ENJOYABLE SOCIAL EVENTS
We kick off the Conference with a drinks reception at Manchester Cathedral, a Grade I listed masterpiece in the heart of the Medieval Quarter.
The next day, our Conference Party will be one to remember (or not!). Held at Hatch, one of Manchester’s newest, award-winning food, drink and retail destinations in the city centre. Guests will enjoy a welcome cocktail on arrival before sampling a variety of delicious street food. Explore the open air spaces and terraces, trayed drinks and four bars. A DJ and live local band provide some of the entertainment for the evening. Details: Drinks Reception & Party
UNMISSABLE DISCUSSIONS
Starting with an introduction to Manchester, we will hear from Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, and Joanne Roney OBE, Chief Executive of Manchester City Council.
We will then bring you four topical discussions with an outstanding lineup of speakers, culminating on the final day with Ed Gillespie, Leading Sustainability Expert, and Mark Stevenson, Futurist and Top Selling Author, aka The Futurenauts. In their usual rambunctious and provocative style, they will explore the live and ongoing mass experiment we are all engaged in regarding the future of work. Read more
ENGAGING TOURS & SEMINARS
From exploring Manchester’s renowned Northern Quarter district, to an exclusive peek inside Europe’s largest and leading studio complex, our extensive lineup of tours will provide an opportunity to showcase the latest in office design and occupation, with focus on regeneration, sustainability, public realm and refurbishment.
Seminars will provide a forum for more intimate engagement in the fields of technologies, the metaverse, ESG, Net Zero Carbon, future occupiers and science. Take a look at the tours and seminars on offer.
NEW NEXTGEN PROGRAMME
First up on our brand new NextGen-focused agenda is the Manchester 5K Running Tour, giving you the opportunity to see some of Manchester’s architecture and culture, whilst getting your fitness fix. You are then invited to join the NextGen Drinks Reception ‘After Party’ – an opportunity to meet and mingle with friends and colleagues at Freight Island, the perfect place to sample Manchester’s vibrant night life.
Over the following two days, there are lunches and mentoring opportunities to enjoy, as well as coffee and wrap roulette networking sessions. Learn more.
We are delighted to welcome Alex Lawlor and Vasiliki Bowler to the Photography Competition judging panel
Alex Lawlor, MRICS
Alex Lawlor, an Associate Director at Faithful+Gould, works within the corporate real estate sector delivering office fit-out and refurbishment projects for private sector clients. With an array of nominations and accolades under belt, she received Atkins Presidents Award 2018, finalist for BCO NextGen Rising Star L&SE 2019 and awarded Faithful+Gould’s Employee of the Year in 2019. Her diverse qualifications in project management, structural engineering and architecture coupled with a personal interest in photography, she has a keen appreciation for creative design and an eye for detail.
Vasiliki Bowler, MRICS
Vasiliki Bowler, a Senior Project Manager at Faithful+Gould, represents their Corporate Real Estate Forum and digital services. She specialises in client and stakeholder management, building prosperous relationships around her. Having recently been awarded the CIOB Rising Star Award, she now acts as a mentor, supporting professional development within Faithful+Gould as an APC supervisor and guest assessor. From school, to studying architecture to delivering fantastic construction projects – Vasiliki is passionate about the arts (visualisations, graphics, and photography to name a few) and appreciates its power to generate emotion and dialogue.
Thank you to Faithful+Gould for sponsoring the photography competition. Look out for the rest of the esteemed judges on the panel being announced before the conference! If you are thinking of entering the 2022 Conference Photography competition, take a look at some inspiration from around Manchester on Instagram:
We look forward to seeing what you capture while taking in the culture and sights at the conference! Enter and win up to £1000 in cash prizes. Learn more here.
Photography Competition (Instagram) hashtag: #LeadingLightManchester
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Follow the BCO NextGen Committee on LinkedIn:
Alex Slatter, Associated Architects (Chair)
Rosie Cotterill, Turley (Vice-Chair)
Andrew Bloxham, Core 5
Steve Townsend, Associated Architects
Amelia Hardman, Eversheds Sutherland
Justin Ford, Bruntwood
Will Higgins, Knight Frank
Ross Jones, CBRE
Ian Keeling, Cundall
Joe Vale, RLF
Learn more about the BCO NextGen here.
