Expertise

Property & Workplace Consulting

We are a business focussed consultancy who work directly with private and public occupiers, specialising in the development and implementation of practical, deliverable property & workplace solutions, from macro to micro.

We understand the challenges of being an occupier. The majority of our team have many years experience of working at senior levels within client side property departments before joining our consultancy team and have proven track records in evaluating, defining and reshaping office portfolios.  This experience helps us to quickly understand what your business drivers and needs are and how they can be translated into appropriate solutions. 

This client side background and multi sector experience allows us to take a fresh, alternative look at your challenges and bring best practice relevant to the issue.

We have a track record for developing robust estate reviews and rationalisation methodologies, and on the following pages you’ll see some case studies where we have identified many £m worth of savings for a whole range of diverse organisations.

We have been particularly successful in delivering innovative workplace environments with optimised occupancy levels and supportive transition management.  This success has placed us as leaders in the development and implementation of ‘Agile Working’ strategies in the UK, realising significant property savings, an engaged and enthused workforce and enabling productivity improvements.

Unique amongst our peers, we have specialist in-house team members who focus on transition management and people change.  They are an integral part of our Agile Working service and along with our colleagues in ICT, we are able to deliver a truly holistic service, with sustainable embedded change.  The team also spend much of their time in ‘project recovery’ mode, helping organisations who have launched into flexible and agile working strategies not aware of the implications of change necessary for their workforce.  If that’s where you are today, you’re not alone.  Please get in contact, I’m sure the team can help.

We treat every project as our only project, giving you a first class service; our track record speaks for itself, clients stay with us. Over 80% of our work is repeat business with existing clients – or from client to client referrals.

This team has UK wide coverage so whether it’s an estate rationalisation, workplace design, change programme or a major project you need help getting started, we’ll have it covered!

What our Clients say about us

THE TEAM

We’re an experienced team, with key specialists in workplace, property and people change, supported by diverse resource pool with a broad range of skills in these areas.  We are a flexible and agile team resolving private and public sector occupier issues and leading major projects.  Located around the country, we have the technology, capability, know how (as well as the benefit of the rest of Capita Symonds’ vast resources) to be able to service any client, no matter where they are based.

David George, Director
David.George@Capita.co.uk - 07802 158357

David established the current Consulting team in 2006 after joining Capita Symonds from the BBC.  Here he spent over 20 years working in a range of property related departments including facilities management, project management, portfolio management with responsibility for a large part of the UK estate, before finally moving onto client side sponsorship of a number of their major developments at White City in London, The Mailbox in Birmingham and at MediaCityUK in Salford.

Since joining Capita Symonds, David has developed a very successful consultancy team and recruited like minded individuals, many having been previously employed in senior positions within occupier real estate/property departments.

David’s many years of occupier experience and expertise has led the development of the company’s expertise in the integrated property, workplace and people change consultancy services offered by the team. 
David can be found regularly sharing his experience at various property related master classes and conferences in the UK.  He has a particular passion for:

• Leadership of major projects, particularly throughout the inception and development stages
• Strategic property reviews aligning the requirements to the business needs, where significant savings are realisable through optimisation of accommodation
• Workplace Solutions: developing creative, flexible, efficient and productive workplaces that enable agile working

Key Skills:

• Understanding occupiers needs relating to property & workplace
• Developing property strategies aligned to business needs
• Creating flexible workplace designs

Mark Bradshaw, Associate  Director
mark.bradshaw@capita.co.uk - 07824 472893

Mark Joined Capita Symonds in 2007. Prior to this he held portfolio management and leadership roles within BBC Workplace for 12 years, with responsibility for portfolio planning, investment and occupier management across it’s England, Wales and Northern Ireland portfolios.

Mark’s particular skills lie in the leadership, development and delivery of strategic accommodation and workplace solutions for large private and public sector organisations.  Recent examples include the development of the agile working strategy for Network Rail’s new facility in Milton Keynes (Quadrant:MK) and the development and implementation of agile working across their vast UK portfolio in Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, Swindon, Reading and London. 

Other examples include the development of estate rationalisation and  Agile Working solutions at Oxfordshire County Council as part of the Strategic Partnership that Carillion and Capita Symonds recently agreed with Oxfordshire; ‘Working for the Future’ Business Transformation Programme for Birmingham City Council; where Mark held the role of Solution Architect and Strategic Programme Manager.

His experience and approach to delivery has earned him wide recognition as a subject matter expert in his field, focused on delivering results for his clients that add value.  Mark is a regular guest speaker and contributor for leading property and workplace conferences and publications.

Key skills:

• Providing client side leadership and management
• Senior stakeholder engagement
• Strategic property and financial analysis / planning
• Business needs driven workplace solutions, introducing agility and new ways of working
• Strategic programme, communications and stakeholder management 

Peter Jones, Associate  Director
peter.h.jones@capita.co.uk – 07825 061533

Peter joined Capita Symonds in 2008, having previously worked as management consultant for CORPRA, BT Global Services and BT Workstyle Consultancy Group.

