable month for another reason too. It was with great sadness that we came together as a nation to mourn the death of Queen Elizabeth II. As well as marking the occasion on Piccadilly Lights, our Aspire teams worked hard to deal with the additional responsibilities that came from vast numbers of people – including VIPs from around the globe with high security requirements – travelling to London. Thank you all for your patience and dedication throughout the period of national mourning.

In this month’s issue we also meet Brad Cordrey, our new Workspace Manager for 62 Buckingham Gate and Lucent, and we hear from Ross Wiles about his brand-new role of Aspire Systems Manager.

Lawrence

Aspire

to Maidenhead

We conquered the walk and despite having to get up too early, deal with blisters and endure aching limbs, our intrepid Aspire hikers reached the finish line, so far raising over £6000 for our charity, Caxton Youth Organisation.

Francisca Cumbicus and Charles Walden from NJC

Congratulations to our fantastic team of hikers, who battled through aching feet, backs and hips to complete our latest Aspire challenge of walking the Thames Path from Reading to Maidenhead. There were two distance options in order to make the event as inclusive as possible, with 39 people completing the full distance of 24.9 miles and a further 7 joining later to walk the final 10 miles. Some hikers came in a minibus, meeting at 16 Palace Street at 5.50am, while others made their own way to the start line in Reading. It was a little chilly as the walk began at 8am sharp but the weather was kind, staying dry all day.

Between 12 noon and 1.30pm, walkers enjoyed a well-earned rest with complimentary refreshments and nibbles provided by Aspire at The Rising Sun pub in Hurley. This was the meeting point for those joining the walk for the 10-mile option. Rapport kindly provided a pop-up tent to supply energy drinks between the pub and the end of the challenge. Everyone was extremely relieved to see the Aspire flags that marked the finish line in Kidwell’s Park, Maidenhead. Members of the team distributed the beer, pizza and soft drinks provided by Aspire to the walkers. It goes without saying that the refreshments went down extremely well with our exhausted participants!

Please support our charity

We are delighted to report that the Aspire Thames Path Challenge has raised a fantastic £6,213 so far for our charity, Caxton Youth Organisation. The fund is still open for donations, so please give generously to show your support for your brave colleagues. Well done and thank you to everyone who took part!

justgiving.com/fundraising/ aspire-thamespathwalk

Kate Boddington from Caxton Youth Organisation.

Lawrence Merry - Estate Security Manager at Bidvest Noonan.

Check out all the event images now.

the team

John GloverManaging Director at Bywaters.

Team Principle Cleaning on the final leg.

Sammy HarringtonKey Account

Director at Bidvest Noonan

Tom LloydDeputy CEO, Principle Cleaning.

Check out all the event images now.

David PayneOperational Risk Manager at Landsec.

Meet the team

A well-earned break at the RisingSunHurley.co.uk

Louise OdyWorkspace Manager at Landsec.

Meet

team Team Rapport join the fun at the RisingSunHurley.co.uk

Rose SwainstonCEO of Caxton Youth Organisation.

out all the event images now.

Matthew Morse and Oliver Harris.

Guy PakenhamChief Customer Officer, Bidvest Noonan.

Guy Pakenham and Ieva Botes accompany Simon Watson from NG Bailey.

Check out all the event images now.

Meet the team

AsOneTeam

out all the event images now.

driven

Aspire

Femi Olunuga, Aspire Data Analyst, has been crunching the numbers to find trends and provide information to help achieve our sustainability targets and other goals.

January to 31 August (Unless stated otherwise)

Total number of people checked in to properties in our London Portfolio. This comprises 111,197 visitors and 4,774 staff (temporary staff, contractors, food delivery staff and security personnel).

Number of maintenance tickets that the AspireAssist 24/7 HelpDesk has been able to resolve successfully. This figure represents approximately 95% of total tickets raised.

Customer

rate for the tickets handled by the AspireAssist 24/7 HelpDesk. This is testament to the skill and dedication of our Service Partners who handle these tasks.

electricity savings achieved.

average electricity consumption for the year to 31 August is 14% less than our targeted consumption, helping to lower our carbon footprint.

of

been recycled.

waste that

is a year-to-date

and surpasses our target by

Overall gas savings achieved.

average gas consumption for the year to 31 August is 10.7% less than our targeted consumption, again helping to protect our planet.

