INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION BY raconteur.

net #0372 26 / 04 / 2016

THE FUTURE
WORKPLACE
OFFICES WITH A NEW LOOK 08
GAZING INTO FUTURE
10
ROBOTS WITH iPADS
12
SELF-EMPLOYMENT
03 HAVE A DIFFERENT MEANING
UK OFFICE SPACES FOR REMOTE STAFF IS ON THE UP AND UP
The future focus is on improved Technology is set to transform Will half the UK workforce be
The workspace is evolving into a place of enterprise and interaction wellbeing and productivity workplaces and workers’ lives self-employed by 2020?
 RACONTEUR 26 / 04 / 2016 raconteur.net THE FUTURE WORKPLACE 03

The Clubhouse
T H E Z I G Z AG B U I LD I N G THE FUTURE
thezigzagbuilding.com
WORKPLACE

DISTRIBUTED IN

RESEARCH
PARTNER

JUST ADD RACONTEUR

TALENT PUBLISHING MANAGER

Richard Hadler
HEAD OF PRODUCTION
Natalia Rosek

Offices have new

PRODUCTION EDITOR DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER
Benjamin Chiou Sarah Allidina
MANAGING EDITOR DESIGN
Peter Archer Samuele Motta

look and meaning

Grant Chapman
Kellie Jerrard
50 Grosvenor Hill, by
London business club
The Clubhouse, which
CONTRIBUTORS provides meeting

The workspace is evolving into a place where enterprise rooms, hot-desks

and lounges

NIKI CHESWORTH
Award-winning finance
I N V I C TO R IA , W E’ R E CR E AT I N G I NS PI R I N G and human resources
journalist, she is the author
WO R K EN V I RO N M ENTS . EN G I N EER ED TO of more than a dozen books
and writes features for
N URT UR E A N D R E TA I N TA L ENT, E ACH newspapers and magazines.
S PACE PRO M OT ES H E A LT H A N D W EL L- B EI N G
KAREN
W IT H A N A R R AY O F A M EN IT I ES HIGGINBOTTOM
Freelance journalist,
A N D I M AG I NAT IV E PUB L I C R E A L M .
PETER CRUSH
Freelance business
and social interaction can combine to promote
journalist, specialising
in human resources creativity and drive the economy
and management issues,
he was deputy editor
of HR magazine.
OVERVIEW
NICK The workplace is central to this. find media in London Bridge and tain talent by focusing on health and
MARTINDALE NIKI CHESWORTH Millennials have different values. advertising on the South Bank. And wellbeing, catering to the needs of
Award-winning writer Three in ten would even accept a 10 while moving premises can lead to employees not just in the office with

T
she has written on a range and editor, he contributes per cent reduction in their reward significant savings, it is less about natural light, showers, open spaces
of workplace issues for to national business and he office has never been package to work somewhere that property costs, which might only be and everything that employees in-
national newspapers trade press on a wide
more important. And it is had their ideal features, according 15 per cent of a business’s overheads, creasingly expect,” says Kaela Fenn-
and Thomson Reuters. range of issues.
millennials – the twenty to British Land research. and more about moving to the right Smith, London head of commercial
and thirty-somethings – This is partly because the lines be- premises and where the talent wants at Land Securities, the UK’s largest
CHARLES who are dictating how, where and tween work and social are increas- to be,” adds Mr Oakley. commercial property company.
H A PPY S TA FF EFFI CI ENT W EL L- B EI N G ORTON-JONES when we work. ingly being blurred, which has more As these younger workers spend “It’s also about what’s on offer
Award-winning journalist,
Not only are they now the largest to do with the residential property more time in and around the out of the office with amenities
he was editor-at-large of
LondonlovesBusiness.com
segment of the workforce, accord- market than the office market. office, although not necessarily that everyone wants close by, from
and editor of EuroBusiness. ing to professional services firm “Much has been working, the office great food and retail, to some-
Deloitte they will make up 75 per made of flexible becomes more im- where to sit on a sunny day.”
H OT EL-S T Y L E CO N CI ERG E PUB L I C R E A L M
cent of the global workforce by and home-work- portant. For the Matthew Turner, head of mar-
2025. As such they are rewriting ing, which is ideal one in seven work- keting at Regus UK, adds: “Work-
the rule book. if you have a nice, ing for themselves, spaces are becoming more of an
Any employer who fails to take quiet home to The office is the same is true, experience, and one that people
5* S H OW ER S C YCL E S TAT I O NS note of the needs of this genera- work from,” says increasingly seen as Olly Olsen, chief want to enjoy for the social aspects
N OVA , VI C TO RIA tion, which has never known life Mat Oakley, re-
as a destination, executive of The as much as the networking, where
without the internet or a smart- search director of Office Group, points the blend between work and home
novasw1.com rather than just
phone and has very different ex- Savills. “So while out: “Just because is blurred, and where you can work
pectations about work, will fail two days’ working somewhere you work for your- collaboratively and eat and meet
to compete. from home might self, does not mean with other people – more of a club.”
So while in the short term the cater to the needs
to work you want to work But the last word has to go to the
Inside and out, people stand at the heart of our design. London office market is being in- of the more ma- by yourself.” millennials. They think offices
fluenced by Brexit fears, rising ture worker, what Matthew Bon- need to work harder, according to
In our transformation of Victoria, we’ve created optimum rents, low vacancy rates, economic about the 24 year ning-Snook, a di- British Land, with 98 per cent of
work environments, engineered to nurture talent and inspire uncertainty, nearshoring and off- old sharing a flat with four other rector at property developer Hel- London office workers in this age
people to excel. shoring, employers need to keep people who only has a small bed- ical Bar, says: “Buildings have to group saying communal working
their eye on the future. room to work from? be refurbished more often to keep areas are important, even more
Although this publication is funded through advertising and
That is why more than nine in ten “Employers have to meet the up with the needs of millennials, than location, but they are not al-
Thoughtfully designed terraces, public spaces and local parks sponsorship, all editorial is without bias and sponsored features
are clearly labelled. For an upcoming schedule, partnership in- UK human resources and business needs of ‘generation rent’ and also whether that is showers and bicycle ways good enough.
ensure there’s room to breathe, and think. While plentiful cycle quiries or feedback, please call +44 (0)20 8616 7400 or e-mail leaders see redesigning their or- prepare for the fact that with resi- storage or healthy eating options, In addition, 90 per cent want an
spaces don’t just provide secure storage, they encourage people info@raconteur.net ganisation as their most important dential rents rising faster than pro- fitness and more open spaces. They “overall buzz” in their office location,
to bike to work, alleviating stress. With art galleries and cultural Raconteur is a leading publisher of special-interest content priority, according to Deloitte’s ductivity, this is likely to impact on want the office to have more of a and 84 per cent say that outdoor are-
and research. Its publications and articles cover a wide range Global Human Capital Trends their ability to retain these millen- buzz and mixed-use offers this pro- as and gardens are also desirable.
spaces nearby, inspiration is only a walk away. And, there’s of topics, including business, finance, sustainability, health- 2016 Survey. nials. If they need to earn more to vided there are collaborative areas – It seems that in the office of the
an onsite concierge to lend a hand. This environment embraces care, lifestyle and technology. Raconteur special reports are
It is not just about efficiencies pay their rent, they will move to a and, of course, good coffee.” future, desks hardly figure on the
published exclusively in The Times and The Sunday Times as well
happiness as the key to success. as online at raconteur.net
and productivity, but meeting the better-paid job.” As such the office is increasingly list of wants and desires. But then,
The information contained in this publication has been ob-
varying expectations and working Office workers are not the only seen as a destination, rather than will anyone “own” a desk in future?
tained from sources the Proprietors believe to be correct. styles of different generational ones who are more nomadic, busi- just somewhere to work.
However, no legal liability can be accepted for any errors. No groups, and the need to cater to the nesses are too. “It is no longer just about offer- Share this article online via
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior employee in an increasingly com- “The geographical boundaries of ing the right working environment. Raconteur.net
consent of the Publisher. © Raconteur Media petitive marketplace. London no longer apply. You can Businesses want to attract and re-
landsecuritieslondon.com/justaddtalent
BUSINESS CULTURE FINANCE HEALTHCARE LIFESTYLE SUSTAINABILITY TECHNOLOGY INFOGRAPHICS http://raconteur.net/the-future-workplace
 RACONTEUR 26 / 04 / 2016 raconteur.net THE FUTURE WORKPLACE 03

The Clubhouse
T H E Z I G Z AG B U I LD I N G THE FUTURE
thezigzagbuilding.com
WORKPLACE

DISTRIBUTED IN

RESEARCH
PARTNER

JUST ADD RACONTEUR

TALENT PUBLISHING MANAGER

Richard Hadler
HEAD OF PRODUCTION
Natalia Rosek

Offices have new

PRODUCTION EDITOR DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER
Benjamin Chiou Sarah Allidina
MANAGING EDITOR DESIGN
Peter Archer Samuele Motta

look and meaning

Grant Chapman
Kellie Jerrard
50 Grosvenor Hill, by
London business club
The Clubhouse, which
CONTRIBUTORS provides meeting

The workspace is evolving into a place where enterprise rooms, hot-desks

and lounges

NIKI CHESWORTH
Award-winning finance
I N V I C TO R IA , W E’ R E CR E AT I N G I NS PI R I N G and human resources
journalist, she is the author
WO R K EN V I RO N M ENTS . EN G I N EER ED TO of more than a dozen books
and writes features for
N URT UR E A N D R E TA I N TA L ENT, E ACH newspapers and magazines.
S PACE PRO M OT ES H E A LT H A N D W EL L- B EI N G
KAREN
W IT H A N A R R AY O F A M EN IT I ES HIGGINBOTTOM
Freelance journalist,
A N D I M AG I NAT IV E PUB L I C R E A L M .
PETER CRUSH
Freelance business
and social interaction can combine to promote
journalist, specialising
in human resources creativity and drive the economy
and management issues,
he was deputy editor
of HR magazine.
OVERVIEW
NICK The workplace is central to this. find media in London Bridge and tain talent by focusing on health and
MARTINDALE NIKI CHESWORTH Millennials have different values. advertising on the South Bank. And wellbeing, catering to the needs of
Award-winning writer Three in ten would even accept a 10 while moving premises can lead to employees not just in the office with

