Workplace Conference 2026

Half-day conference

Monday 30 November 2026
09:00 - 13:00

£298.80 (Incl. VAT)

Explore how changing occupier needs are shaping London’s workplaces and wider built environment at NLA’s annual Workplace Conference.

London’s business market is evolving. Major occupiers continue to commit to the capital, with changing expectations of what workplaces and their surrounding neighbourhoods should offer. Demand for high-quality, sustainable and adaptable office space is closely linked to location, connectivity and access to amenities.

What do these commitments tell us about what businesses need from London today? How are changing occupier requirements influencing new commercial development and what does this mean for the future of the capital’s built environment?

NLA’s annual Workplace Conference brings together occupiers, developers, consultants and market leaders to explore the trends shaping London’s business market today. Discussions will examine the changing relationship between Central and Outer London workplace locations, the opportunities and challenges facing commercial development, and how retrofit, new-build and mixed-use approaches can respond to a changing landscape.

Free for NLA members. Places are limited and available on a first come, first served basis, with a maximum of two tickets per organisation.

Programme

08:30 Registration and Breakfast

09:15 – 10:30 Session One: London’s workplace market: resilience, renewal & sustainability

Session overview: What does the future of London’s office market look like? This session will explore the resilience of the workplace sector, the changing expectations of occupiers and how retrofit and decarbonisation are reshaping London’s office stock. Drawing on market intelligence and best practice case-studies, speakers will consider what is driving demand and where the opportunities lie.

09:15 Welcome from NLA Chair

09:20 Keynote: Retrofitting London’s Offices for the Future

A look at The Crown Estate’s workplace portfolio across London, including the retrofit of New Zealand House and the lessons emerging from its approach to decarbonising and future-proofing the West End office market.

Speaker: Kate Green, Workplace Leasing Director, The Crown Estate

09:35 London Office Market: The Latest Data, Trends & Best Practice

An overview of the latest market intelligence across the London office sector, illustrated through best-practice case studies.

Speaker: David Maddison, Senior Workspace Consultant, Abintra

09:45 Beyond London: Lessons from Manchester & Liverpool

A perspective on workplace market trends outside the capital, looking at how Manchester and Liverpool are responding to changing occupier requirements and what London can learn from other UK cities.

Speaker: Hazel Rounding, Managing Director, shedkm

09:55 Panel Discussion & Q&As

10:30 End

10:30 – 11:00 Break & Networking

11:00 – 12:15 Session Two: The Occupier View – Where Will London Work Next?

Session overview: How are changing business needs influencing where organisations choose to locate? This session will bring together occupiers, public-sector leaders and local authorities to examine the evolving geography of London’s workplaces.

11:00 Welcome from NLA

11:05 London’s Changing Workplace Geography

An overview of the latest commercial workplace evidence, examining the evolving relationship between central and outer London and what this means for the capital’s future employment locations.

Speaker: Howard Dawber, Deputy Mayor for Business and Growth, GLA

11:12 The Occupier Perspective

A look at how a major occupier is responding to changing workplace requirements and what this means for the future of the City and central London.

Speaker: TBC

11:19 Beyond the Centre: New Models for Urban Workplaces

Exploring how outer-London locations are evolving to meet the needs of businesses and their employees.

Speaker: Matthew Essex, Director of Place, Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames

11:26 Panel Discussion & Q&As, speakers above, plus; Alex Flint, London Director, shedkm

12:15 End of Session & Networking

13:00 End

Speaker biographies

Howard Dawber OBE

Deputy Mayor for Business and Growth, Greater London Authority

Alex Flint

Director, shedkm

Hazel Rounding

Managing Director, shedkm

Kate Green

Director of Workplace, The Crown Estate

David Maddison

Senior Workspace Consultant, Abintra

Matthew Essex

Director of Place, Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames

£298.80 (Incl. VAT)

FREE FOR MEMBERS

To find out more about NLA membership, please click here.

Address

The London Centre
3 Aldermanbury
EC2V 7HH

What3Words: ///send.moth.firmly

Accessibility

There are two ways of entering the London Centre: either up 3 steps with a handrail on either side, or via a platform lift. There are gender-neutral and accessible toilets on the lower ground floor, which can be accessed via a flight of stairs or lift.

Please visit The London Centre Access Page here.

If you would like more information about the space, or have any further access requirements, please let us know how we can best accommodate these, by emailing events@nla.london.