James Hallworth is joined by Daniel Pagella, Senior Director of Asset Management at ARC (Advanced Research Clusters), the science and innovation real estate business backed by Brookfield. Daniel explains why ARC talks about partners rather than tenants, how Mother Labs became one of the first commercially run service laboratory models in London, and why the best building performance is the kind occupiers never notice. The conversation also covers the community programming running across ARC’s campuses, and why the UK’s attitude to risk and failure still lags behind the US.

KEY MOMENTS 

• 09:00 How Cobalt Light Systems grew out of a single bench in ARC’s Harwell cluster and was later acquired by Agilent Technologies. 
• 20:00 The launch of Mother Labs, one of the first commercially run service laboratory models of its kind in London. 
• 33:00 Why the best building performance is invisible, illustrated by the everyday frustration of mismatched room temperatures. 
• 53:00 The cultural gap between UK and US attitudes to risk, failure and backing innovation.

GUEST
Daniel Pagella, Senior Director of Asset Management linkedin.com/in/danpagella

GUEST COMPANY
ARC linkedin.com/company/arcgroup-io

HOST
James Hallworth linkedin.com/in/james-hallworth-35406834

HOST COMPANY 
Workman https://workman.co.uk/

SPONSOR 
Season 2 of Built to Perform is sponsored by Workman.

Produced by Vertical Drop.

Built to Perform opens Season 2 with Vanessa Murray and Ceri Moyers, co-founders of The Circle Partnership, an advocacy and talent programme for mid-level women in the built environment. James Hallworth talks to them about why the industry loses so much female talent at mid-career, how policy and culture pull in different directions, and what changes when male leaders treat this as their conversation too. Season 2 of Built to Perform is sponsored by Workman.

FIVE KEY MOMENTS

• 02:11 Vanessa Murray sets out the three forces behind the mid-level drop-off: life changes, workplace culture and women's own self-limiting beliefs.
• 14:08 Vanessa Murray compares shifting an industry's culture to turning a tanker, and explains why The Circle Partnership is focused on making a deliberate, if modest, shift.
• 17:13 Ceri Moyers explains how benevolent sexism can remove a woman from an opportunity in a meeting she isn't even in.
• 33:41 Ceri Moyers on why peer networks matter for career progression and for long-term health, citing burnout statistics for women in male-dominated sectors.
• 44:11 Ceri Moyers' advice to mid-career women: define success on your own terms.

HOST
James Hallworth
linkedin.com/in/james-hallworth-35406834

HOST COMPANY
Workman: https://workman.co.uk/

SPONSOR
Season 2 of Built to Perform is sponsored by Workman.
https://workman.co.uk/

PRODUCTION CREDIT
Produced by Vertical Drop: https://www.vertical-drop.com/

In this special Season 1 Finale—which is actually the very first episode ever recorded (the pilot!)—host James Hallworth speaks with Francesca Brady (Co-founder, AirRated) about the CRE industry's biggest blind spot: the failure to prioritize Indoor Air Quality (IAQ).

Francesca details her journey pioneering AirRated, the bizarre resistance she's faced, and why we still don't treat our offices like high-performance spaces.

Key Insights on Health, Performance & Outdated Standards:

• The 1960s Problem: Our core building standards, like those governing thermal comfort and performance, are still based on data from the 1960s and do not reflect the modern workforce or changing climate.
• The High-Performance Lie: We treat offices nothing like high-performance spaces, even though facilities like casinos and athletic centres are finely tuned for alertness and performance.
• The Sensor Trap: Installing sensors without context creates fear. Data without explanation does not educate; it just makes site teams feel they are being "exposed" or doing a bad job.
• The COVID Setback: Francesca argues that the knee-jerk reactions to COVID-19 ultimately set the IAQ industry back, diluting the original, strong business case centered on economic benefit and duty of care.
• Clean Air Has No Smell: Scenting office spaces to improve the "experience" introduces unnecessary Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOCs). The key takeaway is simple: clean air has no smell.
• The Investment Barrier: IAQ is seen as a "gaining" (in productivity and reduced absenteeism) rather than an easily quantifiable "saving," which makes it harder to secure investment in ROI-focused commercial real estate.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who designs, manages, or occupies commercial property, offering raw, practical insights into where the industry is structurally broken and how to fix it.

