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ISSUE 21 : DECEMBER 2017
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The voice of the Aspire Team - Bringing our community together
WE INVITED YOU TO
PartyAsOne WITH AWARDS, REWARDS, COLOUR & COCKTAILS, ASPIRES FANTASTIC FESTIVE FIESTA PROVED TO BE the HOTTEST CELEBRATION OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON. READ MORE INSIDE >>>>
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ONE MESSAGE FROM
The Steering Committee
From Year to Year,
Strength to Strength THROUGHOUT 2017, WHETHER IT WAS DEALING WITH FLOODING ISSUES OR LOOKING OUT FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR COLLEAGUES AND CUSTOMERS, THE ASPIRE TEAM HAS CONTINUED TO EXCEL IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY. The recent Aspire Recognition Awards and Aspire Beach Ball events were celebrations of all that has been achieved this year and the consistently excellent service we provide to our customers. But they also served as strong reminders of just how close the team has become. The 400 votes that were received made it clear how important those special individuals have become to their fellow members of staff. The fact that the voting was made open, as opposed to last year, has shown how valued the opinion of every individual is and how far the Aspire movement has progressed. At these kinds of events, more and more individuals, who might not have been acknowledged in other organisations, have become familiar faces and friends even to those working on different sites. Even as the team has continued to expand and change, with so many different organisations and departments involved, we have still been able to maintain a working environment that is as enjoyable for our staff as it is professional, which is a remarkable achievement. As we move into a new year together, we do so with our relationships with each other and our customers stronger than ever. On behalf of the steering committee, I would like to thank you for all your hard work over these last 12 months and wish you and your families the very best over the festive season.
Ian Burr Head of Property Management, Landsec
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WE’RE ALL ABOUT YOU
SANTA’S ON THE RUN AS PART OF BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, THE WINTER HOLIDAY SEASON HAS ALWAYS BEEN CELEBRATED AS A GREAT TIME FOR GIVING. This year, a team of 24 Aspire members from Principle Cleaning, including Operations Director Tom Lloyd, Associate Director Scott Fitzgerald and HR & Support Services Director Lilia Lamberto, came together to take part in the annual Charity Santa Run. Based in London’s beautiful Victoria Park, this event was established over 25 years ago and has since raised millions for different charities. Along with thousands of others clad in Santa gear, the Principle Cleaning group assembled in Victoria Park, eager to set off. On the route, they passed a whole range of festive attractions, such as carol singers, people dressed in reindeer costumes and a ‘Santa’s Grotto’ area, set up to keep participants in the Christmas spirit. Together, they were able to raise £680 for The Honeypot Children’s Charity, with more donations still coming in and being counted. This organisation
provides respite to young carers, providing them with much-needed support all year round. The fact that these 24 Santas were able to make such a significant contribution to this great cause whilst also spreading festive cheer meant that the day was a great success for all involved.
TEAMWORK KEEPS US TOGETHER Just recently, the Rope Access Team of NJC received an urgent call from a Landsec customer at 80 Victoria Street. A piece of fabric had been spotted coming apart from the building in a public area, which, if left unchecked, would have presented a very serious risk to everyone onsite. But thanks to a great display of coordinated teamwork and organisation, the problem was quickly dealt with. The Rope Access Team arrived to deal with the problem on the same day they received the call, while NG Bailey staff members directed them to the hazard and advised them on what
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needed to be done. Members of security, meanwhile, did a faultless job of keeping the affected area cordoned off until the works were completed. All three parties involved kept in constant communication with one another, meaning there was minimal risk to those in the area and that the job was finished quickly and efficiently. The Landsec customer commented that the problem was dealt with very quickly and was a ‘great effort’ all round. This fantastic response would not have been possible without the teamwork skills demonstrated by the groups involved.
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Award ceremony: Tropicana Beach Club Parker Street, London, WC2B 5PW
2017 ASPIRE RECOGNITION AWARDS
Voting is now closed
Our presentation ceremony celebrated the winners of our ‘Player of the Year’ awards and was the result of votes submitted by you and your workmates through our website. With over 400 votes counted, finalists were invited to attend our annual Aspire Recognition Awards on 5th December. #PinkBeachwear
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Check out all om the images fr the night.