T
she has written on a range and editor, he contributes per cent reduction in their reward significant savings, it is less about natural light, showers, open spaces
of workplace issues for to national business and he office has never been package to work somewhere that property costs, which might only be and everything that employees in-
national newspapers trade press on a wide
more important. And it is had their ideal features, according 15 per cent of a business’s overheads, creasingly expect,” says Kaela Fenn-
and Thomson Reuters. range of issues.
millennials – the twenty to British Land research. and more about moving to the right Smith, London head of commercial
and thirty-somethings – This is partly because the lines be- premises and where the talent wants at Land Securities, the UK’s largest
CHARLES who are dictating how, where and tween work and social are increas- to be,” adds Mr Oakley. commercial property company.
H A PPY S TA FF EFFI CI ENT W EL L- B EI N G ORTON-JONES when we work. ingly being blurred, which has more As these younger workers spend “It’s also about what’s on offer
Award-winning journalist,
Not only are they now the largest to do with the residential property more time in and around the out of the office with amenities
he was editor-at-large of
LondonlovesBusiness.com
segment of the workforce, accord- market than the office market. office, although not necessarily that everyone wants close by, from
and editor of EuroBusiness. ing to professional services firm “Much has been working, the office great food and retail, to some-
Deloitte they will make up 75 per made of flexible becomes more im- where to sit on a sunny day.”
H OT EL-S T Y L E CO N CI ERG E PUB L I C R E A L M
cent of the global workforce by and home-work- portant. For the Matthew Turner, head of mar-
2025. As such they are rewriting ing, which is ideal one in seven work- keting at Regus UK, adds: “Work-
the rule book. if you have a nice, ing for themselves, spaces are becoming more of an
Any employer who fails to take quiet home to The office is the same is true, experience, and one that people
5* S H OW ER S C YCL E S TAT I O NS note of the needs of this genera- work from,” says increasingly seen as Olly Olsen, chief want to enjoy for the social aspects
N OVA , VI C TO RIA tion, which has never known life Mat Oakley, re-
as a destination, executive of The as much as the networking, where
without the internet or a smart- search director of Office Group, points the blend between work and home
novasw1.com rather than just
phone and has very different ex- Savills. “So while out: “Just because is blurred, and where you can work
pectations about work, will fail two days’ working somewhere you work for your- collaboratively and eat and meet
to compete. from home might self, does not mean with other people – more of a club.”
So while in the short term the cater to the needs
to work you want to work But the last word has to go to the
Inside and out, people stand at the heart of our design. London office market is being in- of the more ma- by yourself.” millennials. They think offices
fluenced by Brexit fears, rising ture worker, what Matthew Bon- need to work harder, according to
In our transformation of Victoria, we’ve created optimum rents, low vacancy rates, economic about the 24 year ning-Snook, a di- British Land, with 98 per cent of
work environments, engineered to nurture talent and inspire uncertainty, nearshoring and off- old sharing a flat with four other rector at property developer Hel- London office workers in this age
people to excel. shoring, employers need to keep people who only has a small bed- ical Bar, says: “Buildings have to group saying communal working
their eye on the future. room to work from? be refurbished more often to keep areas are important, even more
Although this publication is funded through advertising and
That is why more than nine in ten “Employers have to meet the up with the needs of millennials, than location, but they are not al-
Thoughtfully designed terraces, public spaces and local parks sponsorship, all editorial is without bias and sponsored features
are clearly labelled. For an upcoming schedule, partnership in- UK human resources and business needs of ‘generation rent’ and also whether that is showers and bicycle ways good enough.
ensure there’s room to breathe, and think. While plentiful cycle quiries or feedback, please call +44 (0)20 8616 7400 or e-mail leaders see redesigning their or- prepare for the fact that with resi- storage or healthy eating options, In addition, 90 per cent want an
spaces don’t just provide secure storage, they encourage people info@raconteur.net ganisation as their most important dential rents rising faster than pro- fitness and more open spaces. They “overall buzz” in their office location,
to bike to work, alleviating stress. With art galleries and cultural Raconteur is a leading publisher of special-interest content priority, according to Deloitte’s ductivity, this is likely to impact on want the office to have more of a and 84 per cent say that outdoor are-
and research. Its publications and articles cover a wide range Global Human Capital Trends their ability to retain these millen- buzz and mixed-use offers this pro- as and gardens are also desirable.
spaces nearby, inspiration is only a walk away. And, there’s of topics, including business, finance, sustainability, health- 2016 Survey. nials. If they need to earn more to vided there are collaborative areas – It seems that in the office of the
an onsite concierge to lend a hand. This environment embraces care, lifestyle and technology. Raconteur special reports are
It is not just about efficiencies pay their rent, they will move to a and, of course, good coffee.” future, desks hardly figure on the
published exclusively in The Times and The Sunday Times as well
happiness as the key to success. as online at raconteur.net
and productivity, but meeting the better-paid job.” As such the office is increasingly list of wants and desires. But then,
The information contained in this publication has been ob-
varying expectations and working Office workers are not the only seen as a destination, rather than will anyone “own” a desk in future?
tained from sources the Proprietors believe to be correct. styles of different generational ones who are more nomadic, busi- just somewhere to work.
However, no legal liability can be accepted for any errors. No groups, and the need to cater to the nesses are too. “It is no longer just about offer- Share this article online via
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior employee in an increasingly com- “The geographical boundaries of ing the right working environment. Raconteur.net
consent of the Publisher. © Raconteur Media petitive marketplace. London no longer apply. You can Businesses want to attract and re-
landsecuritieslondon.com/justaddtalent
BUSINESS CULTURE FINANCE HEALTHCARE LIFESTYLE SUSTAINABILITY TECHNOLOGY INFOGRAPHICS http://raconteur.net/the-future-workplace
04 THE FUTURE WORKPLACE
FLEXIBLE OFFICES
KAREN HIGGINBOTTOM
I
n the 21st century, the ability to
work flexibly has and continues
to shape the modern workplace.
Provision for flexible working is
increasingly widespread in the UK,
with 77 per cent of employees working
in organisations that provide some
kind of flexible working arrange-
ments, according to The Flex Factor
report. It also seems to be what work-
ers want as flexible hours came top
of an employers’ wish list in a Crown
Workplace Relocation survey.
There are multiple benefits for the
employer from flexible working ar-
rangements, according to The Flex
Factor study. It estimates that flexi-
ble working could generate £6.9 bil-
lion of productive hours and work-
station savings of £1.1 billion for the
UK economy.
“From the employee perspective,
the benefits are that they become
more productive, can choose their
hours and where they’re working,”
says Edward Truch, professor of
management science at Lancaster
University Management School and
co-author of the report.
But it’s not simply about flexible
hours and, in its broadest sense, flex-
ible working is much more than just
saving desk space. It is also about
supporting today’s workforce who ex-
pect not to be tied to a desk, says Mar-
tin Laws, a partner at Deloitte real
estate. “Flexible working includes
access to a variety of working envi-
ronments that best align to the task
being undertaken and these are in-
creasingly no longer dedicated to one
individual’s use.”
The emergence of tech startups
has influenced other companies to
offer their staff choice and flexibility
in how they work, comments Steve
Brewer, partner at workplace design
consultancy Burtt-Jones & Brewer.
“We’ve seen that filtering down in
other sectors, but I think it’s more
to do with technology and the de-
mands that people place on it rather
than tech startups.”
Jeremy Myerson, professor of de-
sign at the Royal College of Art, ar-
gues that organisations are failing to
keep up with the flexible patterns of
work that exist in the UK when they
create work environments. “Lots of
organisations still think that ‘x’ num-
ber of people are sitting at a desk, but
a lot of large organisations have low
02
raconteur.net
01
Traditional office or
flexible workspace?
Working in flexible spaces and varied environments is on the rise
in the UK, but traditional offices may remain the choice
of firms where teamwork is less important
occupancy rates. A lot of employees office supplier Steelcase of 12,000
don’t want a desk and carry their workers across 17 countries found
technology with them,” he says. the UK leads the world for open-plan
Flexible working practices have offices and has more than twice the
gone hand in hand with the increas- number of nomadic workers than
ing popularity of open-plan offices the global average.
where employees often hot-desk or In 2014, law firm Gowling WLG
work in wi-fi-enabled social spaces moved into its Birmingham office
within the building. An Engagement which was predicated on a work-
and the Global Workforce study by place strategy that employees move
to different types of space depend-
ing on the type of work they’re
Gensler
doing. The Birmingham office is
mostly open-plan, but also included
quiet rooms, team rooms, breakout
spaces, video conference rooms and
quick-meet rooms.
Before the move to its new prem-
ises, the firm had one or two com-
pletely mobile staff, explains Rich-
ard Jones, Gowling WLG’s director
of the leadership team. “When we
were planning this move, we wanted
to change a few things and mobility
was one of them,” he says. “We need-
ed there to be full wi-fi in our new
building, and to upgrade our remote
and home-working IT.”
The firm is currently running a
pilot for 25 of its employees, known
as “unpluggers”, who have no desk
space in the new Birmingham of-
fice. “We focused on teams with
particularly mobile work patterns
and in most cases a partner in the
relevant team agreed to be the ‘un-
plugged’ lead to champion the initi-
ative,” says Mr Jones. “Our aim is to
allow the business to grow without
needing to take lots of addition-
al space and to increase our ‘un-
plugged’ community as our work-
ing practices evolve.”
Gowling WLG also has a travelling
population of 50 employees between
their London and Birmingham offic-
es. “We’ve got a hot-desk system so
you can book whichever desk is free,”
he says. In the Birmingham office,
staff are encouraged to move around
the building and not be anchored to
a desk. “We get a lot of people work-
ing in our staff restaurant and small
booth areas,” Mr Jones adds.
Adopting a flexible working cul-
ture can also foster collaborative
workplaces, according to The Fu-
ture Workplace report by The Future
Laboratory. It found that in order to
attract and retain high-calibre em-
26 / 04 / 2016 RACONTEUR
Gensler
ployees, companies need to foster
a more collaborative environment.
This might involve hot-desking,
hosting ideas workshops and regu-
larly switching teams.
An example of an organisation
that is encouraging its employees to
be more collaborative and flexible
in the way they work is insurance
giant Aon. The firm consolidated its
seven business groups into one sin-
gle headquarters in The Leadenhall
building in the City of London. Aon
Flexible working
practices have
gone hand in hand
with the increasing
popularity of open-
plan offices where
employees often
hot-desk or work
in wi-fi-enabled
social spaces within
the building
decided to move from a traditional,
one-to-one, desk-based occupation
to a flexible environment based on
eight desks to every ten employees.
“We were one of the first insurance
firms to move to an agile work en-
vironment and this was driven by a
number of factors,” explains Todd
Budgen, Aon’s director of UK real es-
tate. “We wanted to create an envi-
ronment that encourages collabora-
tion. We needed to provide informal
working space and move away from
the idea that everyone has a desk.”
Spread across 11 of the building’s
lower floors, the new headquarters
accommodates a workforce of 3,300
people. There is a balance of collab-
orative spaces and quiet zones for fo-
cused activities. “The whole building
is wi-fi-enabled and every member
of staff has a laptop and is not tied to
01 one space,” says Mr Budgen.
Series of informal But this doesn’t mean that the tra-
collaboration
spaces in the atrium
ditional workplace with one desk
of Gowling WLG’s per person and enclosed offices is a
Birmingham office redundant model, argues Professor
Myerson. “The workplace design de-
02
pends on the organisational culture.
Aon staff canteen,
designed by There are still lots of traditional
Gensler, which firms with a high degree of process
is also used as a and they need people working in-
workspace and for
short meetings
dividually so enclosed offices are
a good idea there. However, most
organisations have gone open-plan,
but it doesn’t work for some employ-
ees as it can be distracting,” he says.
The number of people working
flexibly and connecting to the or-
ganisation will continue to increase,
says Philip Tidd, head of consulting
at architecture, design and consult-
ing firm Gensler. “Flexible working
definitely has an impact, but you
need to get the balance right, other-
wise employees will feel an increas-
ing sense of disconnection if they’re
working away.”
Share this article online via
raconteur.net
RACONTEUR xx / 04
26 xx / 2016
xxxx
RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME, RIGHT SERVICE
From startups to the largest corporates, dynamic firms are operating flexibly and acting fast to stay ahead of
today’s workplace demands
W
hen Google needs to move –
into a new market or bigger
premises – this dynamic,
digital giant needs to move fast.
That is why Regus is Google’s go-
to flexible office provider because
Regus makes it “so easy to expand”.
When Toshiba wanted to enter
six new markets, it too used
Regus solutions. “Simple and cost
effective”, is how the firm sums up
the service, adding that Regus makes
setting up “risk and hassle free”.
For Salesforce.com, the enterprise
cloud computing company, the need
was for a ready-to-go space that was
easy to upgrade. Once again, Regus
provided the solution, in this case for
60 new staff.
“We can have an immediate
presence in a new market with all
the tools and resources necessary
for our company to be productive,”
says Salesforce.com, which has
since grown to more than 20 Regus
locations across Europe, North
America and Asia.
The same benefits of flexibility,
agility, reliability and cost
efficiency, as well as a great working
environment, apply to home
workers, sole traders, entrepreneurs
and also established firms.
So, while most of the Fortune
500 and FTSE 500 businesses are
Regus customers, so are many
dynamic startups.
74%
of UK businesses
believe flexible
working makes
employees more
productive
45%
of UK professionals
work outside their
main office for
more than half
the week
79%
of UK businesses
regard co-
working as more
cost effective
than fixed-
office leasing
Source: Regus survey of more than
3,000 professionals across the UK
“Just take a look at The Sunday
Times Fast Track list of the top 100
fastest-growing companies in the UK
– you will find numerous who have
been or still are Regus clients,” says
Richard Morris, UK chief executive.
As the largest provider of flexible
and innovative workplace solutions
in the world, Regus can offer an
unrivalled choice of locations –
100-plus centres in London alone
and 350 across the UK.
SERVICING NEEDS
What has contributed to its success is
that Regus is more than just a property
company – it is a service provider.
“Technology has changed
expectations as to how people
consume and buy everything, and
commercial property is no different,”
says Mr Morris.
“Whether you are a Google or a
gig-economy startup, we understand
that your focus is on increasing
productivity, reducing costs, being
more agile, and recruiting and
retaining the right talent to drive
your business forward.
“Also our business customers no
longer want to tie up cash flow in
premises or be tied down to a long
