After soon-to-be 25 years of serving as Chief Government for the British Council for Places of work, Richard Kauntze will probably be stepping down in summer time 2025. His successor will probably be appointed by the BCO Presidential Group in the end.
Throughout Mr Kauntze’s tenure, the BCO has grown in membership and change into established firmly because the workplace sector’s supply of schooling, steering and dialogue. Since Mr Kauntze joined as Chief Government in 1999, membership has elevated from 585 to over 4,000, spanning a variety of disciplines from main architects and builders to main workplace occupiers.
Mr Kauntze has additionally labored laborious to extend the BCO’s geographical attain, increasing from its preliminary base in Studying to a robust nationwide presence throughout areas with a London headquarters.
The BCO NextGen programme has superior over the previous decade, with 25 p.c of the BCO’s complete membership now comprising of NextGen members – members aged 35 and below – demonstrating that the BCO is shored-up for the longer term. Mr Kauntze was instrumental within the creation of the NextGen Committees, which offer a platform for knowledge-sharing, mentoring, networking {and professional} improvement throughout 5 areas.
The NextGen concepts competitors was launched in 2017 and has developed into the BCO NextGen Concepts Venture celebrating the boldest, most modern and inventive concepts for the longer term workspace of the following era. The programme goals to encourage the NextGen’s confidence, broaden their community and assist them advance of their profession.
The BCO Awards programme has developed and expanded to recognise new priorities and innovation inside the sector, such because the ESG Award launched in 2023. A brand new occupier award is being developed by the BCO, to spotlight the best requirements for workplaces whereas they’re in in-use.
“It has been an honour to carry the position of chief govt”
In collaboration with the BCO Analysis Committee, the Presidential Group and the BCO’s Head of Analysis, Mr Kauntze has steered the BCO Analysis programme to tell upon and examine frequently the vital challenges within the workplace sector. This has seen important analysis printed on matters starting from sustainability, agile working, well being and wellbeing to designing for neurodiversity.
Working alongside the Presidential Group, Mr Kauntze is overseeing the introduction of two new BCO Committees – the London Regional Committee and the Life Sciences Committee. Every committee is being created to answer rising main developments within the sector, together with London’s distinctive place within the British workplace market and the expansion of life sciences right into a notable actual property market.
The BCO additionally launched its new web site final week which displays and helps at the moment’s workplace sector, with clear, user-friendly entry to important sources resembling BCO guides and analysis. It’s going to showcase the most effective in workplace design whereas offering all the most recent BCO information and particulars of upcoming BCO occasions.
Richard Kauntze, Chief Government of the BCO, stated: “Will probably be bitter-sweet to say farewell to the BCO subsequent summer time. It has been an honour to carry the position of chief govt with the organisation for what will probably be 25 years this November. I’ll at all times have nice fondness of the BCO and I’m excited to see the way it will proceed to develop and progress with the wonderful Presidential Group. In the meantime, I’m delighted to be launching the London Regional Committee and the Life Sciences Committee on this ultimate yr, which I consider will supply new springboards for dialogue on progressive matters within the sector.”
Despina Katsikakis, President of the BCO, stated: “I wish to specific deep gratitude personally and on behalf of the BCO committees and members for Richard’s extraordinary work and dedication. For 1 / 4 of a century Richard has centered on rising and diversifying the BCO’s membership and driving ahead its objective to analysis, inform and encourage greatest follow and dialogue of key points. All through his tenure Richard has positioned the BCO because the guiding gentle for a dynamic business workplace sector, a vital position which we within the presidential crew will proceed to uphold and develop in keeping with the sector’s altering priorities and evolution.”
Peter Crowther, Senior Vice President of the BCO, stated: “Quick approaching 25 years on the helm of the BCO, Richard has been a incredible ambassador for the workplace sector, guiding members by means of financial recessions and the Covid-19 pandemic, to emerge stronger every time. Richard has steered the BCO to change into considered one of Britain’s main property our bodies, producing publications heralded as ‘trade bibles’ and the BCO Awards have developed to change into acclaimed as essentially the most rigorous and revered in our sector. He’s an extremely well-respected voice and chief within the trade. I’m positive the whole membership and trade will be a part of me in sincerely thanking Richard for his excellent contribution and wishing him good well being and happiness in his subsequent chapter.”