ASPIRE MEMBERS WERE TRANSPORTED TO A TROPICAL PARADISE TO CELEBRATE THE START OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON.
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or the first time ever, Aspire members were given the opportunity to vote for the special individuals who best demonstrated the 9 core values of Aspire. After weeks of preparation and a fantastic level of response from the team, the votes had been counted and the winners for each category confirmed. The stage was set for the 2017 Aspire Recognition Awards. Based at the Tropicana Beach Club near Covent Garden, everyone in attendance was greeted with flower leis, palm tree decorations and a range of freshly prepared cocktails. Every effort had been made inside the venue to transport guests from the cold winter outside to a private, tropical paradise. Even the tables for the pre-award dinner were given tropical-inspired names, such as ‘Beach Blossom’, ‘Long Beach Cooler’ and ‘Tropa-colada’. The menus for the three-course meal were similarly designed, offering ‘exotic entrees’,
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Flossy Nwofor (Right) collects the award for best ‘Customer Service’.
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Solomon Jackson (Left) presents the ‘Respect for the Individual’ award to Glenn Darlison and James Gladding.
‘dessert island dishes’ and ‘sunsational sweets’ that certainly added to the atmosphere in the venue. But even with this tropical theme at the ceremony, there were more conventional ways of celebrating the holiday season as well. Amongst the paper flowers were Christmas crackers on every table, and it wasn’t long before those in attendance were donning paper hats and groaning at the good natured, traditionally cheesy jokes. Aspire members also made a special effort to interact with one another, introducing themselves warmly to one another and discussing plans for the holiday break and the New Year. As the tables were cleared, General Manager David Wickens stepped up to the stage to begin the part everyone had been waiting for. Introducing the ceremonies, David commented that ‘the only way we can truly connect with our customers is through people’, a reminder that it is the Aspire team at the heart of the all the work that Landsec and their Service Providers do. Each category, reflecting the Aspire core values, had a new member of staff speaking, who then introduced the nominees. Asta Brandes (Right) receives the award for ‘Corporate Responsibility’.
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One by one, the winners, went up to collect their prizes, receiving cheers from all sides. Some old Aspire legends even made special appearances over the course of the prize giving. Rob Trewick, formerly of NJC, attended especially to receive the highly coveted Chairman’s Award. That so many of those present had an active role in the outcome this year meant that everyone shared more in the success of the winners. The fact that over 400 of you voted spokes volumes about how much the rest of the team valued these special individuals and the work they do. The event concluded with the premier screening of the official AspireAsOne animated movie, which gave a clear visual reminder of what Landsec and their partners first set out to do with this initiative and how far they have come since then. g
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A huge congratulations to the winners, nominees and everyone for making it such a special start to the evening.
Landsec General Manager, David Payne (Left), congratulates Craig Ansell on his ‘Excellence’ award.
Congratulations to all the 2017 Aspire Recognition Award winners. 8
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Kelly Barlow (Left) and Paul Crilly, Managing Director of NJC.
In focus with
Kelly Barlow
LANDSEC, MIZUHO HOUSE, LUDGATE
AN ‘EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTION’ The 2017 annual Aspire Recognition Awards ceremony was a terrific success that highlighted the accomplishments of Landsec and their Service Providers from over the course of the year. But this would not have been the case without the tireless efforts and dedication of Operations Support Assistant Kelly Barlow, who has been a mainstay of the Aspire movement for months. Working closely with Landsec’s General Manager David Wickens and Samantha Carrick, Kelly played a key role in choosing the venue for the events, the menu choices, sending out invites and overseeing RSVPs, amongst other tasks. Speaking to her about all the preparations that went into the awards ceremony and the Aspire Beach Ball, it is clear that she is driven by our ‘one team’ ethos. To this end, she wants every event held as part of Aspire to be as inclusive as possible, ensuring that every ‘unsung hero’ is given the recognition they deserve. Kelly’s goal to appeal to every Aspire member, regardless of their
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role, experience or service provider, has allowed her to build strong relationships with the rest of the team. Her unwavering enthusiasm and passion for what she does has helped to bring everyone closer together. These qualities have been recognised by her friends and colleagues, as she received the majority of the votes for the Exceptional Contribution Award. David Wickens commented during the ceremony that she ‘went above and beyond in everything she did’, whether during work or leading the way with special Aspire events. Despite her obvious enthusiasm for her work, Kelly is looking forward to the holiday season and spending Christmas with her family and friends.