lease. Instead they want to work
in more collaborative, creative
and flexible ways to be innovative
and grow.
“While flexibility is increasingly
important for businesses to remain
agile, location is always the number-
one factor. Businesses of all sizes want
and need to be next to clients, near
raconteur.net
COMMERCIAL FEATURE
to investors and to be well situated to
attract and retain the right talent.
“That means near to train and
transport connections, and perhaps
businesses in the same sector. This
is a key differentiator for Regus
because we have such a large and
unique network of high-quality,
conveniently located workplaces,
and as a Regus member you have
access to all of these.
“In turn, that means your business
can be more agile. You can expand,
move and create multiple locations,
and enable staff to work wherever it
is convenient rather than having to
travel to one fixed location.
“Choice also means you can
select a Regus office that reflects
your brand, attracting both clients
and staff. For private equity and
hedge fund companies that might
be a high-end corporate look in
Mayfair, while a creative and tech
startup might be seeking a more
contemporary collaborative space
in the West End or further east.”
HOME-WORK TO CO-WORK
Those moving from home-working
to co-working, seeking the buzz
of an office and the networking
opportunities that nomadic workers
often miss, are also catered for.
From £3.75 per hour for a day office
or £5 per hour for a hot desk, Regus
has some affordable entry points.
What has contributed to its
success is that Regus is more than
just a property company – it is a
service provider
XXXX
THE FUTURE WORKPLACE 2
05
“If you are a home-based
business, you can start with a virtual
office from just £50 per month,
giving you the right business
address for your venture, with a
local contact number answered
in your company name, and a
professional team to manage your
calls and handle your mail,” says Mr
Morris. “You can also use a private
office at the business centre of
your choice and benefit from our
unrivalled network of locations.
“Regus provides the reassurance
that all those other business
necessities, from high-speed and
reliable broadband to printers,
photocopiers and scanners, are all
taken care of – and, as you would
expect, it is all bookable by app.
“Depending on which of our
premises you choose, you can also
benefit from showers if you cycle to
work or car parking for those who
drive. Some have 24-hour access,
and others gym and fitness rooms.
Because we have such a large
network, we can offer different
services to meet different needs.
“Our buying power enables Regus
to offer exclusive deals from global
providers, such as Amazon, Google
and Microsoft, through the Regus
Marketplace, and our Regus Gold
Card gives members access to
3,000 locations around the world,
18 million wi-fi hotspots, and 700
airport lounges and work pods.”
Regus customers enjoy a club-like
atmosphere at many locations, not
just in the café areas and breakout
spaces, but through networking and
social events, with new members
offered the opportunity to give a
small pitch.
“There is a strong membership
aspect,” says Mr Morris. “We find
that like-mined businesses tend to
gravitate to similar locations, usually
near to where their clients are based
or where it is easier to attract talent,
and many also find clients in the
same building or use the networking
opportunities to get advice and
share experiences. As such, Regus
premises tend to be hubs of
creativity and hives of activity.”
That is why Regus focuses on
being in the right places, at the right
time and offering the right services.
“Regus may have 3,000 locations
worldwide, but we are only at
the beginning of the workplace
revolution,” Mr Morris concludes.
“This is the future of work and we
are only scratching the surface.”
For more information please visit
www.regus.co.uk
04 THE FUTURE WORKPLACE
FLEXIBLE OFFICES
KAREN HIGGINBOTTOM
I
n the 21st century, the ability to
work flexibly has and continues
to shape the modern workplace.
Provision for flexible working is
increasingly widespread in the UK,
with 77 per cent of employees working
in organisations that provide some
kind of flexible working arrange-
ments, according to The Flex Factor
report. It also seems to be what work-
ers want as flexible hours came top
of an employers’ wish list in a Crown
Workplace Relocation survey.
There are multiple benefits for the
employer from flexible working ar-
rangements, according to The Flex
Factor study. It estimates that flexi-
ble working could generate £6.9 bil-
lion of productive hours and work-
station savings of £1.1 billion for the
UK economy.
“From the employee perspective,
the benefits are that they become
more productive, can choose their
hours and where they’re working,”
says Edward Truch, professor of
management science at Lancaster
University Management School and
co-author of the report.
But it’s not simply about flexible
hours and, in its broadest sense, flex-
ible working is much more than just
saving desk space. It is also about
supporting today’s workforce who ex-
pect not to be tied to a desk, says Mar-
tin Laws, a partner at Deloitte real
estate. “Flexible working includes
access to a variety of working envi-
ronments that best align to the task
being undertaken and these are in-
creasingly no longer dedicated to one
individual’s use.”
The emergence of tech startups
has influenced other companies to
offer their staff choice and flexibility
in how they work, comments Steve
Brewer, partner at workplace design
consultancy Burtt-Jones & Brewer.
“We’ve seen that filtering down in
other sectors, but I think it’s more
to do with technology and the de-
mands that people place on it rather
than tech startups.”
Jeremy Myerson, professor of de-
sign at the Royal College of Art, ar-
gues that organisations are failing to
keep up with the flexible patterns of
work that exist in the UK when they
create work environments. “Lots of
organisations still think that ‘x’ num-
ber of people are sitting at a desk, but
a lot of large organisations have low
02
raconteur.net
01
Traditional office or
flexible workspace?
Working in flexible spaces and varied environments is on the rise
in the UK, but traditional offices may remain the choice
of firms where teamwork is less important
occupancy rates. A lot of employees office supplier Steelcase of 12,000
don’t want a desk and carry their workers across 17 countries found
technology with them,” he says. the UK leads the world for open-plan
Flexible working practices have offices and has more than twice the
gone hand in hand with the increas- number of nomadic workers than
ing popularity of open-plan offices the global average.
where employees often hot-desk or In 2014, law firm Gowling WLG
work in wi-fi-enabled social spaces moved into its Birmingham office
within the building. An Engagement which was predicated on a work-
and the Global Workforce study by place strategy that employees move
to different types of space depend-
ing on the type of work they’re
Gensler
doing. The Birmingham office is
mostly open-plan, but also included
quiet rooms, team rooms, breakout
spaces, video conference rooms and
quick-meet rooms.
Before the move to its new prem-
ises, the firm had one or two com-
pletely mobile staff, explains Rich-
ard Jones, Gowling WLG’s director
of the leadership team. “When we
were planning this move, we wanted
to change a few things and mobility
was one of them,” he says. “We need-
ed there to be full wi-fi in our new
building, and to upgrade our remote
and home-working IT.”
The firm is currently running a
pilot for 25 of its employees, known
as “unpluggers”, who have no desk
space in the new Birmingham of-
fice. “We focused on teams with
particularly mobile work patterns
and in most cases a partner in the
relevant team agreed to be the ‘un-
plugged’ lead to champion the initi-
ative,” says Mr Jones. “Our aim is to
allow the business to grow without
needing to take lots of addition-
al space and to increase our ‘un-
plugged’ community as our work-
ing practices evolve.”
Gowling WLG also has a travelling
population of 50 employees between
their London and Birmingham offic-
es. “We’ve got a hot-desk system so
you can book whichever desk is free,”
he says. In the Birmingham office,
staff are encouraged to move around
the building and not be anchored to
a desk. “We get a lot of people work-
ing in our staff restaurant and small
booth areas,” Mr Jones adds.
Adopting a flexible working cul-
ture can also foster collaborative
workplaces, according to The Fu-
ture Workplace report by The Future
Laboratory. It found that in order to
attract and retain high-calibre em-
26 / 04 / 2016 RACONTEUR
Gensler
ployees, companies need to foster
a more collaborative environment.
This might involve hot-desking,
hosting ideas workshops and regu-
larly switching teams.
An example of an organisation
that is encouraging its employees to
be more collaborative and flexible
in the way they work is insurance
giant Aon. The firm consolidated its
seven business groups into one sin-
gle headquarters in The Leadenhall
building in the City of London. Aon
Flexible working
practices have
gone hand in hand
with the increasing
popularity of open-
plan offices where
employees often
hot-desk or work
in wi-fi-enabled
social spaces within
the building
decided to move from a traditional,
one-to-one, desk-based occupation
to a flexible environment based on
eight desks to every ten employees.
“We were one of the first insurance
firms to move to an agile work en-
vironment and this was driven by a
number of factors,” explains Todd
Budgen, Aon’s director of UK real es-
tate. “We wanted to create an envi-
ronment that encourages collabora-
tion. We needed to provide informal
working space and move away from
the idea that everyone has a desk.”
Spread across 11 of the building’s
lower floors, the new headquarters
accommodates a workforce of 3,300
people. There is a balance of collab-
orative spaces and quiet zones for fo-
cused activities. “The whole building
is wi-fi-enabled and every member
of staff has a laptop and is not tied to
01 one space,” says Mr Budgen.
Series of informal But this doesn’t mean that the tra-
collaboration
spaces in the atrium
ditional workplace with one desk
of Gowling WLG’s per person and enclosed offices is a
Birmingham office redundant model, argues Professor
Myerson. “The workplace design de-
02
pends on the organisational culture.
Aon staff canteen,
designed by There are still lots of traditional
Gensler, which firms with a high degree of process
is also used as a and they need people working in-
workspace and for
short meetings
dividually so enclosed offices are
a good idea there. However, most
organisations have gone open-plan,
but it doesn’t work for some employ-
ees as it can be distracting,” he says.
The number of people working
flexibly and connecting to the or-
ganisation will continue to increase,
says Philip Tidd, head of consulting
at architecture, design and consult-
ing firm Gensler. “Flexible working
definitely has an impact, but you
need to get the balance right, other-
wise employees will feel an increas-
ing sense of disconnection if they’re
working away.”
Share this article online via
raconteur.net
RACONTEUR xx / 04
26 xx / 2016
xxxx
RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME, RIGHT SERVICE
From startups to the largest corporates, dynamic firms are operating flexibly and acting fast to stay ahead of
today’s workplace demands
W
hen Google needs to move –
into a new market or bigger
premises – this dynamic,
digital giant needs to move fast.
That is why Regus is Google’s go-
to flexible office provider because
Regus makes it “so easy to expand”.
When Toshiba wanted to enter
six new markets, it too used
Regus solutions. “Simple and cost
effective”, is how the firm sums up
the service, adding that Regus makes
setting up “risk and hassle free”.
For Salesforce.com, the enterprise
cloud computing company, the need
was for a ready-to-go space that was
easy to upgrade. Once again, Regus
provided the solution, in this case for
60 new staff.
“We can have an immediate
presence in a new market with all
the tools and resources necessary
for our company to be productive,”
says Salesforce.com, which has
since grown to more than 20 Regus
locations across Europe, North
America and Asia.
The same benefits of flexibility,
agility, reliability and cost
efficiency, as well as a great working
environment, apply to home
workers, sole traders, entrepreneurs
and also established firms.
So, while most of the Fortune
500 and FTSE 500 businesses are
Regus customers, so are many
dynamic startups.
74%
of UK businesses
believe flexible
working makes
employees more
productive
45%
of UK professionals
work outside their
main office for
more than half
the week
79%
of UK businesses
regard co-
working as more
cost effective
than fixed-
office leasing
Source: Regus survey of more than
3,000 professionals across the UK
“Just take a look at The Sunday
Times Fast Track list of the top 100
fastest-growing companies in the UK
– you will find numerous who have
been or still are Regus clients,” says
Richard Morris, UK chief executive.
As the largest provider of flexible
and innovative workplace solutions
in the world, Regus can offer an
unrivalled choice of locations –
100-plus centres in London alone
and 350 across the UK.
SERVICING NEEDS
What has contributed to its success is
that Regus is more than just a property
company – it is a service provider.
“Technology has changed
expectations as to how people
consume and buy everything, and
commercial property is no different,”
says Mr Morris.
“Whether you are a Google or a
gig-economy startup, we understand
that your focus is on increasing
productivity, reducing costs, being
more agile, and recruiting and
retaining the right talent to drive
your business forward.
“Also our business customers no
longer want to tie up cash flow in
premises or be tied down to a long
lease. Instead they want to work
in more collaborative, creative
and flexible ways to be innovative
and grow.
“While flexibility is increasingly
important for businesses to remain
agile, location is always the number-
one factor. Businesses of all sizes want
and need to be next to clients, near
raconteur.net
COMMERCIAL FEATURE
to investors and to be well situated to
attract and retain the right talent.
“That means near to train and
transport connections, and perhaps
businesses in the same sector. This
is a key differentiator for Regus
because we have such a large and
unique network of high-quality,
conveniently located workplaces,
and as a Regus member you have
access to all of these.
“In turn, that means your business
can be more agile. You can expand,
move and create multiple locations,
and enable staff to work wherever it
is convenient rather than having to
travel to one fixed location.
“Choice also means you can
select a Regus office that reflects
your brand, attracting both clients
and staff. For private equity and
hedge fund companies that might
be a high-end corporate look in
Mayfair, while a creative and tech
startup might be seeking a more
contemporary collaborative space
in the West End or further east.”
HOME-WORK TO CO-WORK
Those moving from home-working
to co-working, seeking the buzz
of an office and the networking
opportunities that nomadic workers
often miss, are also catered for.
From £3.75 per hour for a day office
or £5 per hour for a hot desk, Regus
has some affordable entry points.
What has contributed to its
success is that Regus is more than
just a property company – it is a
service provider
XXXX
THE FUTURE WORKPLACE 2
05
“If you are a home-based
business, you can start with a virtual
office from just £50 per month,
giving you the right business
address for your venture, with a
local contact number answered
in your company name, and a
professional team to manage your
calls and handle your mail,” says Mr
Morris. “You can also use a private
office at the business centre of
your choice and benefit from our
unrivalled network of locations.
“Regus provides the reassurance
that all those other business
necessities, from high-speed and
reliable broadband to printers,
photocopiers and scanners, are all
taken care of – and, as you would
expect, it is all bookable by app.
“Depending on which of our
premises you choose, you can also
benefit from showers if you cycle to
work or car parking for those who
drive. Some have 24-hour access,
and others gym and fitness rooms.
Because we have such a large
network, we can offer different
services to meet different needs.
“Our buying power enables Regus
to offer exclusive deals from global
providers, such as Amazon, Google
and Microsoft, through the Regus
Marketplace, and our Regus Gold
Card gives members access to
3,000 locations around the world,
18 million wi-fi hotspots, and 700
airport lounges and work pods.”
Regus customers enjoy a club-like
atmosphere at many locations, not
just in the café areas and breakout
spaces, but through networking and
social events, with new members
offered the opportunity to give a
small pitch.
“There is a strong membership