The BCO Annual Conference provides a wonderful opportunity to meet up with your peers and connect with new people to build your professional network. We have a busy 3 days lined up, but there will also be plenty of opportunities to socialise, relax and enjoy Manchester.
Make sure you’ve checked off your ‘To Do’ list:
• Secured your ticket
• Booked somewhere to stay
• Registered for your chosen tours
• Registered for your chosen seminars
• Referred to the online delegate list to see who’ll be there
• Explored the official conference charity page for CALM and Shout 85258
What are you hoping to get out of the BCO Annual Conference 2022? Join the conversation online using #BCOconference #Manchester2022
If you have already registered to attend but have not chosen your agenda, you can log in to the booking system and select ‘Edit Registration’.
Leading Light, Manchester | Photography Competition 2022
It is easy to see why Manchester is thought of as the UK’s second city. Always pioneering new ways of working and thinking, its world-famous art and photography scene is no exception.
Delegates are invited to enter the 2022 Photography Competition for a chance to get your hands on one of our cash prizes. All skill levels are welcome, so remember to snap some photos on your camera or smartphone as you navigate your way around the city.
There will be innumerable photo opportunities – think architectural and urban life, vibrant arts, culture, and picturesque views of this modern cosmopolitan powerhouse.
Entrants can submit up to three photos adhering to the theme: Leading Light, Manchester. Submission deadline is 20 June 2022.
Click here for more information and competition T&C’s 
A Carbon Neutral Conference
We are proud to be working with Natural Capital Partners to make this event CarbonNeutral®. This means that the emissions produced from heating, lighting, waste, supplier, and organiser travel have been balanced out by supporting carbon finance projects which reduce the equivalent amount of CO2.
Alongside our carbon offset scheme, the Conference is made more sustainable through our choice of partners for accommodation, events, and transport.
Download the brochure to read more
BCO Annual Conference 2022
We are delighted that delegates have been quick to secure tickets now that bookings for the 2022 BCO Annual Conference are open.
Not only will delegates have the opportunity to consider and discuss topical issues with their peers old and new, but each afternoon will be packed with the chance to explore this modern city and its stunning buildings – so you’ll have a busy agenda to plan in advance. If you haven’t already done so, secure your ticket via the conference booking page. Use the programme planner and download this year’s conference brochure for help in choosing activities, discussions, seminars, and tours.
We are also pleased to confirm that the conference has been CPD Certified (10.5 hours), so you can now meet your CPD requirements whilst enjoying top speakers, visiting Manchester’s world-class office designs, and networking with like-minded individuals.
Welcome to Manchester – the original modern city
Don’t miss the Futurenauts on 16 June
Join us at our last conference discussion, where Futurenauts Ed Gillespie and Mark Stevenson will explore the live and ongoing mass experiment we are all engaged in regarding the future of work. Beyond the soundbites of ‘building back better’ and ‘levelling up’ something seismic is stirring…the tremors have only just begun. Read more
Tour Focus: MediaCityUK
Take an exclusive tour inside the dock10 television studios, Europe’s largest and leading studio complex, where the ‘magic’ happens and more than 40,000 hours of TV content is created and exported. Walk around the 37.5 acre-built estate, pausing at the award winning Tomorrow Building, see the sights across Greater Manchester from the top of Orange Building, and discover the future plans for MediaCity. Read more
HAVE YOU BOOKED TO ATTEND?
Let us know what you are looking forward to on our social media channels using:
#BCOconference | #Manchester2022
Wondering where to stay? Take advantage of our special room rates
If you haven’t yet booked your accommodation, we have reserved a limited number of rooms at preferential rates. Take a look at the six varied options and secure your room directly with the hotel of your choice by quoting the booking reference listed on our website. The availability of rooms with preferential rates will be limited from mid March onwards. We therefore recommend that you make your reservations at the earliest opportunity.
NextGen Early Birds
For BCO NextGen members (those aged 35 and under), nearly three quarters of our heavily discounted Early Bird tickets have been booked. Once these are gone, the full ticket price will apply. For the first time in 2022, there is a NextGen programme, including a 5k Running Tour, Wellness Lunch, Mentoring, and alternative networking sessions. Book your place or find out about membership and how to apply.
