#39 Claire Dawe, Head of Asset Management, Stanhope.
Sep 14, 2023
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Claire Dawe, Head of Asset Management at Stanhope, discusses various topics including real estate's role in talent acquisition, landlords serving occupiers, innovation in real estate, hiring into your team, and complex real estate. She also shares her experience in the property industry, the lack of female representation, and setting up a function and hiring the right team. Additionally, she talks about digital strategies, mentoring circles, ESG in portfolios, and the impact of persuasive techniques and optimization in asset management.
Standhope focuses on creating workspaces that cater to the needs of the modern workforce, emphasizing innovation and inclusivity.
Standhope places a strong emphasis on ESG initiatives and sustainability, committing to achieving net carbon by 2030 and actively managing their environmental and social impact.
Standhope stays ahead in the evolving role of asset managers by closely collaborating with the business, assessing asset value, and seeking new opportunities for growth.
Deep dives
The growth of the Life Sciences sector
The Life Sciences sector, particularly in London, is seeing significant growth due to factors such as an aging population and healthcare needs. Standhope is heavily involved in this sector, with a focus on creating spaces and ecosystems that cater to the specific needs of life science companies. The company has assets such as White City Place, which has become a major hub for life science occupiers.
Creating innovative and inclusive workspaces
Standhope is looking to create workspaces that cater to the needs of the modern workforce, particularly in the areas of innovation and inclusivity. They aim to provide physically and emotionally supportive workspaces that are digitally connected, in line with the values and expectations of the emerging generation. Standhope is focused on understanding the specific needs and desires of its occupiers, and tailoring their spaces and programs accordingly.
The importance of ESG and sustainability
Standhope places a strong emphasis on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) initiatives and sustainability. They have committed to achieving net carbon by 2030 and reducing energy consumption. Standhope has implemented ESG managers within their portfolios to proactively monitor and manage their environmental and social impact. They also work closely with tenants to influence and encourage sustainable practices.
Navigating the changing role of asset management
The role of asset managers is evolving rapidly, and Standhope is staying ahead by being involved in the granular details of their assets and closely collaborating with the rest of the business. The focus is on constantly assessing whether to hold or sell assets, and being agile and adaptable in response to changes in the market. They are also looking for ways to add value, such as through smart optimization programs and innovative lease structures.
Future plans and growth
Standhope is focused on growing their business and expanding their platform. They are actively seeking new asset management mandates, both internally and with third-party partners. With their established team and strong market presence, Standhope is well-positioned to capitalize on new opportunities and continue delivering value to their investors and occupiers.
Claire joined Stanhope in September 2018 from Grosvenor Britain & Ireland where she lead the Asset Management team for the Belgravia portfolio. At Stanhope she leads the Asset Management team which is responsible for a portfolio of just under 6 million sq ft and £4bn of assets under management. As well as her day job Claire is also a Mentor for Stanhope-backed initiative Mentoring Circle.
I sat down with Claire to discuss a broad range of subjects which covered some of the following topics:
The role of real estate in talent acquisition
Landlords serving occupiers
Shifting from Asset Manager to running a team of Asset Managers
Innovation real estate
The board you can’t afford
Hiring into your team
Complex real estate
Mentoring circle
Oh, and one last question - who are the People, what Property, and in which Place Claire would invest should she have £500m of equity at her disposal.
Catch the full episode which will be live on Spotify and Apple from Thursday this week.