AspireSystems

Ross Wiles takes up the role of Aspire Systems Manager

Ross Wiles has been appointed as Aspire Systems Manager, a brand-new role that will play a crucial part in supporting our transition to a data-led business.

Working within the Aspire team, the Aspire Systems Manager is responsible for setting up, rolling out and maintaining systems that streamline working processes and provide insight in order to ensure an enhanced customer experience.

“Landsec has a number of systems and we need to optimise their use,” explains Ross. “The new role is essentially as custodian of these systems and involves working out how best to implement them into Operations.”

Ross started his new job on 5 September and is based at the Aspire Centre of Excellence (ACE) at One New Change, although he will often be out and about to meet colleagues. He is relishing the challenge of his new role. “There’s a lot to take in,” he says. “At the moment, I’m familiarizing myself with the various systems, including the dashboard of the AspireAssist 24/7 HelpDesk I’m working out the expectations of the position and making sure we set projects up correctly.”

For example, one of the systems Ross will be working with is Invida, which is used for asset management. “All assets are recorded on the system,” says Ross, “which can then produce reports on

life cycle and replacement plans to help with budgeting.” There is the need to add QR codes to all assets, which Ross describes as “one hell of a task”!

Another system – BIM or Business Information Model – is brand-new and will be used for new developments. This sophisticated software is used to record the position of services behind walls, above ceilings and below floors in a property. “It will be invaluable for Service Partners when maintaining the building,” he says. Ross is also keen to improve the information on the SharePoint site, where folders for every property are stored, to make all data accessible and easy to find.

Ross will be working closely with Neil Gravett, Senior Implementation Manager, and Femi Olunuga, Aspire Data Analyst, as well as other members of the Aspire team at ACE. “They are all really nice people,” he says, “and it’s my team that makes me want to do a good job.”

He believes he was approached for the role of Aspire Systems Manager due to his methodical approach to work and he knows his experience as a Workspace Manager (WSM) will be invaluable. He has been WSM at 62 Buckingham Gate (along with 40 Strand until it was sold) since December 2019, although he’s been an employee at Landsec for 19 years. He started in the post room at 5 Strand (the former Head Office) before becoming

Office Services Team Leader and then joining Operations in 2016. “Having been a Workspace Manager, I know what they need,” says Ross. “I can put that experience to use so that I make life easier for people. I like helping people and I want to do the best job I can.” Away from the office, Ross enjoys spending time with his partner, Lindsey, and their two sons, Hugo (aged 7) and Arlo (5). The boys love swimming, taking after Ross, who used to swim for Essex as a child. Living by the sea, Ross and his family also spend a lot of time on the beach.

Maintaining and implementing innovative support procedures that streamline operational efficiency.

Welcome to outdoorsman

Brad Cordrey

MANAGER

Meet Brad Cordrey, who joined us as Workspace Manager in the first week of September, taking charge of 62 Buckingham Gate and Lucent. For Brad, the role of Workspace Manager is a mix of old and new. 62 Buckingham Gate is familiar territory for him, as he looked after some of its tenants in his previous role as Contracts Manager with a facilities maintenance company, while Lucent is a brand-new addition to the London Portfolio. With its launch planned for late this year, Lucent W1 sits behind the iconic Piccadilly Lights and offers a mix of office, residential and retail space. Featuring a vast, light-filled central atrium and a spectacular rooftop restaurant, Lucent is an exciting new development and a challenge that Brad

says he’s really looking forward to.

Based at 62 BG, Brad has found the onboarding process at Landsec to be smooth. “It’s been fantastic,” he says.

“Everyone has been so helpful. The team I work in is really cohesive and everyone is clearly enjoying their work. There’s been such a welcoming atmosphere as well.”

