In March of this year, businesses across the globe were thrown into a new way of working. Many who had never even considered remote working before were forced into sending their staff, who were able to, home to work for the foreseeable, many pushing it through without a plan or strategy in place and therefore no metrics to measure its success.
The workspace has evolved in line with the evolution of work and the workforce. Good understanding of the evolution of work, worker and workspace will help in defining the workspace strategy for any organisation. These three elements constitute the work environment.
Here we explain the relationship between these elements and how they influence the development of work environment.
An idea that is familiar, but at best still abstract to all of us, can be better defined by understanding what it used to be in the past, what it is now and what it will be in the future. Exploring these questions will help us better understand the evolution of work.
This evolution can be defined in four industrial revolutions and the workspace revolution can be mapped to these four revolutions.
In the preindustrial economy, work was synonymous with craftsmanship, the creation of products or the delivery of complete outcomes. The craftsman is entirely responsible for the end-to-end process of delivering a product or outcome โ a carpenter, for example, would do everything from taking measurements, getting the wood, to making the final adjustments in the finished set of furniture.
The industrial revolution changed this conception of work, as industrialists realised that products could be manufactured faster and cheaper, if end-to-end processes were converted into repeatable tasks in which workers (and, later, machines) could specialise in. The notion of a โjobโ became that of a collection of tasks, not necessarily related to each other, rather than an integrated set of actions that delivered a complete product or outcome.
With the onset of rapid cognitive revolution, work has once again been redefined to create valuable human-machine collaborations, shifting our understanding of work from task completion to problem-solving and managing human relationships. This approach changed the way we organise tasks into jobs.
With the advancement made in technical innovations, we are moving towards a cyber-physical revolution aided by Artificial Intelligence and robotics. This approach is leading to more proactive management and providing differences in experience by finding the challenges before it evolves. This is changing the workforce of the future and the requirements for the future workforce.
Based on the analysis of the previous three revolutions there are common trends and characteristics that are common that links work, worker, and workspace.
Demographics have changed over the last few years with a collectively older and more diverse workforce. The very social contract between employers and employees has altered dramatically as well. Organisations now have a broad continuum of options for finding workers, from hiring traditional full-time employees to availing themselves of managed services and outsourcing, independent contractors, gig workers, and crowdsourcing.
Alternative workers are growing in number; currently, 35 percent of the workforce is in supplemental, temporary, project, or contract-based work. This percentage is growing as well โ for example, freelance workforce is growing faster than the total workforce, up 10 percent compared to three percent of all employees.
As the โwhoโ and the โwhatโ of work shifts, so does the workplace. Where once physical proximity was required for people to get work done, the advent of digital communication, collaboration platforms, and digital reality technologies, along with societal and marketplace changes, have allowed for and created the opportunity for more distributed teams.
Organisations are now able to orchestrate a range of options as they reimagine workplaces, from the more traditional collocated workplaces to those that are completely distributed and dependent on virtual interactions.
Employers should not only consider how roles are crafted when pairing humans with machines, but also the arrangement of their human workforce and what type(s) of employment are best suited to obtain the creativity, passion, and skill sets needed for the work at hand. Orchestrating this complex use of different workforce segments will require new models. It could fundamentally change our view of the employee life cycle from the traditional โattract, develop, and retainโ model to one where the key questions are how organisations should access, curate, and engage workforces of all types.
According to the World Economic Forum, the division of labour between people and machines is expected to continue to shift toward machines, especially for repetitive and routine tasks. That could eliminate upward of 14 percent and disrupt 32 percent of todayโs jobs, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OCED).
Understanding work style and work functions forms basis for designing organisational workforce.
The three core considerations for defining future workspace are:
To maximise the organisational output, it is important to design a workspace that caters for work style, functions and workforce requirements.
It is a culmination of work function, work style, work force and workspace. All designed to maximise team and business output, maintain organisational health by optimising resources.