aspect,” says Mr Morris. “We find
that like-mined businesses tend to
gravitate to similar locations, usually
near to where their clients are based
or where it is easier to attract talent,
and many also find clients in the
same building or use the networking
opportunities to get advice and
share experiences. As such, Regus
premises tend to be hubs of
creativity and hives of activity.”
That is why Regus focuses on
being in the right places, at the right
time and offering the right services.
“Regus may have 3,000 locations
worldwide, but we are only at
the beginning of the workplace
revolution,” Mr Morris concludes.
“This is the future of work and we
are only scratching the surface.”
For more information please visit
www.regus.co.uk
06 THE FUTURE WORKPLACE
Driven by capital desire - despite the cost
A younger workforce and startup companies are transforming the London office economy, with growing
demand for shared spaces and short-term rents
LONDON
NIKI CHESWORTH
I
ncubators, co-working, hot
desks, collaborative working
and shared environments,
while still only a fraction of
the total London office market, are
highly desirable and attractive to
employees, particularly the young.
As such these new aspirational
spaces are setting the benchmark
for what the workplace should offer
and what it should look like. And
in the war for talent, that means all
employers are having to respond.
The Office Group, which focus-
es on providing design-led shared
workspaces with 30 office buildings
in London, has grown rapidly in the
last few years from 100,000 sq ft in
2010 to 900,000 sq ft and says this is
all driven by demand.
It is not just digital startups and
gig-economy entrepreneurs that
want to work this way. There is also
a lot of interest from for larger cor-
porates. AOL, Compare the Market,
Dropbox, Facebook, NetMums and
a host of well-known names are also
taking spaces, which is reflected in
the average deal which is now for
twelve people, up from five in the
last few years.
“Our spaces might be cooler than
theirs,” says Olly Olsen, The Office
Group’s co-chief executive. “They
may also want to attract talent to a
particular team, so the right envi-
ronment is key. Or they may want to
move a particular group away from
their headquarters to somewhere
more collaborative.”
At the other end of the size spectrum,
sole traders also increasingly want
the buzz of a co-work or collaborative
space. “Home-working does not ap-
peal to everyone, particularly younger
employees, because they want social
interaction and more human-to-hu-
man contact,” says Mr Olsen.
The other shift is the erosion
of traditional business district
SATELLITES ROUND PLANET LONDON
“There has always been a
movement out of London
– look at the M4 corridor,”
says Richard Morris, chief
raconteur.net 26 / 04 / 2016 RACONTEUR RACONTEUR xx / 04
26 xx / 2016
xxxx raconteur.net XXXX
THE FUTURE WORKPLACE 2
07
COMMERCIAL FEATURE
THOUGHTFUL BUILDINGS FOR THE WAY
WE WANT TO WORK
Land Securities has the insight, expertise and experience to deliver the workplaces of the future
Level39
boundaries, such as advertising less – in its new home at the Walkie
having to be in Soho. Talkie Building, RSA saw almost im-
“Businesses are certainly being mediate results.
more geographically adventurous, “After a few months we carried out
when it comes to choosing a loca- a sensor test on all desks, meeting
tion,” says Matthew Bonning-Snook, spaces and free areas, and found
a director at Helical Bar. “Take our that on average we had 65 per cent
Shepherds Building in W14 or Loom occupancy, well above the market
W
in Whitechapel. We are attracting a average,” says Ms Wade.
lot of young businesses with a young While millennials – twenty and ork is not all about the office.
workforce to these areas and they thirty-somethings – may prefer So on a glorious, sunny day
are prepared to be bolder in their to work in newer ways, those who in London, where do office
decisions regarding location, so have been in the workplace longer workers want to be? Outside, of course.
that they can be based in a vibrant can find it harder to adapt so this That is why landmark developments,
community – a hub where they can can be a challenge. such as New Street Square,
socialise as well as work.” “We always knew some people incorporate delightful open spaces
Such is the desirability of the right would find it hard to relinquish ‘their’ where you can sit in the shade of a
work environment that a third of desk, but we are noticing our residents tree, bask in the warmth of the sun or
staff can’t wait to move, according are seeing the benefits of moving dine alfresco. Calming water features
to a recent survey of 1,000 UK em- around and spending time with other and a vast living wall make this an oasis
ployees by Morgan Lovell. people in the team,” says Ms Wade. in our busy city.
“Many offices are just not fit for pur- One Canada “A number of our senior leaders no The office is also more and more
pose,” says Mat Oakley, research direc- Square, home longer have their own office space and about a lifestyle, not just a living.
to the offices of
tor at Savills. “Finding a quiet space to
London tech startup
have removed some of the desk divid- So employers are increasingly
work in the office is increasingly diffi- incubator Level39 ers to create even more open space to attracting talent with the offer
cult as many open-plan buildings are collaborate with their teams.” of a great life, not just a great
just too noisy. Just look at the number manager of The Office Group. “Cre- The changes have gone down well. working environment.
of people working with headphones ating a vibrant office is not just about LONDON INCUBATORS, ACCELERATORS In its 2015 annual opinion survey, That is why Land Securities has
on. They can’t work at work.” designing rousing interiors and ar- AND CO-WORKING SPACES, BY SECTOR London-based employees cited the curated a go-to destination in its
Ditching impersonal outdated, chitecture; the key here is to create working environment as one of the architecturally daring regeneration
open-plan floors and replacing them a community and there is a fine line Digital technology top-three things they liked best at of Victoria with some of London’s
between buzz and distraction.” RSA. If any employer still believes best bars, restaurants, retail, culture
There is an added benefit to adopt- Advertising, marketing, that new ways of working are just a and open spaces all on the doorstep
ing these smarter, newer ways of communications fad, they should heed this warning. and, of course, fitness studios. It
working as the space can work hard- “Britain’s workers are on the move is catering for every taste with “We make it our business to
Designer-makers,
restaurateurs Jason Atherton, Will ABOVE understand how our customers’
While demographics er. Take RSA as an example. With 55
per cent of desks empty at any one
product design like never before and the office
plays a significant part in their de- Ricker, D&D and Jamie Oliver set to Nova, Victoria businesses will change in the future,”
are dictating the time in most offices, employers like Production, TV, music cision to leave,” says Alex Colvin, open in Nova, Victoria later this year. of tomorrow will need, and we are says Ms Fenn-Smith. “This enables
TOP LEFT
look of offices and this insurance giant are increas- and photography leasing director of British Land. Land Securities research also designing them in collaboration with Public realm at us to deliver space that is flexible
the lifestyle they can ingly looking at ways to maximise
Social enterprise
“More than half of millennials say discovered that the quality and many stakeholders, from human Nova, Victoria enough to adapt. For example, by
usage, minimise floor space and im- they have moved jobs for the office availability of workplace cycle resources to chief information (completing later keeping our customer’s needs close
offer, it is economics prove productivity.
and charity
location and features, and it is a facilities influences the career choice officers, because the workplace of this year) to our hearts, we have been able to
that is dictating where Terri Wade, RSA’s group head of Clothing growing issue. They want a lot go- of more than half of respondents. the future is all about people.”
LEFT
move businesses within our Victoria
offices are based employee engagement, explains and fashion ing on in the area, from restaurants Employees cycling to Land In the last five years, Land Securities The Zig Zag buildings as they grow.
that when the company’s lease was and bars to gyms, as well as great Securities buildings in Victoria can has speculatively built 3.5million Building reception “Similarly, we pre-let 1 New Street
Consultancy
up for renewal two years ago, it was or business services connectivity. If employers get this use health club-quality facilities with square foot of space in London. (completed Square in its entirety to Deloitte,
an opportunity to bring together right, they will retain their talent hot showers, hairdryers, lockers, As this has not been designed for any November 2015) allowing them to expand their existing
with something that resembles a three different London sites and Education with 86 per cent saying they would towel service as well as accessing particular client, Land Securities needs campus, something which we achieved
more collaborative environment, implement flexible working to lead and training stay longer with an employer.” secure bike storage. to have an insightful understanding of because, as a long-standing customer,
complete with huddle spaces and to improved cost-savings, increased While demographics are dictating All these thoughtful innovations what prospective occupants’ needs we have invested time in understanding
quiet zones, can have its challenges. sustainability, innovation, commu- Architecture the look of offices and the lifestyle have one thing in common – they might be – not just today, but also in and supporting their needs.
“Where people start to share space, nication and collaboration. With ten they can offer, it is economics that have nothing to do with work itself. five, ten or twenty years’ time. “Importantly, our insights,
0% 10% 20% 30%
it is essential for them to get along,” workstations for a team of twelve – is dictating where offices are based. Instead, they make a workplace So tomorrow’s office has wide, experience and expertise tell us
says Alissa McNally, community some employers are aiming for even Source: Greater London Authority 2014 Commercial real estate adviser desirable. And that is why they are open-floor plates to accommodate that one size does not fit all. Even in
Bilfinger GVA highlights just how increasingly essential. agile and activity-based working. There “So we are developing sites with public Sky Garden, at 20 Fenchurch Victoria, one customer might need
total occupier costs have increased “Real estate costs are no longer are more communal areas on ground floor-to-ceiling windows and open- Street shows that workplaces are space to showcase its latest fashion
– up by 36 per cent on the previous just about the bottom line – cost- floors and around the building to floor plates to bring in natural light increasingly destinations in their collection, while another needs
peak in 2007 in the West End and 15 savings,” says Kaela Fenn-Smith, enable more flexible ways of working. throughout the workspace with the own right. Go up to the Sky Garden the technical resilience to support
per cent higher in the City. Total oc- London head of commercial at Land Even the little touches, like more loos bonus of amazing views. And we are and admire the uninterrupted views financial operations 24/7.
cupancy costs are now ranging from Securities. “Organisations want their (so less queuing) are taken care of. creating spaces with zonal control of the City from the terrace. Who “Fortunately, our sheer scale means
executive of Regus. “However, and St Albans, are all attracting many startups cannot look that But this tech startup chose £55.25 per sq ft in Stratford, East workspaces to work efficiently, but “Nicer environments attract for heating, cooling and lighting, and wouldn’t want to work there?” our portfolio and current development
we are finding that anywhere both startups and firms far ahead so we are offering to be based in Greenford, London, to £177.17 a sq ft in Mayfair also to promote productivity. talent – it is as simple as that,” filtered air that is as fresh and clean as This obsession with understanding pipeline is better placed than anyone’s
that is 20 minutes to half an moving from central areas.” one-month rolling contracts at closer to Hounslow than and St James. “However, premises are says Ms Fenn-Smith. “Our role is the air you would breathe by the sea. how working practices are evolving to fulfil our customers’ ambitions.”
hour from central London is Despite rising rents, very our new Launch Pad innovation Hoxton. Having an office in This is squeezing startups and increasingly about improving to deliver these environments. “Younger employees, in particular, and what this means for the office of And this is what the workplace of
now a growth market because few premises in London are centre, which will help 20 early- a bus, pizza Fridays, weekly small and medium- sized business- the top line too – attracting However, this is also better for are more concerned about the the future, is vital to the success of the future is all about – achieving
it is more affordable and you vacant. So firms are looking stage tech businesses,” he says. five-a-side football games and es, which account for more than 90 and retaining talent. Inspiring business. Agile working can often environmental credentials of their the capital’s employers. not only the ambitions of employers,
can still find the staff. further afield. Tom Ashby of Alexander Shey, chief a commute “against the flow” per cent of all businesses in London, workspaces give people space to improve occupational density by up employer, so our building materials but also the wants and needs of the
“We have new the regeneration charity the executive of award-winning means the firm can still attract which are opting for newer-style breathe and be creative, to work to 20 per cent because employees are responsibly sourced and we people who work for them.
developments in Gerrards Centre for Engineering and startup Vantage Power, which talent. “We are near enough flexible workspaces for economic in different ways and to enjoy life are no longer fixed to one desk. are increasingly energy efficient, This is changing how we view the
Cross and Ashford, but Manufacturing Excellence says is turning London’s diesel buses to London,” says Mr Shey. “But reasons, rather than the need to outside the office as much as in it. “There can also be a productivity using rainwater harvesting and office. Land Securities is creating
commutable towns and cities, affordability is key. green, says being in London we can afford a great facility have somewhere cool to work. As such they are the places where boost. A comfortable, well-ventilated, photovoltaic panels at sites such as Inspiring workspaces give people environments, campuses and even
such as Maidenhead, Woking, “Most flexible offices require is vital because it is where the for a fraction of the cost of a people want to work. well-lit, safe workplace can increase The Zig Zag Building. space to breathe and be creative, to whole new neighbourhoods, where
Guildford, Croydon, Watford a 12-month commitment, but company’s customers are. Shoreditch pad.” “That is why Land Securities productivity by as much as 16 per “Imaginative and creative design people want to be – not just work.
Share this article online via
raconteur.net has thought long and hard about cent, job satisfaction by up to 24 per is another must. Our iconic Walkie work in different ways and to enjoy
what must-haves the workplaces cent and reduce absenteeism. Talkie building, with spectacular life outside the office as much as in it landsecuritieslondon.com
06 THE FUTURE WORKPLACE
Driven by capital desire - despite the cost
A younger workforce and startup companies are transforming the London office economy, with growing
demand for shared spaces and short-term rents
LONDON
NIKI CHESWORTH
I
ncubators, co-working, hot
desks, collaborative working
and shared environments,
while still only a fraction of
the total London office market, are
highly desirable and attractive to
employees, particularly the young.
As such these new aspirational
spaces are setting the benchmark
for what the workplace should offer
and what it should look like. And
in the war for talent, that means all
employers are having to respond.
The Office Group, which focus-
es on providing design-led shared
workspaces with 30 office buildings
in London, has grown rapidly in the
last few years from 100,000 sq ft in
2010 to 900,000 sq ft and says this is
all driven by demand.
It is not just digital startups and
gig-economy entrepreneurs that
want to work this way. There is also
a lot of interest from for larger cor-
