Best workplaces in the South celebrated at BCO Regional Awards

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Tom Kilkelly

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The leading workplaces in South England and South Wales were revealed at the British Council for Offices awards, three of which were presented to office spaces in Thames Valley Park, Southampton, and Reading.

Southampton's Clockwise Offices, a recently refurbished space at 1 Grosvenor Square, won the award for Best Fit out Workplace. Judges cited the clever design, and careful use of colour and furnishing as stand out features of the refurbishment. The project used low VOC materials, lime-based paints, and created furniture using recycled local marine waste.

Other successes included awards for the space at Campus Reading International, which won the Best Refurbished/Recycled Workplace award for their 500,000 sq ft refurbishments that centre around ESG. The building has shifted away from reliance on fossil fuels, electric heat pumps have been implemented, and over 95 per cent of materials removed from site have been reused. The Social Value Bank has worked alongside the project to track and demonstrate the project’s social impact.

The final winner from the South East was the HERE Building, part of the HERE + NOW complex in Thames Valley Park. The building came top of the newly created ESG category and was praised for its carbon neutrality in both operation and construction, made possible through the use of the old HVAC system in the sister building next door. Judges were particularly impressed by the meeting rooms which are ‘hung from the building’ and occupier wellness initiatives such as a premium gym and personal training.

Director at Hoare Lea and the British Council for Offices’ South of England and South Wales Committee Chairman Matthew Heaman said: “The BCO’s regional awards are an annual highlight for the office sector in this vibrant area of the country. It is a great occasion that allows us to convene and celebrate the best of the best that workplace has to offer.

''This year’s winners across the South of England and South Wales are beacons of innovation in sustainable office-sector design. Importantly, they also offer impressive examples of how design can enhance work culture and support employee wellbeing. Congratulations to all our regional winners and good luck for the BCO National Awards 2023.”

Tom Kilkelly

Tom Kilkelly started working as a freelance journalist for The Business Magazine following his graduation from UCL in 2022. During his studies Tom became very interested in the works of Irish authors including Samuel Beckett and Flann O'Brien (Brian O'Nolan). His current role as a freelance business reporter is his first exposure to the world of business journalism. Working at TBM has given Tom the chance to really get to grips with the goings-on in the business hive that is the South East.