In our next blog we will talk about how work, workforce evolution helps in identifying the factors that influence workspace.
Increasing business revenue has become critical for organisations, especially after surviving the hard times currently facing numerous business owners. Whilst there is no guarantee that businesses will revert to pre-pandemic levels, businesses should look at saving costs while generating a greater return on their investments. One way to accomplish that is by understanding what a smart office investment can do to help.
Investing in a space that is centered around your team and business goals allows you to increase productivity, grow a strong brand identity and gain a robust company culture โ all of which can be delivered with a serviced office workspace solution.
Here are our top three ways a serviced office investment can generate returns for your business:
After rent, one of the costliest expenses when moving into a new office is the furniture. New desks, chairs, and drawer units can soon add up, as well as the additional expenses that decorations and fittings can occur.
This combined with the extra costs such as business rates and utility bills, which will usually fluctuate based on the property value, means that your business finances could take a huge hit.
However, a serviced office almost always includes furniture and utility bills, meaning you get the best for your budget and complete peace of mind, without any unexpected hits to your cash flow.
WorkWell has studied the science behind the purpose-driven space, and itโs proven that the working environment can have a high impact on your teamโs productivity.
Eliminate the risk of deciding if your office is too big or small by using a serviced office. When bound into contracts that last several years, it can be easy to misjudge and you could outgrow your space before the lease is up, which can be an expensive mistake. Nevertheless, this isnโt a concern with a serviced office as you can easily start off with the size you need, and as you need to occupy more space, this can be accommodated by the provider.
WorkWell focuses on providing a type of space with flexible setups to efficiently respond to your working environment needs, ensuring none of your team are left without resource. With a turnkey approach, WorkWell looks after your space with no hidden fees.
Generally, maintenance can be tiresome, whether itโs weekly office maintenance, a broken printer, or a blocked drain. Typically, you would need to find someone to do the work and pay for the costs. However, with a serviced office, you neednโt worry โ itโs all part of the service!
WorkWell not only covers all day-to-day services your business requires, it does so in one convenient monthly fee, with no hidden costs! โ all with the option to change your contract midterm depending on the needs and wants of your organisation.
This, combined with the unique and endless networking resource that is included with a serviced office can open avenues to new clients or additional sources of income from collaborating with others in the office, even if it doesnโt physically save you money.
Owning a business is about growing that business. WorkWell Offices allow you to get right to work, without taking the focus off your core business initiatives, all while presenting opportunities to save money and increase revenue.
For more information, to discuss your workspace requirements, or schedule a tour, contact sales@workwelloffices.com
For more tips and advice, sign up to our blog here.
Studies show that workers lose, on average, 21.5 minutes a day due to conversational distractions. A noisy office has also been proven to increase stress levels and dramatically decrease employee productivity โ workers can be up to 66% less productive when exposed to just one nearby conversation.
Whilst workers in closed-plan offices can still fall victim to noise distractions, workers in open-plan offices can often experience these distractions on a much greater scale. With open plan offices making up 54% of UK offices and 70% of US offices, office acoustics are becoming a necessity for more and more businesses.
In the second instalment of our โThe future of office furnitureโ blog series, we take a look at some of the different office acoustic solutions that are becoming prevalent in office spaces around the world.
Acoustic pods
Acoustic office pods can be a great way to escape from the general noise and clutter of an open office. They can provide ideal spaces for both formal and informal meetings, somewhere to have a private conversation, or just a quiet space to get some work done. These pods come in various shapes and sizes, depending on their purpose โ there are even acoustic pods designed specifically for people to make phone calls.
Not only can these pods be great for acoustics, but they also fit really well into the modern office, generally available in a range of bright colours. If you read our last blog, you’ll know that this can be a great way to boost the creativity and productivity of staff.
Sound masking
Sound masking has been around for years, although people still aren’t aware of what it is. It is the introduction of an unobtrusive background sound, such as the sound of air moving through the office, in order to reduce distractions. This sound is usually distributed through hidden speakers, for example, in the ceiling.
