Future of London

We highly recommend this event to our network when Pollard Thomas Edwards launches the much-anticipated findings of their Happy Homes Project, a rigorous two-year inquiry into social value and housing design. PTE is a long-standing Future of London partner and we know this is a significant report.

It’s National Mentoring Day, so we talked to three mentor pairs from our leadership programmes about trust, making yourself vulnerable, and connecting the personal and the professional. All the candidates on leadership programmes at Future of London and sister organisation Future of Greater Manchester are paired with a mentor. We think this is an important relationship that’s separate from work colleagues, your professional network, friends or family. It’s a fresh perspective with challenge from someone with more experience who isn’t your boss. "Obviously, you talk to friends or colleagues but there are certain thoughts and ideas it’s useful to bounce around in a safe space," said Greig Lees of The Guinness Partnership. who graduated from GM Leaders Plus 4 in January 2024. Greig was mentored by Jacqueline Esimaje-Heath of L&Q. Her advice to mentees was to recognise the relationship is based on needing something so "take control of that!" Lauren Heath, who graduated from Future London Leaders 35 in early 2024, was thinking about career progression. "I was looking for guidance on where to go next, and that obviously came to fruition, as I’ve started this new role at Lidl." Lauren was at Hyde for 18 years before moving to Lidl GB. Lauren's mentor was Fabrizio Stefanoni  of Lovell Partnerships Ltd, who himself is a Leaders Plus graduate. "We came from different perspectives," he says of Lauren. "I really enjoyed seeing the way she does things and learned a lot." Our executive director Lisa Taylor had a lively conversation with Ryan Tracey of Manchester City Council and mentor Debra Cooper of Hill Dickinson LLP following the GM Future Leaders programme this year. "We spoke about everything, including personal life," says Debra. "Mentoring isn't just looking at the nine to five; it’s everything that goes around that too." Ryan explained: "I’d curated a professional world separate from the private, but in my five-year plan, there was a lot about personal stuff. It took a lot for me to share that, but we got to a point where I felt at ease doing that, and got great feedback." You can read the full interviews by following the link in the comments below. Thanks to the mentors and mentees for sharing their experience, and to Rhianna Malcolm for interviewing Lauren and Fabrizio. And thanks to all Future of London mentors who provide such excellent support to all our leadership candidates. Thanks also to Chelsey Baker and National Mentoring Day for championing the vital mentor/mentee relationship. Future of London and Future of Greater Manchester provide cross-sector leadership development programmes - follow us to find out more! Thanks to Devonshires and at SEC Newgate UK for supporting Future London Leaders and Related Argent for supporting Leaders Plus. Main image: Karen Daye of London Borough of Bromley mentoring for our Emerging Talent Programme. #FutureOfLondon #FutureOfGreaterMancheser #NationalMentoringDay

On the hunt for inclusive economies, our Future London Leaders visited a Brixton workspace operating an innovative “BuyGiveWork” payment model. Here’s how it works. International House is a home to Brixton-born enterprises, young innovators and generous SMEs coming together in an inclusive and accessible workspace. Harry Owen-Jones, co-founder of 3Space, the meanwhile use organisation running International House, gave us the tour and explained how their model of affordable workspace supports an inclusive economy. The rental of workspace is run on what 3Space calls a BuyGiveWork basis. For each space that is paid for, one space is given away. The ‘Buy’ floors pay near market rent for their space, which cross-subsidises the ‘Give’ floors – some of which pay a small amount of rent, others of which pay no rent at all. This model allows for a diverse mix of organisations that wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford workspace in Brixton, including a Youth Innovation Hub and a floor for community initiatives. The workspace has all been possible thanks to inclusive economy strategies developed by London Borough of Lambeth. Thanks to William Steadman, Martha Levi Smythe and Jennifer Angus MRTPI from the Lambeth Neighbourhood Regeneration team who talked us through the redevelopment plan for the area. This includes the Pop Brixton site and the well-loved Brixton Rec Centre. The council is investing some of its £4m Good Growth Fund from Greater London Authority in community infrastructure that will benefit existing businesses and communities. Local people have been fully involved, including forming an oral history project documenting stories on what Brixton Rec Centre means to community members. We also visited 2 Beehive Place, the home of Photofusion Photography Centre and The Advocacy Academy, which support creativity and community activism. The FLL38 cohort left inspired that an inclusive economy is possible with the collaboration of local authorities, budding entrepreneurs and maximising the spaces and resources that already exist. Georgia Beamish-White | Kerri Bourne | Sophia Bromfield | Chino Avila Buquir | Silvia Commisso | Gurvinder Doal | Emma Gowing | Katie Harris | James Hawkins MRTPI | Joely Hill | Cameron Jackson | Martin Lomas | Oliver Reinhold | James Santos Murphy | Rosie Seaman | Will Sendell | Jason Walker-Lucy #FutureOfLondon #inclusiveeconomies #brixton #youngentrepreneurs #FutureLondonLeaders #localgrown #FLL38

