9 Improvements for your work space

WorkWell on July 16, 2024

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A positive working environment is a vital aspect of sustainable success. The ethos a company has is a key indicator of motivation in the workplace.

The better your work environment, the more rewards you can expect to reap. These benefits include things such as:

  • Attracting new talent
  • Improving team communication
  • Boosting productivity
  • Encouraging creativity
  • Building employee loyalty
  • Reducing sickness and absences

Want to take advantage of these benefits but not sure which steps to take to improve the environment in your office space? Follow our nine steps below.

1. Ensure you have great lighting

In a perfect world, every office space would have glorious natural lighting. Unfortunately, the Great British weather doesn’t always provide it! You can make up for this by choosing an office that has good quality lighting installed. Make sure you avoid the two biggest workplace lighting complaints: that they are either too dim or too harsh.

2. Remove clutter

Too much clutter in the office can be distracting. This goes for both items on the desks of individual employees and in common areas. To counteract this, take a good look around your office space and consider what is and isn’t being used. Unnecessary tech equipment, gratuitous paperwork and general knick knacks can all go.

 

3. Incorporate third space

An office based third space can be an excellent draw for employees. These are generally more laid back breakout-type spaces where employees can hold informal meetings, work independently or socialise with their colleagues. A good third space has been shown to improve productivity, employee engagement and general satisfaction levels.

 

4. Bring in greenery

If you’re looking for a low-effort way to reduce stress, increase creativity and even improve air quality in your working environment, add some plants to your office space. Scientists agree that workers perform better when plants are added to their workspace.

 

5. Keep things clean

If you want to improve motivation in the workplace and reduce sick days, you’d be wise to increase the regularity of your cleaner. Studies have shown that keyboards can actually be home to more bacteria than the average toilet seat, which is an extremely sobering fact. At Carrwood Park we clean our serviced offices every day.

6. Make refreshments easy to access

Healthy food and drink is an important part of keeping your employees wide awake and ready to work. Make things easy for them by ensuring food and drink facilities are easy to access, pleasant to be in and nice and clean.

 

7. Get the temperature right

Setting the temperature right in an office can be a delicate balance. Too hot and your employees will be uncomfortably warm, too cold and they’ll waste energy keeping warm at the expense of their productivity. Research suggests that between 21 and 22 degrees celsius is the ideal temperature.

 

8. Offer customisation

Comfortable employees make effective employees. One great way to do this is to offer customisable options for their desk set up. Each employee will have different needs and comfort priorities: giving each one a budget to choose things such as desk chairs, keyboards, lamps and screens will enable them to meet these needs.

 

9. Encourage movement

Exercise makes people more alert, which in turn helps them to be more productive. Harness this in the office by ensuring employees have plenty of opportunity to exercise during the day. Giving people the opportunity to use a standing desk can help, as can walking meetings and standing meetings.

Ready to make a big change to improve your working environment? A move to a thoughtfully designed open plan serviced office could have a very positive impact on your company’s ethos.

Why not come and see what we have to offer at WorkWell?

 

Third space: exactly what your office is missing

WorkWell on July 16, 2024

More and more companies are becoming aware of the vast importance of taking care of their employees. The stress and happiness levels of the people who work for you are key, not least because they dictate how productive they will be.

A 2015 study conducted by the Social Market Foundation and the University of Warwick showed that happier workers were, on average, 12% more productive.

Company culture has a big impact on employee happiness and productivity. One of the most obvious ways to start to build a contented workforce is to improve your office space.

This is where the third space comes in. Tech companies are leading the way here, with companies such as Social Chain, Adobe and Mother London all boasting impressive examples.

But what is the third space?

The third space has traditionally been the title given to social spaces outside of the home or office. This usually encompasses less formal locations such as cafes, bars and community spaces.

Your local coffee shop is a great example of a third space. It’s a flexible location where you can meet with friends, relax with the newspaper or even get some work done on a laptop.

Though in the past third space has existed outside of the office, many companies are now coming round to the wisdom of incorporating it. Multinational giants such as Google and Amazon have long understood the importance of this, and now SMEs are starting to pick up on it too (take a look at some of the other things we can learn from inspiring office spaces here).

Adding a third space doesn’t have to be complicated. It could be as simple as refurbishing an existing breakout area with an attractive design and comfortable seating.