Sound masking has many proven benefits, such as productivity gains of 8-28%, job satisfaction increases of between 125% to 174%, and stress reductions of up to 27%. With these kinds of results, itโs no surprise that companies have been using this solution since the 1960s. Although sound masking has been a part of office spaces for such a long time, we predict that it’s going to be used a lot more in the future.
Acoustic panels
Acoustic sound panels are becoming the norm in offices โ you will probably have seen some of these panels on the ceilings, floors or walls of an office at some point, without even noticing their real purpose! The sound panels are often built to look visually appealing and to blend in with the general style of the office, whilst simultaneously reducing noise.
As well as appearing directly on ceilings, floors and walls, these sound panels are now being suspended from the ceiling, and are generally designed to look artistic. We think this is a great way to make your office look more โ21st centuryโ.
Acoustic panels can also be used in places you probably wouldnโt have considered. How many chairs do you have in your office? Desks? Storage cabinets? All of these things can be altered to help reduce the noise in your office. Investing in furniture with acoustic sound panels is one of the best ways of reducing noise in the office, simply because there is so much different furniture and appliances that you can add these panels to.
Youโll always get a better result if you buy professional acoustic furniture or if you move into serviced offices that already contain acoustic furniture. But thereโs nothing to stop you from trying to make some of the simpler surfaces, such as your desk, more soundproof. Soft materials, like fabrics, are generally what you need to break up noise, although these 10 materials would also work well. Why not even consider buying some soft rugs for your office?
Remember to subscribe to the WorkWell blog for the next instalment of our โThe future of office furnitureโ series, where we will be looking at some of the different ways offices are becoming more eco-friendly.
Want to reap the benefits of an acoustic office without the hassle of having to sort everything out yourself? Why not book a viewing at one of WorkWellโs high-quality serviced offices, fully equipped with the latest in office acoustics?
Itโs well-known that some of the most successful brands in the world have amazing offices. Tech giants such as Google, Apple, Facebook, and Dropbox are well known for their impressive workspaces, as well as for the enviable productivity levels theyโre said to create.
There are many reasons to aspire to have a great office. Not only can the right office seriously impress potential clients, it can also completely change the ethos of your workplace and ensure your staff are more effective, happier and more loyal.
This is a key consideration for companies of any size, as happy employees are โan essential starting point of a sustainable business.โ
Googleโs office is undoubtedly one of the most engaging workspaces in the world. It has indoor trees, slides, themed breakout areas, a stage and even a cinema.
Though most businesses may not have the office design budget to create something on the same scale, thereโs still a lot to learn from how Google and similar companies have put together their workplace.
1. Choose your office wisely
The space you choose for your office will have a big impact on how successful the final environment is. For best results, look for a space with plentiful natural light thatโs big enough to house your current team, plus space to grow.
If youโre looking for a new home for your business, why not come and check out some of the best offices in Leeds or Harrogate, here at WorkWell? Weโd love to give you a tour of our space and talk about what you could create here.
2. Build fun breakout spaces
From Airbnb to Urban Outfitters, the owners of the most effective offices in the world know that breakout space is vital. They have also come to understand the importance of collaborative spaces that are fun to work in. Why not take inspiration from BBC Northโs padded work pods or Zyngaโs artificial indoor grass?
3. Incorporate greenery
Speaking of grass, abundant greenery is another common feature of successful workspaces. Plants in the workplace have been proven to reduce stress, increase productivity, reduce absence, increase creativity, reduce noise and improve air quality. Companies already enjoying all these benefits include Amazon, who have 40,000 plants in their Seattle biodome campus.
As well as plants within the office space, our Leeds offices, Brookfield Court and Carrwood Park are home to over 1200 trees. Surrounding our offices here – perfect for green immersion during break times!