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During the festive period, she often takes the opportunity to nurture her broad taste in film, enjoying everything from ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ to ‘The Holiday’. She also enjoys entertaining, applying the same bubbly enthusiasm that she brings to her role with Landsec. As someone who has dedicated herself to seeing the Aspire movement progress and succeed, the team is lucky to have Kelly on board. Congratulations to her for receiving her award and a special thanks to her for all that she has made possible.
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GUESTS WERE GREETED WITH SIGHTS OF INDOOR PALM TREES, A SWIMMING POOL INSPIRED DANCE FLOOR, DISCO LIGHTS AND EXOTIC DANCING
Check out all the images fr om the night.
2017 ASPIRE RECOGNITION AWARDS
Winners CUSTOMER SERVICE Flossy Nwofor RESPECT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL Glenn Darlison and James Gladding INTEGRITY Serafino Masella EXCELLENCE Craig Ansell INNOVATION Ultimate (Security Briefings) CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY Asta Brandes ENVIRONMENTAL Jose Calapina TEAM 80-100 Victoria Street (High Winds) EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTION Kelly Barlow CHAIRMAN’S AWARDS Rob Trewick & David Wickens
Ultimate Security collected the ‘Innovation’ award for their in depth security briefings.
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Vladimir Prisacariu (Left) and Vlad Ciocan enjoying the recent awards.
NJC, NEW STREET SQUARE
In focus with
Vladimir Prisacariu RESPECT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL There are very few people who embody the core values of respect, teamwork and customer service as much as Estate and Shredding Janitor Vladimir Prisacariu. Always a source of support for his colleagues at New Street Square (Right), Vladimir can be counted on to provide an exceptional level of service. Even at more informal events, like the Aspire Beach Ball, Vladimir remains unwaveringly polite, courteous and professional. As someone who believes that ‘communication is key’, part of what makes Vladimir such a great asset at work is that he can speak five different languages at a conversational level or above, being proficient in Romanian, English, Italian, French and Spanish. This means that he is often able to help new members of staff to integrate into the team at New Street Square if there are any language problems and has also allowed him to deal with communication issues in the past. When the new, multi-language signage was introduced in 2016 at NSS as part of a project to improve
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waste recycling performance, Vladimir proved absolutely invaluable as the onsite operative. Speaking to him at length and seeing how easily he interacts with his fellow Aspire members, it becomes clear why he was nominated for the Aspire Award under the category of Respect for the Individual. His honest, down-to-earth sense of humour and eternal optimism also means that Vladimir is a pleasure to interact with even outside of work. Vladimir’s easygoing attitude is reflected in his broad taste in music, as he enjoys nearly everything from 1980s rock to more modern pop (although he is still partial to the likes of Black
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Sabbath, Queen and Iron Maiden). His multilingual skills stem from a healthy interest in other languages and cultures, embracing new chances to learn more and to advance his own knowledge. Although Vladimir did not win an award, that didn’t stop him applauding for his teammates louder than anyone. He has proved time and time again, through his extensive language skills and his general attitude, that he is always ready to put the needs of his teammates before his own, a true credit to the ‘one team’ ethos at the heart of Aspire.