Why is the third space so important?

Not sure why the third space is key? Below we’ve listed its main benefits:

1. It makes employees happier

It’s not rocket science: the better your office space, the happier your team members will be to spend time in it!

2. It boosts productivity

The happier and more engaged your employees are, the more productive they’re likely to be. There is also scientific evidence to suggest that providing a space for employees to take quality breaks can make them more productive overall, increasing motivation in the workplace.

3. It promotes collaboration, innovation and new business

Having a space away from desks where colleagues and associates from different teams can mix, meet and chat with others promotes collaboration and better cross-team communication.

The chance conversations that can happen in this environment often lead to innovations and better ways of working, and even new business, particularly where the third space is shared with other organisations.

4. It can encourage creativity

The Staples 2016 Workplace Index survey reported that only 36% of workers consider their desk the most inspiring place to work. Providing an alternative space could help the other 64% get the ideas flowing.

5. It can attract new talent

The way we work is changing. Millennials generally prefer to work in well-designed, flexible spaces. Choosing an office with a third space offers more flexible working opportunities, and this is likely to attract new talent.

6. It can encourage employee loyalty

Not only can a well-designed workspace attract new talent, but it’s also likely to help you retain the talent you already have.

How important is the third space at WorkWell?

We are big believers in the importance of the third space.

Our serviced offices in Leeds have the benefit of 4,500 square feet of shared third space. This consists of informal breakout areas designed to be flexible spaces for team members to meet, collaborate and work in.

How would you and your team make use of this space? Come for a visit and find out: we’d love to show you round.

5 mistakes you’re making in your search for a new office

WorkWell on July 16, 2024

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With world-class office space often comes great business success. Therefore, it’s no understatement that finding the right office is one of the most important things you’ll do as a business leader or decision-maker.

But finding the perfect workspace for your business is certainly no easy task. It can take up a lot of time and resources, although believe us – when you do find the right space, it will be completely worth it.

With over a decade of industry experience, we’ve helped countless businesses find a workspace where they can truly thrive. But in our time, we’ve also seen several businesses fall short on their search for ideal office space. Are you making any of these mistakes in your search for a new office?

1. Not doing the research

Good things take time. If you expect to find a new office overnight, then prepare to be disappointed. It really is important to take the time to do some in-depth research, or at least allocate another member of your team to this task. Some of the factors that are important to consider are your budget, how much space you need, the office location, and so on. We would always recommend booking viewings at any potential offices before making an investment.

2. Choosing an office that doesn’t match your culture

As we mentioned in our previous blog, 80% of businesses want to improve their company culture in 2017. Your office is often one of the most important things that any prospective clients or new team members will judge you on, so it’s important to make sure that your workspace is a true reflection of your brand. If you go about this process the right way, then your office can be one of the most effective business tools available, reinforcing your company’s core values.

3. Miscalculating company growth

Whether you miscalculate your company growth by too much or too little, you’re going to encounter problems. If you overestimate your company’s growth, then you could end up wasting money on space that you’re not using. And if you underestimate your company’s growth, then you may be stuck in a contract in an office that simply isn’t big enough for your team. Of course, neither of these is an ideal situation.

But how is anyone expected to know exactly how their business is going to grow over the coming months or years? Well there are other options! For example, some office providers, including here at Carrwood Park, offer more flexible office solutions. Some of these solutions include being able to move into a larger space within the same business centre and even expanding or reducing the size of your current space.

4. Going straight for a city-centre office

One of the most common mistakes we see is when businesses automatically assume that a city-centre location is what they need. But this really isn’t always the case. A more rural location could be more suited to your business than you may think, offering benefits such as more cost-effective space, free parking and even a more productive team!

We’re not telling you to set up a business in the middle of nowhere. But a more rural location with easy access to a large city can work wonders – just ask our residents! It really is important to consider your options before deciding what location makes the most sense for your business.

5. Getting tied into a long contract

One of the biggest mistakes we see is companies that find their perfect office space and sign a long-term contract. Then, a few years down the line, when they outgrow the space or it doesn’t match their values anymore, they’re stuck in the same office until the contract runs out! This tends to be more of a problem with leased offices rather than serviced offices. There are ways to get around this,s though, such as signing a shorter contract, finding a more flexible office provider as we mentioned above, or paying off the rest of your contract…

We know how easy it can be to make some of these mistakes, but as you can see, there’s always an equally easy solution. With our expert advice, you’ll be on your way to finding your perfect office space in no time! For more tips on serviced offices, employee productivity and other business growth advice, why not subscribe to the Carrwood Park blog?

