Commercially Minded

The innovation sector is widely seen as one of the UK's biggest economic opportunities, and the signals are hard to ignore: OpenAI is establishing a permanent presence in London, US AI companies are expanding their European footprint in the capital, and innovation clusters are emerging across UK cities well beyond the Golden Triangle. But is the real estate industry reading those signals correctly?In this episode, Will Matthews is joined by Jennifer Townsend, a partner in Knight Frank's Occupier Insight team, to explore what the real estate industry often gets wrong about measuring innovation demand, and what better metrics look like in practice. From funding as a leading indicator of space requirements, to AI clusters building momentum in cities like Edinburgh, Leeds and Manchester, the discussion examines how to understand where demand is heading, not just where it has been.For more insights like this, subscribe to ⁠⁠Will's newsletter⁠⁠ for his weekly take on commercial real estate markets. Produced by ⁠⁠Rethink Audio⁠⁠.

What does London’s past reveal about its future? Shabab Qadar, Head of London Offices Insight, joins Will to unpack London’s evolution through deregulation, financial crises, political change and the pandemic. They explore how 2020 accelerated the shift towards higher‑quality space, why the “return to office” debate is now outdated, and how AI, supply constraints and long‑term capital are shaping the next cycle.If you want a clear, focused view on London’s future, and the implications for occupiers, investors and planners, this episode has it.Hosted by Will Matthews, Knight Frank’s Head of Commercial Insight. For more insights like this, subscribe to ⁠Will's newsletter⁠ for his weekly take on commercial real estate markets. Produced by ⁠Rethink Audio⁠.

To unpack how ESG is evolving into a conversation about risk, resilience and returns, Flora Harley, Head of Knight Frank’s Energy & Sustainability Research joins us on this week's episode.We explore why ESG is increasingly being reframed as operational performance, how occupiers and investors are prioritising energy efficiency, cost certainty and liquidity, and where sustainability initiatives genuinely protect long‑term value. From electrification and energy‑use intensity to lending, insurance and the emerging “brown discount”, this episode cuts through the jargon to focus on what really matters.If you want a clear, practical take on ESG, without the buzzwords, this one’s for you.Hosted by Will Matthews, Knight Frank’s Head of Commercial Insight. For more insights like this, subscribe to Will's newsletter for his weekly take on commercial real estate markets. Produced by Rethink Audio.

Retail is back on top, ending 2025 as the top performing real estate asset class. How can the sector's resurgence bring insights - and valuable lessons - to apply to other commercial real estate sectors? We dive into Stephen Springham's insight series 'Retail Renaissance' to find out.Host Will Matthews, Knight Frank’s Head of Commercial Insight, is joined by Stephen Springham, Head of UK Markets Insight, who brings over 30 years of industry experience.In this episode you'll discover why 'relevance' trumps 'prime', and the importance of addressing underinvestment and complacency. Plus: how to navigate the complexities of repurposing retail spaces, and why strong occupier relationships are vital for a sustainable market. For more insights like this subscribe to Will Matthews' newsletter for his weekly take on commercial real estate markets. And you can read Stephen Springham’s Retail Renaissance papers, exploring what other real estate sectors can learn from Retail’s fall and unlikely rise again.Produced by Rethink Audio