porates. AOL, Compare the Market,
Dropbox, Facebook, NetMums and
a host of well-known names are also
taking spaces, which is reflected in
the average deal which is now for
twelve people, up from five in the
last few years.
“Our spaces might be cooler than
theirs,” says Olly Olsen, The Office
Group’s co-chief executive. “They
may also want to attract talent to a
particular team, so the right envi-
ronment is key. Or they may want to
move a particular group away from
their headquarters to somewhere
more collaborative.”
At the other end of the size spectrum,
sole traders also increasingly want
the buzz of a co-work or collaborative
space. “Home-working does not ap-
peal to everyone, particularly younger
employees, because they want social
interaction and more human-to-hu-
man contact,” says Mr Olsen.
The other shift is the erosion
of traditional business district
SATELLITES ROUND PLANET LONDON
“There has always been a
movement out of London
– look at the M4 corridor,”
says Richard Morris, chief
raconteur.net 26 / 04 / 2016 RACONTEUR RACONTEUR xx / 04
26 xx / 2016
xxxx raconteur.net XXXX
THE FUTURE WORKPLACE 2
07
COMMERCIAL FEATURE
THOUGHTFUL BUILDINGS FOR THE WAY
WE WANT TO WORK
Land Securities has the insight, expertise and experience to deliver the workplaces of the future
Level39
boundaries, such as advertising less – in its new home at the Walkie
having to be in Soho. Talkie Building, RSA saw almost im-
“Businesses are certainly being mediate results.
more geographically adventurous, “After a few months we carried out
when it comes to choosing a loca- a sensor test on all desks, meeting
tion,” says Matthew Bonning-Snook, spaces and free areas, and found
a director at Helical Bar. “Take our that on average we had 65 per cent
Shepherds Building in W14 or Loom occupancy, well above the market
W
in Whitechapel. We are attracting a average,” says Ms Wade.
lot of young businesses with a young While millennials – twenty and ork is not all about the office.
workforce to these areas and they thirty-somethings – may prefer So on a glorious, sunny day
are prepared to be bolder in their to work in newer ways, those who in London, where do office
decisions regarding location, so have been in the workplace longer workers want to be? Outside, of course.
that they can be based in a vibrant can find it harder to adapt so this That is why landmark developments,
community – a hub where they can can be a challenge. such as New Street Square,
socialise as well as work.” “We always knew some people incorporate delightful open spaces
Such is the desirability of the right would find it hard to relinquish ‘their’ where you can sit in the shade of a
work environment that a third of desk, but we are noticing our residents tree, bask in the warmth of the sun or
staff can’t wait to move, according are seeing the benefits of moving dine alfresco. Calming water features
to a recent survey of 1,000 UK em- around and spending time with other and a vast living wall make this an oasis
ployees by Morgan Lovell. people in the team,” says Ms Wade. in our busy city.
“Many offices are just not fit for pur- One Canada “A number of our senior leaders no The office is also more and more
pose,” says Mat Oakley, research direc- Square, home longer have their own office space and about a lifestyle, not just a living.
to the offices of
tor at Savills. “Finding a quiet space to
London tech startup
have removed some of the desk divid- So employers are increasingly
work in the office is increasingly diffi- incubator Level39 ers to create even more open space to attracting talent with the offer
cult as many open-plan buildings are collaborate with their teams.” of a great life, not just a great
just too noisy. Just look at the number manager of The Office Group. “Cre- The changes have gone down well. working environment.
of people working with headphones ating a vibrant office is not just about LONDON INCUBATORS, ACCELERATORS In its 2015 annual opinion survey, That is why Land Securities has
on. They can’t work at work.” designing rousing interiors and ar- AND CO-WORKING SPACES, BY SECTOR London-based employees cited the curated a go-to destination in its
Ditching impersonal outdated, chitecture; the key here is to create working environment as one of the architecturally daring regeneration
open-plan floors and replacing them a community and there is a fine line Digital technology top-three things they liked best at of Victoria with some of London’s
between buzz and distraction.” RSA. If any employer still believes best bars, restaurants, retail, culture
There is an added benefit to adopt- Advertising, marketing, that new ways of working are just a and open spaces all on the doorstep
ing these smarter, newer ways of communications fad, they should heed this warning. and, of course, fitness studios. It
working as the space can work hard- “Britain’s workers are on the move is catering for every taste with “We make it our business to
Designer-makers,
restaurateurs Jason Atherton, Will ABOVE understand how our customers’
While demographics er. Take RSA as an example. With 55
per cent of desks empty at any one
product design like never before and the office
plays a significant part in their de- Ricker, D&D and Jamie Oliver set to Nova, Victoria businesses will change in the future,”
are dictating the time in most offices, employers like Production, TV, music cision to leave,” says Alex Colvin, open in Nova, Victoria later this year. of tomorrow will need, and we are says Ms Fenn-Smith. “This enables
TOP LEFT
look of offices and this insurance giant are increas- and photography leasing director of British Land. Land Securities research also designing them in collaboration with Public realm at us to deliver space that is flexible
the lifestyle they can ingly looking at ways to maximise
Social enterprise
“More than half of millennials say discovered that the quality and many stakeholders, from human Nova, Victoria enough to adapt. For example, by
usage, minimise floor space and im- they have moved jobs for the office availability of workplace cycle resources to chief information (completing later keeping our customer’s needs close
offer, it is economics prove productivity.
and charity
location and features, and it is a facilities influences the career choice officers, because the workplace of this year) to our hearts, we have been able to
that is dictating where Terri Wade, RSA’s group head of Clothing growing issue. They want a lot go- of more than half of respondents. the future is all about people.”
LEFT
move businesses within our Victoria
offices are based employee engagement, explains and fashion ing on in the area, from restaurants Employees cycling to Land In the last five years, Land Securities The Zig Zag buildings as they grow.
that when the company’s lease was and bars to gyms, as well as great Securities buildings in Victoria can has speculatively built 3.5million Building reception “Similarly, we pre-let 1 New Street
Consultancy
up for renewal two years ago, it was or business services connectivity. If employers get this use health club-quality facilities with square foot of space in London. (completed Square in its entirety to Deloitte,
an opportunity to bring together right, they will retain their talent hot showers, hairdryers, lockers, As this has not been designed for any November 2015) allowing them to expand their existing
with something that resembles a three different London sites and Education with 86 per cent saying they would towel service as well as accessing particular client, Land Securities needs campus, something which we achieved
more collaborative environment, implement flexible working to lead and training stay longer with an employer.” secure bike storage. to have an insightful understanding of because, as a long-standing customer,
complete with huddle spaces and to improved cost-savings, increased While demographics are dictating All these thoughtful innovations what prospective occupants’ needs we have invested time in understanding
quiet zones, can have its challenges. sustainability, innovation, commu- Architecture the look of offices and the lifestyle have one thing in common – they might be – not just today, but also in and supporting their needs.
“Where people start to share space, nication and collaboration. With ten they can offer, it is economics that have nothing to do with work itself. five, ten or twenty years’ time. “Importantly, our insights,
0% 10% 20% 30%
it is essential for them to get along,” workstations for a team of twelve – is dictating where offices are based. Instead, they make a workplace So tomorrow’s office has wide, experience and expertise tell us
says Alissa McNally, community some employers are aiming for even Source: Greater London Authority 2014 Commercial real estate adviser desirable. And that is why they are open-floor plates to accommodate that one size does not fit all. Even in
Bilfinger GVA highlights just how increasingly essential. agile and activity-based working. There “So we are developing sites with public Sky Garden, at 20 Fenchurch Victoria, one customer might need
total occupier costs have increased “Real estate costs are no longer are more communal areas on ground floor-to-ceiling windows and open- Street shows that workplaces are space to showcase its latest fashion
– up by 36 per cent on the previous just about the bottom line – cost- floors and around the building to floor plates to bring in natural light increasingly destinations in their collection, while another needs
peak in 2007 in the West End and 15 savings,” says Kaela Fenn-Smith, enable more flexible ways of working. throughout the workspace with the own right. Go up to the Sky Garden the technical resilience to support
per cent higher in the City. Total oc- London head of commercial at Land Even the little touches, like more loos bonus of amazing views. And we are and admire the uninterrupted views financial operations 24/7.
cupancy costs are now ranging from Securities. “Organisations want their (so less queuing) are taken care of. creating spaces with zonal control of the City from the terrace. Who “Fortunately, our sheer scale means
executive of Regus. “However, and St Albans, are all attracting many startups cannot look that But this tech startup chose £55.25 per sq ft in Stratford, East workspaces to work efficiently, but “Nicer environments attract for heating, cooling and lighting, and wouldn’t want to work there?” our portfolio and current development
we are finding that anywhere both startups and firms far ahead so we are offering to be based in Greenford, London, to £177.17 a sq ft in Mayfair also to promote productivity. talent – it is as simple as that,” filtered air that is as fresh and clean as This obsession with understanding pipeline is better placed than anyone’s
that is 20 minutes to half an moving from central areas.” one-month rolling contracts at closer to Hounslow than and St James. “However, premises are says Ms Fenn-Smith. “Our role is the air you would breathe by the sea. how working practices are evolving to fulfil our customers’ ambitions.”
hour from central London is Despite rising rents, very our new Launch Pad innovation Hoxton. Having an office in This is squeezing startups and increasingly about improving to deliver these environments. “Younger employees, in particular, and what this means for the office of And this is what the workplace of
now a growth market because few premises in London are centre, which will help 20 early- a bus, pizza Fridays, weekly small and medium- sized business- the top line too – attracting However, this is also better for are more concerned about the the future, is vital to the success of the future is all about – achieving
it is more affordable and you vacant. So firms are looking stage tech businesses,” he says. five-a-side football games and es, which account for more than 90 and retaining talent. Inspiring business. Agile working can often environmental credentials of their the capital’s employers. not only the ambitions of employers,
can still find the staff. further afield. Tom Ashby of Alexander Shey, chief a commute “against the flow” per cent of all businesses in London, workspaces give people space to improve occupational density by up employer, so our building materials but also the wants and needs of the
“We have new the regeneration charity the executive of award-winning means the firm can still attract which are opting for newer-style breathe and be creative, to work to 20 per cent because employees are responsibly sourced and we people who work for them.
developments in Gerrards Centre for Engineering and startup Vantage Power, which talent. “We are near enough flexible workspaces for economic in different ways and to enjoy life are no longer fixed to one desk. are increasingly energy efficient, This is changing how we view the
Cross and Ashford, but Manufacturing Excellence says is turning London’s diesel buses to London,” says Mr Shey. “But reasons, rather than the need to outside the office as much as in it. “There can also be a productivity using rainwater harvesting and office. Land Securities is creating
commutable towns and cities, affordability is key. green, says being in London we can afford a great facility have somewhere cool to work. As such they are the places where boost. A comfortable, well-ventilated, photovoltaic panels at sites such as Inspiring workspaces give people environments, campuses and even
such as Maidenhead, Woking, “Most flexible offices require is vital because it is where the for a fraction of the cost of a people want to work. well-lit, safe workplace can increase The Zig Zag Building. space to breathe and be creative, to whole new neighbourhoods, where
Guildford, Croydon, Watford a 12-month commitment, but company’s customers are. Shoreditch pad.” “That is why Land Securities productivity by as much as 16 per “Imaginative and creative design people want to be – not just work.
Share this article online via
raconteur.net has thought long and hard about cent, job satisfaction by up to 24 per is another must. Our iconic Walkie work in different ways and to enjoy
what must-haves the workplaces cent and reduce absenteeism. Talkie building, with spectacular life outside the office as much as in it landsecuritieslondon.com
08 THE FUTURE WORKPLACE
What will the office of the future look like – and why?
Places where we work in the future may not resemble the offices of today, but they will all aim to get the best from employees, focusing on improving wellbeing and boosting productivity
OFFICE OF THE FUTURE
CHARLES ORTON-JONES
01 BIOPHILIC DESIGN
Greenery and natural light are the two
main ingredients in the biophilic move-
ment. The idea is to put workers closer
in touch with nature, to reduce stress
and open creative thought patterns. For
example, employees at HOK London get
to lunch in an indoor garden, with grass,
deckchairs and flower beds. Oliver Heath,
biophilic design ambassador at design
agency Interface, says: “Reports such as
The Global Impact of Biophilic Design in
the Workplace found that employees who
work in environments with elements such
as natural light and live plants report a 15
per cent higher level of wellbeing, are 6
per cent more productive and 15 per cent
more creative overall.”
02 GOING SIDEWAYS
Currently elevators go up and down. In
the future, they’ll go side to side too; in
the near future, in fact. German multina-
tional ThyssenKrupp has unveiled a new
ropeless elevator or travellator which can
move laterally as well as horizontally at
up to 18 metres per second, allowing rap-
id transportation across large buildings.
The absence of rope means multiple ele-
vator boxes can travel in the same shaft,
cutting waiting times to 15 seconds.
Weight is reduced by 50 per cent, making
the system more energy efficient.
raconteur.net 26 / 04 / 2016 RACONTEUR RACONTEUR 26 / 04 / 2016 raconteur.net THE FUTURE WORKPLACE 09
03 LI-FI 07 OFFICE SHARING 11 VIRTUAL REALITY
with three other creative businesses
which share our values,” says Jo Davies,
Slow broadband? Ten years ago we used Companies strive to boost collabora- ZAK’s chief executive. “Creating an en- Most of the publicity surrounding virtual
to marvel at 10Mbps download speeds. tion between workers. But how about vironment where lots of different brains reality (VR) headsets has been around gam-
Now rural cottages in Northamptonshire collaboration between firms? A trend is and personalities work in the same ing, but office applications are numerous.
get 750Mbps via Gigaclear fibre to the growing for companies to share office space – together or apart – can foster a Designers can use VR to work with fleshed-
house. So where’s the upper limit? Li-fi, space to boost creativity and energy. more engaging place of work and fuel out models of their work. Engineering firm
using visible light, takes in-office data Creative agency ZAK is a pioneer. “We new energies.” Atkins already uses VR to showcase designs
to 1,200Mbps in practice, with as much share our multi-level open-plan office to clients. Immersive worlds will offer a dis-