Are you looking for an office that encourages business growth, working alongside like-minded businesses? Why not book a viewing at one of our high-quality office spaces in Leeds?

 

WorkWell’s Meeting Room Guide

WorkWell on July 16, 2024

Why opt for a hired meeting room in Leeds?

Leeds is home to over 536,000 individuals, making it the UK’s second largest city. The business-oriented city attracts many organisations to its trendy cosmopolitan streets, creating appeal around hiring quality, well-facilitated and flexible spaces to hold meetings, events and seminars.

Leeds is a practical city to run meetings out of, with fantastic transportation links for the whole of the North and even to the south, it makes it simpler for anybody across the UK to attend a meeting.

Whilst the transport links offer convenience, Leeds offers more practicalities, with a plethora of shops, cafes, restaurants and bars for food and drink to be gotten from. Being surrounded by so many options can reduce the time spent navigating to the nearest local shop.

Leeds is a developing city, with money being put into improving the city’s infrastructure and green spaces. This means that whilst you may want the convenience of a meeting room in an urban environment, you can still find green spaces to enjoy your lunch or a long walk.

Potential issues to consider with hiring a meeting room?

Hiring a meeting room comes with a lot of considerations to be made, whether it is the budget, the capacity of a space, or the technological capabilities. Considering each aspect of your ideal meeting room will set you up for success.

  • Ensure the space has the technical capabilities and IT support for those days where it may be causing some issues.
  • Will you have access to other facilities? I.e. printer access or a kitchenette
  • Location is king, make sure everyone attending can get there without it costing too much money or time!
  • Consider taking a tour, there’s nothing worse than feeling like you’re trapped in an arrangement that doesn’t meet your business needs. Try before you buy will help protect from any issues.
  • Make sure to book with plenty of time to prepare. Don’t try booking the day before, make sure you and your meeting room provider are prepared for your attendance, more so, making sure they’re not booked up!

Stretching your meeting room budget

Looking for ways to make the most of your meeting room budget? Accessing a high-quality environment for meetings helps increase your business’s credibility and can contribute towards the general success of your organisation.  However, stretching your budget isn’t always a practical solution for just the one meeting, so we’ve come up with some ways you can stretch your budget:

  1. Connect with another business – Do you know anyone that would be interested in sponsoring your meetings? This could be in the form of anything from providing the catering for your meeting to handing out branded goodie bags to your attendees. If you do the relevant research and get a bit creative with your approach, this tactic can really pay off.
  2. Look for hidden costs – Some of the seemingly-cheaper meeting rooms often come with a variety of hidden costs. This could be for anything from the catering to using the wi-fi! We can’t stress enough how important it is to ask exactly what is included in the price before you make your booking.
  3. Opt for all-inclusive packages – It could be a lot more cost-effective to book an all-inclusive meeting room package. Take time to look for a package to suit your business and you could end up saving a lot of money on things you usually pay extra for!
  4. Host out of the city – People often assume that a city centre location is perfect for your meetings, but that’s really not the case! More rural locations don’t just tend to be more cost-effective compared to city-centre meeting room facilities, but they may also provide a more convenient location for your attendees.
  5. Have a fixed budget for all meetings –Sometimes it can really help to visualise things by writing them down on paper. Take some time to work out exactly how much you can afford to spend on each meeting, down to the penny. From here, you can keep this figure in mind when booking your meetings to make sure you don’t go over your budget.
  6. Create an opportunity for funds to be raised – This is no short-term solution, but creating additional means to fund your meetings can be a great way to subsidise any excess costs from your budget.
  7. Booking in bulk – Some meeting room providers offer discounted rates for bulk bookings. Simply ask around and find the perfect place for you.
  8. Electing to use a smaller space – Consider the size of the space needed to comfortably conduct a meeting. Instead of picking one, you can roam around in, look for one that comfortably sits attendees and provides you with the necessary amenities to conduct.