Peter has developed and led change programmes for organisations that include the London Boroughs of Barnet,  Brent, and Lewisham; Camden and Islington NHS Trust and Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, Network Rail, Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), Thales (UK) Powergen and BT.

Peter is passionate about organisational and individual change and the potentially positive synergies between the two within the workplace and beyond. His approach is focused upon the identification, measurement and practical realisation of benefits for his clients. He has helped clients win awards and won the Management Consultancies Association Change Management Award for his work on the AAT Value chain, performance management and executive development. He has also appeared on Radio and TV as an expert on the benefits and implementation of flexible working.

Most recently Peter has been involved in the delivery of the engagement to support the implementation of the Agile Working Programme across Network Rail’s UK office portfolio.

Peter also supported Thales UK in the design, development and delivery of a behavioural change programme to support the introduction of ‘Smarter Working’ within the National Security and Resilience Division. The programme enabled the closure of a site in Somerset and co-location on sites in Bristol and Basingstoke, plus behavioural change and management training to support new skills needed to compete in their rapidly changing marketplace.

Key Skills

• Change management
• Organisational development
• ICT
• Sustainability
• Process mapping
• Workplace strategy
• Agile working
• Flexible working implementation

Jo Wilson, Associate  Director
jo.wilson2@capita.co.uk – 07557 565532

Jo joined the Capita Symonds team in 2011 with a wealth of estate rationalisation, project leadership, facilities management and agile working experience.  Jo had responsibility at the Ministry of Justice, where she was integral to the delivery of the rationalisation of the London estates by 70%.  Prior to this Jo was Head of Estates for the Legal Services Commission. 

Jo specialises in working with organisations to define, develop and deliver workplace strategy and rationalisation programmes that are aligned with their business objectives.  She has a successful track record of leading the vision and delivering the behavioural impacts of transformation, alongside delivering workplaces to meet the strategic needs of the business.

Jo has led on providing Property Strategy advice along with the workplace solution and behavioural change support for Network Rail, across a number of their key routes.  Other recent projects include working with Croydon Council on their relocation to a new site in 2013, developing the design furniture solutions for the new space.  Other projects include strategic property advice and project leadership services for Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, both through their HQ relocation and also across Brent, Hillingdon and Westminster reconfiguration and rationalisation projects.

Key Skills:

• Development of property strategies and their delivery
• Delivery of the business case and benefits realisation plans
• Stakeholder engagement at a senior management level as part of change programmes
• Successful delivery of the change management strategy
• Strategic management for property acquisitions, disposals, lease administration and building regulations

Sameer Shrestha, Senior Consultant
sameer.shrestha@capita.co.uk – 07801 136798

Sameer joined Capita Symonds in July 2009 from British Airways where he was Property Strategy Manager responsible for aligning British Airways property strategy with business requirements.

Sameer has extensive experience of providing strategic property and management consultancy services to corporate occupiers including media organisations, Local Authorities, NHS Foundation Trusts, Councils, Local and Central Government.

He specialises in the development of long term property strategies including estates rationalisation to deliver not just a reduction in property operating costs but also contribute towards carbon reduction targets.

Sameer supported Birmingham City Council (BCC) on their ‘Total Place’ pilot study to improve the services provided to the citizens of Birmingham by BCC and its key partners at lower cost. He also advised Swindon Borough Council & PCT on the formulation of their localities strategy incorporating New Ways of Working (NWOW) and Property Strategy.

He recently advised Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust on estates rationalisation to deliver £2m annual savings in property operating costs.  This review identified a potential to improve occupation densities, utilisation, rationalisation of the portfolio and introduce new ways of working.
  
He is a highly motivated and experienced property professional with in-depth experience of delivering improvement in business performance through the rationalisation of property portfolio including implementation of best practice workplace solutions.

Key skills:

• Strategic advice on aligning property with corporate strategy
• Project and programme management
• Improve business performance through rationalisation of property
• Implementation of best practice workplace solutions
• Financial analysis
• Managing complex stakeholder negotiations

Kevin Lane, Senior Consultant
kevinK.Lane@capita.co.uk – 07887 546499

Kevin joined Capita Symonds Consulting in 2008, having been involved in Leisure Management for over 20 years, managing facilities in both the public and the private sectors. Prior to working for Capita Symonds, he was the national programme manager for both Quest (a UK wide quality assurance scheme) and the National Benchmarking Service (business improvement tool through performance comparison), on behalf of the home country sports councils; schemes which have continuous improvement as their focus.

After joining Capita Symonds, he has branched out into the wider field of Business Transformation, focussing much of his attention on working with Sheffield City Council to introduce Workstyle; a change programme introducing agile working.

His consultancy work ranges across the public, private and third sectors in local government, defence, health, housing, sport, leisure and culture.  Clients have been as diverse as: county/city and unitary/local councils, PCTs, quangos (such as London Development Agency, Sport England, and Arts Council England), private sector organisations, housing and leisure trusts, universities and the National Coal Board.