as 224,000Mbps possible in theory. Li- traction-free work environment. Scouting
fi uses visible light between 400 and for new workspaces can be done using VR.
800 terahertz, and since light can’t pass Hamish Brown of interior design firm 1508
through walls, it can’t be hacked from the London says: “With a virtual reality head-
outside. The downside is the transmis- set, potential clients can be transported
sion is line of sight; block the signal with inside the office space, and are able to walk
your hand and it cuts out. from room to room, experiencing their size,
look and feel. You can then experiment
09 3D PRINTING with a variety of different options – light-
ing, materials and overall design.”
3D printers build physical objects lay-
er by layer. Almost any material can be
used, including metal. Nasa uses 3D
printing to build jet engine parts. An of-
fice 3D printer can be used to manufac-
ture prototypes, build architects models
and crank out spare parts for other equip-
05 WORKING STYLES
The office of the future triggers a lot of
in the city by incorporating a variety of
styles. There are elevated desks for those
who like that, hot-desks, sound-proofed
ment. A survey by Infomentum reveals
that a third of UK employees believe their
office should have 3D printing by 2020.
different opinions. Some people love booths and interactive areas in bright And 3D printers are already affordable.
hot-desking, virtual reality headsets colours to evoke spurts of energy. Other Models start at £271 for the XYZprinting
and using giant balls for seats. Others zones use “retro-tech”, such as black- Junior; the FlashForge USA Dreamer 3D
prefer a traditional work environment. boards for traditional workers. A great is a solid mid-market model at £695.
So what’s the solution? SpaceZero, an example of how the office of the future
interior architecture company in Man- can cater for all preferences.
chester, transformed the Zenith building
04 PAPERLESS
Is it feasible to work without any paper?
Eco warriors say it is, but the reality is a
little trickier. Deloitte is the latest mul- 08 HAWAIIAN TIKI BARS imentation with hammocks, break-out
areas, Hawaiian tiki bars, table foot-
12 DRIVEN BY DATA
The workplace of the future will rely on
tinational to try and axe paper. Their Why do we need an office of the future? ball... anything that will help. Rob Hunt- data to make all big decisions, including
new office in Montreal was designed Perhaps because the current model isn’t er, managing director of Hunterlodge how staff work. “In the future, we expect
by agency Arney Fender Katsalidis for working too well. The report Employee Advertising, says: “To alleviate stress to see the rise of the intelligent workplace
zero paper usage. The 1,100 staff, even Motivation: Who came out on top in 2015? in the future office, employers need to that monitors its workers’ environment,
senior partners, get no fixed desk and by Red Letter Days for Business reveals introduce creative spaces. At Hunter- mood, wants and needs to create an
one storage drawer for files, documents, that half of workers felt neutral or neg- lodge, for instance, we have a beach mu- all-encompassing, intelligent and un-
shoes or whatever. “This is tied to the ative towards their job. Only 14 per cent ral printed on the wall and suspended obtrusive working environment,” says
concept of having an agile workforce and “loved every minute”. Hence the exper- swinging chairs.” Euan Davis of the Centre for the Future of
paper proves to be an anchor point,” Work at Cognizant. “The Bank of Amer-
says Sylvie Flanagan, Deloitte’s head of ica, for example, has been using sensory
operations for the Quebec region. “After data to better understand employee per-
six months, comments remain positive, formance dynamics. From analysing the
and people appreciate our environment data gleaned from its employees, it learnt
and concept.” that call centre performance increased
10 OPEN 24 HOURS
The days of getting bawled out by HR for
when staff spent time with others in their
social circle during their lunch breaks.”
turning up half an hour late are on their
way out. A study by Dr Paul Kelley of
Oxford University last year revealed the
nine-to-five working hours are complete-
ly out of sync with human biology, posing
a “serious threat” to health. The message
06 SMART BUDDIES
The dawn of artificial intelligence (AI) is
tive Chetan Dube says: “Give it ten years
and you can be certain that regardless of
is sinking in, with companies including
PwC offering variable hours. And for the
most sleep deprived, aka parents? Sleep
upon us. IBM Watson offers AI comput- your job, you will work alongside a new pods are coming in. Even babies are wel-
ing on demand and the race is on to cre- best buddy who will be AI. They will al- come. Goldman Sachs opened the City of
ate a humanised AI. The current leader low us to focus on what’s enjoyable, stra- London’s first on-site crèche, and has ex-
is Amelia, created by IPsoft. Amelia has tegic and creative about our work. They tended the idea to New York and Tokyo.
a virtual face and body, speaks 20 lan- will increase our human power just as Elite workers need to be at their peak.
guages, and can interpret the user’s emo- calculators once did, and then PCs, data- The office of the future will promote
tions via a webcam. IPsoft chief execu- bases and search engines.” their wellbeing.
08 THE FUTURE WORKPLACE
What will the office of the future look like – and why?
Places where we work in the future may not resemble the offices of today, but they will all aim to get the best from employees, focusing on improving wellbeing and boosting productivity
OFFICE OF THE FUTURE
CHARLES ORTON-JONES
01 BIOPHILIC DESIGN
Greenery and natural light are the two
main ingredients in the biophilic move-
ment. The idea is to put workers closer
in touch with nature, to reduce stress
and open creative thought patterns. For
example, employees at HOK London get
to lunch in an indoor garden, with grass,
deckchairs and flower beds. Oliver Heath,
biophilic design ambassador at design
agency Interface, says: “Reports such as
The Global Impact of Biophilic Design in
the Workplace found that employees who
work in environments with elements such
as natural light and live plants report a 15
per cent higher level of wellbeing, are 6
per cent more productive and 15 per cent
more creative overall.”
02 GOING SIDEWAYS
Currently elevators go up and down. In
the future, they’ll go side to side too; in
the near future, in fact. German multina-
tional ThyssenKrupp has unveiled a new
ropeless elevator or travellator which can
move laterally as well as horizontally at
up to 18 metres per second, allowing rap-
id transportation across large buildings.
The absence of rope means multiple ele-
vator boxes can travel in the same shaft,
cutting waiting times to 15 seconds.
Weight is reduced by 50 per cent, making
the system more energy efficient.
raconteur.net 26 / 04 / 2016 RACONTEUR RACONTEUR 26 / 04 / 2016 raconteur.net THE FUTURE WORKPLACE 09
03 LI-FI 07 OFFICE SHARING 11 VIRTUAL REALITY
with three other creative businesses
which share our values,” says Jo Davies,
Slow broadband? Ten years ago we used Companies strive to boost collabora- ZAK’s chief executive. “Creating an en- Most of the publicity surrounding virtual
to marvel at 10Mbps download speeds. tion between workers. But how about vironment where lots of different brains reality (VR) headsets has been around gam-
Now rural cottages in Northamptonshire collaboration between firms? A trend is and personalities work in the same ing, but office applications are numerous.
get 750Mbps via Gigaclear fibre to the growing for companies to share office space – together or apart – can foster a Designers can use VR to work with fleshed-
house. So where’s the upper limit? Li-fi, space to boost creativity and energy. more engaging place of work and fuel out models of their work. Engineering firm
using visible light, takes in-office data Creative agency ZAK is a pioneer. “We new energies.” Atkins already uses VR to showcase designs
to 1,200Mbps in practice, with as much share our multi-level open-plan office to clients. Immersive worlds will offer a dis-
as 224,000Mbps possible in theory. Li- traction-free work environment. Scouting
fi uses visible light between 400 and for new workspaces can be done using VR.
800 terahertz, and since light can’t pass Hamish Brown of interior design firm 1508
through walls, it can’t be hacked from the London says: “With a virtual reality head-
outside. The downside is the transmis- set, potential clients can be transported
sion is line of sight; block the signal with inside the office space, and are able to walk
your hand and it cuts out. from room to room, experiencing their size,
look and feel. You can then experiment
09 3D PRINTING with a variety of different options – light-
ing, materials and overall design.”
3D printers build physical objects lay-
er by layer. Almost any material can be
used, including metal. Nasa uses 3D
printing to build jet engine parts. An of-
fice 3D printer can be used to manufac-
ture prototypes, build architects models
and crank out spare parts for other equip-
05 WORKING STYLES
The office of the future triggers a lot of
in the city by incorporating a variety of
styles. There are elevated desks for those
who like that, hot-desks, sound-proofed
ment. A survey by Infomentum reveals
that a third of UK employees believe their
office should have 3D printing by 2020.
different opinions. Some people love booths and interactive areas in bright And 3D printers are already affordable.
hot-desking, virtual reality headsets colours to evoke spurts of energy. Other Models start at £271 for the XYZprinting
and using giant balls for seats. Others zones use “retro-tech”, such as black- Junior; the FlashForge USA Dreamer 3D
prefer a traditional work environment. boards for traditional workers. A great is a solid mid-market model at £695.
So what’s the solution? SpaceZero, an example of how the office of the future
interior architecture company in Man- can cater for all preferences.
chester, transformed the Zenith building
04 PAPERLESS
Is it feasible to work without any paper?
Eco warriors say it is, but the reality is a
little trickier. Deloitte is the latest mul- 08 HAWAIIAN TIKI BARS imentation with hammocks, break-out
areas, Hawaiian tiki bars, table foot-
12 DRIVEN BY DATA
The workplace of the future will rely on
tinational to try and axe paper. Their Why do we need an office of the future? ball... anything that will help. Rob Hunt- data to make all big decisions, including
new office in Montreal was designed Perhaps because the current model isn’t er, managing director of Hunterlodge how staff work. “In the future, we expect
by agency Arney Fender Katsalidis for working too well. The report Employee Advertising, says: “To alleviate stress to see the rise of the intelligent workplace
zero paper usage. The 1,100 staff, even Motivation: Who came out on top in 2015? in the future office, employers need to that monitors its workers’ environment,
senior partners, get no fixed desk and by Red Letter Days for Business reveals introduce creative spaces. At Hunter- mood, wants and needs to create an
one storage drawer for files, documents, that half of workers felt neutral or neg- lodge, for instance, we have a beach mu- all-encompassing, intelligent and un-
shoes or whatever. “This is tied to the ative towards their job. Only 14 per cent ral printed on the wall and suspended obtrusive working environment,” says
concept of having an agile workforce and “loved every minute”. Hence the exper- swinging chairs.” Euan Davis of the Centre for the Future of
paper proves to be an anchor point,” Work at Cognizant. “The Bank of Amer-
says Sylvie Flanagan, Deloitte’s head of ica, for example, has been using sensory
operations for the Quebec region. “After data to better understand employee per-
six months, comments remain positive, formance dynamics. From analysing the
and people appreciate our environment data gleaned from its employees, it learnt
and concept.” that call centre performance increased
10 OPEN 24 HOURS
The days of getting bawled out by HR for
when staff spent time with others in their
social circle during their lunch breaks.”
turning up half an hour late are on their
way out. A study by Dr Paul Kelley of
Oxford University last year revealed the
nine-to-five working hours are complete-
ly out of sync with human biology, posing
a “serious threat” to health. The message
06 SMART BUDDIES
The dawn of artificial intelligence (AI) is
tive Chetan Dube says: “Give it ten years
and you can be certain that regardless of
is sinking in, with companies including
PwC offering variable hours. And for the
most sleep deprived, aka parents? Sleep
upon us. IBM Watson offers AI comput- your job, you will work alongside a new pods are coming in. Even babies are wel-
ing on demand and the race is on to cre- best buddy who will be AI. They will al- come. Goldman Sachs opened the City of
ate a humanised AI. The current leader low us to focus on what’s enjoyable, stra- London’s first on-site crèche, and has ex-
is Amelia, created by IPsoft. Amelia has tegic and creative about our work. They tended the idea to New York and Tokyo.
a virtual face and body, speaks 20 lan- will increase our human power just as Elite workers need to be at their peak.
guages, and can interpret the user’s emo- calculators once did, and then PCs, data- The office of the future will promote
tions via a webcam. IPsoft chief execu- bases and search engines.” their wellbeing.
10 THE FUTURE WORKPLACE
Robots with iPads help remote workers
A major influence on where and how we work, emerging technology is set to transform the workplace
and the lives of workers
TECHNOLOGY
NICK MARTINDALE
M
any changes in the
work environment are
due to technology. It
wasn’t that long ago we
were all dealing with faxes rather
than e-mails and talking to some-
one outside the office involved noth-
ing more sophisticated than picking
up the telephone.
Today, technology is continuing
to impact both how and where we
work, with im-
plications for the
workplace itself.
One area currently
on the verge of tak-
ing off is the use of
Employees could
connected devic- use augmented
es, using the inter- reality to go
net of things. This through data sets
is already becom-
ing established in or give interactive
the consumer mar- presentations to
ket and is likely to one another
have a big impact
on the world of
work too, allowing
individual employees to take con-
trol of their environment through
devices such as smartphones.
According to research by the
British Council for Offices (BCO),
there is a strong business case for
this, with 69 per cent of employ-
ees saying a bespoke office interi-
or would boost their productivity.
“An example is Land Securities’
Zig Zag Building in Victoria, which
is specifically designed to adapt
and respond to occupier prefer-
ences,” says Richard Kauntze,
BCO chief executive. “With built-
in intelligent control for lighting,
heating and cooling, the building
adjusts to employees, rather than
the other way round.”
Lighting is perhaps the most
obvious area for this kind of tech-
nology. “Our phone, watch, smart
jewellery or clothing will all play
a part in tuning our lighting,”
predicts Oliver Jones, UK general
TRANSFORMATIVE WORKPLACE TECHNOLOGIES
TECHNOLOGIES COMPANIES ARE CONSIDERING IMPLEMENTING TO
CHANGE THE WORKPLACE OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS
Mobile apps
Social media
Web-collaboration tools
Wireless connectivity
Smartphones
Content management system
Workplace infrastructure
Wearable technology
Tablets 9%
Source: Future of Work, Google/Raconteur 2016
manager at Swedish lighting man-
ufacturer ateljé Lyktan. “We will
be able to control the light from
these devices using pre-set scenes
or simple controls. The daily
lighting scheme will be dynamic
with colour temperature and in-
tensity changing throughout the
day or night to give us the most
comfortable lighting for wellbeing
and productivity.”
Information around how lighting
is used can also help organisations
identify which areas of buildings
are utilised most so they can make
better use of space,
he adds.
Connected de-
vices was a major
focus for engineer-
ing consultancy
Arup in its recent
research project,
called All About
the Desk, which
found that, while
it was relatively
easy to allow em-
ployees to control
the lighting in
their immediate
environment, it was more difficult
to do so with heating.
“There are relatively few heating
and air-conditioning units to con-
trol, so if two adjacent individuals
chose opposing temperature set-
tings, these can end up fighting one
another,” says Michael Trousdell,
Arup mechanical associate. “To
take advantage of this new approach
would require a thorough rethink of
how building services systems are
designed and developed.”
This kind of technology will real-
ly come into its own in new-build
offices, where the necessary infra-
structure can be factored into the
design, says Frank Palermo, vice
president for global digital solu-
tions at IT firm Virtusa-Polaris.
