Now that we’re in 2025, we can see that the business world has gone truly global, and with that comes stiff competition. It’s now more imperative than ever to keep employees as productive as possible, to give companies a fighting chance to survive in the new global market.
Company management will always devise new ways to boost productivity, whether it be through extra bonuses, days off, or even pizza vouchers! But there are other ways that you might not have considered — like taking a closer look at your office furnishing. Take a peek at this handy guide to furnishing trends designed to enhance productivity in your workplace.
Investing in high-quality chairs
This is a basic, but essential, first step to boosting productivity. Equipping an office with high-quality office chairs, and those with 5 points of adjustment, creates a more comfortable perch for employees to work effectively.
Providing power points to desktops
Have you seen how many gadgets the average employee has on them these days? Their whole lives are on charge! Provide access to power points at their desks, allowing them to charge their smartphones, tablets and other gadgetry. These are also useful in break areas.
Offering a “3rd Space”
Office life is no longer a case of “one has to be at one’s desk to be working”. Kit out a 3rd space where employees can get away from their desks for a time while continuing their work.
Using natural materials
Artificial materials like plastics, nylon and polyester may save you money in the short term, but the fact is they’re pesky, uncomfortable and environmentally unsound. If we all got a penny every time they gave us a static shock… Woollen fabrics are more comfortable and sustainable, and hemp gives unbeatable durability. Finally, materials with woven-in nettle fibres have a natural chemical-free fire resistance
Allowing two monitors per computer
Give your employees more screen space so they can get more info up at once — they can get so much more done!
The above may as well have just been a direct description of the office spaces at WorkWell, more details of which can be found on our website. Companies coming to us enjoy furnishing to the highest possible standards, thanks to our steadfast furniture partner, Richardson’s – find out more about their innovative range at www.richardsonsoffice.co.uk
A home office — no more getting up at 6 am, no more commuting, no more traffic jams, no more office politics.
It sounds ideal to most people, but after a while, things can start to change, and one realises that perhaps their having a home office is becoming less and less a good idea. Below are several signs that it’s time to move on and change to a new office environment:
You’re afraid you’re not making a good professional impression.
No matter how much you spruce up your home office, you still may feel uneasy or unprofessional inviting clients to your home to discuss work. Having a professional business address is an important step in building the confidence and success to expand and improve one’s company image.
You’re becoming less productive
In the beginning, you were so excited about being able to work in the relaxed atmosphere of your home; working from the sofa, having the stereo on, being free to take as few or as many breaks as you want. But there comes a time when things get too relaxed and you find yourself getting less and less done each day. This is the time to move on.
You’re feeling lonely
The idea of a quiet space for yourself to get work done sounded ideal initially. But as you get into it, you discover that there was a social aspect to an office that you now miss. Choosing a co-working serviced office space is a perfect remedy for this, as it gives you the chance to work alongside like-minded small business owners. Hey it might even allow you to do some networking.
You can’t achieve a good work-life balance
One advantage of working in an office is that when you finish work, you leave the office behind and get some real downtime at home. When your home is your office, you can never get a real clean break from it, and sooner or later it will start to take over your life, and you’ll find it harder and harder to relax at home.
You’re ready to hire
Business is booming and you need to take on staff to help out. You could allow them to work from their own homes, but in fact working in an office with them allows you to train them more efficiently and build up a closer working relationship. An office space with more people in also becomes a stronger ideas zone.
Are you currently working from home? Perhaps you’re already experiencing some or all of the above. Let us know your experiences and perhaps WorkWell can offer the solution you need.
If you do even the quickest search for ideal desk set-ups on Pinterest, you will be greeted by thousands upon thousands of inspirational ‘deskscapes.’ From minimalist Mac setups to multi-screen tech-heavy setups, there is a whole chorus of arguments all claiming to have the right answer.
But one thing that we’re certain of is this: the way you set up your desk will have a huge impact on your working day. The technology you can easily access, the comfort level of your seating arrangement, and how inspired your surroundings make you feel will all feed into how productive you are.
It’s probably fair to say that there is no definitive ‘perfect’ desk set up. The ideal desk will differ from employee to employee, so it may be wise to allow each member of your team a level of freedom and personalisation when it comes to setting up their own personal workspace.
