BCO award for former Birmingham council property boss

(from left) Rob Groves, chairman of the BCO in the Midlands and East Anglia, presented Peter with the Regional Committee’s Chairman’s award.

The British Council for Offices (BCO) has presented Peter Jones, formerly of Birmingham City Council, with a prestigious award for his outstanding contribution to the transformation of the city’s commercial property market.

Rob Groves, chairman of the BCO in the Midlands and East Anglia, presented Peter with the Regional Committee’s Chairman’s award.

He was recognised for his leadership of many of the city’s property-focused regeneration initiatives, bringing public and private sectors together, including Arena Central and Paradise, and for his role within the BCO.

His leadership led to a significant reduction in the quantity and costs of the City’s occupational portfolio. Many of the city council’s buildings have frequently been recognised at the BCO awards, with 10 Woodcock Street winning a national award.

Rob Groves said: “Peter Jones stood out above the other candidates for his outstanding contribution to Birmingham’s property industry. His leadership within the city’s property team has won him many admirers, with his approach always based upon sound knowledge and intelligence.

“He has been a great ambassador for the BCO and used its research, along with his experience, to inform much of the occupational work he led on behalf of Birmingham City Council in transforming its workplace.
“After many years of unwavering service to Birmingham and the BCO, there is no-one more deserving of this accolade.”

Peter joined Birmingham City Council – where he was director of property – in 1991, and 14 years later became part of the BCO committee. Only two years later he was elected on to the Midlands Awards judging panel, where he served for three years.

Three Birmingham businesses celebrated success at the awards. Centre City, Energy Systems Catapult and The Colmore Building were all recognised as some of the best workplaces in the Midlands and Central England at the annual British Council for Offices (BCO) regional property sector awards.

The prestigious BCO awards programme recognises the highest quality developments and sets the standard for excellence in the regional and national office sector.

Centre City gained the award for Best Commercial Workplace, Energy Systems Catapult won the award for Best Fit Out of a Workplace and The Colmore Building was presented with the new Regional BCO Innovation award during a ceremony held at Birmingham Town Hall.

This is the ninth year that the Regional Awards have been presented locally in the Midlands, celebrating excellence in office space regionally, before all winners go on to compete at a national level at the National Awards in October.