“Questions around sensor place-
ment, required wi-fi, Bluetooth
coverage and device communica-
tion will need to be foundational
to the design,” he says. “It will be
58%
45%
34%
32%
29%
25%
25%
22%
raconteur.net
01
02
vital to make sure that all the vari-
ables that need to be controlled are
thought of at the start, both inter-
nally and externally.”
Wearable technology could also be
set to impact the work environment,
building on early applications in-
cluding access control. Such devic-
es could help employers keep tabs
on where employees are and hours
worked, as well as tracking move-
ment and even stress levels.
“The areas where I see specific
problems being solved in a typi-
cal office environment are in in-
creased productivity and employee
wellbeing,” says Robert Ackland,
group director of product devel-
opment at 123-reg. The technology
could also help organisations en-
sure compliance with health and
safety procedures by monitoring
staff activity and health, he adds,
although a balance needs to be
struck between the benefits to the
business and intruding on employ-
ees’ privacy.
Another technology which is
likely to infiltrate the workplace is
26 / 04 / 2016 RACONTEUR
Getty Images
03
as close to real life as possible,” he
says. “Skills in customer service,
risk assessment, construction and
maintenance of technical equip-
ment can all benefit.”
Augmented reality could also have
an impact on meetings, says War-
wick Goodall, UK technology direc-
tor at Deloitte. “Employees could
use augmented reality to go through
01
Wearables could data sets or give interactive pres-
Visualise
transform the entations to one another,” he says.
workplace, from “It would be much more appealing
lighting and heating than your average PowerPoint pres-
control, to employee
tracking and stress entation and can be given remotely
monitoring from anywhere in the world.”
Videoconferencing itself is also
02 likely to change over the next few
Virtual reality
technology in use years, with new software packages
at VR specialists meaning people can enter meet-
Visualise ings from a number of devices,
including mobile phones. “The ad-
03
Double robotics vent of software such as Skype for
video conferenc- Business and Google Hangouts is
ing in use at Shut- making traditional videoconfer-
terstock's office encing boardrooms defunct,” says
Simon Fagan, managing director
of Maverick UK. New hardware
such as Microsoft’s Surface Hub
has also emerged, offering much
virtual or augmented reality. IFS greater collaboration functions,
Labs, for instance, has developed including the ability to share and
an enterprise version of Google edit files, he adds.
Glass, designed to help technicians Even more futuristic is the use of
undertake maintenance tasks in a so-called double robotics, which
workplace. is currently being trialled at US
“Digitisation will offer new user photo library Shutterstock. Adult-
experiences where you can talk sized robots feature an iPad which
to your enterprise applications displays the face of the person in
and give actions that enable you the conference who is not physi-
to work hands-free,” says Mar- cally present, so that person can
tin Gunnarsson, product director “move” around the office with
at IFS R&D. “Smart glasses come colleagues, “attending” company
into this as well and, in the future, briefings or meetings without be-
augmented reality and holograms ing in the building.
will allow users to have informa- “Currently, we have three robots
tion presented in a 3D perspective, which are mobile in our office and
which will really change and adapt they may become more permanent
the way we work.” fixtures,” says Anshu Aggarwal,
This could, in time, impact a chief technology officer at Shut-
number of other workplace activ- terstock. “Ultimately this could
ities, particularly how employees encourage better collaboration
are trained, says Will McMaster, and communication between our
head of virtual reality at Visual- staff, wherever they may be across
ise. “In much the same way as a the globe.”
pilot trains in an immersive flight
simulator, many jobs will eventu-
ally include a component of virtual
Share this article online via
raconteur.net
training to create an environment
RACONTEUR xx / 04
26 xx / 2016
xxxx raconteur.net XXXX
THE FUTURE WORKPLACE 2
11
COMMERCIAL FEATURE
QUALITY,
DISCRETION
AND
CONVENIENCE
Serviced offices offer a variety of advantages for
businesses of all sizes – and could be right for you
G
em Diamonds is one of the In terms of office size, the company’s
most successful companies in needs changed month by month. Like
the mining industry with major many fast-growing companies, Gem
operations in Lesotho and Botswana. Diamonds’ headcount fluctuates
When it listed on the London Stock rapidly. “We grow or shrink as we
Exchange, it needed a permanent office acquire or sell mines,” says Mr Turner.
in London. Chief commercial officer “So we needed flexibility.”
Glenn Turner was tasked with finding the The location had to be grand enough
right location. to impress visitors, without being
His board gave him a list of rather showy. Visitors would require food and
tricky requirements. “Location was drink. And there was the question of IT
vital,” says Mr Turner. “We needed to support. Would Gem Diamonds need to
be central. We are very fortunate in build its own in-house support team? Or
having the diamantier Laurence Graff was there another way?
as our largest investor and his flagship Mr Turner recalls: “We looked at
is in the West End. We need to be all the cost implications of taking our
close to him and other investors based own office and in the end went with a
in the West End. serviced office from Leo.”
“We also need quick access to In terms of location, Leo was able to
Heathrow. We have mines in Australia offer the perfect spot in Eaton Gate, includes stately Mayfair and Chelsea to supply whatever a client requests.
and Indonesia, so we needed to be Belgravia. “It’s a grand old historic locations, and bright, modern glass As Gem Diamonds has found, Leo
near that hub.” building. Other mining companies, such and steel business centres in the has a near-perfect record in meeting
as Rio Tinto and Anglo American, are a heart of the City. demands. There are regular client
stone’s throw away. And we are close to “An awful lot are corner buildings meetings, usually at two months and
FIVE REASONS TO USE
Paddington for the Heathrow Express.” on the north and east sides of the again at seven months, to ensure a good
A LEO SERVICED OFFICE
A serviced office solves the issue of street. These get more sunlight, which working relationship. with no hidden extras. And unlike a
varying need for space. Gem Diamonds plays into the psyche of the buildings,” For those who want it, there are proprietary office, occasional spaces,
takes more rooms and desks, or says Mr Giles. regular events that give networking such as kitchens and unused offices,
Thirty two stunning relinquish them, as they require. No Each location offers the same discreet opportunities throughout the year. cost nothing.
locations across dead space. philosophy. There is no branding of Leo Individuals using hot-desking space in The formula is proving hugely
the City, West Absolutely key was Leo’s approach to be seen or of other customers. This particular value these opportunities to popular. Leo has been expanding year
End, Midtown,
to service. Leo is renowned in the is a valued unique selling point of Leo; meet other customers. after year to meet demand and this year
Marylebone,
Kensington, sector for taking extraordinary steps it means visitors are unaware whether As expected, at the core of this will add four new buildings in London,
Chelsea, to offer outstanding round-the-clock the office is serviced or company five-star offering comes a deeply equating to 40,000sq ft of space.
Knightsbridge care of clients. owned. The uniformed receptionists ingrained customer service culture, Long-term tenancies are fuelling
and Belgravia Staff are trained to resolve any are trained to greet customers by which explains why Leo customers Leo’s rise. When companies experience
problem immediately, no matter name, so the experience meets the very have an average stay of 35 months, the strengths of serviced offices, they
Plug and play – how small. Gem Diamonds needed highest requirements. considerably higher than the industry typically extend their stay.
full IT support from superlative service and got it. Comprehensive technical support average. These benefits add up to a Gem Diamonds is now entering its
telecoms to data- “Take a small thing like catering,” is a key part of the serviced office concept which outguns a company- second decade with Leo. Mr Turner says:
hosting
says Mr Turner. “If we have ten people proposition. It starts with basic stuff, such owned office on multiple fronts. “Overall we have been able to employ
In-house customer in, then suddenly refreshments will as broadband and telephony. It stretches “We have customers who are sole ten fewer people in our London office.
service and miraculously appear. Whatever we need, into the most demanding technical traders,” says Mr O’Hara. “These We used to have an office manager and
it is there. In ten years I can’t recall a requirements, including datacentres. include high-net-worth individuals and a procurement person. We offloaded
maintenance team
– you don’t even time when we asked for something and “A lot of our customers in the financial entrepreneurs who don’t want to work those issues to Leo. The remaining
change a it did not appear.” services sector can’t use the cloud from home. And we have multinationals staff were freed up to work on more
light bulb
This story highlights the many because of regulatory requirements,” that require extra project space.” important things.”
benefits of using a serviced office. says Conal O’Hara, Leo’s property Pricing is transparent. Leo offers The advantages of a serviced office,
Expand your From startups to FTSE 100 firms, it pays acquisitions director. “They need to a fully inclusive pricing structure combined with Leo’s unique customer-
office as your
to make use of locations created and host and control their own data, so they first approach, made it a simple decision
business expands
maintained by a specialist. make use of our server rooms.” This for Gem Diamonds. As Mr Turner
Professional In terms of location Leo is unrivalled. facility means companies can operate concludes: “Leo have been flexible
uniformed staff Clients have the pick of 32 unbranded on a network, reducing lag-times and and understanding. They are very good
who know your buildings in London’s zone 1. boosting security. At the core of this five-star offering people to work with.”
team’s names “We look for architectural standout And what really distinguishes Leo
buildings in great locations,” says Leo from other serviced office providers?
comes a deeply ingrained customer To learn more about London Executive
chief executive Tim Giles. The range The key is the word “service”. Leo strives service culture Offices visit leo.co.uk
10 THE FUTURE WORKPLACE
Robots with iPads help remote workers
A major influence on where and how we work, emerging technology is set to transform the workplace
and the lives of workers
TECHNOLOGY
NICK MARTINDALE
M
any changes in the
work environment are
due to technology. It
wasn’t that long ago we
were all dealing with faxes rather
than e-mails and talking to some-
one outside the office involved noth-
ing more sophisticated than picking
up the telephone.
Today, technology is continuing
to impact both how and where we
work, with im-
plications for the
workplace itself.
One area currently
on the verge of tak-
ing off is the use of
Employees could
connected devic- use augmented
es, using the inter- reality to go
net of things. This through data sets
is already becom-
ing established in or give interactive
the consumer mar- presentations to
ket and is likely to one another
have a big impact
on the world of
work too, allowing
individual employees to take con-
trol of their environment through
devices such as smartphones.
According to research by the
British Council for Offices (BCO),
there is a strong business case for
this, with 69 per cent of employ-
ees saying a bespoke office interi-
or would boost their productivity.
“An example is Land Securities’
Zig Zag Building in Victoria, which
is specifically designed to adapt
and respond to occupier prefer-
ences,” says Richard Kauntze,
BCO chief executive. “With built-
in intelligent control for lighting,
heating and cooling, the building
adjusts to employees, rather than
the other way round.”
Lighting is perhaps the most
obvious area for this kind of tech-
nology. “Our phone, watch, smart
jewellery or clothing will all play
a part in tuning our lighting,”
predicts Oliver Jones, UK general
TRANSFORMATIVE WORKPLACE TECHNOLOGIES
TECHNOLOGIES COMPANIES ARE CONSIDERING IMPLEMENTING TO
CHANGE THE WORKPLACE OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS
Mobile apps
Social media
Web-collaboration tools
Wireless connectivity
Smartphones
Content management system
Workplace infrastructure
Wearable technology
Tablets 9%
Source: Future of Work, Google/Raconteur 2016
manager at Swedish lighting man-
ufacturer ateljé Lyktan. “We will
be able to control the light from
these devices using pre-set scenes
or simple controls. The daily
lighting scheme will be dynamic
with colour temperature and in-
tensity changing throughout the
day or night to give us the most
comfortable lighting for wellbeing
and productivity.”
Information around how lighting
is used can also help organisations
identify which areas of buildings
are utilised most so they can make
better use of space,
he adds.
Connected de-
vices was a major
focus for engineer-
ing consultancy
Arup in its recent
research project,
called All About
the Desk, which
found that, while
it was relatively
easy to allow em-
ployees to control
the lighting in
their immediate
environment, it was more difficult
to do so with heating.
“There are relatively few heating
and air-conditioning units to con-
trol, so if two adjacent individuals
chose opposing temperature set-
tings, these can end up fighting one
another,” says Michael Trousdell,
Arup mechanical associate. “To
take advantage of this new approach
would require a thorough rethink of
how building services systems are
designed and developed.”
This kind of technology will real-
ly come into its own in new-build
offices, where the necessary infra-
structure can be factored into the
design, says Frank Palermo, vice
president for global digital solu-
tions at IT firm Virtusa-Polaris.
“Questions around sensor place-
ment, required wi-fi, Bluetooth
coverage and device communica-
tion will need to be foundational
to the design,” he says. “It will be
58%
45%
34%
32%
29%
25%
25%
22%
raconteur.net
01
02
vital to make sure that all the vari-
ables that need to be controlled are
thought of at the start, both inter-
nally and externally.”
Wearable technology could also be
set to impact the work environment,
building on early applications in-
cluding access control. Such devic-
es could help employers keep tabs
on where employees are and hours
worked, as well as tracking move-
ment and even stress levels.
“The areas where I see specific
problems being solved in a typi-
cal office environment are in in-
creased productivity and employee
wellbeing,” says Robert Ackland,
group director of product devel-
opment at 123-reg. The technology
could also help organisations en-
sure compliance with health and
safety procedures by monitoring
staff activity and health, he adds,
although a balance needs to be
struck between the benefits to the
business and intruding on employ-
ees’ privacy.
Another technology which is
likely to infiltrate the workplace is
26 / 04 / 2016 RACONTEUR
Getty Images
03
as close to real life as possible,” he
says. “Skills in customer service,
risk assessment, construction and
maintenance of technical equip-
ment can all benefit.”
Augmented reality could also have
an impact on meetings, says War-
wick Goodall, UK technology direc-
tor at Deloitte. “Employees could
use augmented reality to go through
01
Wearables could data sets or give interactive pres-
Visualise
transform the entations to one another,” he says.
workplace, from “It would be much more appealing
lighting and heating than your average PowerPoint pres-
control, to employee
tracking and stress entation and can be given remotely
monitoring from anywhere in the world.”
Videoconferencing itself is also
02 likely to change over the next few
Virtual reality
technology in use years, with new software packages
at VR specialists meaning people can enter meet-
Visualise ings from a number of devices,
including mobile phones. “The ad-
03
Double robotics vent of software such as Skype for
video conferenc- Business and Google Hangouts is
ing in use at Shut- making traditional videoconfer-
terstock's office encing boardrooms defunct,” says
Simon Fagan, managing director
of Maverick UK. New hardware
such as Microsoft’s Surface Hub
has also emerged, offering much
