Our latest Staff Stories episode has two special guests!
Neil Wotherspoon, Senior Director in our Edinburgh office, dives into his career journey, his motivations and how he fits work and life together. Most importantly we also get to hear from his daughters, Chloe & Imogen, telling us what their dad’s work is really all about!
TFT’s B Corp journey is well underway and, with recertification beginning next year we feel many benefits from the framework and the community which comes with it. But, it’s far from the only game in town when it comes to setting and achieving ESG goals – and no conversation about sustainable business would be complete without non-B Corp voices contributing to it.
So we set out to create a more inclusive, constructive forum bringing together B Corp perspectives with those seeking other frameworks for positive impact. That includes, increasingly, a self-defined approach to defining and measuring sustainability.
That forum took place last week (July 9th 2024) when we joined up with Coutts for ‘B Corp or bespoke?’, a panel discussion between real estate companies TFT, Stanhope, Grosvenor and Hydrock (now owned by Stantec). Between us, we represented a mix of experience using or trying out B Corp, and adapting our own standards to use alongside it.
We were joined by a mixed audience including investors, developers, architects, lawyers, consultant and occupier businesses. By a straw poll held at the start of our session, we found 40% of the 84-strong audience work in B Corps, while 30% had filled out B Corp assessments, and 10% use bespoke frameworks (alongside or instead of B Corp). 30% of our audience had no framework in place, yet.
Our session was chaired by the Estate Gazette’s Julia Cahill, who steered our panel to answer key challenges about corporate ESG, and wrote a great summary of our session in EG. Below are a selection of key quotes summarising our panel’s take on the issues.
Nils Rage, Stanhope: ‘B Corp says that your business cares – it doesn’t say that you’re perfect. The biggest misconception is that B Corp means you’re ‘perfect’. It actually means that you try, and work hard at improving where you are.’
Mat Lown, TFT: ‘As a business which prides ourselves on independence and critical thinking about important issues – we needed an external, independent framework [B Corp] to measure our journey forwards.’
Eve Bellers, Grosvenor: ‘Grosvenor had already committed to our own ambitious sustainability targets. But we used the B Corp assessment to see what we were missing in our approach and what we should consider next.’
Sadaf Askari, Hydrock: ‘B Corp is good for corporate governance or strategy. But I would question if B Corp is a useful tool for those just starting out in ESG. If you’re just starting out, you should undertake your own exercise to understand your own business – if governance is something you need more support around, B Corp could be for you. But self analyse and start building a strategy first.’
Sadaf Askari, Hydrock: ‘We talk a lot about carbon, but I would say that climate risk is now the biggest risk, not just in terms of physical risk but transitional risks as well. We need implementable plans to reduce these, where you can show that you know exactly what is causing the risks and how you will address them.’
Eve Bellers, Grosvenor: ‘Our collective thinking on social impact and social value needs to mature. Because one size doesn’t fit all, doing the right thing must begin with understanding the communities you serve.’
Mat Lown, TFT: ‘To improve buildings at pace, we need to move beyond a modelling-heavy approach to buildings. We need to make buildings better to meet our goals, and seeking a perfect outcome in all areas will only delay those positive impacts.’
Much like the sustainable building certifications and standards we work with every day, applying a corporate ESG strategy can be complex work. We need to deal with evolving parameters like carbon, social value, biodiversity and climate risk, which change over time. Sharing knowledge openly and acting on the latest, best information is critical to make progress.
As Asaf said in the session’s closing remarks: if you feel like your sustainability journey isn’t underway yet, you may feel like it’s time to get started!
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the evening, including our panel: TFT’s Mat Lown, Sadaf Askari from Hydrock, Eve Bellers of Grosvenor and Nils Rage of Stanhope PLC. The discussion was chaired brilliantly by Julia Cahill of Estates Gazette, with many excellent questions contributed by our audience. A special thank you to Helen Pickstock and the rest of the Coutts team who welcomed us at their offices.
The Loan Market Association (LMA) is the voice of the EMEA syndicated loan market, whose members include lenders, law firms, borrowers and regulators, many of whom fund commercial property developments and navigating the challenges of funding a more sustainable built environment.
As part of the LMA’s mission to share best practice and expert insight, Hannah Vanstone met with Mat Lown, TFT’s Chief Knowledge & ESG Officer, to discuss our industry’s progress in delivering a more sustainable built environment, and the ways in which lenders and investors can help to support that work.
In a new article for the LMA, Mat discusses:
Alex is an Associate Director based in Belfast and serves clients across both Northern Ireland (NI) and the Republic of Ireland (ROI). With expertise in contract administration, technical due diligence (TDD), dilapidations, and planned preventative maintenance (PPM surveys, Alex has contributed to a wide range of projects in both commercial and healthcare sectors.
Notably, Alex played a key role in the reinstatement of the Cathedral Buildings, a grade B1 listed building in Belfast after extensive fire damage. Recently, Alex provided technical due diligence expertise for the purchase of the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin on behalf of Archer Capital. Beyond traditional surveying, Alex’s expertise in geomatics has fuelled a passion for adopting innovative technologies and techniques into his projects. This commitment ensures a more efficient and higher standard of information gathering, enabling Alex to better advise clients.