While he’s had to get to grips with unfamiliar apps and systems, he’s grateful for a great handover from his predecessor, Ross Wiles, who has taken a new role as Aspire Systems Manager. “Ross has been fantastic,” explains Brad. “His handover document is so comprehensive and will make my life a lot easier. I know there will be challenges ahead but I don’t feel daunted by anything as yet.”

Brad began his career with an apprenticeship in plumbing. After working as a plumber, he became a maintenance engineer for a couple of years. Then he moved to a tenant in Cardinal Place as Assistant Facilities Manager, after which he progressed to Victoria Maintenance Services, where he spent four years as Contracts Manager. As VMS covers a number of Landsec sites, Brad’s face will be a familiar one for many Aspire colleagues in the West End.

Outside of work, he loves the outdoors. That includes walking in the Kent countryside, where he lives, or kayaking on the River Medway. “I’m at my happiest in the middle of a forest with my wife, Siobhan, and our dog, Noah,” he says, “or on my kayak. I took it up

during the pandemic and I go kayaking quite often now. I enjoy the simplicity and the calmness of nature.”

Originally from Essex, Brad and his wife moved to Bromley initially and then to Kent four years ago. Noah, a black Labrador, joined them as a puppy in 2019. “He has too much energy,” says Brad, “and he’s mad, like most Labs, but we wouldn’t have him any other way. He’s brought so much joy, as dogs do.” Brad also likes to watch cricket, NFL and football (he supports West Ham). He’s a big film fan and says, “I’m excited that there’s a Curzon in the building in Victoria Street. My wife doesn’t tend to like the same films as me, so I can go on my own after work if she’s busy.”

Welcome, Brad!

Liz Cummins

Managing Director, London Security Solutions and Acuity, Front of House and Concierge for Bidvest Noonan.

What would you say is your greatest achievement?

I enjoy my job; it’s challenging and I feel a real responsibility to create an environment for all our teams that is safe and full of opportunities. Balancing that with a healthy family lifestyle is difficult. I don’t feel guilty about working, though – it’s about showing my daughter what can be achieved. I just accept the fact that the scales are always tipping one way or the other and it’s about getting the best possible balance.

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

What do you like to do outside of work?

I love to travel and spend time with my 8-year-old daughter, Katie, and my partner, Bryan. We often go to Cornwall and to the Continent.

Swimming has always been a passion for me; in fact, anything with water –like surfing or bodyboarding – as it’s a release to immerse yourself. In reality, at weekends I’m a glorified taxi driver for my daughter as she goes to various activities and parties!

What would you say is your best skill in business?

That I’m curious. I don’t take something at face value – I want to know about people, what drives them and what challenges them. If you’re asking questions, you’re actively listening – and that is a skill that is absolutely vital in the workplace.

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

Meeting our frontline teams. I talk to the teams a lot and love finding out about them and what makes them tick. For me, it’s the most important part of my job.

And your least favourite? Sometimes there are hard decisions to make and part of my role is to make them and to support others to understand why they are made, as well as to develop the teams to manage challenging situations in a professional and empathetic way.

Are you a fan of anything or anyone?

It would be apt at the moment to mention the Queen. I’m full of admiration for her. It’s remarkable and commendable that she lived the life of service to the country that she promised. Often people over-promise and under-deliver. It’s far better to say nothing at all and over-deliver than promise the world and not even deliver a continent!

What’s on your bucket list?

I’d love to travel coast to coast across America and Canada in a pimped-up RV. The reality would probably be very different but I have a rose-tinted view of it as I backpacked that route when I was 19.

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

Well, I went to buy school shoes recently. When we walked into the shoe shop late on a Saturday, the place looked like Armageddon. There were a few young assistants who must have been shattered but these girls were still charming and took the time to speak to all the customers in a friendly and knowledgeable way. It really resonated with me.

I wish I’d had more faith in what I could achieve. I was fortunate, my parents focused on all the right things – education, extra-curricular activities and standards. School was a struggle but standout teachers and coaches are still remembered to this day. Confidence comes with age, experience and having great mentors. I wish I had believed other people when they said I could achieve anything.

Do you have any regrets?

No, I’ve had a super time. I spent seven years travelling the world when working in hotels and as a chef. Things happen for a reason, even though you don’t realise it at the time.