For more tips on finding meeting space and overcoming the challenges involved in planning and running meetings, the WorkWell blog is a mine of useful information and advice – subscribe today for regular updates.

 

Why we’re proud to be an eco-friendly business

WorkWell on July 16, 2024

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 Did you know that global temperatures are rising at an alarming rate, with 16 of the 17 warmest years on record coming after 2001? Or that Arctic sea ice has shrunk by 3.5-4.1% every decade since 1979? With one of the strongest recorded hurricanes in history recently hitting the Atlantic, it’s unsurprising that climate change is one of the most important topics of this century.

As an eco-friendly business centre based on the rural outskirts of Leeds, we’ve always appreciated the wonders of nature and, as a result, have been proactive in doing our bit for the environment. And over the last few years, we’ve noticed even more businesses following suit and making an effort to ‘go green’. We’ve seen companies invest in eco-friendly products, offer options for remote working, and even set up their own ‘green committee’.

At WorkWell, we’re proud to apply the ‘Three Rs’ – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle – to meet both international standards and our environmental targets. Some ways we meet these targets include using carpet made from recycled plastic bottles, enhancing building insulation to reduce wasted heat, and sorting 100% of our waste for recycling.

Since introducing these strategies, we’ve noticed a whole load of benefits across the business, our residents, and our team.

Make a real difference to the environment

Even the smallest things can have such a positive impact on the environment. With 150 acres of rainforest lost every minute, going paperless – or at least making a conscious effort to reduce the amount you and your company use – can make a real difference. At Carrwood, we’ve been taking this one step further with a tree planting scheme to offset the environmental impact of our business park. We have over 1,200 trees across the 100 acres that make up Carrwood Park and Brookfield Court!

Meet UK recycling targets

Did you know that at WorkWell, we sort 100% of our waste for recycling, which means just 16-18% goes to a landfill site? With the recycling targets for UK businesses at 75% by 2020, recycling should be a focal point in your business.

It’s easy to implement in everyday office life, too! Ensure that your office has enough recycling bins, make an effort to separate the recyclables from non-recyclables on your office clear-outs, or even try introducing a rewards scheme for the top recyclers. At Carrwood Park, we like to think about the bigger picture too, using office furniture with up to 50% recycled content…

Reduce business costs

Becoming more eco-friendly can save your business a lot of money, too. Even something as simple as using refillable pens can save you a surprising amount of money in the long run. Furniture made of natural materials like wool tends to be easier to clean than other materials, which means you can save costs with cleaning. And just think about how much money you could save by getting your employees to print double-sided! Remember that it all adds up.

A better working environment

Research suggests that introducing greenery to the office boosts employee productivity, motivation and happiness. Plants can reduce the amount of CO2, dust and mould in the air, not only contributing to cleaner air around the office but also in your local community.

Companies with ‘green committees’ can reap the benefits of a better working environment too; encouraging your employees to work towards a mutual cause can bring your team closer together. This strengthened team spirit, combined with the effects of a greener office, helps to carve a better working environment for both your business and your employees.

Improve business sustainability

Did you know that working towards a greener environment has a positive impact on the sustainability of your business? This means that if you have methods in place to deal with rising costs due to climate change and you’re less dependent on natural resources than your competitors, you have a greater chance of long-term success. And if you consider the fundamentals of business sustainability (profits, people, and the planet), it makes sense…

Become a haven for wildlife

Depending on where you focus your environmental efforts, you could even build up a haven for wildlife around your office. This won’t be a fast process and is likely to take months, if not years, to build up, but it’s worth it! Not only does this help improve employee happiness and motivation, but you’ll find that it becomes a great talking point for any prospective clients or employees…

As a business that was originally built on farmland, we’ve always been at one with nature. Did you know we’re home to two pairs of nesting red kites? You may even spot one on your next visit!

Are you interested in working from an eco-friendly business centre in the heart of Yorkshire? At WorkWell, we offer a variety of business growth solutions from serviced offices and co-working spaces to meeting rooms and virtual offices. Why not get in touch with our team now to find out how we can help?

Top 12 productivity-boosting office snacks

WorkWell on July 16, 2024

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There’s a growing awareness of how important it is to promote wellbeing in the office. Business owners and employees alike are beginning to realise the importance of an office environment that encourages a healthy lifestyle and a good work-life balance.