This week, we are celebrating the amazing women in our industry as part of International Women’s Day and Women in Construction week; giving us the perfect opportunity to shine the spotlight on the outstanding women speaking at the Discussion Sessions during the BCO Conference in June:
Joanne Roney OBE: Chief Executive of Manchester City Council since April 2017, Joanne is driving the Council through the fundamental changes to Health and Social Care. In 2009 she was awarded an OBE for services to local government, and in September 2021 was named the Local Authority Chief Executive of the Year at the annual MJ (Municipal Journal) Awards.
Becca Heron: Strategic Director of Growth and Development at Manchester City Council. Becca has a key role in the delivery of the ambitions set out in the Our Manchester strategy, leading the city’s recovery following the pandemic, building on the successes of the last two decades to drive inclusive growth that will ensure the city continues to be one of the most exciting destinations in Europe to live, work and play.
Rt Hon. Ruth Davidson MSP: Ruth is a journalist, broadcaster, author and politician. She served for eight years as leader of the Scottish Conservatives, during which time she transformed the party’s prospects, leading to its greatest electoral results in 35 years. As the first openly gay leader of a major political party in the UK, and the first party leader to give birth while in office, Ruth has broken barriers throughout her time in public life.
Bronwen Maddox: Director of the Institute for Government, the think tank that aims to improve the effectiveness of government. Bronwen previously served as Editor and CEO of the influential current affairs magazine, Prospect – which both explains City thinking to policy makers and helps the financial community navigate the geo-political landscape. Born in the US, Bronwen is also author of the acclaimed In Defence of America.
Despina Katsikakis: Global Head of Workplace at Cushman & Wakefield. For over 35 years Despina has led innovation, research and implementation of transformative workplace environments for global corporates and exemplary real estate developments for investors worldwide. Despina is the BCO Junior Vice President and regularly lectures, whilst also writing and contributing to media, research and publications on the future of the workplace.
Learn more and read their full biographies here.
Secure your place at this year’s Cycle Challenge
There are a limited number of places available for the BCO Cycle Challenge 2022. Don’t miss the opportunity to join us on a spectacular ride, exploring the beautiful scenery of the Chilterns and Northamptonshire, before cycling through the West Midlands, Cannock Chase AONB and then onto Stafford before making the final stage of the ride to the conference in Manchester. The ride is fully supported by a professional cycle support company, with the emphasis being on completing the challenge together, whilst networking and socialising with like-minded people from the industry. Nobody gets left behind and stronger riders will always be on hand to support.
Let us know what you’re looking forward to on socials:
LinkedIn
Twitter
Instagram
#BCOconference #Manchester2022
A very happy International Women’s Day to all! In support of the #breakthebias campaign, introducing some of the terrific women who will be speaking at this year’s BCO Conference in June:
Joanne Roney OBE
Joanne has been the Chief Executive of Manchester City Council since April 2017. Over the past 4 years she has dealt with several unprecedented events including the Manchester Arena Bomb. Joanne is driving the Council through the fundamental changes to Health and Social Care. She is lead Chief Executive for economy across Greater Manchester.
Before moving to Manchester, Joanne was previously Chief Executive of Wakefield Metropolitan Borough Council, where she held the top post from 2008.
Joanne’s career started in local government as an apprentice with Birmingham City Council when she was 16. She has a strong track record in transforming public services and delivering major regeneration initiatives such as the Hepworth Gallery Wakefield and Parkhill Housing in Sheffield. She has extensive experience in housing and local government having previously worked as Director of Housing at Kirklees Council and Executive Director with responsibility for housing, communities and adult care services at Sheffield City Council. Joanne is a Fellow of CIH and a regular contributor to Inside Housing.
Joanne is president of SOLACE
Joanne was awarded the OBE for services to local government in 2009.
In September 2021 Joanne was named the Local Authority Chief Executive of the Year at the annual MJ (Municipal Journal) Awards.