Timestamps

• 00:00:31: Introduction: From Petroleum Geology to Co-founding AirRated
• 00:01:28: Why Indoor Air Quality was considered a "dark art"
• 00:04:35: The COVID Setback: Why the pandemic didn't help the IAQ industry
• 00:06:15: The Paradox: Making buildings more airtight compromises health
• 00:08:16: Why Offices are Not Treated as "High-Performance Spaces"
• 00:08:57: The Problem with 1960s Building Data
• 00:11:37: The Incentive Barrier: Why Asset Managers resist new initiatives
• 00:12:47: Consulting at the Coalface: Bridging the gap between Landlord and FM
• 00:14:48: The Fear Factor: Why site teams are emotive about new sensor tech
• 00:16:40: Limitations in Existing Stock vs. Operational Management
• 00:17:50: The Business Case: Strengthening GRESB scores to drive adoption
• 00:19:54: The Fear of the Invisible: Why Landlords are afraid to collect air data
• 00:23:02: Why commercial properties are generally "unexceptional" (and that's a good thing)
• 00:23:50: TVOCs Explained: The New Car Smell and Off-gassing
• 00:25:44: Design vs. Health: Why phone booths lack ventilation
• 00:27:56: The Dangers of Scenting Workplace Spaces
• 00:28:47: The Takeaway: Clean Air Has No Smell
• 00:29:29: The Tech Focus: IAQ + Workplace Utilization Monitoring
• 00:31:40: Hotspotting: Switching desks to solve a ventilation problem
• 00:33:14: The Health Equation: Why air is missing from the wellness conversation
• 00:37:15: The Reality of Getting Venture Capital
• 00:40:38: Evolution or Revolution? Why CRE needs the latter
• 00:42:08: Final Thoughts

In this episode of the Built to Perform Podcast, host James Hallworth speaks with Stefan Schmidt, Co-founder of MeterZ, about removing the barriers to decarbonization in commercial real estate.

Stefan shares his unique journey from Big Tech to sustainability engineering, revealing why the global focus on electrifying cars misses the biggest environmental problem: the long tail of inefficient buildings.

Timestamps:

00:00:20: Introduction: From Microsoft Marketing to Energy Engineering

00:02:38: The Millennial Epiphany: Why working in Big Tech wasn't a "positive contribution"

00:04:21: The Slow Pace of CRE: Why the industry ranks lowest in digitization (above hunting)

00:05:57: Walking the Beat: Manual Meter Reading at Oxford University Labs

00:07:43: Barriers to Change: The Scientist who resisted optimization to protect mind-controlled flies

00:08:00: WiredScore & Smart Score: Giving the industry a North Star certification framework

00:10:09: The Long Tail Problem: Why PropTech is for the few, not the many

00:12:44: Energy Data & GDPR: The complex truth about the Landlord-Tenant data standoff

00:21:34: Investor Fear & Data Privacy: Why companies resist sharing data (and the $70 billion problem)

00:27:00: The Manual Trap: The absurdity of people spending 5-8 days a month doing meter readings

00:33:05: The Renewables Myth: Why optimizing efficiency must come before installing solar panels

00:36:52: The Staggering Stat: Mobility vs. Buildings (The largest climate impact)

00:43:08: Evolution or Revolution? Why the industry needs to evolve, not upend everything

00:44:50: The Solution: Creating scalable, cost-effective solutions for regional offices and industrial parks

In this candid and powerful episode of the Built to Perform Podcast, host James Hallworth speaks with Rob Insley (Head of Operations, Bloobloom) to address the core struggles and friction that exist in the Landlord-Tenant relationship and the culture of retail.

Rob shares his journey from 30 years in corporate retail (Vision Express) to working with a high-performing startup, revealing why the old corporate KPIs and legacy decisions are no longer relevant.

Key Insights for CRE & Retail:

• The Side Hustle Lie: Rob delivers a controversial truth, calling the belief in side hustles and passive income "one of the biggest lies we're feeding to the younger generation". He stresses that true success is built on sheer hard work and dedication.
• Fixing the Friction: Rob argues that the adversarial Landlord-Tenant dynamic has to end. The solution is for every landlord to initiate direct, human contact with the business founders to develop a relationship and mutual trust.
• The Data Gap: Retailers desperately need tailored data (like zonal footfall and customer demographics) to succeed, but landlords often provide only meaningless, arbitrary financial numbers.
• The Partnership Model: Rob believes that a bad landlord is detrimental to a retailer's success. Conversely, the most successful estates treat every retailer as part of a "family of businesses".

This episode is essential for anyone who wants to move beyond the transactional mindset and learn how to foster high-performing, human-centric partnerships in commercial property.