This isn’t just a new fad. Countless academic studies have reported the productivity benefits of happy, healthy employees. Healthier workers take less time off sick, which can result in significant savings over time. Taking active steps to promote a healthy workforce can also help to attract and retain talent. Research suggests that millennials are particularly keen to work for companies that value their well-being.

Why does healthy food matter?

Food is the fuel our bodies run on. The better our diet, the better we’re likely to feel afterwards. And the better we feel, the higher our concentration levels will be.

Fresh, healthy food provides us with energy, improves our mental health, helps our bodies to fight sickness and boosts our focus. Ultimately, if you eat well throughout the working day, you’re more likely to consistently produce great results.

Unfortunately, offices can often be high-risk environments for unhealthy food. It’s not unusual for workers to eat junk food at their desks because they haven’t had time to go out to get anything else. Vending machines, biscuit platters in the boardroom and boxes of chocolate for the team can also be difficult to avoid.

Why not make a commitment to make healthier food choices at work? Resist the temptation to eat one of the cupcakes that your colleague bought for everyone, and instead indulge in some fresh fruit!

Business owners can help with this, too. Changing up the refreshments you offer during meetings and work events can have a big impact here, as can ensuring your team members have enough time at lunch to eat a well-balanced meal. And instead of placing chocolate and sweets around your office across the festive season, why not offer mixed nuts and dried fruit instead?

Having access to food preparation facilities can often be overlooked, too. Instead of buying a ready meal from the shop, this means you can prepare something fresh, providing you with more nutrients. This is a real priority for us at WorkWell, and we offer high-quality shared kitchen spaces for users of our serviced offices and co-working spaces.

12 productivity-boosting office snacks

Looking to boost your productivity at work? Why not replace your office sweet cupboard with some of these healthy snacks?

  1. Raw nuts

Nuts are packed with vitamins, minerals and essential fats like omega-3s, which provide healthy fats for energy, mitigate stiffness and joint problems and help to regulate mood.

  1. Carrot sticks and hummus

Carrots can be a great low-calorie snack, containing lots of vitamins and minerals, and not many carbohydrates. Combine this with hummus and you’ll get a nice balance of minerals, protein and fibre – and an extra-delicious snack!

  1. Fibre-rich fruits

High fibre fruits, like berries and apples, are ideal for a mid-morning snack as they can make you feel ‘full’ sooner. Studies also suggest that fibre plays a part in improving your immune system, meaning you’re less likely to fall victim to the dreaded cold that’s going around the office.

  1. Coconut chips

Packed with healthy fats, coconut chips can serve as a sweet replacement for your normal packet of crisps or popcorn.

  1. Roasted chickpeas

Like nuts, chickpeas have a low GI (glycemic index), which means they release energy slowly so are great for maintaining productivity. Delicious served straight from a can or as the key ingredient in hummus, this versatile food can also be served roasted as an alternative to nuts.

  1. Green smoothies

Have you noticed more people drinking green juices recently? There’s a good reason for that! By blending leafy greens and vegetables into a smoothie, you can easily hit your five-a-day. Blending from fresh means you retain vitamins often lost in cooking processes, and the liquid format means your body can more readily absorb the goodness. Counteract bitterness by adding some ripe fruit like mango or pineapple. Here’s how to blend the perfect green smoothie…

  1. Greek yoghurt and honey

Honey has been used medicinally for centuries, for everything from a cold to lowering your blood sugar. Mix this with greek yoghurt, known for its digestion-aiding probiotics, and you’ll do a load of good for your stomach.

  1. Bananas

Slow release carbs, such as bananas and walnuts, can help you avoid the ‘3pm sugar crash’ – something that you may be familiar with if you tend to snack on doughnuts and sweets.

  1. Unsweetened dried fruit

Dried fruit is a great source of energy and fibre. It’s also a lot more office-friendly than fresh fruit as it is non-perishable, which means you can store it at work without worrying about it going off. If you often eat porridge or granola at work, why not add some dried apricots and raisins to it?

  1. Celery sticks with peanut butter

Research suggests that celery and peanut butter can reduce your chance of heart disease and diabetes. It’s also a lot more filling than some of the other snacks on this list. Although if you’re watching your weight, try not to go overboard on the peanut butter…

  1. Granola bars

Low in sodium and high in potassium, granola bars can increase blood and oxygen flow in your body. This means you’ll have higher concentration levels, and for longer!