Always an advocate for finding ways to improve, he combines his ability to improve collaboration across workstreams, through close attention to detail and a natural ability to communicate. Much of his work involves engagement with the workforce; analysing, consulting and listening. As a real example of an agile worker, he practises what he preaches, advocating that new ways of working are not just about property and costs savings, but also about improving people, processes, organisations and service.

Key Skills

• Communications, engagement and consultation
• Training, presenting and facilitation of agile working change projects
• Project and bid management

Dave Cordy, Senior Consultant
dave.cordy@capita.co.uk – 07500 994100

Dave joined Capita Symonds in 2008, having previously worked as a management consultant with CORPRA, an independent consultancy and before that with BT.

Dave has 20 years experience helping organisations change the way they work and adopt new, more ‘agile’ ways of working.  The foundation for this expertise was as a leading member of BT's successful Workstyle Consultancy Group.  He maintains an interest in all technologies that support how people can work effectively away from the office.

As a passionate advocate of ‘Agile Working’ and sustainable work practices, Dave understands the strategic interplay of the workplace, the employee, enabling technology and the environment; and their ability when combined, to deliver a more effective and sustainable organisation.  His empathic and affable nature coupled with a professional, focused approach enables him to communicate at all levels within client organisations.

Recent projects include the implementation of ‘Agile Working’ with Network Rail and a home-working pilot with National Grid.  Previously Dave developed the engagement strategy for Birmingham City Council’s ‘Enabling Agile Working’ programme and led its delivery at the Council’s flagship refurbished office.  Other work has included an office relocation and introduction of the ‘Smart Working’ programme at Thales UK Ltd, developing the business case for the implementation of ‘Smarter Working’ at the London Borough of Sutton, developing the monitoring and analysis standards ‘Energy Efficient Whitehall’ projects relating to the effectiveness of employee engagement and behavioural change associated with energy reduction in Central Government.

Key Skills

• Developing and delivering Agile Working engagement strategies
• Developing and delivering workplace behavioural change strategies
• Workshop development and facilitation skills
• Communication & negotiation skills
• Organisational and personal change management expertise
• Programme & Project Management

Martin Haynes, Consultant
martin.haynes@capita.co.uk – 07711 913074

Martin joined Capita Symonds in June 2008 and immediately took up the role and responsibilities for client-side monitoring of the BBC’s accommodation at their new development in MediaCityUK, Salford and also development and implementation of the Cat ‘C’ fit-out plan through to completion in 2011.

More recently Martin supported Capita Group following their successful re-appointment to manage the TV License contract, developing programme plans for 11 separate workstreams through the contract transition period.

Previous roles included Delivery Manager for the BBC on the workplace projects in the BBC’s W12 estate, delivery of a number of world class research facilities for the University of East Anglia and British Telecom, where Martin managed construction projects in their Yorkshire and Humberside estate.

With a degree in both Building Surveying and Construction Management and a member of the Association of Project Managers, he has well rounded project management experience in media, telecoms, local authority, education and health sectors.

Key Skills:

• Programme and project implementation 
• Project management
• Communication, negotiation and organisational skills

Jared Martin, Consultant
jared.martin@capita.co.uk – 07557 847665

Jared joined Capita Symonds from international conglomerate Rio Tinto, where he held a senior position within Group Property.  He was responsible for project managing the space planning and relocation of 1,500 employees during a programme to consolidate this organisations office property portfolio from 8 to 2.  He also managed the fit-out of a newly constructed, 6-star energy rated, corporate head office.   

Jared designed occupancy plans for 13,000 staff in 42 properties across Australia for Suncorp, including relocation of 6,500 staff within a six month period, and as part of this project, he also delivered change management and communication strategy to implement an agile working programme.

Key Skills:

• Stakeholder engagement
• Contractor management
• Project management
• Communication strategy
• Change management
• Property rationalisation

Louise Brown, Workplace Consultant
louise.brown2@capita.co.uk - 07917 067 234

Louise Brown has joined Capita Symonds’ Property & Workplace Consulting team as Workplace Consultant.

She joins the company from MCM Architecture where she provided workplace advice for a range of private sector clients including Ernst & Young, Pinsent Masons, Odgers Berndston and CMS Cameron McKenna, amongst others. 

Louise has worked across a range of projects including complete office moves, the refurbishment of existing office space, large scale commercial fit outs and the recommendation of a new workplace strategy in response to drivers of business change.

Workplace Consulting has become an integral part of the design and decision making process as organisations re-think the way they do things and recognise the value of their workplace towards their effectiveness and drive for sustainability.  Capita Symonds’ Property & Workplace Consulting team develops and implements innovative workplace environments and property strategies for clients including the BBC, Network Rail, NHS Foundation Trusts, Royal Mail, UCAS and a whole host of local authorities across the country.

Typical activities include:
Property evaluation, option analysis, property portfolio rationalisation, space use analysis, scenario planning, development of design briefs and the implementation of agile working, along with building re-stacks and concept layouts.

Key Skills:

• Understanding the opportunities that property offers and developing workplace strategies to support and drive the business change
• Creating flexible workplace solutions
• Continuously improving the tools and methodologies that help clients understand the nature of space use in their business