4. Encourage employees to exercise
We all know that movement is good for us, but it isnโt always easy to incorporate this into our working day, especially for those of us who work sedentary jobs. Many companies have worked to counteract this by building exercise spaces into their office. This could be a gym, such as they have at Dropbox, basketball hoops like at Google or even pool tables like Nokia. Carrwood Park is set among over 100 acres of green space, which we encourage residents to walk in and enjoy during their lunch breaks.
5. Offer private spaces
Though open collaborative working has many benefits, it can also be good for employee morale to offer the option of quieter, more private spaces when they want it. Googleโs honeycomb pods and Pallotta Teamworkโs pallet offices are great examples of this.
Creating an environment with appeal helps you to retain staff and optimise their output. It can also help you physically demonstrate the kind of culture your workplace upholds, whether thatโs creating inclusive environments accessible for all, or youโre incorporating fun activity-based spaces to show your staff you care about their wellbeing.
Every element of your office environment shapes the experience had in it. Inspired to create your own iconic workspace? Weโd love to work with you to make it a reality. Take a look at some of the benefits of investing in our serviced office suites here at WorkWell.
The growth of tech has been nothing short of revolutionary for the business world. Digital tools such as video conferencing, mobile technology and cloud based software have changed the way we work. No twenty first century office set up would be complete without a great deal of thought going into the tech provision.
Of course, tech equipment typically represents a big investment, especially for SMEs and startups. If youโre currently looking into office suites and workplace options, you may be struggling to prioritise which equipment you need to buy. Below, weโve put together a suggested list of the tech equipment we think is vital for any office.
Computers have long been an absolute necessity for the workplace. Whether you choose desktops or laptops, these pieces of kit will become the hub for your business. Modern-day offices rely on computers for both completing work and managing communications. Most businesses find it prudent to spend as much as their budget allows. Why not check out TechRadar’s top business PCs or top business laptops of 2017?
A high-speed wireless router will allow staff to access the internet from wherever they are in the office on whatever device they are using. The average UK Wi-Fi speed is now up to almost 30 Mbps, but with growing capabilities, our tenants at WorkWell have access to upwards of 100 Mbps.
Though the majority of business communications now take place via the internet, a reliable phone system is still a very useful piece of technology. Ideally, youโll want one that can be used externally or internally. If you want to keep things streamlined and not clutter up your employeesโ desks, you may choose to use an internet-based phone service such as Skype for Business, or even just a portable office phone.
Conference rooms are much improved with the addition of a digital or projector screen. This can be beneficial for video conferencing purposes as well as for presentations. A screen can also come in handy during client meetings and pitches.
It makes sense to invest in webcams and microphones, in order to facilitate the rising popularity in video conferencing software. These tools give you the ability to be more flexible with your meetings. For example, you may have an informal meeting in your diary that could simply be done over a video conference, which could save both time and travel expenses. Of course, for more important meetings, we believe that face-to-face meetings are still the best option.
Many computers will come with these webcam and microphone tools already built in, but itโs often worth having additional devices on hand for use within conference rooms, or as a backup in case the built-in ones let you down.
More and more offices are choosing to go paperless and therefore are forgoing providing employees with printing facilities altogether. Depending on the needs of your office, you may wish to follow suit. If not, a printer/copier could be a useful addition to your office. Just remember: if you plan to print documents, youโll also need to take responsibility for disposing of them. Any sensitive data will need to be properly destroyed, so if you invest in a printer/copier, youโll probably need a shredder too.
Itโs key to note that these are just some of the essential pieces of tech equipment for your office. If you want to take it a step further, then check out these 8 amazing office gadgets. Are there any other essential pieces of tech equipment that weโve missed out on? Weโd love to hear! Why not let us know on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or in the comments below?
If you want to keep things even simpler, you could choose an office provider that will handle a lot of the tech provision for you. All our office suites and meeting rooms in Leeds and Harrogate are tech-ready, and weโre always around to offer advice on how to ensure your set-up is as productive as possible.
