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Young professionals in the UK’s commercial property sector and their best achievements have been recognised at the annual British Council for Offices’ (BCO) NextGen Awards ceremony.
Technical innovation, powerful sustainability initiatives and people-centric leadership shone through as the BCO honoured the rising young stars of the property industry at its annual BCO NextGen Awards ceremony at London’s Skylon last night.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the awards, which celebrate emerging talent, cross-disciplinary innovation and employers committed to creating inclusive, dynamic workplaces across the UK’s office sector.
From pioneering workplace design rooted in neuroscience to championing social value and diversity, this year’s winners exemplify the future of the office sector: collaborative, responsible and innovative.
A growing number of entries focused on carbon-conscious innovation, accessibility and community engagement, reflecting a shift toward values-driven leadership and long-term transformation.
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. With a focus on mentorship, leadership development and amplifying emerging voices, the committee runs a year-round programme that includes seminars, technical tours and its yearly Ideas Competition.
This year’s awards attracted more than 60 entries, highlighting the growing importance of recognising and encouraging younger professionals in the sector. NextGen members make up approximately 30 per cent of BCO’s total membership, with more than 1,200 members now actively engaged across the UK.
To mark its 10th anniversary, this year’s event introduced a new award: Outstanding Contribution to BCO NextGen, recognising individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to the NextGen community.
The winner, Mike Burton, Director at AECOM, was celebrated for his enduring commitment to mentorship, industry advancement and the empowerment of early-career professionals. His influence extends beyond his role at AECOM, with contributions to key BCO publications such as the Guide to Specification and his recognition as a RIBA Honorary Fellow.
The winners of the BCO NextGen Awards 2025 are:
- NextGen Rising Star – London and the South East
Lauren Lemcke, Senior Project Surveyor, AECOM
Highly commended: Nathan Shelley, AECOM - NextGen Rising Star – Midlands and East Anglia
Francesca Ghavami-Milnes, Associate Interior Designer, Howells - NextGen Rising Star – Northern England, North Wales and Northern Ireland
Archontia Manolakelli, Project Architect and Senior Design Researcher, AtkinsRéalis
Highly commended: Nicholas Birchall, Hawkins\Brown - NextGen Rising Star – Scotland
Kieran Smart, Mechanical Engineer, WSP - NextGen Rising Star – South West England and South Wales
Kallum Desai, Global ScopeX Carbon Practice Lead, AECOM - Employer of the Year
AECOM - Graduate of the Year
Aleksandar Bajić, Part 2 Architectural Assistant, Gensler - Impact Award
Joelyn Elias, Graduate Project Manager, AECOM
Highly commended: Francesca Ghavami-Milnes, Associate, Howells - Inspirational Leader of the Year
Theodor Bratosin, Senior Sustainability and Building Physics Engineer, Cundall - Outstanding Contribution to BCO NextGen Award
Mike Burton, Director, AECOM
Highly commended: Amy Leech, Project Director, tp bennett
BCO NextGen Award winners 2025. Image © TELLINGPHOTOGRAPHY
BCO Chief Executive Samantha McClary said: “These awards reflect the soul of the BCO. Our incredible regional and national BCO Awards showcase the best of the buildings that we create, showcasing best-in-class quality, innovation, ESG credentials and now customer experience, while the NextGen Awards celebrate the individuals that hold the future of this wonderful industry in their hands.”
She added: “These are group of people who are our industry’s future. And over the last 10 years we’ve created quite the alumni of incredible individuals. So, while our industry may still have some bumpy times ahead, this night – and the decade of nights like this that have preceeded it – leave me with nothing but confidence that the future of the workplace, that our offices and the places around them, will thrive.”
Last night also marked the appointment of Ella Griffin, Senior Engineer at Unova Consulting, as Chair of the BCO NextGen committee for London and the South East. Griffin takes over from Beth Starling, Interior Designer at WILL+Partners, who played a leading role in scaling up the NextGen involvement in this year’s BCO Conference in Milan.
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