Dispatch from BCO Conference, Birmingham: Chloe Prince, Landsec

AT talks to… Landsec’s Chloe Prince about asset management, mental health, coming from a non-traditional property background and the importance of making the industry more diverse.

What brings you to the BCO Conference?

I sit on the Next Gen committee and focus specifically on wellbeing, social value and inclusive design. I’ve been involved for around three years and that includes running tours of the latest and greatest buildings in London and using some of the Landsec portfolio to host where I work to host wellbeing initiatives such as yoga sessions. I also work with a social mobility charity and look at raising awareness amongst young people from different socio-economic backgrounds to create a more diverse industry. I think the point of Next Gen is to look at young people and the future of the workplace and how we can improve diversity.

This is actually my first BCO conference and for me it’s about connecting these themes and explaining how we can look at the culture and social value of workplaces and how that can inform processes and design. My role in asset management has changed so much since the pandemic. It’s not just about desks and chairs in an office, it’s about drawing people back to a place where they can collaborate and enjoy their time. There’s no point in having an outdated workspace. It just means people will be working from home. We need facilities and outdoor space. More creativity is needed to understand the relationship between space and mental health and how people use space.

What does your role entail at Landsec?

I’m a portfolio manager at Landsec, so I work in the assets team in central London. I have a portfolio of about eight buildings from Southwark to Paddington. My role is to shape the strategy of those assets. What I love about my job is that I get to see the entire project life cycle and work with the team to make it the most profitable and also the best job possible.

We work on the business plan, budgeting and work with a range of external and internal teams to deliver the strategy. I am currently working on a feasibility with Stiff + Trevillion in City. At some point, any development project will be handed over to the development team, but once it’s completed it’s back to our team and we’ll take ownership of the building indefinitely or until we decide to sell. We will keep track of how it works and ensure that any post-occupancy evaluation or other lessons are fed back into the wider team to inform future projects. It’s really nice because even though I don’t own the buildings, I feel like I do.

Are there any projects you’re particularly excited about right now?
The Forge, which is an office building in Southwark. It is the first net zero carbon building in the UK to align with the UKGBC’s construction and operational standards. I think this is the future of office buildings. Landsec has learned so much from the experience. Our company has a clear zero carbon path and the embedded/operational carbon piece is something we have taken to the heart of all our developments.

What is the balance between retrofitting and new construction?
Retention is very important. We will always work with an existing building where we can, but there is no simple answer. Every building is different. Every building requires a customized solution and some are simply not fit for purpose. The Marks & Spencer decision was a huge turning point for the industry. Despite the fact that they went ahead with new construction, it is still an environmentally responsible project that uses CLT and sustainable materials.

Are we doing enough to make the sector more diverse?
I have seen a huge improvement since I joined the industry, but we still have a way to go. If you want to enter the industry from a surveying background, the only way to do this is to have a RICS accredited degree. I didn’t even know what that was. I studied French and Spanish at university. I was living in Paris and looking for any job. I found a small property management business and thought “that’s pretty cool”. I loved the architecture of Paris and going inside these amazing buildings and that’s when I decided that’s what I wanted to do.

I did a Masters part-time while working full-time and then qualified as a Chartered Surveyor. I couldn’t have afforded to study full time. Some of the courses are very expensive and we need to break down the barriers that deter people from different backgrounds. I went to a state school in Lewisham and all the smart kids wanted to be doctors or lawyers – the professions that everyone knows. If you mentioned a property, it would be an estate agent, not an architect or engineer. We need to raise awareness; it is so important for social mobility. And we need support from the industry as well. Apprenticeship is not an idea. Landsec offers entry-level internships and a number of interns remain. It also has Landsec Futures, a £20m social impact fund which aims to create a fairer and more equitable property industry by improving social mobility and delivering £200m of social value until 2030.

It’s definitely one of the most diverse places I’ve ever worked. You can’t thrive at work if you feel like you can’t be yourself. I didn’t come from a traditional property background and when I joined the industry I felt like everyone came from the same university, from the same family. Everyone knew each other and I felt like I stood out. When you have people from all over the spectrum, you know there’s going to be someone you’re going to relate to. It’s so important to me to have people who look like you.

The Forge, Southwark – the UK’s first net zero carbon building to align with UKGBC construction and operational standards.