Whether you’re preparing to set up your own workspace, a selection of meeting rooms or a whole fleet of office suites, we’d advise keeping the following three considerations in mind.
Ergonomic furniture
If you want your team members to be as efficient as possible, it’s important to consider their comfort. Badly considered desks and desk chairs could lead to aches, pains and even limiting health conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome. As many as a third of office-related injuries are believed to be caused by poor workstation set-up.
According to ergonomic principles, the ideal workstation should place the top of the monitor at eye level or just below, with the monitor about an arm’s length away from the body. The chair is arguably the most important element to the whole thing, since it is the chair that needs to support you properly throughout the vast majority of the working day.
It needs to be easily adjustable in case others might need it too, and it should provide support to the whole body when it is seated in a variety of postures. You know that a chair is ergonomically sound if it allows good circulation in the thighs and allows the posture to be maintained with little physical effort. But possibly the most vital consideration when choosing the chair is to ensure that, in height and overall dimensions, it is suited to the type of desk you have opted for.
Keeping the necessary tech close by
The twenty-first-century office runs on technology. Your team will constantly be using digital equipment such as a laptop, smartphone, tablet, webcam, microphone, scanner, printer and smart screen. If you want your employees to be as productive as possible, it makes sense to ensure they have vital tech equipment to hand.
Keep the computer monitor between 20 and 40 inches from your face to minimise the risk of eye strain. Also, adjust the monitor so that the centre sits nicely at eye level. Or, if you are a wearer of bifocals, set the monitor around 15 degrees below eye level so that you can see it comfortably when you tilt your head back slightly to look down at it.
Keeping the space aesthetic
We humans are generally visual creatures. Simply put: we like things to look nice! The way a workstation looks will most certainly have an impact on how productive your team members are on a day-to-day basis. And from files to bottles of water, the general clutter of an office desk can be extremely distracting. Even something as simple as having computer wires on your desk can impact productivity.
Although there’s no specific ‘perfect’ desk set up, as you can see, there are plenty of things you can do with your desk to create a more positive impact on your employees.
The serviced offices at WorkWell are fitted out with high-quality and compliant furniture meeting all the above requirements. Taking on serviced office space here removes the worry of having to meet the requirements yourself! If you’re hoping to rent an office in Leeds or Harrogate, why not find out what WorkWell can offer?
Companies all over the world have long held the view that a sensible use of money is to invest in a property to call their very own.
The disadvantages of buying your business property
Owning a property represents an extra expense which, on closer inspection, can come off as frivolous and unnecessary, especially when you see that renting can bring annual savings reaching millions of pounds.
When you buy property, you are also buying into a potentially disastrous lack of flexibility. The more flexible you want to be, the more property you’re going to have to buy. Renting spaces for office use, meetings, conferences, or other special projects means that you can take on more space exactly when you need it and where you need it and ensures you’re not wasting money on guessing what might be. It also brings advantages to your employees, often slashing commuting times and boosting productivity.
The advantage of renting your business property
It was thought that a private building would speak volumes about a business’s strength and stability as a company. And what’s more, it was commonly accepted that buying a building was a solid long-term investment in a solid asset that could act as a safety net if more turbulent times came along.
However, the tides of change have come, and the waters are closing over this prized maxim. A new wave of property rental has swept the world, proving its worth to companies large and small. From global megalith Walmart and its mere cluster of buildings surrounding their central warehouse, to smaller companies like Yell in the UK, who have recently given up their privately owned branch offices, companies large and small are now feeling the benefits of renting office space instead.
Unless you are a property dealer, why tie up more and more of your money in properties? If property is what you’re after, then it’s better to deal exclusively in property. Renting will allow the valuable capital in your business to work for a much more favourable return. Make a smarter move and explore the myriad of rental options available that can save you a fortune.
Renting frees up funds, reduces exposure to unforeseen maintenance and repair costs (which fall to the landlord) and provides a safer, more adaptable workspace for your team. You aren’t locked into the location; renting makes relocation simpler. Letters aren’t locked into a sales process; you can simply exit the tenancy and move on.
Being such an exciting, vibrant and ambitious urban metropolis, Leeds is a city that’s geared up for business.
Leeds is now recognised as the largest legal and financial centre within the UK, that is outside of London, ranking as the third largest. Its insurance and financial sector has an estimated value of around £13 billion. This sector dominates, with a staggering 38% contribution to the city’s economic output.