Rebecca Heron, Head of Development and Strategy, Manchester City Council
Becca Heron is the Strategic Director of Growth and Development at Manchester City Council. Formerly Director of Economy and Skills at Wigan Council, Becca’s career has included a number of different public sector roles, including previous positions within both Manchester City Council and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).
During her time with the GMCA, Becca led on a series of high-profile and complex initiatives, including the development of 2014 Devolution Agreement. At Wigan, she took on the economic development and regeneration brief, playing a pivotal role in bringing key sites forward for development and kickstarting the redevelopment of Wigan town centre.
As Strategic Director of Growth and Development at Manchester City Council, Becca has a key role in the delivery of the ambitions set out in the Our Manchester strategy, leading the city’s recovery following the pandemic, building on the successes of the last two decades to drive inclusive growth that will ensure the city continues to be one of the most exciting destinations in Europe to live, work and play.
Rt Hon. Ruth Davidson MSP
Ruth Davidson is a journalist, broadcaster, author and politician. She served for eight years as leader of the Scottish Conservatives, during which time she transformed the party’s prospects, leading to its greatest electoral results in 35 years. She also played a prominent role in both the Scottish independence and EU referendum campaigns, arguing her case in stadium television debates at the Glasgow Hydro and Wembley Arena. As the first openly gay leader of a major political party in the UK, and the first party leader to give birth while in office, Ruth has broken barriers throughout her time in public life.
A regular contributor to debates on gender, inclusion and equality, Ruth talks about authentic leadership from a first-hand perspective. A former BBC journalist and Territorial Army soldier, Ruth understands how important individual expression, trust and developing leadership skills can be within large organisations.
Her close professional relationship with successive Prime Ministers, and membership of UK Cabinet, gives her a unique insight into the current political environment north and south of the border.
Ruth’s book, Yes She Can – Why Women Own the Future, is a positive appraisal of gender advancement across the globe; how far women have come to achieving equality and, crucially, how much road there is still to travel. It draws on direct testimony from world-beating women as diverse as Christine Lagarde, Dame Katherine Grainger and Melinda Gates, who Ruth interviewed in a fascinating series of conversations while researching her work.
Despite operating exclusively in the Scottish Parliament, Ruth has successfully built a UK-wide platform. A gifted political communicator with a modern, realworld touch, she is as at home on Have I got News for You, The One Show, Celebrity Chase and The Great British Bake Off: Stand Up To Cancer as she is on Newsnight, Question Time and Andrew Marr. In 2018, she was named as one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people of the year, alongside international figures from sport, media, and politics including New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Prince Harry.
Ruth’s professional career prior to politics was in broadcast journalism, variously operating as a presenter, producer and documentary maker. Since leaving the party leadership, Ruth has returned to journalism, regularly providing political commentary for the Telegraph, Mail on Sunday and the Evening Standard as well as developing broadcast projects for both television and radio. She lives in Edinburgh with her partner Jen, son Finn, and cocker spaniel, Wilson.
Bronwen Maddox
Bronwen is Director of the Institute for Government, the think tank that aims to improve the effectiveness of government. She previously served as Editor and CEO of the influential current affairs magazine, Prospect – which both explains City thinking to policy makers and helps the financial community navigate the geo-political landscape.
Bronwen started out as an investment analyst in the City and on Wall Street, and a director of Kleinwort Benson’s media team. She moved into journalism to head up the Financial Times investigation into Maxwell, before joining The Times as Washington Bureau Chief, US Editor, and finally Foreign Editor. She remains a regular newspaper contributor.
With access to key figures across business, politics and leadership, Bronwen has built a reputation for informed, original insights. She has interviewed almost everyone from Henry Kissinger to Vladimir Putin.
In presentations she sets out the big challenges besetting the West, which she argues are overturning a pattern that’s been settled since the end of World War II. As one example, the ageing population means that society can no longer afford the present pensions and benefits system; but is democracy capable of delivering the changes necessary, or will the scale of transformation needed make governments too unpopular to be elected?
Born in the US, Bronwen is author of the acclaimedI n Defence of America. She is perfectly positioned to analyse the global impact of events on Capitol Hill.
Despina Katsikakis, Global Head of Workplace, Cushman & Wakefield
For over 35 years Katsikakis has led innovation, research and implementation of transformative workplace environments for global corporates and exemplary real estate developments for investors worldwide.