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Beach B A L L
5th December 2017
Our festive fiesta was enjoyed by one and all. The hottest party to kick off the holiday season in style was enjoyed by lots of enthusiastic Aspire team members. The fun took place at the Tropicana Beach Club in Covent Garden, where everyone was transported to a tropical paradise. #PinkBeachwear
PartyAsOne # P i n k B e a c hw e a r
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IT WASN’T LONG BEFORE PEOPLE WERE HITTING THE DANCE FLOOR AS THE LIVE BAND PLAYED EVERYTHING FROM TOE-TAPPING DANCE HITS TO CLASSIC FESTIVE TUNES.
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Check out all the images fr om the night.
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uests were greeted with sights of indoor palm trees, a swimming pool-inspired dance floor, disco lights and staff in lifeguard outfits. The two bars at the venue, based on either side, were decorated in a similar fashion and wouldn’t have looked out of place in a Caribbean resort. For the final big celebration of the year, this chilled, relaxed atmosphere was ideal for allowing Aspire members to slip easily into the party mood and let their hair down. It wasn’t long before people were hitting the dance floor as the live band played everything from toe-tapping dance hits to classic festive tunes. Whenever anyone wanted to take a break, they could take to one of the benches placed nearby or one of the ‘desert island’ booths located near the bars.
The band continued to play great tunes to an enthusiastic audience throughout the evening at the Tropicana Beach Club.
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It was great to see that so many had braved the winter chill to be there, with dozens of people arriving right from the start. Some, such as Ultimate Security’s Flossy Nwofor, even chose to come in on their days off for the festivities. As the Beach Ball followed directly after the Aspire Recognition Awards ceremony, this meant that many people were already present. By 7.30, just an hour after the official start time, so many had arrived that you could hardly move around in some areas, with literally hundreds of people in attendance. The event’s ‘pink Christmas’ dress code had clearly been taken to heart by a few familiar faces as well; Landsec’s Kelly Barlow was wearing a pink and black dress for the occasion, while Janitor Vladimir Prisacariu, of NJC, was never seen without his pink handkerchief and tie combo.
Hat’s the way to do it!
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THE ONLY WAY WE CAN TRULY CONNECT WITH OUR CUSTOMERS IS THROUGH PEOPLE
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Guests participated in face and body painting, including Landsec General Manager Jessica Trew.
The evening became livelier as it went on, featuring a whole string of interesting acts during the party. Burlesque performers and fire dancers were the highlights of the entertainment, raising the spirits of everyone present even more. Platters were also brought around by lifeguard waiters to keep Aspire members fuelled, with such delicacies as dressed crab in lemon mayonnaise on toast, fish and chip bouquets and duck satays with accompanying sauces. There were still people arriving at the event as late as 8.30, keen on celebrating well into the night. With in-house entertainment, an exotic setting, a wide variety of food and drink and a brilliant turnout, the Aspire Beach Ball was an evening to remember. New friendships were made and old ones strengthened as the Aspire team really showed how to ‘party as one’.
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ASPIRE STAFF RECOGNITION AWARDS ASPIRE PLAYER OF THE MONTH
November ‘17
LAST MONTH SAW THESE PEOPLE RECOGNISED BY YOU FOR EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE AND FOR SIMPLY BEING A GREAT TEAM MEMBER. NOMINATIONS CAN NOW BE MADE VIA THE WEBSITE.
“A CONSISTENTLY EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE’”
He has always been the type of person who is willing to help any individual in need without being asked. His patience, extensive knowledge and focus ensure
CERTIF IC
that things at 80 VS are always running smoothly. With this in mind, fellow Aspire members are always happy to work alongside him as they know they can rest a bit easier with him on the job.
TION NI
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ithin every team across every site, there are always a few special characters who really go above and beyond to help out their colleagues. For the staff at 80 Victoria Street, Tommy Dean, of Ultimate Security, has been such a person for as long as he has been based there.
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WINNER: Tommy Dean - Ultimate Security, 80 Victoria Street
E OF RECO AT
PLAYER OF THE MONTH
In recognition of his ‘consistently excellent customer service’ and everything that makes him so valuable to the team, Louise Veal, of Office Concierge, has nominated Tommy for a Player of the Month Award in Excellence.