If you are thinking about starting a business in Leeds, you are in the right place. Business opportunities in this Yorkshire city are immense, and there is plenty of help in Leeds for a startup business.
If you are about to embark on a business venture in Leeds, have a read of our two-part series of blogs aimed to help your venture into the entrepreneurial world of commerce run smoothly.
In part one, we explore some of the key networking events, groups, services and advice that may prove vital in getting your Leeds-based business off the ground and up and running.
Forum and sign up for Auditel’s monthly newsletter for networking events in Leeds.
Key occupations that can help your Leeds start-up
This networking event in Leeds is particularly useful as it introduces and connects start-ups and SMEs to key occupations that can help a business grow.
Key industries to help new businesses include:
. Accountants:
The strategic methods of a qualified accountant can help examine your business ideas, manage growth and evaluate profit potential. Accountants can prove instrumental in preparing businesses for growth. Being the biggest financial district outside London, there are hundreds of chartered accountants in Leeds.
Business advisors provide start-ups and SMEs with crucial business advice, business plans and strategies to help you reduce operational expenditure, reduce risks and improve profit margins.
. Marketing consultants
A marketing consultant can be a cost-effective way to give your small business the leverage it requires. An experienced and talented marketing consultant will bring their marketing expertise to help market your brand and improve the condition of your business.
Being a breeding ground for businesses, there are hundreds of marketing consultants in Leeds who will create a strategic marketing plan and take your business to the next level.
Services for business
There are numerous services available in Leeds to help people get their business ventures off the ground.
Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber
The Chamber’s Enterprising Leeds project provides intensive business support and coaching to individuals thinking about starting a business in Leeds.
Hosting money-saving services, mentoring and support and events and training, the Chamber can be just what you need to give your business a push in the right direction.
For more information on how the Chamber’s Enterprising Leeds project can help your Leeds-based start-up, visit the official website.
Business & IP Centre Leeds
The libraries of Leeds are home to Business & IP Centre Leeds (BIPC Leeds). BICP Leeds offers one-stop information to support all your start-up ventures.
The organisation also offers regular evening Enterprise Clubs designed to help anyone thinking about starting a business in Leeds. For more information, click here.
Office options for start-ups
Spending money on hefty office overheads is quite simply a non-starter for many start-ups and small businesses. Whilst working in isolation from home isn’t exactly ideal for networking and meeting potential clients and employees.
Communal working spaces provide a cost-effective solution for small businesses to thrive in a communal working environment without having to fork out on expensive office rent. Co-working space in Leeds, like WorkWell, is the perfect office space for start-up businesses in Leeds.
Possessing a vibrant office scene, Leeds is home to a number of co-working centres providing well-facilitated and creative environments for start-ups, entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes.
Situated on the outskirts of Leeds with easy motorway access, WorkWell provides the pulsating co-working space many start-ups and smaller companies yearn for.
If you want to gauge an understanding of how our communal working centre can help evolve your Leeds business from a start-up to an established brand, try co-working in Leeds and come for a viewing of WorkWell co-working space.
Is it the cup or the goal that makes your employers work hard?
I recently read the ‘wikihow’ post for how to get your team motivated. I loved it, it’s how I would like to think I work with my staff.
The players have to pull together, work as a team, and surprise opponents with collective vivaciousness, dexterity and solidarity.
As World Cup fervour mounts across the globe, it highlights the need for teamwork in all walks of life, and none more than the workplace.
Should employers aim for the goal or aim for the cup?
While football inevitably creates individual star players who create stunning solo moments from time to time in a match – hence the sought-after title ‘Man of the Match’ – a team triumphs with greater ease when its players are collectively on form.
The same model of mutual talent, hard work and teamwork can be applied in a working environment.
A bit like on the World Cup football pitch, there will be employees who are more highly skilled, experienced, qualified and hardworking than others. An employer naturally wants to hold onto these ‘star’ employees, develop and nurture them the same way Alex Ferguson did to the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo. Unfortunately for England, Ronaldo is not on their squad, but what England does have is a team of more than proficient players.
Encouraging employees to work together, collaborate, and spark ideas off each other helps breed innovation within the company. Creating a culture that encourages teamwork and collective productivity in the workplace will help your company effectively ‘score goals’.
