A new committee of office experts has been formed to ensure Northern Ireland has the calibre of workspaces needed to attract investment, support home-grown business growth and strengthen the region’s international competitiveness.
The British Council for Offices (BCO) Northern Ireland committee believes that by bringing the industry together to test new approaches to office delivery and increase quality, it can help NI be ready to respond quickly to rising investment and occupier demand.
The committee is made up of developers, investors, occupiers, architects, agents and advisers and will connect in with the best thinking from across the BCO’s UK and European membership to establish Northern Ireland as an exemplar of office design, development and operation.
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Tim Boyle, Development Manager at Belfast Harbour and Chair of the BCO Northern Ireland Committee, said: “This committee has been set up to bring the whole sector into the same room – the people who fund, design, build, manage and occupy our offices – so that we learn from each other, raise our ambitions and make sure the rest of the UK and Europe sees what Northern Ireland can deliver. We want our best buildings to be the ones others come to learn from.”
BCO President, Natwest’s Andy McBain, added: “Northern Ireland has all the ingredients to create some of the most inspiring workplaces in the UK. This committee provides the platform to turn that potential into impact, connecting local expertise with the BCO’s 4,000-strong membership network and creating opportunities to showcase the region’s success through an outstanding programme of events. I’m excited to support the committee and see its vision come to life.”
The committee launches at a pivotal moment for the market. Northern Ireland’s office sector continues to show resilience but faces a shortage of Grade A accommodation just as occupier expectations and workplace requirements are rising.
There is less than 250,000 sq ft of available grade A office space in central Belfast, according to the most recent figures from CBRE NI, meaning demand for high-quality, sustainable workspace is not currently able to be met in full.
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The committee plans deliver a programme of events and activity across Northern Ireland, including:
The BCO Northern Ireland committee is inviting professionals from across the region’s office sector to get involved by visiting www.bco.org.uk/membership
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