“ULTIMATE SECURITY TAKES CHARGE” Ultimate Security, Monico Estate
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n Friday 24th November, Oxford Circus experienced a shutdown by the Metropolitan Police after a suspected terrorist incident.
Sarah Hotchen presents Serafino Masella with the Aspire ‘Integrity’ award.
Thousands in the area, confused and frightened, were instructed to take cover in nearby buildings and wait there until further notice. This included the Monico Estate, one of Landsec’s most prestigious sites. Greeted by so many panicking people so suddenly, it would be easy for any form of organisation to fall apart. For the Ultimate Security team onsite, however, this certainly was not the case as they did an exemplary job in dealing with the situation. Led by Serafino Masella (right), they led the approaching people into the loading bay and the Shaftesbury Avenue buildings after hearing of what had happened. Within a matter of minutes, those seeking shelter were safe inside, while the security team did their best to calm everyone present. To reassure them further, the team
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continued to track social media and London news stations to get as much information as possible about the incident, sharing these updates as they received them. As it was a while before anyone could be allowed outside, several members of Ultimate Security ended up staying well past
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their usual working hours, placing the safety of the public above their own interests. For their selflessness, quick-thinking and ability to work so calmly in the face of such a chaotic situation, Aspire would like to thank the entire security team at the Monico Estate.
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Check out all om the images fr the day.
Dressing for the occasion
CHRISTMAS JUMPER DAY All over London, the Aspire team came together to raise money for The Honeypot Children’s Charity. Santa outfits, elf costumes, snowman jumpers and reindeer horns were the order of the day as a fantastic number of people took the opportunity to spread some festive cheer. With donations still rolling in, it was another example of an enjoyable experience for a great cause.
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ASPIRE CHRISTMAS JUMPER DAY 2017
Check out all the images fr om the day.
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If you joined the fun, don’t forget to text ASPI48 to 70070 & donate £2 to The Honeypot Children’s Charity.
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ASPIRE WHAT’S ON AND THE RAFFLE WINNERS ARE... EVERYONE WAS ABLE TO GET INTO THE GIVING SPIRIT THIS YEAR WITH ASPIRE’S ‘SEASONAL SQUARES’ RAFFLE.
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With £75 vouchers up for grabs and all proceeds going to The Honeypot Children’s Charity, staff from all over wasted no time getting involved. erin
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AspireAsOne T H E
M OV I E
Integrating 712 employees from 10 service partners across some of the highest-quality space in the London can be a challenge, but not if we AspireAsOne
After all the ‘squares’ were bought and all the collections had been made, the winning tickets were selected randomly out of a hat and the lucky individuals were contacted to inform them that their prize vouchers were on their way. A huge thank you to everyone for participating in the raffle for their support and congratulations to the winners, all of whom are listed below. Andrea Grigoras of NJC £75 Love2Shop vouchers Shaun Healy of NGBailey £75 Argos vouchers Rhona Smith of Jaguar £70 Love2Shop vouchers Melissa Groenewald of NG Bailey £75 Love2Shop vouchers Jef Adams of Ultimate Security £75 M&S vouchers Ahmed Youssef of Corps Security £75 Hugo Boss vouchers Sam Dinnadge of Bywaters £75 John Lewis vouchers
Coming soon # g r e a t t e a mw o r k
Peter May of CBRE £75 M&S vouchers Sonya Boramond of Principle £80 M&S vouchers Adam Nguyen of Jaguar £75 John Lewis vouchers
CONTACT For further information regarding the articles in this newsletter please contact Amanda Heppelthwaite at aspire@landsec.com Landsec, 100 Victoria Street, London SW1E 5JL T +44 (0) 20 7413 9000 E aspire@landsec.com One newsletter is keen to welcome points of view from Landsec staff and service partners. Therefore, the views expressed in this newsletter are those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Landsec. We welcome contributions whether through social media, email, letters or stories. Please forward contributions to aspire@landsec.com
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