  1. Vegetable crisps

Like coconut chips, these can be a healthy, low-saturated fat alternative to your average packet of crisps. For added health benefits, why not try making your own vegetable crisps at home?

What are your favourite productivity-boosting office snacks? Have we missed any out? We’d love you to share them with us on Twitter.

What else can you do to promote health and productivity in the office?

There are a wide range of techniques and initiatives that companies can explore in order to encourage better health and productivity among their employees. At WorkWell, we offer a range of perks to promote health and wellbeing, as well as attracting and retaining talent.

These include:

  • Plants in the office
  • An eco-friendly working environment
  • Plenty of windows to boost natural light
  • Sparkling facilities, cleaned daily
  • Over 4,500 sq. ft. of breakout areas and third space

Do you want to benefit from a working environment designed with employee productivity and wellbeing in mind? Why not arrange a viewing at our luxury serviced offices in Leeds or Harrogate?

7 time-saving tools for business leaders

WorkWell on July 16, 2024

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As a business leader, you’ll often find that time can be your worst enemy. With the pressure of the day-to-day management of an organisation, retaining clients and winning new business, as well as trying to find time to see family and friends, it can be a very demanding job. As a result, many business leaders struggle to achieve a good work-life balance.

Trying to pack all the responsibilities that come with running a business into one day can often prove challenging. Did you know that 80% of CEOs wake up before 6 am? Here’s a full breakdown of how the average Chief Executive spends their day. Traditional time-saving techniques such as prioritising your workload, organising your daily schedule with a calendar and only checking emails at certain times of the day, can be really effective in streamlining your working day.

But with the introduction of technology has also come a range of useful time-saving apps and tools. Many of which can help enhance the effectiveness of these traditional techniques. And you know how much we love our technology at Carrwood Park…

1. IFTTT

Automation can save you so much time. How long do you spend putting together your to-do list for the day? Imagine if you could add an action to your list with a single touch of a button.

This free tool, If This Then That (IFTTT), uses ‘Applets’ to link your apps and devices together. With over 1,000,000,000 Applets being used every month, you can automate anything and everything from the temperature of your office to muting your phone during meetings!

2. Slack

Slack can be a great tool to keep in touch with your employees, especially if you have any remote workers. It’s designed to make it as easy as possible to contact your team, and can be useful if you want to quickly get a message to someone. You’ll find that a lot of people only check their emails or texts at certain times of the day, so you’re often left waiting for an urgent response… Encourage your employees to download Slack on their desktop, mobile, tablet, Apple Watch and so on, and you’ll rarely have to worry about this.

3. Dashlane

If you struggle with memorising your passwords, Dashlane will be a lifesaver! This tool securely stores your passwords and automatically logs you in when you visit a website. If you have more than one account, for example on Twitter, simply click the Dashlane icon and you’ll be presented with an option of different accounts to choose from.

If your employees ever need to sign in using your login details, you can securely share the passwords via Dashlane. The great thing about this is that your employees don’t even need to know the password to log in! As long as they use Dashlane too, they’ll be able to log in automatically…

4. Xero

This ‘beautiful accounting software’ allows you to monitor and manage your cash flow on the go. It links to your mobile, tablet and desktop, meaning no matter where you are, you can send payments and invoices, schedule bills, create purchase orders and more! Xero also integrates with over 600 third-party apps for extra convenience.

5. Business Card Reader Pro

If you’re a regular networker, odds are you’ll have a pile of business cards stashed away somewhere. Or maybe you have an accumulation of business cards scattered around the office. Either way, this tool will come in handy. Use your iPhone to scan your business cards and immediately import their contact details into your iOS contacts. The app even integrates with CRM systems such as Salesforce, saving you and your team hours of admin work!

6. Buffer

Buffer is one of the best tools out there to ensure your social media accounts stay topped up with content. Similar to Hootsuite, you can use this tool to schedule posts ahead of time to avoid constantly being on social media. It integrates with Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+ and so on…

Another fantastic feature of Buffer is the Google Chrome Extension. You can use this to instantly share an interesting article to your social media channels, or, of course, schedule it ahead of time. You can even schedule a retweet to avoid spamming your followers!