In her role at Cushman & Wakefield, she provides input across the firm’s global business on the rapidly-changing context of work and its impact on employee engagement, productivity and wellbeing and the future role of the workplace.
With these factors increasingly determining the leasing decisions of leading corporations, Katsikakis’ unrivalled insight on the future of work benefits occupier clients – as well as building landlords and investors – through repositioning commercial real estate to drive top line performance.
Despina is the BCO junior vice president and she serves on the advisory board of Delos™, the pioneers of Wellness Real Estate™ and founders of the WELL Building Standard.
She regularly lectures around the world, writes and contributes to media, research and publications on the future of the workplace.
Learn more about the annual conference taking place in Manchester and book your tickets here via the BCO website.
Follow the 2022 BCO NextGen London Committee on LinkedIn.
Andy Campbell, Multiplex (Chair)
Hannah Buxton, RX London (Vice-Chair)
Christopher Blust, AKT II
Matthew Redgrove, Turner + Townsend
Isabella Clark, AECOM
Beth Starling, Will+Partners
Oliver Hall, Make Architects
Matthew Sumpter, Ridge & Partners
Andrew Howe, Heyne Tillett Steel
Elizabeth Ward, CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP
Angela Joseph, alinea consulting
Hannah Alden, British Land
Kane Lewis, Derwent London
Jo Al-Hillawi, CO-RE
Alex Novelli, Cushman & Wakefield
Louis Arron, U+I
Emily Pallot, Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt
Holly Breathnach, Great Portland Estates
Chloe Prince, Catella Apam Ltd
Tom Bremner, Cushman & Wakefield
Learn more about the BCO NextGen here.
What is the Human Experience?
The human experience is the holistic experience a person has within a building or space, both virtually and physically. A positive human experience will encourage people to thrive in their workplace. This can have a knock-on effect on the health and well-being of employees, actively encouraging happiness in the workplace, thereby enhancing productivity, and increasing staff attraction and retention.
Through design, we should look to develop strategies which aid in creating valuable connections between people, their purpose and brand. In a post-covid world, we should aspire to utilise occupier-centric thinking to reconnect people, strengthen their sense of collaboration, brand identity and team culture collectively, and create the opportunity for a positive human experience within the workplace.
Focus Area 01: Design Structure
The workplace of the future should be more than just an office in the traditional sense. It should be meticulously considered, particularly at ground level, and in relation to the amenity spaces provided to occupiers. This could include facilities such as showers, adequate and secure bike storage, and locker spaces, all of which are important for supporting a sense of self ownership within the workplace. This in particular applies to more flexible environments, where many companies are moving away from 1-1 desking, towards shared-desking or more flexible hybrid arrangements.
Ground level spaces are key for attracting prospective occupiers to buildings. We should consider what innovative experiences these spaces can provide, which other buildings cannot. This thinking will be key in attracting and retaining businesses/tenants, and for connecting brand culture, community, and identity.
Workplaces of the future should maximise the potential for positive social engagement. This means considering how office structures can contribute to the wider community. We should foster synergy between the workplace and its surroundings, to create spaces which reflect the community existing within. We should also be looking at constructing mixed-use developments which encompass retail spaces, multi-purpose facilities, healthcare provision and activity/fitness spaces, thus creating workplaces which are also destinations within the city.
Focus Area 02: Occupier-Centric
A positive human experience relies on occupier-centric thinking which should be reflected throughout the design stages, during pre-occupation and post-occupation. Effective engagement is integral to understanding brand identity and the community and culture of a team or business, now even more important to facilitate in a post-pandemic context. Questions we should be asking when designing a workplace include: how are the present spaces and systems working? In what areas are they succeeding, and in what areas are there space for improvements?
Pre-occupation engagement is fundamental in the transformation of the existing business model. Design projects become a catalyst for this change, and so it is critical to understand the client’s vision and purpose and be able to translate this into an exciting and inviting workplace design where the positive human experience becomes a driver for motivating staff to return to the office. This means anticipating when occupier engagement should expand and facilitating the creation of soft landings to ease people into the future office. The language we use (particularly during fit-out) should be about the occupier and how they will experience the workplace, rather than centering around the building and property itself.
