People Behind the Buildings
Ever been curious about what it takes to maintain the UK’s national treasures? Bellrock has partnered with GovNews to create a five-part podcast series giving you an exclusive glimpse behind the curtain of iconic buildings, including the Cabinet Office, The British Museum, and more. Each episode features an in-depth conversation with Estates & Facilities Directors responsible for the care and management of these historic and functional spaces. Whether you’re a fan of architecture, a public sector estates professional, or simply curious about the people behind the UK’s built environment, this series will offer a fresh perspective on the role of public estates in the nation’s life.
This blog post shares the highlights from the episode on the Cabinet Office. Matt Hickley, Public Sector Specialist at Bellrock co-hosted the episode with Mark Blanchard, Director of GovNews. They quizzed Lynda Rawsthorne, Government Head of the Property Profession and Director of Property Capability, Sponsorship & Standards at the Cabinet Office. Read on to learn more about how she ensures the Cabinet Office serves modern needs while standing the test of time. We’ll uncover the unique challenges, innovations, and behind-the-scenes efforts that keep this landmark running smoothly.
The Person Behind the Building
Lynda’s role is incredibly broad, spanning all government departments and even local government. She represents over 7500 property professionals with diverse sets of skills. They manage over 140000 buildings valued at about £180 billion on the national balance sheet. It’s a lot of responsibility, but Lynda enjoys the broad view it gives her of public sector estates.
Over the years, Lynda has seen the role of estates change dramatically. Historically, departments were siloed and dealt with their purchases and sales independently. She’s witnessed a real step change, with departments working together across boundaries and cross-government hubs.
Lynda is based at the Stephenson Street office in Birmingham. With over 20 departments housed together, there are real opportunities for collaboration and cross-fertilisation. That proximity also helps to identify and deliver efficiencies. Colleagues from different departments liaise when leases are due for renewal to secure better value-for-money deals together.
Driving the Government Property Strategy
The Government Property Strategy is the golden thread running through all of Lynda’s work.
There are three key pillars:
1. Transform Places and Services: This pillar is all about delivering joined-up, innovative services and driving economic growth.
2. Smaller, Better & Greener Estate: This is a hot topic and involves generating efficiencies to invest in more sustainable buildings.
3. Professional Excellence & Insight: People need the skills and capabilities to make a difference. Data is also an increasingly important enabler.
With the new government in place, Lynda and her team are looking at how they can help them deliver their priorities and plans. Taking care of such a historic estate is a privilege but also brings unique challenges.
Conserving the Past
The Cabinet Office is responsible for several iconic buildings with a rich history. For example, the Palace of White Hall enjoyed a grand past as the main residence of English monarchs from 1530 until 1698. The building spanned over 1500 rooms including a theatre called the Cockpit in Court. While most of the original building was lost to fire in 1698, intriguing references to its past remain, including the Cockpit passage at Westminster today.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office shares a similarly opulent past. It was conceived as the drawing room of the nation, with ornate decoration to impress foreign ambassadors.
Now the rich heritage of the government district attracts tourists from around the world. The buildings have even made it onto the big screen, appearing as locations in Sceptre and Fast and Furious 6. Undoubtedly, the government estate is part of the fabric of English history, housing several national treasures.
A Balancing Act
The Cabinet Office’s rich history is both a blessing and a curse. How do you maintain that heritage while making buildings fit for purpose? Lynda explains it’s a real balancing act. Many of the buildings are listed and there is a responsibility to protect their past, but there’s equally a pressure to deliver a modern, effective, value-for-money workplace. These two imperatives often clash.
Other drivers like sustainability also come into play. Rebuilding can be cheaper than refurbishing but keeping what you have is more carbon-efficient. The focus on sustainability has resulted in a shift towards retrofitting and refurbishment. Conversation-led experts offer advice on how to preserve the government’s heritage while meeting modern-day requirements.
While Lynda confesses it’s unlikely that Britain’s crown jewel buildings will ever be sold, it is important to consider opportunities to release the surplus estate. In recent years, they have successfully managed to complete disposals and generate income to reinvest in modern services.
Shaping Work Culture
Fast forward to more recent history, and the pandemic undoubtedly changed the face of work. Government property professionals are still adjusting to the new normal. Hybrid working presents new opportunities and challenges. On team days, you may suddenly have a full office while other days may be quieter. That has implications for behind-the-scenes issues like heating. It’s also important to ensure the digital infrastructure meets the needs of a modern workforce, which can be challenging in old buildings with thick walls. Often the solutions demand creative problem-solving.
The rise of virtual meetings has transformed how people use space. There’s nothing worse than sitting at a bank of four where everyone is in a virtual meeting, especially if you get that annoying echo. Thoughtful planning is key to create quiet spaces for meetings as well as collaborative zones for teamwork.
Historically, employees were given an office once they reached a certain grade, but now flexible workspaces and open-plan environments are the norm. It’s all about designing environments that create the conditions for flexibility, productivity and collaboration.
Futureproofing the Estate
Wellbeing is a top consideration when designing modern workplaces. Estates professionals need to consider how they can support staff wellbeing. For example, that might include factoring in bike storage, showers and gyms to make it easy for staff to incorporate exercise into their routine.
Finally, sustainability is a real consideration for the future of the workspace. Increasingly, estates professionals need to consider features like solar panels to reduce reliance on non-renewable energy. Considering the EPC rating is key when moving to a new building. Lynda suggests climate adaptation will become increasingly important.
Whatever the future holds, it’s all in a day’s work for an estates professional. The stewardship of iconic buildings such as the Cabinet Office is about conserving the past while shaping the future.
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