Timestamps: 

00:00:32: Introduction & Rob Insley’s Career Journey

00:04:48: The Corporate Wall: Moving from Vision Express to the Bloobloom Startup Mentality

00:10:07: The Adversarial Relationship: Landlords, Tenants, and the Feudal Hangover

00:19:15: The Brand Test: The Difference a Landlord’s Due Diligence Makes

00:23:13: The Bad Landlord Effect: Why Lack of Support Kills Retail Success

00:29:46: The Data Gap: Why Arbitrary Footfall Numbers Are Useless to Retailers

00:33:57: Change Management: The Importance of the Human Element and Active Listening

00:43:51: The Side Hustle Lie: Why Passive Income is a Myth and Hard Work is the Only Path

00:48:54: The Fix: Why Landlords Need to Have Direct, Human Contact with Tenants

00:51:04: Evolution or Revolution? Why Evolution is Better for the Industry's Story

In this episode of the Built to Perform Podcast, James Hallworth sits down with Zac Goodman, founder of the property management company TSP. Zac reflects on his journey from a Goldman Sachs banker to scaling his own company to managing assets worth nearly £2.5 billion. Key topics include the importance of reducing friction in real estate transactions, the necessity of patience and adaptability in business, and the lessons learned from balancing professional and entrepreneurial mindsets. Zac also provides insights on the future of commercial real estate, the role of AI, and the evolving demands of property management in a post-pandemic era.

00:00 Introduction: Aligning the Industry with Sale Finance
00:32 Welcome to the Built to Perform Podcast
01:12 Meet Zac Goodman: From Manchester to London
02:01 Building TSP: From Scratch to Billions
02:59 Lessons Learned: The Long Game and Non-Linear Growth
05:11 The Entrepreneurial Mindset
08:51 Real Estate: A Product and an Asset Class
11:45 The Importance of Relationships in Real Estate
13:33 TSP's Diverse Ventures and Disruptive Approach
17:33 Innovations and Friction Reduction in Real Estate
24:28 Contrarian Thinking: Innovating Traditional Office Space
27:35 Understanding Revenue Sources in Serviced Offices
28:31 Innovative Approaches to Service Charges
29:30 The Importance of Training and Development
30:55 Leveraging Buying Power for Tenant Value
32:31 Navigating the Commercial Real Estate Market
36:13 The Role of AI in Business Operations
42:56 Building a Personal and Business Brand on LinkedIn
49:46 Future of Commercial Real Estate: Evolution vs. Revolution

In this episode of the Built to Perform Podcast, host James Hallworth sits down with Karen Burns, CEO and co-founder of FYMA, to discuss the slow adoption of technology in commercial real estate and the transformative potential of AI. Karen shares insights on utilizing existing security camera data with AI to optimize building operations, demystify AI, and push the industry forward. The conversation covers the current state of AI in real estate, challenges in data utilization, GDPR compliance, and the importance of upskilling and diverse perspectives in tech adoption. Karen also addresses the broader topic of female leadership in STEM and the need for financial support over mentorship for women in tech startups.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Technology Adoption in Commercial Real Estate
00:32 Meet Karen: CEO and Co-Founder of FYMA
00:48 How FYMA Uses AI to Optimize Building Operations
01:47 The Evolution of FYMA from Consultancy to AI Solutions
06:13 Challenges and Solutions in Data Utilization
09:04 Addressing Privacy Concerns with AI and CCTV
12:21 Transitioning to Commercial Real Estate
15:02 Understanding Different Levels of AI
18:49 The Future of AI in Commercial Real Estate
27:39 AI Adoption in Business: Current Trends
28:45 Strategies for Real Estate Leaders
29:25 Creating a Culture of Trust and Safety
30:57 Case Study: Innovative Real Estate Solutions
32:58 Women in STEM and Leadership
35:40 Challenges and Bias in Venture Capital
42:30 Cultural Influences on Gender Roles
43:43 AI in Commercial Real Estate: Adoption Barriers
47:49 Future of Commercial Real Estate
50:44 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

In this episode of the Built to Perform Podcast, host James Hallworth speaks with Michal Ciurej, Innovation Engineer at 3M SE, about the urgent need to control buildings intelligently to tackle energy waste and meet net-zero goals. Michal—a product designer with a background in law—shares his unique perspective on the rigid world of Building Management Systems (BMS) and how technology is the only way to scale efficiency.

Learn why smart building performance has a greater impact on emissions than the shift to EVs, and how the industry must evolve to unlock its massive potential.

Key Takeaways:

• BMS: The "Dark Arts": Building Management Systems are often opaque and inaccessible, leading operators to not trust the data they see.
• The Power of Scalability: Automating analytics through Ontology (standardizing data models) is the key to deploy efficiency strategies to smaller, unmanaged buildings and not just the "shiny assets".
• The Biggest Environmental Impact: Commercial real estate consumes enormous amounts of energy, and intelligently controlling buildings will have a greater impact on emissions than turning all cars into EVs.
• Evolution Over Revolution: Michal argues that incremental change (evolution) is the safest and most effective way to reform the industry, as revolutions are painful and garner less buy-in.