None of us has a crystal ball when it comes to our business. Though itโs certainly possible to make predictions and set goals based on sales data and market predictions, these often come down to little more than educated guesses.
Upswings in the market can take us all by surprise, as can unexpectedly quiet periods, new working styles and developments in technology. All of these things can demand a change in the way we do business, so we need to be prepared to act fast.
In other words: it really is vital to be flexible when making plans for the future of your business.
Choosing office space is a huge commitment, which can be key to the future success of your business. At WorkWell, we believe that flexibility is one of the most important considerations you will make when choosing office space.
Here are some things to consider when choosing office space for your business:
The best office venue providers will give you the option to develop your business with them over time. This may mean taking on more office space to allow for extra employees, or it could even mean having the freedom to downsize should you decide to reduce your team or switch to a remote-working-based model.
A truly flexible serviced office facility will also have additional services on offer such as meeting rooms, parking, conference facilities, IT infrastructure, meeting rooms, catering staff and administrative support. Having these services readily available is incredibly valuable, even if you donโt need them when you sign up.
Itโs not just us that thinks that flexible office space is the way forward. In fact, research shows that more and more business owners are seeking flexible options with demand up 24.3% nationwide. Businesses in Yorkshire are particularly keen to find workspaces that will work of them: demand for flexible office space in Leeds was 17.3% higher in 2014 than in previous years.
But itโs not just business growth and development that can benefit from flexible office space. Study after study has shown that employees prefer flexible provision too. One of the major reasons behind this is that the more flexible a businessโs office space is, the more of that flexibility theyโll be able to pass onto their team.
When a business is run in a flexible environment it makes it much easier to offer benefits such as flexi-time, hot-desking and remote working.
Seven in ten workers believe that these types of working options help to reduce work-related stress, and itโs believed by many that they can also significantly improve employee engagement and productivity.
If your business is currently searching for a new base, make sure you take flexibility into account: both in terms of what your office provider can offer you as a changing business and what benefits it will allow you to pass on to your employees.
Is flexibility as important to you as it is to us? Take a look at our serviced office provision to see how we make this work in practice.
If you are looking for flexible office space in Leeds or Harrogate with all-inclusive office space, Leeds-based WorkWell is a cost-effective, high-quality serviced office space provider. Book a visit with us today to see what we can offer.
โLeeds is probably the best place in the UK to be working right now.โ Now thereโs a statement and it was one made just this time last year by BahGum, a social network for careers, companies and job seekers.
Itโs no secret that in recent years more and more of Britainโs top employers have been setting up a home in Leeds. And being home to the likes of HSBC subsidiary First Direct, Yorkshire Bank, more than 200 law firms, not to mention a myriad of innovative technology companies and start-ups, itโs hardly surprising Leeds has gained a justifiable crown of being regarded as being probably the best place in the UK to work right now, where jobs are โplentiful, meaningful and successful.โ
WorkWell takes a look at how and why Leeds has become widely known as the โLondon of the Northโ and whether youโre starting a business in Leeds or are already well-established, seven reasons why it makes sense to do business in Leeds.
Even in the medieval times, Leeds showed entrepreneurial vision. Medieval Leeds was flourishing, with carpenters, bakers, butchers, blacksmiths and a weekly market, crafting a colourful commercial medieval landscape. Though the main industry in Leeds in medieval times was wool-weaving.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the woollen cloth industry started to flourish in Leeds, which escalated and grew more prosperous throughout the 17th century. The city began to experiment in other industries and in 1770 Leeds pottery scene began. As Local Histories writes, craftsmen such as clockmakers, booksellers, jewellers and coach makers, all set up shop in Leeds.
During the early 1900s, engineering and tailoring were amongst the many industries in Leeds prospering, with big brands like Montague Burtons and Hepworthโs making Leeds their home. By the end of the century Leeds had also become a primary hub in the UK for banking, insurance, pubs and hotels, and remains so today.