Thanks to everyone who came to our post-conference webinar with a ‘highlights reel’ of some of the key discussions. We were delighted to include people who couldn’t attend the conference. Here are some of the takeaways from the discussion: ▶️ The political weather has changed as much as the physical weather with a real awareness now, but policy and funding need to quickly reflect this ▶️ The importance of involving diverse communities, who will experience impacts unequally, will lead to more durable outcomes ▶️ Guidance for local government on climate resilience and equity is needed because the issues cut across so many different departments and disciplines ▶️ There is a challenge to work at a neighbourhood level, particularly tools and frameworks that can help communities and practitioners to operate across ‘development red lines’ ▶️ All infrastructure is interconnected, and climate change is creating compound failures and impacts on local and neighbourhood scales ▶️ The importance of considering climate impacts on social infrastructure, how it is used and to what capacity in different scenarios. Designing for and with vulnerable residents will mean our infrastructure is designed for all. ▶️ Good data on the health impacts of climate measures can help to make the case for the necessary interventions ▶️ Surveyors can better understand the impacts of redevelopment versus retrofit to make decisions based on long-term objectives. Thanks also to our speakers Amanda Karen Chan, Amandeep Kalra, Hailey Sockalingam, Dr Tom Dollard and Visakha Sri Chandrasekera. Thanks also to our facilitators Eddie Gibb, Anna Odedun and Kelsey Hoare. We will be sharing summaries of the webinar and conference sessions and look forward to working with our network on some practical guidance that can take forward climate action equitably. Thanks to our sponsors for making the conference and this webinar happen. Arup | Countryside Partnerships | Mount Anvil | Local Partnerships LLP | Impact on Urban Health | Pollard Thomas Edwards | Potter Raper | Trowers & Hamlins #FutureOfLondon #ClimateResilienceEquity

London is a big city so we need big - and some small! - transport solutions. Not everyone can fit on the trains, so mass transit won’t work without micromobility. That was a key message from our City Makers’ Forum debate for future urban leaders. We tried out a new format: a competitive debate with four presenters. Two pitched the case for micromobility against the other two for mass transit, attempting to persuade the audience to change their mind. Lots of audience participation added to the fun and dynamism of the event. This was a light-hearted way of exploring some of the critical issues around equity, sustainability, flexibility and cost-effectiveness of our public transport system. In reality mass transit and micromobility need to be better integrated to support better quality of life for all Londoners. (And, yes we know, micromobility won't work without mass transit!) Thanks to all our presenters for their energetic and enthusiastic pitches: ▶ Marie Feuvrier, Senior Consultant, Momentum Transport Consultancy ▶ Jim Hubbard, Senior Public Policy Manager, Voi Technology ▶ Sam Margolis, Head of Transport Strategy & Projects, Camden Council ▶ Jessica Potter, Urban Design Team Leader, Southwark Council Special thanks to Neil Walmsley, UK/Europe Regional Director, Urban Solutions, for expert refereeing and Hatch for supporting the City Makers’ Forum. Thanks and many congratulations to our Clerkenwell neighbours Grimshaw who generously hosted the debate the day after receiving the RIBA Stirling Prize as one of the winning group of firms for the Elizabeth line. Look out for the event write-up coming soon. #FutureOfLOndon #CityMakersForum

Public sector organisations can create inclusive growth and deliver better services through diverse procurement. But how? This was the question our event ‘Why Diversity in Procurement Matters’ tried to answer this week. Some of the key takeaways included getting beyond tokenism; being open and honest, and involving procurement teams early. The new Procurement Act aims to widen the pool of potential suppliers for local authorities, yet ethnic minority-led architectural and design practices in London struggle to win public sector work. Thanks to our presenters Nana Biamah-Ofosu, Osama Shoush, Sharmin Asia-Rohima Ahmed and Carl Konadu BEM; and to our panel chair Shona Snow MCIPS Chartered and our own Hannah Gibbs. We were hosted by London Borough of Tower Hamlets in their town hall with thanks to karen swift. Our alumni and Emerging Talent Programme candidates did a brilliant job of facilitating table conversations, so thanks to Philippa Bancroft, Dionne Bimpong, Sarah Cook, Mitin Patel, Jan Slominski and Abdulrahman Yinusa. Thanks also to not-for-profit procurement framework provider LHC Procurement Group for their support and partnership. We’re now exploring ways to take some of the learning from the event, and identify next steps to support boroughs in achieving greater ethnic diversity in their procurement processes. Watch this space for our full write-up. #DiversityIndesign #Procurement #FutureOfLondon

