Volunteering with ELBA – an insight from Broadgate Estates
Name/Title/Company: Mark Evans, Property Management Director, Broadgate Estates
Describe yourself in five words: Myers Briggs says I’m logical, analytical, focused, objective and gregarious among other things!
Describe your organisation in 10 words: The leading property management company in the UK.
What does your job involve? I’m a director of Broadgate Estates and my main responsibility is to manage the property management of the British Land office portfolio in London.
What recent volunteering have you been involved in through ELBA? I am working with John Ryan, the CEO of Oxford House, a community and arts centre in London’s East End. John and I have been focusing on the organisation and its evolution in the light of their success in securing lottery funding for a major refurbishment of Oxford House. I lend an ear and make myself available to discuss operational and organisational matters.
Why did you choose to volunteer? I was keen to support a group or individual close to where I currently work.
What has been your ‘golden moment’ whilst volunteering? I have particularly enjoyed talking with John about aspects of the project and bringing a different perspective to consider. We are different but I hope complimentary to each other.
How do you encourage your colleagues to get involved in volunteering? I was encouraged to volunteer by some of my colleagues who had given their time for others which I admired and wanted to ensure I participated. I hope my participation will set a good example for my colleagues.
Anything else you would like to add? I have also enjoyed learning from John with whom I have a very easy relationship with and this is one of the reasons we have continued to work together.
John highlights how the executive partnership with Mark has been valuable:
“Mark’s experience of organisational change, buildings and people means he can offer insights or support my work by discussing issues that affect the future success of Oxford House, especially as we are about to start a large building redevelopment. Mentoring sessions with Mark and the fact he is outside the day to day work allows the opportunity to look at options creatively. We are very small charity so volunteers help us do things we would not have the resources to do.”
Visit oxfordhouse.org.uk to find out about upcoming events.
