NOVEMBER 13, 2026, U.K. — Commercial success underpinned by an unwavering commitment to sustainability and inclusion was the recurring theme as the British Council for Offices revealed the winners of its NextGen Awards in a triumphant celebration of the industry’s rising stars at Stereo Covent Garden in London last night.
The BCO NextGen Awards are a key initiative of the BCO NextGen committee, which supports professionals aged 35 and under in the commercial property sector. Now in its 11th year, every November the awards recognise the outstanding accomplishments of young professionals, as well as the senior industry members and organisations that have supported them, in the categories of Regional Rising Stars, Graduate of the Year, Impact Award, Inspirational Leader of the Year and NextGen Employer of the Year.
As well as rewarding individual excellence, the awards provide a valuable indicator of trends and priorities among the industry leaders of tomorrow. Although only in the early stages of their own careers, many of this year’s winners are already engaged in initiatives to nurture talent and attract new entrants to the sector. Alongside this, diversity and inclusion were clear priorities across the board and a range of initiatives to increase representation were highlighted by the awards judges.
Continuing the theme of previous years, sustainability remains a dominant focus among NextGen leaders, with awards entries evidencing how environmental performance is increasingly linked to commercial success. Among many examples, Rising Star Award winner Laura Hennessy of Gleeds was praised for her advocacy of whole-life costing, demonstrating how quantity surveying can play a much broader role in shaping sustainable, adaptable and commercially successful workplaces.
A further trend was the use of technology to achieve more effective engagement of target audiences and stakeholders. Examples included Ryan Reid of AECOM using data collection, modelling and digital technologies to help teams understand complex heritage buildings, and the foundation of “Girls in Construction” on TikTok by Molly Gardner of Multiplex. Since its inception, the platform has garnered more than a million clicks and directly contributed to more young women considering careers in the sector.
The winners of the BCO NextGen Awards 2026 are:
- NextGen Rising Star – London & South East
- Alejandro Mar Morales, Cundall
- NextGen Rising Star – Midlands and East Anglia
- Timothy Newcombe, Cundall
- NextGen Rising Star – Northern England, North Wales and Northern Ireland
- Alan Stuart, Atelier Ten
- NextGen Rising Star – Scotland
- Ryan Alexander Reid, AECOM
- NextGen Rising Star – South West England and South Wales
- Laura Hennessy, Gleeds
- Employer of the Year
- Scotch Partners
- Graduate of the Year
- Molly Gardner, Multiplex
- Impact Award
- Adil Sajjad, JLL
- Inspirational Leader of the Year
- Maria Fernandez Cachafeiro, Multiplex
Ella Griffin, chair of the BCO NextGen committee for London and the South East, said: “The sheer quality of talent among this year’s NextGen finalists was truly inspiring. What ultimately set the winners apart was their combination of professional achievement and commitment to actively driving positive change across the wider industry. The contribution of these individuals extends far beyond promoting their own organisations and reflects a genuine passion for advancing standards, championing accessibility, supporting collaboration, and investing in those considering or embarking on a career in our sector.”
BCO president Andy McBain said: “The BCO NextGen Awards should be seen as a beacon of optimism for everyone working in our sector. Along with demonstrable commercial success, the winners also show a deep empathy for people, places and the environment. Spanning the country and diverse commercial disciplines, many are already leading successful teams, and I look forward to seeing them extend their ethos and influence across more major projects and programmes in the years ahead.”
BCO chief executive Samantha McClary said: “The NextGen Awards celebrate the people who will shape the future of our sector, and if this year’s winners and entrants are anything to go by, our future is in excellent hands.
What I love about the NextGen Awards is that they are about how the best people in our sector mentor, collaborate and challenge the rest of us to think differently about how workplaces are designed and delivered.
Decarbonisation, changing work patterns and rising occupier expectations are reshaping our industry, so we truly need this mix of ambition and generosity right now. I could not be more proud that, at the BCO, we give this incredible talent the opportunity to shine and be celebrated.”
Silver partners of this year’s BCO NextGen Awards are: Core Five, GPE, Make Architects, Multiplex, Opera, Unova Consulting and The Crown Estate.
Notes on the Winners
NextGen Rising Star – London & South East
Alejandro Mar Morales, Cundall
At Cundall, Alejandro has contributed to initiatives including a carbon calculator, healthy materials and digital material passport approaches. These examples stood out because they address important challenges facing the office sector: understanding embodied carbon, making better-informed material choices and supporting more transparent information about building products. Alejandro’s contribution outside his organisation was equally compelling, encompassing participation in industry panels and roundtables, presentation of a research paper and university collaboration. Together, these activities demonstrate a commitment to sharing ideas, engaging with emerging talent and helping to move conversations about sustainability forward across the profession.