Can a city be sexist? Our panel at the Public Spaces Expo concluded it absolutely can. Furthermore, the built environment sector has a critical role to play in designing spaces that are welcoming for all. So, what’s stopping us, and how can we overcome these barriers? ➡️ Sector confidence: 75% of Built environment professionals feel underconfident in how to engage communities. To combat this, Al Mathers of The Young Foundation made a convincing case for formally embedding participatory approaches into professional practice and into training – and for practitioners to reframe their roles as facilitators of place, not designers of place. ➡️ Community confidence: Future of London’s recent co-production report argued that true co-production can only happen when the power and knowledge are shared equally between all stakeholders. Jennie Savage FRSA of London Borough of Tower Hamlets highlighted that this approach ensures there is mutual respect for all types of expertise in the process: residents as experts in community and professionals as experts in placemaking. ➡️ Budget constraints: To engage with communities in a meaningful way, Dorréll Gayle-Menzie from Scott Brownrigg challenged the sector to think differently about investment, to think beyond a project-based approach of community engagement. He advocated for funding communities as long-term custodians of place. We will be exploring how the sector and communities can redefine ‘value’ in an upcoming workshop on 6th November (see link in the comments below for details). ➡️ Lack of diversity within the sector: The UK’s placemaking workforce is predominantly white, male, heterosexual, and able-bodied. Dr Bridget Snaith CMLI and Anna Odedun shared insight from their recent paper ‘Weeds, wildflowers and White privilege’ which points to the sector itself – asking us to reflect on the lack of diversity within our workforce. To get involved in our ongoing research into co-production in the built environment contact Hailey Sockalingam. To explore how your organisation can benefit from our Emerging Talent Programme to increase diversity in the sector get in touch with Elaine Cleland-Awity. #FutureOfLondon #PublicSpacesExpo

Good luck to our Health and Housing Impact Network co-lead Catherine Max with Hannah Gibbs. Catherine is talking today about our work to bring housing and public health practitioners together. Thanks also to Impact on Urban Health for supporting the programme.

*** NEW SPEAKERS *** How can we open public sector opportunities to a more diverse group of architecture and design practices? Join us at our workshop to find out. Why Diversity in Procurement Matters is on Tuesday 15 October, hosted in partnership with not-for profit framework provider LHC Procurement Group. Changing the way our industry procures projects and services could have a huge impact on addressing inequalities if we are willing to reassess our processes. A more diverse workforce and supply chain can lead to more innovation - especially in architecture and design. The built environment sector would also benefit from a wider talent pool that represented of London’s diverse communities. The new Procurement Act coming into force in October 2024 will shape the direction that all professionals will be following across the industry. But we need a different mindset to achieve these strategic aims. Our free, in-person event will help you improve practice in procurement through insight and lessons learned from built environment experts, including: ▶ Sharmin Asia-Rohima Ahmed, Project Manager - Regeneration and Inclusive Leadership Champion, London Borough of Hackney ▶ Nana Biamah-Ofosu, Director, YAA Projects ▶ Carl Konadu BEM, CEO and Co-founder, 2-3 Degrees ▶ Osama Shoush, Strategic Lead, Southwark Construction, Southwark Council ▶ Shona Snow MCIPS Chartered, Director of Product Innovation, LHC Procurement Group (CHAIR) When: Tuesday 15 October 2024, 5pm to 7.30pm Where: In-person, London E1 Register now by clicking the link in the comments below #FutureOfLondon

** NEW SPEAKERS ** What should we prioritise to tackle London’s transport problems - micromobility or mass transit? Join our next City Makers’ Forum for a lively debate on this urgent topic on Thurs 17 October. We’ve seen a huge rise in innovations in personal mobility in London. The growing popularity of micromobility - e-bikes, e-scooters and app-based cycle hire - is widely seen as key to sustainable cities. This mode of transport is more environmentally friendly than conventional vehicles and it could help to massively reduce air pollution and congestion. Yet micromobility won’t meet all of London’s growing transport needs as it's not accessible to all users. We still need investment and implementation of major public transport infrastructure to connect our city for all. So what should we prioritise for the future of London’s transport? Join the debate at Micromobility vs Mass Transit: Tackling London’s transport problems, supported by Hatch. We are trying a new format with an active debate to challenge existing perceptions and tease out the big questions on the future of public transport, with plenty of time for networking with other professionals. Confirmed debaters: ▶ Neil Walmsley, UK/Europe Regional Director, Urban Solutions, Hatch (chair) ▶ Jim Hubbard, Senior Public Policy Manager, Voi Technology ▶ Marie Feuvrier, Senior Consultant, Momentum Transport Consultancy ▶ Sam Margolis, Head of Transport Strategy & Projects, London Borough of Camden ▶ Jessica Potter, Urban Design Team Leader, Southwark Council When: Thursday 17 October 2024, 5pm to 7:30pm Where/Format: in person, London EC1 Register now by clicking the link in the comments below. #FutureOfLondon