Focus Area 03: Leadership to create “Team-ship”
New thought leadership drives “team-ship” in the workplace. This focus centers on community, culture, brand, and identity on an internal level. A developed discussion around the experience of corporates over the past two years will be key to understanding how the human experience has been impacted in this area, and for establishing the strategies which are being implemented to re-engage these key areas of a team in the workplace. It is highly likely that many corporates will have experienced the disengagement of departments and teams over the past two years, and so it is important to design spaces which support the revitalisation of team-ship and enhance connectivity. We should encourage and maintain strong team culture and brand identity in an increasingly hybrid world.
We are seeing variations upon trends emerging across multiple projects: the accelerated use of technology to connect those working remotely and in the office; increased break out and social space; greater demand for spaces which provide collaborative opportunities; more amenity space; and finally, a home-like feel. The workplace of the future is already being informed by the lessons learnt and the emergence of new thought leadership styles.
Focus Area 04: Technology & AI
Technology and AI are extremely influential in determining whether the human experience within a space is positive. For example, laptop enabled workspaces encourage flexibility by design. Installing systems which feature integrated technology and support hybrid working strategies (maintaining team culture and brand identity whilst working remotely) signals a step towards future-proofing the workplace. We should also be looking towards constructing smart buildings, featuring environmental sensors which measure and record air quality, lighting, and noise levels and which are adaptable, to support user comfort. The BCO’s Use of Wearables in the Office report goes further and highlights how this data could be paired with data from individuals’ wearable devices to identify optimal physical environments for the individual or collective within the work space. The installation of occupancy sensors which connect to booking systems through building and staff apps can be highly beneficial, with the aim of promoting high impact behaviour patterns for the general wellbeing of occupiers. Furthermore, occupiers should be provided with a thorough guide to using the building/workplace in such a way that will maximise their individual human experience within the space. Evidently, well-equipped AV and physical technology in the modern workplace is essential.
Focus Area 05: Health and Well-being
Supporting health and well-being is pivotal to designing a future-thinking and positive human experience within the workplace. This focus area could be expanded through design concepts and strategies. Establishing which are the most important to a business and which have the most beneficial impacts on the workplace experience will be key. For example, the Park Concept encourages the integration of biophilia and biomimicry, the availability of views, and outdoor spaces in the workplace. Activity Spaces encompass the availability of fitness facilities and gyms, supported by ancillary spaces which encourage building users to get active. The availability of doctors and dentists is also a possibility, and there is the question of whether we should be looking to integrate Healthcare Facilities into the design of the future mixed-use developments to support workplace occupiers. The integration of Mindfulness spaces would offer users a place to destress, rest, or to conduct private prayer. Lastly, the idea of creating spaces which are Versatile and Multipurpose echoes the aforementioned potential availability of fitness spaces but could also be further expanded on, to include social events, arts spaces, and community forums.Workplaces of the future should be vibrant, engaging, productive, and magnetising destinations in the city.
We would like to thank WILL+Partners and the BCO Research Committee for their continued support and research findings.
Follow BCO NextGen’s Beth Starling, Interior Designer, WILL+Partners on LinkedIn.
DISCUSSIONS
This year, discussions will focus on the challenges we all face in this new era of openness, agility and flexibility, placing this in the context of ever increasing environmental challenges.
We will hear from key stakeholders in both development and occupation of buildings, and futurists who will explore the live and ongoing mass experiment we are all engaged in regarding the future of work. Read more here.
TOURS
Our 2022 tours provide an opportunity to showcase the latest in office design and occupation, with focus on regeneration, sustainability, public realm and refurbishment.
There are 17 options to choose between, from Mayfield, one of the leading regeneration schemes in the UK, to Manchester’s Grade I Listed Town Hall, and an exclusive tour inside the dock10 television studios. View the full list.
CYCLE CHALLENGE
This year’s cycle challenge is very accessible to a wide range of riders. The ride is fully supported, with the emphasis being on completing the challenge together, whilst networking and socialising with like-minded people from the industry.
