Last week, Coverdale Barclay Directors Ros Barclay and Hannah Channing headed to SpaceUK at the London Stadium, to join industry leaders in discussing the socio-economic shifts affecting how we live, work and socialise, and how this is impacting the design of buildings and neighbourhoods.
Three key takeaways
- As a key driver in the UK economy, the recently appointed CEO of Workspace Group, Lawrence Hutchings, discussed how underrepresented SMEs are in the workplace. Workplace providers need to be thinking about their business needs, from opportunities to scale-up within the building, to inspiring spaces for them to make and innovate. Given that 88% of SMEs consider sustainability essential to their businesses, he outlined the significant opportunity for owner operators who make sustainability a key part of their business model in attracting SME businesses.
- If there is a consensus across the industry that the economic and social value of culture is significant, why is there a constant battle to fund it? And, what are the solutions to ensure creatives can thrive and continue to contribute to vibrant, inclusive cities? These were the central questions at the culture & creative cities discussion. Some solutions tabled included an introduction of a tourist tax, with funds reinvested back into local creatives, and greater support for creatives in building their business case.
- In a roundtable on placemaking, Morwenna Hall, CEO of Ardent, discussed the valuable role that long term developers and placemakers play today in driving collaboration. Establishing strong relationships with a variety of stakeholders enables them to fulfil a ‘matchmaking’ role between local businesses, organisations and people.
