Harry Platt
Chief Executive, Workspace Group
Harry Platt MA MRTPI is Chief Executive of Workspace Group PLC. With some 100 estates in London, comprising some 5m sq. ft with over 4,000 customers, Workspace Group is the leading provider of affordable, flexible space for new and small businesses in London.
Educated at Cambridge and Nottingham Universities, he initially worked in the public sector, at Manchester and LB Greenwich, becoming Chief Executive of Harlow District Council in 1982. He left the public sector in 1989 becoming Operations Director of Dixons Commercial Properties before joining Workspace then named London Industrial in 1991 as General Manager.
We asked Harry about his leadership role at Business in the Community and why Responsible Business is important to him and his company:
Why is responsible business important to your company?
Responsible business reflects the values of our company; it’s at the heart of everything we do.
Why did you decide to take a leadership role at BITC?
I have been associated with BITC for a long time – ever since its inception. I have seen it evolve with an outstanding pedigree and a long history of growth and change.
What difference do you think the London Team can make?
The London Leadership Team is able to give support and encouragement to BITC, help to drive certain initiatives and share outcomes. It’s a good opportunity to get a whole overview of what’s happening in the London team – and BITC as a whole – rather than just hearing about individual programmes. This creates a more cohesive picture of London which is very powerful.
What is your vision for London?
London is a global city which is continually growing, is inclusive of all groups – something which you don’t see in every city – and it has a rich variety in everything that happens. My vision is for London to retain its current qualities and to continue its growth.
When we surveyed our Leaders in 2010, they said that an important part of their role was to support future business leaders to have a wider appreciation of business responsibility, how are you supporting the future leaders at your company to be responsible leaders?
Responsible Business practices are intrinsic to all employees at Workspace Group – they are part of our core values. In terms of leadership we offer ongoing mentoring so that these values remain at the heart of everything we do.
Now BITC is in its 30th year how can it scale up its activities?
BITC runs many diverse programmes but I would encourage it not to talk just in terms of these but in terms of its overall, long term successes and what has been achieved in the last 30 years.
BITC should strive to recognise what has been achieved on the ground and how this fashions what it will be doing going forward. I also feel it should promote itself more effectively, which in turn will encourage more membership and growth.
Membership is an important part of scaling up activities and all major businesses should be involved with BITC. Business engagement should be the defacto position.
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