NextGen Rising Star – Midlands and East Anglia
Timothy Newcombe, Cundall
The judges praised Timothy’s exceptional commitment to the workplace sector, both within his own organisation and through a broad range of outside activities. Compelling evidence of sustained engagement beyond his day-to-day role illustrated a genuine desire to support the growth, development and future success of the sector. Through his active involvement with the BCO NextGen committee he is helping to shape initiatives, support industry engagement and create opportunities for emerging talent. Alongside this, his participation in industry events, panel discussions and awards judging demonstrated a willingness to contribute time, expertise and insight for the benefit of the wider professional community.
NextGen Rising Star – Northern England, North Wales and Northern Ireland
Alan Stuart, Atelier Ten
Alan demonstrated outstanding leadership during a challenging period for Atelier Ten’s Manchester office. In response to a significant reduction in headcount, he successfully led the team through change, safeguarded client relationships and created new opportunities for growth and specialisation. Equally impressive is the fact that he accomplished this while remaining deeply engaged with the wider industry. Through his work with the BCO NextGen committee, mentoring activities and STEM initiatives, Alan has continued to champion the development of emerging talent and make a meaningful contribution beyond his immediate role.
NextGen Rising Star – Scotland
Ryan Alexander Reid, AECOM
Beginning his career as a joiner before qualifying as an architect, Ryan brings a unique understanding of how buildings are constructed, altered and repaired, combined with specialist expertise in digital and heritage-led design. At AECOM, Ryan has made a significant contribution to complex projects, including government schemes recognised as BCO Award finalists. On heritage projects, his innovative use of data collection, modelling and digital technologies has helped teams understand complex existing buildings and make informed and sensitive decisions around conservation and reinstatement. This can also be seen in his voluntary work with Motherwell Cathedral, where he produced innovative plans and a 3D model to help stakeholders visualise an ambitious refurbishment of the 125-year-old listed building.
NextGen Rising Star – South West England and South Wales
Laura Hennessy, Gleeds
Through projects such as the BCO Award-winning One Spinningfields Square, Laura has demonstrated that quantity surveying can play a much broader role in shaping sustainable, adaptable and commercially successful workplaces. Her advocacy of whole-life costing and lifecycle thinking shows a clear commitment to creating lasting value rather than focusing solely on immediate project outcomes. Importantly, Laura also invests her time in developing the wider profession, through her involvement with the RICS Matrics Committee, industry events, CPD, mentoring and collaboration with the BCO NextGen committee. She creates opportunities for others to connect, learn and develop, while helping to build stronger links across the industry.
Employer of the Year
Scotch Partners
Scotch Partners was named Employer of the Year for its people-focused culture, strong leadership and a clear investment in future talent. The judges were also encouraged by the diversity evident across the business, with strong representation in both the workforce and leadership team, alongside a culture that gives employees a genuine voice in shaping the future of the company. The firm’s commitment to engaging the next generation was also clear, with activity spanning schools, universities, placements, mentoring and charitable initiatives that extend beyond the organisation itself.
Graduate of the Year
Molly Gardner, Multiplex
Within just 18 months of joining Multiplex, Molly has been at the heart of live project delivery on two major London developments – Elephant and Castle Town Centre and 50 Fenchurch Street – including implementing changes to site welfare arrangements in response to employee feedback. Outside Multiplex, Molly chairs the UK Women’s Network and mentors female students through the Stemettes programme, has spoken at a Women in Leadership event, and delivered outreach to around 100 students. She also founded the “Girls in Construction” TikTok platform, which has generated more than one million views and 32,000+ likes, with evidence that it has directly influenced prospective graduates to apply to Multiplex and to consider contractor careers.
Impact Award
Adil Sajjad, JLL
The judges were particularly impressed by Adil’s commitment to improving inclusivity and engagement across the industry. Through his leadership of the local RICS members group, Adil successfully broke down barriers to participation, increasing diversity and attendance at events, while his work with LionHeart, contributions to APM publications and advocacy for inclusive workplace design demonstrate a genuine passion for creating positive social impact and ensuring the profession is accessible to a broader and more diverse community.
Inspirational Leader of the Year
Maria Fernandez Cachafeiro, Multiplex
Maria leads not just in her professional role but as an advocate for best practice outside the business, sharing knowledge and inspiring the next generation of sustainability professionals. As her nominee put it: “She creates opportunities, develops future leaders and demonstrates that commercial success, sustainability and inclusion can go hand in hand. Her leadership is shaping not only Multiplex’s future but also the future of the industry.” This is exactly what inspirational leadership looks like: Maria cares about investment in others and champions the issues that matter while achieving impressive commercial and professional success.
You can find the full list of the finalists and judges HERE.
About the BCO
The British Council for Offices’ mission is to research, develop and communicate best practice in all aspects of the office sector. It delivers this by providing a forum for the discussion and debate of relevant issues. Established in 1990, the BCO is the UK’s leading forum for the discussion and debate of issues affecting the office sector.
Its members are all organisations involved in creating, acquiring, or occupying office space, whether architects, lawyers, surveyors, financial institutions, or public agencies. The BCO works to advance the collective understanding of its members, enabling them to work together to create more effective office space.