Hello.
Outside of work I like to stay active either in the gym doing CrossFit, playing in my weekly 5-aside game or playing golf on the weekends (and evenings if I’m allowed). The golf bug bit me about 4 years ago and I get out to play whenever I can, but don’t be fooled, regular playing time doesn’t necessarily translate to being good!
I’m also a diehard Tottenham Hotspur fan and enjoy going to as many home and away games as I can. Nothing ruins my Saturday more than a bad round of golf or Spurs losing a game. Unfortunately, both happen on a fairly regular basis!
Evgenia is an Associate at TFT with 11 years of experience in the Environmental field across the UK and internationally.
Her expertise covers passive environmental design, energy strategies, sustainable master planning (daylight and sunlight, solar radiation), overheating analysis, building envelope and thermal building performance. She also accomplished multiple BREEAM projects on pre-assessment, design and post construction stages across the UK.
Evgenia worked on a wide variety of the projects within sustainability sector including residential, care homes, offices, retail, hospitality, leisure and educational buildings. She has experience in educational projects promoting sustainability in schools and regularly teaching ecology and sustainability in a Sunday school. She is Level 5 Non-Domestic Energy Assessor, which allows her to issue the highest level of assessment withing the formal Energy Performance framework.
Hello.
In the past 13 years, I worked as a Sustainability consultant in PRP and ChapmanBDSP trying to make this world a better place by putting together all sorts of environmental reports. I accept that the amount of paper used for this purpose wasn’t an environmentally friendly act.
I have two little (10 and 5 y.o) blond male tornadoes at home who regularly destroy the house and train me to put their toys back to the place making sure that I spend my time efficiently.
Career paths, just like life, don’t always take the expected route. That’s why we work to help people in our team and beyond it to find a new way forwards, to start a new career, or develop the skills they need to progress on their own path.
We teamed up with global charity Dress for Success to help support women looking to re-enter the workforce. We ran our first Career Day, welcoming 17 women to our offices for a day of learning, inspiration and advice designed to equip our guests with the skills and confidence to re-enter and thrive in today’s job market.
We kicked off the agenda with an introductory panel, where our team talked about the less conventional routes into their roles today. Then we ran sessions and workshops on everything from CV writing and interview skills to networking in a connected world.
Elsa Quinton, our Associate Director of Building Surveying, shared her unique journey into surveying, which began with a career pivot at the age of 30, after which she “effectively re-started my life, re-training and re-qualifying in a different industry and starting again at the bottom of the stack”.
Elsa’s story resonated with others in the room, and illustrates how different experiences can be brought to a new role, and why starting anew can be powerful even if it seems daunting. “The opportunity to help these women access new careers was exciting to me,” Elsa noted, emphasising her passion for training and developing others. Her role in the CV review process provided practical advice, giving our guests expert feedback to help their next applications.
Lorna Melton-Scott, Head of HR at TFT, gave a pragmatic approach to career progression, underscoring that success does not necessarily require high flying grades or a traditional academic path. Lorna’s segments on CV writing and interview preparation were particularly impactful. “It’s easy to forget how lucky we are,” Lorna reflected, touched by the gratitude and progress of the participants.
George Viner, a Graduate Building Surveyor, explained how he found surveying after a career switch, after more than 10 years as a self-employed tradesperson. George explained the highs and lows of his change in profession, then spent time talking with each of the guests to understand their journey and goals. A
“I was left feeling incredibly elated with a profound sense of community and a desire to continue to share my experiences with others in the hope to hear more of theirs. It left me considering the lack of open communication with the people around us and how talking more openly may help you and others!”
George Viner
Nicole Sedgley, Energy and Carbon Consultant, began the day by recounting her experiences as a woman progressing in a predominantly male course at university, through to securing her place at TFT. Her story highlighted the day’s objective: to build confidence and recognition of skills which we might undervalue in ourselves. Nicole found it especially rewarding to witness the transformation of attendees from nervous to empowered, a testament to the workshop’s impact.
“Reintroducing women to work environments after childbirth, career breaks, or any other reason that has put their career progression on pause should be met with both empathy and understanding, and practical support, which is what I believe the day did well.”
Nicole Sedgley
Jacqui Allen, who leads TFT’s Built Assets Consultancy, articulated the broader mission of the day, which was to directly engage with and support disadvantaged women. “The chance to work directly with disadvantaged women in the workplace doesn’t come along all that often,” Jacqui observed, acknowledging the unique challenges faced by many participants. Her dedication to making a tangible difference was clear, as she motivated everyone with her belief in hard work and determination.
This Careers Day not only provided practical skills but also instilled a sense of hope and direction for many of the talented and capable women who joined in because they were ready to make their mark. We’ll be working with those who need it to help write CVs, provide work experience and more in the future. Will our industry’s next great talent pivot into our industry – or our team – from somewhere else entirely? We hope so. Stay tuned!