Do you have any pets?

A dog called Finlay. He’s a Havanese, which is the only dog breed native to Cuba. He’s a small, white fluffball and very precious!

What’s your all-time favourite movie?

The Birdcage with Robin Williams and Nathan Lane. Hank Azaria trying to walk in shoes still makes me laugh. What was your first ever job?

I worked in a local hotel as a breakfast waitress. My Dad used to get up at quarter to six on Saturday morning, put on his dressing gown and drive me to the hotel. The breakfast chef would come out and bring him a bacon roll. I was 14 or 15 at the time. My main job was pouring coffee and making toast in the most temperamental toaster I’ve ever come across whilst being glared at by Dominique, the Restaurant Manager. It built character very quickly and formed very fond memories.

Hill House mobilised

Hill House, located on the edge of the New Street Square estate, has been mobilised and the Landsec | Aspire team worked together to deliver a seamless and successful mobilisation.

The building has been used by Deloitte for over 30 years but now the tenant is in the process of vacating and handing the property back. The mobilisation began on 1 July and Landsec is considering various options for the building’s future use.

Jana Havlikova of Bidvest Noonan, who was one of the Security Supervisors for NSS, has been appointed as Security Supervisor for Hill House. It was necessary to create a new CCTV system, as this had previously been shared with another building. “Jana and the Bidvest team have done really good work coping with this change,” says Louise Ody, Workspace Manager.

Hill House obviously needed cleaning throughout and this was down to NJC. “They have done an amazing job,” says Louise. “They’ve given it a fantastic spring clean, especially the loading bay.”

Jaguar Building Services has been appointed to take care of the building’s maintenance and engineering. Hill House is the company’s second contract with Landsec, with the other being Nova. Louise Ody describes Jaguar’s Lee Walker (Account Manager) and Paul Baterip-Pilot (Engineer) as having been “a really great support” in what has not been a traditional mobilisation exercise.

“Aspire is new to Lee and Paul,” explains Louise, “but they have really embraced the concept and it’s been great to see them become such key team players for Hill House. I’m really proud of the whole team,” she concludes, “for how they’ve got everything set up and running there.”

Jana Havlikova of Bidvest Noonan, at New Street Square.

Supporting Sustainable Workspaces

A BIG thank you TO OUR GUEST SPEAKERS AND EVERYONE WHO WORKED ON OR ATTENDED THIS IMPORTANT EVENT

In the post-pandemic world, expectations of the role of business in creating a sustainable future are considerably higher. With a longstanding commitment to sustainability, Landsec remains ahead of the game and the Landsec | Aspire community is helping to deliver our vision.

On Thursday 29 September, at Myo Liverpool Street, Service Partner guest speakers presented the approaches being taken as we WORK TO BUILD A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.

In next month’s issue of One Magazine, we’ll be reporting on the event at Myo. Look out for the article to read about the innovative ideas and strategies being taken by Landsec | Aspire to create workspaces fit for the future as part of our ‘Build well, Live well, Act well’ sustainability framework.

Liverpool Street

Dashwood, 69 Old Broad St, London EC2M 1QS.

Along with millions of people across the UK and around the world, we were saddened by the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The huge influx of visitors into the capital, many of whom wanted to pay their respects in person at the Lyingin-State in Westminster Hall, brought extra duties for many of our Aspire colleagues. Security staff had more risks

to consider, cleaners had more work to do, loading bay personnel had to deal with road closures and all staff faced more queries than usual from members of the public trying to find their way.

Thank you to everyone – particularly the Aspire teams in Victoria and One New Change – who stepped up to help others during this time of national mourning.

Redecoration at 62 BG

The Aspire team at 62 Buckingham Gate proved that they were united when redecoration work was carried out at short notice recently. “Once again, the fabric team delivered an outstanding service,” says Ross Wiles, former Workspace Manager (now Aspire Systems Manager).

Dean Brown, Fabric Contract Supervisor for NG Bailey, was asked to arrange some decorating and improvements

in one of the rooms at 62 BG. This was completed as a goodwill gesture the next day with assistance from Dean’s colleagues, Shaun Healy and Paul Stephenson. The team painted the room, which had been used as a cloakroom, and replaced the worktop.