Time |

Topic00:00:00 | Introduction: The Scale of the Problem & Intelligent Control
00:00:48 | Who is Michal Ciurej? Innovation Engineer and his Role
00:01:51 | The Non-Standard Route: From Law Degree to Industrial Automation
00:04:14 | The Challenge of Rigid Building Automation Frameworks (Niagara, Tridium)
00:05:14 | Defining BMS: The "Dark Arts" of Building Management
00:07:33 | The Gap Between Operator Expertise and System Scale
00:09:34 | Finding the "Needles in the Haystack" with Analytics
00:11:04 | The Problem of Trust and Data Validation in BMS
00:14:34 | The Solution: Automatically Deploying Self-Validating Algorithms
00:16:41 | Why Ontology is Key: Standardizing Data Models for Scale
00:21:13 | The Problem of Inconsistent Naming Conventions (FCU 101)
00:23:12 | Scalable Deployments for Small and Medium-Sized Buildings
00:25:24 | The Cost of Extreme Inefficiency in Unmanaged Real Estate
00:27:03 | Wireless Tech (e.g., Laura one) Enabling Frictionless Retrofits
00:28:33 | The Disconnect Between ESG Strategy and Tenant Comfort
00:29:41 | Aligning Competing Objectives: Reliability vs. Efficiency
00:33:04 | Case Study: Demand-Driven HVAC System and Transparency
00:36:27 | Why Change is Required: CRE’s Huge Environmental Impact
00:38:44 | Comparing CRE's Impact to Automotive Emissions
00:40:57 | Evolution or Revolution? Michal's Stance
00:43:54 | The Need for Transparency to Drive External Demand for Change
00:44:48 | Closing Remarks

In this episode of the Built to Perform Podcast, host James Hallworth engages with Max Jones, the 20-year-old founder of Serial Degrees. They delve into Max's inspiring journey from leaving his dream job at Perfect Ted to creating a supportive network for young people who choose not to attend university. They discuss topics such as building personal brands, the importance of mentoring, and how companies can better attract and support non-graduate talent. Max shares insights on the evolving landscape of traditional education paths and emphasizes the value of alternative routes to career success, particularly in the startup ecosystem.

00:00 Introduction to the 20-Year-Old Founder

00:34 Max Jones' Background and Career Beginnings

01:16 Journey at Perfect Ted

07:10 Building a Personal Brand with Steven Bartlett

10:01 Challenges and Rewards of Consistency

11:29 The Importance of Personal Branding for Companies

13:40 Founding Zero Degrees and Its Mission

14:50 The Value of Mentorship and Startup Experience

19:15 Zero Degrees: A New Path for School Leavers

22:53 Rethinking Traditional Education Routes

24:14 The Social Aspect of Networking

24:31 Challenging the Necessity of Degrees

25:17 Supporting Non-Graduate Talent

26:30 Modernizing Commercial Real Estate

27:56 Government and Industry Roles

30:06 Leveraging LinkedIn for Personal Branding

37:13 Consistency and Value in Content Creation

43:12 Evolving School-to-Career Pathways

45:40 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Join James Hallworth in this episode of the Built to Perform podcast as he chats with Michelle Andrew, a strategic growth consultant in the built environment. Michelle shares her diverse background, insights on commercial real estate, and the evolving landscape of technology adoption. They discuss the challenges and opportunities in the industry, the importance of relationships, and why change is critical for the future of real estate. Tune in for a deep dive into modernization, strategic approaches, and the role of AI in transforming the built environment.

00:00 Introduction to Real Estate Investment
00:20 Guest Introduction: Michelle's Background
00:38 Michelle's Career Journey
01:38 Transition to Commercial Real Estate
05:58 Insights on the Built Environment
06:26 Modernization and Innovation in Real Estate
09:20 Challenges and Opportunities in PropTech
12:38 AI and the Future of Work
17:52 Strategic Growth and Market Insights
20:00 Global Perspectives on Real Estate
25:01 Fragmented Ownership in UK vs. New York
25:39 Shifting Leasing Models and Tech Opportunities
26:51 Common Mistakes in PropTech Adoption
28:22 The Importance of Client Retention in PropTech
30:28 The Stigma Around PropTech
32:14 Sharing Successes and Failures in the Industry
36:29 Challenges and Strategies for Property Events
42:37 The Need for Change in Commercial Real Estate
45:06 Evolution or Revolution in Commercial Real Estate?
45:53 Conclusion and Future Discussions