‘Movement: Moving more for our mental health’ is the theme of Mental Health Awareness Week 2024.
We know that regular physical activity can improve mental health and quality of life, as well as bringing physical benefits. Not all of us are running marathons or logging serious mileage on the bike, movement is one aspect of mental health which can be introduced into our working life alongside many other beneficial habits.
LionHeart, the independent charity for RICS professionals past and present, and their families, exists to bring mental health support in line with the needs of our working lives. They have a wealth of knowledge and a valuable set of services which are tailored to help professionals whenever life throws them a curve ball in their careers. Have a look at their website here for more information.
As well as being supported by LionHeart’s great work, we are lucky enough to have six Mental Health First Aiders among the TFT team. These volunteers are there to help those who need it in the moment, because crises and challenges can arise at any time.
If you need some guidance you can visit the Mental Health First Aid England website.
TFT’s Mental Health First Aiders are:
Lorna Melton-Scott – Head of HR
Lisa Collings – HR & Ops Network Executive
Neil Granger – Senior Director
Mollie Earnshaw – Senior Marketing and Events Manager
Julia Cox – Office Manager
We took a chance to speak To Lisa Collings about why she became a Mental Health First aider and what more we can do in the workplace to support our colleagues’, and our own, mental wellbeing:
What made you want to be a Mental Health First Aider?
I wanted to become a MHFA primarily because I wanted to be able to help others in the same way that help was given to me when I needed it. Life can be extraordinarily challenging at times and having someone who can listen and who understands how you’re feeling makes such a huge difference to your mental health. Being heard and supported when you are at your most vulnerable is so important.
How do you feel having Mental Health First aiders benefits the workplace?
I think having MHFA’s at work demonstrates a genuine care for everyone who works at TFT. Most of us spend a minimum of 7.5 hours a day working, 5 days a week. It’s imperative that we look out for each other when we spend so much time working alongside each other. We are all human and will experience trials and challenges at some stage of our lives, looking out for each other at work and learning how to offer support is a vital part of the work environment. Our people are our greatest asset, we need to take good care of us!
How can we/the workplace do more to improve Mental Health at work?
Improving mental health at work can be simply making sure you have a lunch break, or having a walk to reset yourself when things get too much. Checking in on someone who is looking fraught or upset, suggest getting a coffee to open a conversation if you’re worried about someone. Also, we have our weekly fitness sessions which is a great way to get some movement into your day which kick starts the endorphins. Controlled breathing is an effective stress reduction method, take a long, slow, deep breath in through your nose, hold it for a few seconds and then gently slowly exhale through your mouth, lowering your shoulders as you breathe out.
What are some things that we can all put into our day to day to improve our own and our colleagues’ Mental Health?
There are many elements involved in improving our mental health, some are well known, getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, making sure we get some exercise and getting out in nature whenever possible. There are also lesser-known ways of improving our mental wellbeing, for example did you know that humming can reduce stress?! And that colouring in can calm the brain and decrease your heart rate? I’m a fan of Headspace , aside from the many wonderful guided meditations and sleep aids they have mini meditations that you can do at your desk if you hit a stress flash point. Breathing as mentioned above is another proven method of creating calm.
Some other favourites of mine for coping with stressful times:
UKREiiF kicks off May 21st, as the wider built environment industries descend on Leeds to talk about the connections between people, places, and business. With its remit to ‘accelerate and unlock sustainable, inclusive, and transformational investment’, TFT will be joining the conversation on both the future of sustainable business, and supporting a more inclusive industry too.
As more than 12,000 investors, developers, occupiers, and contractors gather at the Royal Armouries (just round the corner from our Leeds offices), we’re kicking off the programme with a B Corp focussed panel on day one of the conference.
Mat Lown, Chief Knowledge & ESG Officer, will be asking “To ‘B’ or Not to ‘B’ – Can B Corporations Help Address Our Sector’s ESG Objectives?” He’ll be joined by fellow B Corp panellists in our industry:
The panel will cover the five B Corp pillars of Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers, in addition to how certification works for companies like ours in the built environment industries.
If you want to debate and discuss the future of our industry, and the role of B Corp in getting there, come and join in!
The second day of UKREiiF begins with a Diversity & Inclusion Networking Breakfast, sponsored by TFT with Women in Property, Freehold LGBT+, the BAME Planners Network, Muslims in Rail and more in attendance.
Emily Brodie, Associate at TFT, will provide part of the introductory remarks for this event, speaking with more than 75 organisations leading the charge for a more diverse and inclusive industry.
Finally, on the Wednesday evening, to bring our UKREiiF to a close we have the Freehold LGBT+ drinks reception at Revolucion de Cuba in aid of Stonewall Housing. Stonewall Housing is a brilliant charity dedicated to supporting the LGBTQ+ community with housing advice and supporting those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. TFT proudly co-sponsors this event for the second year alongside Lendlease and Cobalt.
Sign up for the reception here.
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