But we all know scoring goals isn’t enough. What we all really want is to hold the cup.
This is when trusting employees by providing them with a flexible working pattern and environment could prove an invaluable step in the right direction to surpassing rival companies and moving into a leading position in your trade, effectively lifting the ultimate prize – the World Cup.
Setting goals is an inherent way to steer a business towards growth. Similar to Roy Hodgson’s squad, the only way to lift the trophy is by scoring goals. Setting short-term goals is vital if a business is going to compete with competitors and evolve from the limitations of being a start-up into becoming an established, larger company.
Take a look at the following top five reasons for setting short-term goals.
1- Service goals
Setting goals related to improving customer service might be primarily short-term term but they will ultimately contribute to long-term growth. Goals related to improving customer satisfaction will help your business maintain client respect, attract more potential clients and create strong customer retention.
2- Social goals
As the small business ideas publication Inc advises, short-term goals should also focus on social aspects. For example, providing goals that focus on giving back to the community will help increase a company’s PR, how they are seen within the local community and inevitably ensure the business is deemed with greater respect.
3- Set cashflow goals
One short-term goal that ultimately affects long-term outcomes is to maintain cash flow control. Effective cash flow management enables a business to keep a tighter leash on costs and ultimately promote company growth. Cashflow problems waste time and money and ultimately threaten a business’s survival.
4- Strategic thinking
Setting short-term goals helps businesses think within more strategic terms. Strategic planning is a “systematic way of planning for the future” and helps create a sustainable means to long-term survival. As Bacal and Associates, experts in helping businesses create workplace success, state, strategic thinking is a vital component in the success of any business.
5- Building a better brand to create growth goals
Creating a more defined company brand through logos, business stationery, a slogan, and decisive company colours will help craft a more defined business which is consistent. Projecting your company’s personality and what it stands for through its logo, website, and other marketing avenues will help create effective branding, ultimately driving long-term success
Top reasons for setting long-term goals
According to Forbes, 8 out of 10 entrepreneurs who start a business fail within the first 18 months. Setting long-term goals gives businesses direction, a greater sense of purpose and a better understanding of possible roadblocks, which all help drive long-term success.
Take a look at the top five reasons for setting long-term goals.
1- The bigger picture
Having long-term goals in place enables CEOs, directors and business owners to see beyond the challenges of ‘today’ and have a clearer understanding of the working landscape in 12 months’, two years’ or even five years’ time.
2- Maintaining motivation
Being bogged down with arduous and difficult tasks week in week out can lead to low company morale and the feeling of constantly treading in deep water. Having long-term goals in place helps us to see beyond the challenges of today. Knowing there is ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ helps boost company morale, ultimately creating a more contented, proactive and inspired workforce.
3- Creating a compelling vision
As the Goal Setting Guide states, short-term goals are invaluable in helping companies create momentum; they are merely stepping stones to greater, sustainable success. Working out where you want your company to be in five years’ time, how many employees you will have, and what volume of clients will be on your books, will create a compelling vision. Sticking to this compelling vision could ultimately mean the difference between boom and bust.
4- Helps you become more realistic
Having lost 1 – 2 to Italy, Roy Hodgson’s squad realistically knows that if they are going to make it out of the group stages in the World Cup, they need to defend better and score more goals. Short-term goals are great for nurturing immediate success and profit, but setting long-term goals provides businesses with a realistic vision of what is either possible or impossible to achieve.
5- Be better prepared for potential obstructions
Having a long-term strategy in place provides businesses of all sizes and industries with clearer direction. Having a solid direction in place will help your business be in a better position to anticipate setbacks. Being able to anticipate potential problems ensures companies are better prepared for potential roadblocks that inevitably stand in all businesses.
If you want your company to retain ownership of the cup, setting solid short-term goals that act as stepping stones to long-term goals will put your company in a much better position to not only still be in existence in five years’ time, but to be thriving.
The England manager Roy Hodgson believes there are goals in his World Cup squad and the team has the necessary ammunition to buck statistics in Brazil. Whether England has what it takes to lift the cup, we’ll have to wait for the World Cup drama to unravel in the next few weeks.
Meanwhile, if you require a modern, communal, well-facilitated and inspiring location for your business, come for a viewing of WorkWells co-working space in Leeds and Harrogate.
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