Publications

The BCO's research publications play a vital part in the built environment by providing best practice guidance and evidence based research on the principal themes that will drive the industry in the years to come.

Under construction Publications

The BCO's research publications play a vital part in the built environment by providing best practice guidance and evidence based research on the principal themes that will drive the industry in the years to come.

Best Practice Guides

Since its inception in 1990 the BCO has been at the forefront of developments in the office sector, identifying and predicting the themes that shape and drive the sector. The BCO looks at how the office has changed over the years since its creation, its role in driving, facilitating and supporting those changes as well as looking ahead to how market dynamics might shift going forward.

Linking design, people and technology to enhance health and productivity will be fundamental for high-performing workplaces.

Visit this section for our Best Practice Guides.

More About best practice guides

Research REports

Key influences such as agile working, technology, densification, sustainability, productivity and health & wellbeing are not only impacting on the office industry in general, but also the design, specification, delivery and occupation of buildings and will continue to do so, creating new challenges for designers, developers, occupiers and asset managers.

We see an accelerating rate of change in the workplace as factors such as globalisation, technology, demographics and culture combine to change existing business models.

Visit this section to review our extensive library of reports.

More about research reports

Our Best Practice Guides

Guide to specification

Guide To Fit Out

Guide To Lighting

More Guides

our publications

Are you a non-member or a student?

BCO Research Reports are available to BCO members for the first 3 months of publishing.

After 3 months, non-members and students can also download the reports.

If you’d like to speak to our team about any publication, get in touch.

Publication title

PIA Property Data Report

Publication date

22.01.24

Category

BCO Research & Policy

This latest report produced by PIA sets out key facts about commercial property and the wider property industry, looking at its performance by sector as well as against other asset classes and highlights its place and importance within the UK economy.
Some of the indicators provided in this document include capital value performance by sector, renting vs ownership, leases, property and business costs, investor ownership and exposure, lending trends and energy consumption.
PIA (Property Industry Alliance) comprises seven organisations, including AREF, BPF, BCO, IPF, Crefc Europe, ULI.

Member download

Publication title

BCO Pillar Research

Publication date

25.01.24

Category

BCO Research & Policy

The BCO’s latest research programme, ‘The Pillar Papers’, is designed to guide the office sector through evolving challenges. Key recommendations include the development of the BCO’s ‘2030 vision for the office’, concentrating on four pillars: economy, business, technology, and ESG. This programme, shaped by industry experts, explores new trends and opportunities for redefining offices, embracing advanced technology, and implementing sustainable practices. It also considers the office’s role in both urban and rural settings in the UK.

Member download

Publication title

BCO Guide to Specification Key Criteria Update – February 2023

Publication date

16.02.23

Category

BCO Research & Policy

The British Council for Offices (BCO) has released an early update to its Guide to Specification, its most recognised publication, providing expert advice on how to specify office space.

The update responds to new challenges emerging from the impact of the pandemic and accelerating need for the built environment sector to respond to the climate crisis. The move shows how designers can create workplaces that support changing working patterns, while making office workers healthier and more productive, as well as meeting the need to decarbonise buildings.

The BCO has produced this briefing note to explain which criteria have changed and why, so that members can use the guidance for their current projects.

Member download

Publication title

Evaluation of the Government Hubs Programme, Year 4 – Final Report

Publication date

22.02.22

Category

BCO Research & Policy

The Government Hubs Programme, within the Government Property Agency (GPA), works with departments to support the transformation of the Government Estate. The British Council for Offices (BCO) identified a major opportunity for its members and the providers and occupiers of corporate workspace to learn from this transformation programme by commissioning a multi-year research project to evaluate the programme and capture practical lessons and success stories for the wider industry on the implications and approach to estate transformation.

This final report has evaluated two case studies from Phase 1 of the Hubs providing a perspective on learnings in occupation from Croydon and learnings in design and delivery from Liverpool. The report has delved further into the impacts of Covid-19 on ways of working, creating an effective team and how to design sustainable, inclusive spaces for everyone.

Member download

Publication title

Market Cycles II- The Impact of Cycling on Office Buildings

Publication date

08.03.22

Category

BCO Research & Policy

Undertaken by Remit Consulting the study examines the growth of cycling in the past five years driven by occupier preferences, growing government investment, the active travel agenda and the ESG principles. It considers the implications for office buildings and end of trip facilities nationally and regionally as well as looking at how the shift towards the more sustainable transport might evolve particularly against the backdrop of the need to reduce carbon emissions and promoting health & wellbeing.

Member download

Publication title

Artificial Intelligence: The Current State of the Art and the Near Future

Publication date

28.03.22

Category

BCO Research & Policy

This Briefing Note by Derek Clements Croome of Reading University and Nigel Miller of Cordless Consulting covers the development and potential uses of AI and reviews the present scene while also attempting to look forward, particularly at its use in the built environment. The paper sets an optimistic tone in believing that AI technology used sensibly can enable effective solutions to be achieved for the benefit of clients and stakeholders.

Member download

Pages: 1234567891011121314

LATEST Best practice guides (will be linked to CRM)

Design

Making The Future Workplace: Materials and methods towards a circular economy

03.12.19

Productivity

The Business Case for Productive, Higher Performing and Healthier Workplaces – BCO and LCMB Workshop

06.11.19

Workplace Strategy

The Rise of Flexible Workspace in the Corporate Sector

16.10.19

Workplace Strategy

The Rise of Flexible Workspace in the Corporate Sector

16.10.19

Health & Wellbeing

Wellness Matters: A summary roadmap to health and wellbeing

05.06.19

Occupier

The Space-Time Office – New demands, new possibilities

05.06.19

Policy

Evaluation of Government Hubs Programme – Year 2

08.05.19

Working Practices

Evaluation of Government Hubs Programme – Year 2

08.05.19

MORE INFORMATION

Best Practice Guides

Research Reports

Archive

Policy

Make sure you’re kept up to date on BCO news and events by signing up to event and monthly newsletter emails. Emails direct to your inbox will ensure you receive opportunities to attend our events before they sell out. You can also opt-in to receive postal mailings from the BCO, including special event booking forms

If you are interested in receiving industry information and event alerts from us, please tick the appropriate boxes below:

By Email:

	BCO	NextGen
BCO Monthly Newsletter	BCO Monthly Newsletter
Regional Event Invitations (Technical Tours and Research Seminars, etc):
International
London & the South East	London south east - BCO	London south east - NextGen
East Anglia	East Anglia - BCO	East Anglia - NextGen
Midlands	Midlands - BCO	Midlands - NextGen
North of England, North Wales & NI	North of England, North Wales NI - BCO	North of England, North Wales NI - NextGen
Scotland	Scotland - BCO	Scotland - NextGen
South West England & South Wales	South West England South Wales - BCO	South West England South Wales - NextGen
BCO Annual Event Invitations	BCO Annual Event Invitations
(BCO Conference, President's Lunch, Annual Dinner, Awards Programme)
By Post
BCO Annual Conference	BCO Annual Conference
BCO Awards Programme	BCO Awards Programme
BCO President's Lunch	BCO President's Lunch

To view our privacy policy please visit