Another reason doing business in Leeds makes sense can be pinned on the presence of Leeds Business School. Leeds Business School is a faculty of the University of Leeds and is a member of the Russel Group of research-intensive universities. The School of Business and Economic Studies was established in 1997 and the Faculty of Business in 2003.
This โtriple accreditedโ Business School is placed in the top one percent of business schools across the globe and according to the findings of the Research Excellence Framework 2014, Leeds Business School is a top ten UK business and management research institution.
Each year, Leeds Business School sees undergraduates, Masters, MBA, PhD and executive education level students from over 80 countries graduating with great qualifications. Some of its most notable alumni include Peter Jackson, former Kingfisher plc CEO and Chairman, Stephan Daintith, Chief Financial Officer of the Daily Mail and general Trust, and John Hirst, former CEO of the Met Office, amongst many more.
Being such a business-centred city, Leeds is awash with opportunities for networking. In fact barely a day goes by without some kind of business networking event going on.
If youโre looking for business networking in Leeds, look no further than the Yorkshire Mafia. Putting on numerous networking events, the Yorkshire Mafia encourages executives and stakeholders from the Yorkshire business community to network, meet, greet, share experiences, learn, build and do business.
The Yorkshire Mafia was founded in November 2008 and is built around the LinkedIn community. It provides a fantastic opportunity for small business to acquire the necessary skills to take their business further from established entrepreneurs.
If youโre looking for exceptionally bright new recruits brimming with ideas and innovation, then youโll be pleased to know that Leeds tends to nurture great A-Level results. Or if you are looking for a college to assist you in getting good A-Level results, Leeds has a lot to offer.
For example, Leeds City College has a reputation for achieving good A-Level results. In 2014 Leeds City College garnered a 98% overall A-Level pass rate, with two thirds of A-Level programmes achieving 100% pass rates.
Another reason it makes sense to do business in Leeds is due to the fact the city enjoys a comprehensive travel network.
As we wrote in our blog about city centre offices versus those located on the outskirts of town, with major motorways leading into Leeds, a major railway network and with a myriad of bus routes taking travellers in and out of the city centre, travel to and around Leeds is easy.
Visit Leeds states the merits of Leedsโs travel links, saying:
โGetting to Leeds is incredibly easy. Located in the heart of the UK, Leeds is one of the countryโs most accessible cities.โ
We also love to do business in Leeds due to the fact you can enjoy all the benefits of conducting business in a vibrant, busy and pioneering city. Whatโs more, Leeds is a happy city. A recent poll, by The Sun we hesitantly admit, voted Leeds as the second happiest place to live in Britain.
As the Guardian writes in its report titled โLiving here in Leeds to happinessโ:
โLeeds is big but small, a city but green, Yorkshire but every bit as diverse as London.โ
And we all know what a happy workforce nurturesโฆ. A more loyal and productive workforce โ thatโs definitely good business!
The final reason we love to do business in Leeds is because of the many quality, well-facilitated, well-located and professional business parks dotted in and around the city.
If youโre looking for a business centre in Leeds, you never have to travel far until you find a first-rate business park designed to help a company do what they do best โ carry out their business.
One such place is WorkWell, where youโll find premium serviced offices and meeting rooms on the outskirts of Leeds. We provide first-rate services in our offices and meeting rooms, with easy access to the M1, M62 and City Centre.
Download our travel and meeting rooms guide for more information about WorkWell.
Rolling out of bed at 8.50am. Blearily making yourself a coffee and starting work at 9.00am still in your pyjamas! Sounds heavenly doesnโt it? But is the lure of homeworking as productive, convenient and appealing as it seems? Let us answer the question: Do I need office Space?
Read More about Why you need office space – when you thought you didn’t
Whilst more and more employers are beginning to recognise the multitude of benefits that go hand in hand with flexible office space and flexible working arrangements, there is always going to be a few flexible working sceptics.
Read More about How to Sell flexible office space to a Sceptic
