Government Property Agency

There are just five weeks left until the Smarter Working Live Awards! 🏆 The awards celebrate outstanding innovation through community, collaboration and creativity in the public sector. The shortlist was announced last month at the #SWL24 conference. This year there are 15 categories and two judges' choice awards. Congratulations to all the organisations shortlisted 🎉. You can view the shortlist on the Smarter Working Live website: https://lnkd.in/gvh6Cui Smarter Working Live continues the legacy of our Smarter Working Programme, which enabled 31 government bodies to achieve Smarter Working Mature status, empowering their workforce with choices about how, where and when to work. GovNews #TransformingCivilService

We have introduced a new Strategic Client Committee to gather strategic insight, feedback and recommendations regarding the current and future requirements of our clients, and to inform our future direction. The committee is made up of a small group of senior leaders invited from a representative selection of client organisations. The clients represented will change on a yearly basis and work alongside the chair of the government COO network and our own senior leaders. The committee will meet quarterly and serve as a collaborative forum to ensure that clients have a senior level voice into the GPA, as part of our commitment to fostering a client-centric culture. The first meeting took place last week and covered topics including the spending review, closing the funding gap and workplace design and space planning. We are also set to launch a new quarterly Client Working Group which will include representation from all of our Portfolio clients.

We are pleased to announce a new Non-Executive Director (NED) has joined our board. Anna Strongman joined us on 1 October and brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our Agency. Our board and its sub-committees are our top level of governance and advise our Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Cabinet Office on the strategic direction of the Agency. Strengthening our board will help continue to deliver our 10-year Strategy and lead us in creating a transformed, shared, sustainable and value for money government office estate supporting civil servants to work productively in every nation and region of the UK. On the appointment of Anna, our Chair #PatRitchieChair said, “I am delighted to have Anna join our board. She will further strengthen the board bringing expertise spanning development, investment and asset management across retail, residential, life sciences and mixed-use regeneration schemes. I look forward to working with her and our existing board members to support the delivery of our ambitious 10 year strategy for the GPA.” Anna Strongman is currently CEO at Oxford University Development (OUD), a joint venture between Oxford University and Legal & General, set up to build innovation districts and subsidised accommodation for graduate students and the university workforce. She was previously managing partner of Argent LLP in London, where she spent 12 years delivering a range of asset, development and business planning projects. On her new role, Anna said, “I am delighted to join the board of the GPA. The GPA and its team have an exciting mission to deliver positive change. I look forward to contributing my expertise and passion for property to support the organisation to succeed." #WeAreGPA

We’re pleased to have been named finalists in the ‘Partners in Corporate – Public Sector’ category at this year’s PFM Awards alongside our workplace services partners. The nomination highlights the implementation of our Workplace Services Transformation Programme, which set out to create people-centred, digitally supported workplaces and to enhance engagement, productivity and customer satisfaction through innovative contract management approaches. Through the programme we appointed JLL UK as our strategic performance partner for workplace services and four regional supply chain partners G4S, OCS, ISS Facility Services UK and Mitie, to deliver a dynamic and agile customer-centric operating model with a greater focus on customer experience and service resilience. Louis Roberts, interim Director of Workplace Services said: “Our workplace services operating model is deliberately different. We’ve brought the very best supplier skill sets together, working as one with the GPA and our strategic performance partner, JLL. Our joint relationship management plan outlines our shared framework and deliverables, centred on collaboration and customer experience, which are directly linked to enabling the GPA to deliver on our strategic priorities.” The PFM Award winners will be announced next month. #TransformingCivilService

This month the first teams from UK Home Office will begin their induction into 2 Ruskin Square, our latest #GovernmentHub. The 10-storey building in #Croydon is on its way to being fully operational and will be the largest new build hub we have delivered, forming part of the Ruskin Square development. The purpose-built, state-of-the-art building will be home to over 7,800 civil servants. The building is aligned to the standards set out in the Government Workplace Design Guide and puts flexibility, inclusivity, and sustainability at the heart of the design. Staff will have access to a range of workspaces and facilities to reflect their needs to work individually, collaboratively and with external stakeholders. Over the coming months, Home Office staff will be gradually moving into the building with full occupation expected by the end of the year. #TransformingCivilService

Next week our Property Services Director Dominic Brankin will be speaking at the Place North West Offices + Workspace Update alongside a range of industry professionals. The panel will discuss the challenges that the office sector is facing as it undergoes a revolution in employment patterns accelerated by technology and the pandemic. Dom will share insights into how we are delivering delivering a greener more interoperable office estate which prioritises employee experience. Find out more and book your place: https://lnkd.in/eyCvXzTS #TransformingCivilService

Last month our staff rolled up their sleeves and helped carry out essential garden maintenance in the residential gardens at Seashell Trust in Greater Manchester. We have two #GovernmentHubs in development in #Manchester and days like these help unlock further #SocialValue in our projects through supporting society, the economy and the environment, ensuring we deliver the best value for communities. Members of the team had a fantastic time volunteering with the charity, who support children and young adults with complex learning difficulties, disabilities and additional communication needs. #TransformingCivilService

We are delighted to announce news of our success in the #GovProp24 Awards! 🏆 Our Project Director Sarah Mackintosh-Smith won in the Leadership category. Sarah managed our Peterborough, Quay House build and fit-out. She created a strong, integrated team to work through the delivery and any challenges a project of this scope may have. This resulted in a project delivered on time and to scope, allowing for a smooth move-in for the civil servants who are based there. The Quay House project also achieved Highly Commended in the Project of the Year award. The Peterborough hub was part of the city’s £120 million vibrant regeneration scheme and now offers over 1200 civil servants a smart, flexible work environment which enhances productivity. We also achieved Highly Commended in the Transforming Places category for the work our #PropTech team have undertaken installing networks for GovWifi throughout Government Offices Great George Street in London, a historically significant site, delivering a fast resilient network for civil servants despite the restrictions of a listed building. Congratulations to all those involved in these projects, and all the shortlisted and winning entries in this year's Government Property Awards 2024. #TransformingCivilService #WeAreGPA Government Property Function

Earlier today our Chief Digital and Information Officer Mandev Dass discussed ‘What's Next for the Digital Revolution?’ at the DigiGov Expo 2024 in London. Mandev and the panel covered how we use data and the data foundations we need to leverage emerging data solutions for decision-making. If you are attending the #DigiGovExpo tomorrow don’t miss our Chief Technology Officer Kean Jones at 10.35 am in the Government ICT Theatre. Kean will discuss the successes and learnings we have had so far with our digital transformation agenda, as well as how we are modernising our legacy systems and creating positive, seamless #PropTech experiences for the civil servants who work in our buildings. Find out more and register to attend 👉 https://lnkd.in/dKkXyz5B #TransformingCivilService

Last night at the CIPD People Management Awards our Skills and Specialisms Programme won the award for Best Learning and Development Initiative! The programme is empowering our people and setting us up for future success, making sure that, through organisational and personalised learning and professional development, we can deliver for our clients. Martin Keeler FCIPD, HR Director, said: “To say I’m over the moon about winning the Best Learning and Development Initiative is an understatement. Just to be shortlisted for these prestigious awards is a real honour and to win is phenomenal. Our Skills and Specialisms programme is supporting the capability of our people which enhances our overall expertise as an organisation. Championing learning and development not only allows individuals to progress, it also feeds into the wider continuous improvement of the GPA. This recognition further cements the GPA’s objective to be an employer of choice in the property industry.” Read more about the programme and our entry: https://lnkd.in/ekKyztZG #CIPDMAs24 #WeAreGPA #TransformingCivilService