Backbone Connect expands reach in offices market with new hires

Paul Aitken, Allan Matthews, Callum Stephens, and Richard Nicholson, of Backbone Connect

Proptech business Backbone Connect has announced four new hires in its connected buildings and tenant engagement teams as it continues to expand its national reach in the offices market.

Backbone Connect works with clients to improve the digital infrastructure across their office portfolios. Recent instructions include Schroders, Legal & General and Aberdeen Standard Investments. Its expansion reflects growing awareness among landlords and asset managers of the importance of good connectivity to be able to respond to tenants’ expectations of the post-pandemic workplace, in particular the desire for more flexible, adaptable spaces.

The business has appointed former director at CBRE, Allan Matthews, to lead its work in Scotland where it is seeing growing demand for better connected workspaces.

Also in the connected buildings team, Paul Aitken joins to oversee the City of London and Manchester markets. He has relocated from South Africa where he worked in commercial property leasing and urban regeneration. Richard Nicholson will head up activity in south London and the south coast. He brings first-hand experience of the co-working market from his previous role as senior business development manager at London’s Argyll Club.

In addition, Backbone Connect has announced that Callum Stephens is joining its tenant engagement team which helps to get new workplace occupiers online quickly and seamlessly, improving their move-in experience.

David McLeod, co-founder of Backbone Connect, said: “Contrary to initial popular predictions about the decline of the office, appetite from occupiers has remained very strong, but what they want now are more flexible, better connected spaces. We’re working with landlords and their partners to help meet that growing demand and these latest hires will add extra firepower to our team and our offer.”