NJC cleaned the carpet to complete the makeover, proving once again what can be achieved when everyone works together. Many thanks to all involved!

united

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

New Street Square has seen a few changes recently. We were sad to say goodbye to Eddie Harknett, who has started his well-earned retirement. As a key member of the NSS team for a long time, he will be missed. Following Tania Balog’s departure for an exciting new challenge within Rapport, Oumnia El Asry has been appointed to replace her. Oumnia joins NSS from the hospitality industry and is ready for a new challenge. She enjoys travelling and

trying new foods, so is always looking for new bars and restaurants to try out.

Yinka Daniel recently joined the Property Support team, which provides administration services to both the London and Retail portfolios from its base at One New Change. Yinka came to Landsec | Aspire through our partnership with Circl, an organisation that offers leadership development programmes to professionals alongside young adults from underrepresented backgrounds. Harvey Derwin and Jacob Berkeley have just joined us as Workspace Trainees. While Harvey applied for his role directly, Jacob came to us through our partnership with 20/20 Change, a youth empowerment

organisation focused on creating true inclusion in the workplace. We look forward to introducing Yinka, Harvey and Jacob in our October issue.

Hemanshi Rohit is the latest member of the AspireAssist 24/7 HelpDesk team, joining as Helpdesk Administrator in late July. Hemanshi studied Computer Science and her passion is coding. Outside of work she enjoys eating out with friends and loves everything to do with makeup.

Last but not least, Brad Cordrey has joined us as Workspace Manager, responsible for 62 Buckingham Gate and Lucent. You can find out more about Brad in the feature within this issue.

Welcome to all our new recruits!

Great job!

Mate Suveg, Receptionist with Rapport at One New Change, recently went above and beyond in his efforts to help a customer.

The gentleman had arrived in a rush and needed to find his way quickly to avoid being late for a meeting. Mate, who was on his break but had just popped out to the reception area at the time, did not hesitate in suggesting that he take the customer personally to the location he was looking for. Taking 15 minutes of his own time to help someone who was in need is a great example of going the extra mile. Thank you, Mate.

You heard it through the Grapevine

We recognise & reward

Landsec

Aspire

always

help us give praise where it’s due. Whether you’re a

member

a Landsec customer, let us have your Player of the Month votes

be featured in One Magazine.

What are the Aspire Staff Recognition Awards?

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.

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.

your workmates

Aspire

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 via AspireAsOne.co.uk or directly via WhatsApp on 07834 431208

Certificate of Recognition Player of the month

Superstar Scheila

cCongratulations to Scheila Costa, Senior Housekeeper with Principle Cleaning at Myo Liverpool Street, for winning a Player of the Month award.

A Myo client recently praised the daily efforts of the cleaning staff at Dashwood. He paid special tribute to Scheila for allowing him to complete his work in privacy, when working late, before cleaning the office. He said he appreciated both her professionalism and her bubbly personality. Rose Nwosu, Members’ Concierge for Myo Liverpool Street, said of Scheila, “She’s our superstar!” Well done, Scheila!

Wallet wonder

Well done to Federica Valenti, Cluster Supervisor for Rapport at Nova, for scooping our second Player of the Month award.

When a Landsec employee came into the building and handed in a wallet they had found dropped outside, Federica checked the name and recognised the owner as a visitor who had checked in for a meeting earlier and then left Nova ten minutes previously. Not content to give the wallet to security for storage in the hope that the visitor would come back, Federica took the initiative to find the owner on Facebook and contact him via Messenger. After verifying that he

could describe the wallet, she told him where it could be collected. He returned within 10 minutes and was extremely relieved and grateful.

According to Daria Darnowska, Deputy Guest Services Manager for Rapport, Federica said at the time, “He was smiling so much, it made me feel amazing”. Daria says that Federica went above and beyond, exceeding all expectations. “She is just so natural at providing a high level of customer service; she is always happy to help and her positive smile and attitude just brightens up everyone’s day.”

Fantastic work, Federica!