The 3 day ride will leave Sheppard Robson’s Office in Angel on Sunday 12 June and head out through the Chilterns and into Northamptonshire, on through the West Midlands to Cannock Chase AONB, then to Stafford, before making the final stage of the ride to the conference in Manchester. Further details here.
GOLF CUP
Join us on Tuesday 14 June at The Mere, a wonderful Championship Course set in the Cheshire countryside.
The competition will be played for best individual Stableford, full handicap for the BCO Cup, best team, and a competition for both the ladies (17th & 3rd) and gents (7th & 14th) for Nearest the Pin and Longest Drive. Golfers can also compete in the Straightest Drive and Beat the Pro contests.
The day will conclude with a BBQ lunch followed by prize presentations. View the itinerary.
CONFERENCE CHARITIES
Every year the BCO raises money for charity. This is integral to taking part in the cycling challenge, but we also hope that every delegate will take two minutes to donate to one of our two mental health charities this year, either Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) or Shout 85258.
OUR TIME IS NOW: RESET THE OFFICE
The recent disruption to how we live and work has accelerated a move to alternative ways of thinking about our workplace. We now have an unprecedented opportunity to readdress the role of the office in our lives, and shape how buildings can encourage innovative and fresh thinking, while introducing greener solutions.
The issues of climate change and sustainability are becoming more important than ever, leading to increased scrutiny of the office’s environmental impact. As we look to the future, the entire sector has an important role to play in providing buildings and working environments that are better for our planet.
Our host city: Manchester
Manchester is a city that has helped shape the world. Whether it is in industry, science or culture, this vibrant city has always pioneered new ways of working and thinking and has, in doing so, transformed itself into a modern cosmopolitan powerhouse.
Recast for the 21st century as the original modern city, Greater Manchester has experienced a contemporary resurgence. This was marked culturally by the acclaimed reopening of the Whitworth art gallery, international arts centre HOME, and the world-leading Manchester International Festival. This resurgence also saw a property and investment boom that has outpaced the rest of the country, and through major changes to its governance and infrastructure, Manchester has been positioned as the central focus of the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ agenda.
Young people are flocking here to take advantage of its thriving economy, unrivalled student experience and smart jobs in the science, creative and digital sectors. Greater Manchester is truly worthy of its accolades, as being the UK’s most competitive, economically productive, livable and vibrant region.
As host city for the 2022 BCO Annual Conference, where better to engage with and debate the future attributes of the office, and to grasp this opportunity to re-evaluate and reset?
What to expect?
To slot into delegates’ busy working lives, the mid-week conference will run from Tuesday 14th to Thursday 16th June.
• The conference begins with the BCO Drinks Reception on the Tuesday evening at Manchester Cathedral, one of the city’s event spaces of choice to host rock concerts, fashion shows, brand launches, intimate fine-dining and grand gala dinners over the years.
• The Conference Plenary Sessions will take place at Manchester Central, where we will engage with keynote speakers covering development, occupation, economics, politics and futurists.
• Building Tours will provide an opportunity to see the best in Manchester and gain a glimpse of what is to come.
• The Conference Seminars will provide an alternative option to the building tours, in which we will explore key and emerging topics and trends that influence office design.
• The BCONextGen events programme for young professionals within the sector will provide activities that sit alongside the main itinerary, to add value to the conference experience and encourage greater participation from this important community within the BCO.
• Prior to the conference, the BCO Cycle Challenge will set off from London, arriving in Manchester 3 days later in time for the drinks reception. The event will raise funds for CALM and SHOUT 85258, our partner charities for the conference.
• The BCO Golf Cup will take place at The Mere, a championship course set in Cheshire parkland to the south west of Manchester city centre.
• The Conference Party will take place on the Wednesday evening at Hatch, close to the city centre and conference hotels. Here, we will celebrate within a street environment, enjoying hospitality through pop-ups as well as entertainment into the night.
Manchester, its culture, and all it has to offer will provide the perfect setting for the office community to network, engage with and explore the opportunity we all hold to influence the workplaces of the future. We hope to deliver a truly diverse and inclusive event that offers something for everyone.
I look forward to welcoming you all there on 14th June 2022.
Download the conference brochure
October 24, 2024 
By BCO Media 