7. Scanner Pro

Turn your iPhone into a portable scanner with this simple but effective tool. It uses advanced software to quickly scan any paper documents and convert them into a digital file. Scanner Pro also allows you to edit the file, meaning you can use it to sign contracts and scan books, receipts or other documents. You don’t even need to worry about creases or coffee stains – the app automatically detects this and converts it into a clean PDF file. As you can imagine, this can save you a lot of time.

These tools will truly streamline your working day, saving you hours every week! Why not try them out for yourself and let us know what you think on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn?

Are you looking for a workspace designed with productivity and innovation in mind, where you and your team can truly excel? Why not arrange a viewing at our luxury serviced offices in Leeds and Harrogate?

 

4 ways to keep your team productive over the festive season

WorkWell on July 16, 2024

If you tend to have fewer business enquiries around Christmas, then it’s easy to let things slip. But even in some of the busier industries, employees tend to slow down for the festive break, losing productivity and creativity. But it’s this time of year that can really make or break your business. If you’re smart about it, you can get your business off to a flying start in 2018.

As we mentioned in our previous blog, an engaged, productive team is integral to business success. Especially at this time of the year. Here are four ways to keep your team productive over the festive season.

1. Show gratitude

Recognising your employees really does go a long way. If employees understand the contribution they’re making to the business, they’re more likely to be committed to your business goals. Of course, this is great for employee engagement, which can have a direct impact on business success. Sears, Roebuck & Co. found that for every 5% increase in their employees’ attitude scores, there was a 1-3% increase in customer satisfaction and a 0.5% increase in revenue.

Whether you celebrate individual or team achievements, it’s important to show your employees gratitude. There’s not just one way to do this either. Gratitude can take the form of small gifts, giving employees more responsibility, or even just saying ‘thank you’!

Another great way to show employee appreciation is to host an awards ceremony. This could simply be a fun ceremony at your office Christmas party, with a mix of serious and light-hearted awards such as ‘The Eternally Late Award’. Or on the other end of the scale, you could invest time into planning an intricate awards ceremony with specific awards and nominations for each category. Depending on your budget, you could even invest in a trophy or plaque for each award.

2. Eat healthily

Food plays a huge part in productivity around the festive period. If you walk into an office in December, odds are that you’ll notice some form of communal junk food. This can take its toll on your employees. If you’ve ever fallen victim to the ‘3 pm sugar crash’, then you’ll know what we mean.

Foods with a high glycaemic index, such as cakes, sweets or burgers, result in a rapid increase in blood sugar levels, which can leave you feeling slow and groggy for the afternoon.

To get around this, it could be wise to offer healthy alternatives. Some ideas could be communal fruit bowls, nuts, or vegetable crisps. Slow-release carbs such as bananas and walnuts can also be really effective in maintaining employee productivity. Why not check out our top 12 productivity-boosting office snacks?

Not only is this great for your employees’ physical health, but this is also a great way to show gratitude. Did you know that 60% of employees feel more valued when their company provides them with food?

3. Introduce some healthy competition

Who doesn’t like a bit of friendly competition? This can be a really effective way to keep your team productive over the festive season. You can offer rewards in the form of a monetary bonus, an experience such as a spa day, or even some cool office tech. If you have a smaller physical budget, then why not introduce some unique employee perks? For example, you could offer additional annual leave, the chance to finish early on Fridays, or even stop work for the last day before the festive break to watch Christmas films if targets are met or exceeded!

Rewards can be offered for employees who meet their individual targets or groups meeting a company-wide target. Departmental-level competitions could include rewarding the top seller in the sales department or the customer support team member with the highest customer satisfaction score.

4. Review your office environment

Your working environment also plays an important part in keeping your team productive over the festive season. Offices with plenty of natural light, ample third space and fast internet can be perfect for maintaining productivity levels. The temperature of your office is essential too. Did you know that offices below 20 degrees can result in a 50% drop in productivity?

At WorkWell, our luxury business centre offers an abundance of natural light, over 4,500sq.ft. of breakout areas for employees to meet, collaborate and work, as well as superfast WiFi and individually controlled air-con in each room. Why not arrange a viewing at our high-quality serviced offices in Leeds or Harrogate?