virtual or augmented reality. IFS greater collaboration functions,
Labs, for instance, has developed including the ability to share and
an enterprise version of Google edit files, he adds.
Glass, designed to help technicians Even more futuristic is the use of
undertake maintenance tasks in a so-called double robotics, which
workplace. is currently being trialled at US
“Digitisation will offer new user photo library Shutterstock. Adult-
experiences where you can talk sized robots feature an iPad which
to your enterprise applications displays the face of the person in
and give actions that enable you the conference who is not physi-
to work hands-free,” says Mar- cally present, so that person can
tin Gunnarsson, product director “move” around the office with
at IFS R&D. “Smart glasses come colleagues, “attending” company
into this as well and, in the future, briefings or meetings without be-
augmented reality and holograms ing in the building.
will allow users to have informa- “Currently, we have three robots
tion presented in a 3D perspective, which are mobile in our office and
which will really change and adapt they may become more permanent
the way we work.” fixtures,” says Anshu Aggarwal,
This could, in time, impact a chief technology officer at Shut-
number of other workplace activ- terstock. “Ultimately this could
ities, particularly how employees encourage better collaboration
are trained, says Will McMaster, and communication between our
head of virtual reality at Visual- staff, wherever they may be across
ise. “In much the same way as a the globe.”
pilot trains in an immersive flight
simulator, many jobs will eventu-
ally include a component of virtual
Share this article online via
raconteur.net
training to create an environment
RACONTEUR xx / 04
26 xx / 2016
xxxx raconteur.net XXXX
THE FUTURE WORKPLACE 2
11
COMMERCIAL FEATURE
QUALITY,
DISCRETION
AND
CONVENIENCE
Serviced offices offer a variety of advantages for
businesses of all sizes – and could be right for you
G
em Diamonds is one of the In terms of office size, the company’s
most successful companies in needs changed month by month. Like
the mining industry with major many fast-growing companies, Gem
operations in Lesotho and Botswana. Diamonds’ headcount fluctuates
When it listed on the London Stock rapidly. “We grow or shrink as we
Exchange, it needed a permanent office acquire or sell mines,” says Mr Turner.
in London. Chief commercial officer “So we needed flexibility.”
Glenn Turner was tasked with finding the The location had to be grand enough
right location. to impress visitors, without being
His board gave him a list of rather showy. Visitors would require food and
tricky requirements. “Location was drink. And there was the question of IT
vital,” says Mr Turner. “We needed to support. Would Gem Diamonds need to
be central. We are very fortunate in build its own in-house support team? Or
having the diamantier Laurence Graff was there another way?
as our largest investor and his flagship Mr Turner recalls: “We looked at
is in the West End. We need to be all the cost implications of taking our
close to him and other investors based own office and in the end went with a
in the West End. serviced office from Leo.”
“We also need quick access to In terms of location, Leo was able to
Heathrow. We have mines in Australia offer the perfect spot in Eaton Gate, includes stately Mayfair and Chelsea to supply whatever a client requests.
and Indonesia, so we needed to be Belgravia. “It’s a grand old historic locations, and bright, modern glass As Gem Diamonds has found, Leo
near that hub.” building. Other mining companies, such and steel business centres in the has a near-perfect record in meeting
as Rio Tinto and Anglo American, are a heart of the City. demands. There are regular client
stone’s throw away. And we are close to “An awful lot are corner buildings meetings, usually at two months and
FIVE REASONS TO USE
Paddington for the Heathrow Express.” on the north and east sides of the again at seven months, to ensure a good
A LEO SERVICED OFFICE
A serviced office solves the issue of street. These get more sunlight, which working relationship. with no hidden extras. And unlike a
varying need for space. Gem Diamonds plays into the psyche of the buildings,” For those who want it, there are proprietary office, occasional spaces,
takes more rooms and desks, or says Mr Giles. regular events that give networking such as kitchens and unused offices,
Thirty two stunning relinquish them, as they require. No Each location offers the same discreet opportunities throughout the year. cost nothing.
locations across dead space. philosophy. There is no branding of Leo Individuals using hot-desking space in The formula is proving hugely
the City, West Absolutely key was Leo’s approach to be seen or of other customers. This particular value these opportunities to popular. Leo has been expanding year
End, Midtown,
to service. Leo is renowned in the is a valued unique selling point of Leo; meet other customers. after year to meet demand and this year
Marylebone,
Kensington, sector for taking extraordinary steps it means visitors are unaware whether As expected, at the core of this will add four new buildings in London,
Chelsea, to offer outstanding round-the-clock the office is serviced or company five-star offering comes a deeply equating to 40,000sq ft of space.
Knightsbridge care of clients. owned. The uniformed receptionists ingrained customer service culture, Long-term tenancies are fuelling
and Belgravia Staff are trained to resolve any are trained to greet customers by which explains why Leo customers Leo’s rise. When companies experience
problem immediately, no matter name, so the experience meets the very have an average stay of 35 months, the strengths of serviced offices, they
Plug and play – how small. Gem Diamonds needed highest requirements. considerably higher than the industry typically extend their stay.
full IT support from superlative service and got it. Comprehensive technical support average. These benefits add up to a Gem Diamonds is now entering its
telecoms to data- “Take a small thing like catering,” is a key part of the serviced office concept which outguns a company- second decade with Leo. Mr Turner says:
hosting
says Mr Turner. “If we have ten people proposition. It starts with basic stuff, such owned office on multiple fronts. “Overall we have been able to employ
In-house customer in, then suddenly refreshments will as broadband and telephony. It stretches “We have customers who are sole ten fewer people in our London office.
service and miraculously appear. Whatever we need, into the most demanding technical traders,” says Mr O’Hara. “These We used to have an office manager and
it is there. In ten years I can’t recall a requirements, including datacentres. include high-net-worth individuals and a procurement person. We offloaded
maintenance team
– you don’t even time when we asked for something and “A lot of our customers in the financial entrepreneurs who don’t want to work those issues to Leo. The remaining
change a it did not appear.” services sector can’t use the cloud from home. And we have multinationals staff were freed up to work on more
light bulb
This story highlights the many because of regulatory requirements,” that require extra project space.” important things.”
benefits of using a serviced office. says Conal O’Hara, Leo’s property Pricing is transparent. Leo offers The advantages of a serviced office,
Expand your From startups to FTSE 100 firms, it pays acquisitions director. “They need to a fully inclusive pricing structure combined with Leo’s unique customer-
office as your
to make use of locations created and host and control their own data, so they first approach, made it a simple decision
business expands
maintained by a specialist. make use of our server rooms.” This for Gem Diamonds. As Mr Turner
Professional In terms of location Leo is unrivalled. facility means companies can operate concludes: “Leo have been flexible
uniformed staff Clients have the pick of 32 unbranded on a network, reducing lag-times and and understanding. They are very good
who know your buildings in London’s zone 1. boosting security. At the core of this five-star offering people to work with.”
team’s names “We look for architectural standout And what really distinguishes Leo
buildings in great locations,” says Leo from other serviced office providers?
comes a deeply ingrained customer To learn more about London Executive
chief executive Tim Giles. The range The key is the word “service”. Leo strives service culture Offices visit leo.co.uk
12 THE FUTURE WORKPLACE
Self-employment is on
the up in UK workforce
Could half of us really be self-employed contractors or freelancers
by 2020? Whatever the figure, the trend is upwards
FREELANCE ECONOMY
NIKI CHESWORTH
T
he freelance economy is
one of the great UK success
stories of recent years.
It has grown by 25 per
cent since 2009 to turnover an
estimated £109 billion a year,
more than the entire automotive
sector, according to figures pub-
lished today by IPSE, the mem-
bership body supporting contrac-
tors, independent professionals
and freelancers.
Not only does the freelance econo-
my provide an estimated £30 billion
a year in “added value” to UK gross
TOP 10 SKILLS SUPPLIED BY UK FREELANCERS TO BUSINESSES
01
ARTICLE WRITING
02
CONTENT WRITING
03
STUDY
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
04
BLOGS
05
WEB CONTENT
domestic product, IPSE says, it has
contributed to much of the growth
in employment in recent years,
with the latest labour force figures
from the Office for National Statis-
tics showing a record 4.63 million,
one in seven of the workforce, are
self-employed.
However, this number includes
everyone from plumbers to plas-
terers and caterers to childminders
with the government-commissioned
Self-Employment Review published
in February highlighting that con-
struction, taxi and cab drivers, and
carpentry and joinery are the most
common job roles.
Freelancers, who tend to be knowl-
edge-based workers, account for
06
GRAPHIC DESIGN
07
PHP
08
AD
COPYWRITING
09
CREATIVE WRITING
10
HTML
Source: Elance 2015
raconteur.net
says: “The professional flexible
workforce continues to see place-
ments increase and this will not
change as UK businesses need to
compete, buying in talent when
they need it.”
“It is now the norm,” says Chris
Bryce, chief executive of IPSE.
“There has been a structural shift
in the way the UK economy works.
However, what has really changed
is that the use of freelancers, which
multinationals have used for two
or three decades, is now more prev-
alent among smaller and medi-
um-sized companies.”
The gig economy is also fuelling
growth, although PwC’s research
highlights that this makes up only
2 per cent of total recruitment. In-
stead it is higher skilled managerial,
professional and associate profes-
sional jobs that are the real drivers
of growth, with nearly 60 per cent
The Office Group’s of the rise in self-employment in the
co-working space last five years coming from these
at Henry Wood
highly paid and experienced free-
House in London's
Oxford Circus lancers, according to the Self-Em-
ployment Review.
There has also been a shift in the
demographic profile with more
women becoming self-employed
and a 51 per cent increase in the
number of freelancers aged 16 to 29
since 2008, and an even larger 63
per cent rise in freelancers over 60,
according to IPSE.
However, professionals in all age
groups are attracted to this way of
working. Half of the 9,000 knowl-
edge-based workers across the UK,
United States and Germany sur-
veyed for The Way We Work study,
commissioned by software firm Uni-
fy, said they would consider chang-
ing to a freelance or on-demand
model of work over regular employ-
ment if it were offered. Already one
a much smaller percentage of this in five currently worked as freelanc-
workforce – around 1.91 million, ers or contractors.
according to IPSE. This segment of Startups and the booming tech
self-employment is among the fast- sector are particularly reliant on
est growing with numbers up by 36
per cent since 2008.
While many of those becom- NEW BUSINESS MODEL
ing self-employed after the credit
crunch did so out of necessity, in the
last five years it is has increasingly
been through choice.
“It is called a labour market for
a reason. On one side you have in-
creasing demand from businesses
wanting to keep costs down and
hire in skills as and when they
need them, and on the other you
have a growing number of individ-
uals who want to work flexibly,”
says Kevin Green, chief executive
of the Recruitment and Employ-
ment Confederation.
“It is a win-win that you just do
not see to the same extent in other
Freelancers are increasingly
part of the business model
European countries, which is great of new startups, which
for our economy. So over the next
need a highly skilled, on-tap
five to ten years, the numbers will workforce without committing
only increase.” to costly overheads.
PeoplePerHour, the online free- Philip Lillefelth, founder
lance platform, recently forecast
and chief executive of
that half of us could be working Pansofica, a design concept
for ourselves by 2020. Profession- studio that develops products
al services firm PwC is more con-
including the AxionMotion
servative with its research show- app, which is similar to Uber,
ing that half of human resources but for manufacturers,
professionals expect at least one in enabling them to tap into
five of their workforce to be made
fleet transport, says: “It is
up of contractors or temporary imperative that we keep
workers by 2020. evolving. However, upskilling
Samantha Hurley, operations staff can be expensive and
director of the Association of
Professional Staffing Companies,
26 / 04 / 2016 RACONTEUR
this flexible workforce. Geoff Smith,
managing director Europe of IT re-
sourcing specialist Experis, which
produces the Tech Cities Job Watch,
says that the UK is one of the top five
leaders in the use of IT contractors,
outpacing the US, with a 10 per cent
rise over the last year.
Upwork, which has 355,000 free-
lancers on its online talent market-
place in the UK, is also experienc-
ing phenomenal growth. Last year
the number of UK freelancers start-
ing to work on its platform grew by
126 per cent.
However, the life of the freelancer or
contractor is not an easy option, with
IPSE’s Mr Bryce warning: “There is no
job security, working on your own can
be difficult and you have to provide
your own services from marketing to
accounting and pensions.”
Even so, the vast majority are sat-
isfied with their career choice. SJD
Accountancy, which provides ac-
counting services to contractors,
recently surveyed 1,000 of them and
discovered that, since becoming a
contractor, three quarters felt there
had been a positive effect on their
work-life balance, while eight in ten
said they found being a contractor
more satisfying. More than nine in
ten were also earning more than
when they were an employee.
One factor, which is not often con-
sidered when examining the growth
of the freelance economy, is that the
alternative is much less attractive
than it once was. Simon Curry, chief
executive of SJD Accountancy, says:
“The steady erosion of employment
rights and the decline in the addi-
tional extras related to permanent
employment, such as defined bene-
fit pension schemes, has made con-
tracting seem less risky than being
an employee.”
Share this article online via
raconteur.net
time consuming, so we
decided to have a core staff
of three founding partners,
and to then access a network
of up to 30 engineers and
designers who take it upon
themselves to stay up to date
with technical skills.”
The CV Centre, which
started as a one-man band
in 1998 and has grown into
a multinational business
operating in 12 countries, also
uses this business model.
“We have only 20 salaried
staff, but use 150 freelancers
around the world,” says
founder James Innes. “It
is a very flexible way of
managing expansion, keeping
commitments and costs
under control, and I can hire
in freelancers with experience
in specific areas, such as
writing a CV for someone in
the legal sector, when I need
to. This flexibility works both
ways. Many of our freelancers
are looking for the work-life
balance salaried staff can
only dream of.”
RACONTEUR xx / 04
26 xx / 2016
xxxx raconteur.net XXXX
THE FUTURE WORKPLACE 2
13
COMMERCIAL FEATURE
OPINION COLUMN
ATION PL ATFO
HESTR RM
Flexible workplaces ORC
fuel economic engine
Unified
lephony
The future of the workplace is
i -f i
Co
&w
llab
commu
Cloud te
flexible, dynamic and diverse – and
ora
et
s
es
ern
Kn
tio
cc
ow
nicatio
int
the traditional office market ignores
a
n
le
or
dg
st
o
td
r fa
tr
Ne ar
ns
an
this phenomenon at its peril
ce
pe
tw Sm spa
sf
ork
Su
ice
er
ing ff
o ko
Bo
Online co ent
mmunitie e managem
JENNIFER BROOKE s Workspac
Real-time
Executive director insight
On-demand Automation Self-service Security
BCA
‘The office A great deal of focus
is a foreign is on the success
HOW TO RUN THE
c o u n t r y, of Tech City. By
they do things dif- the time govern-
ferently there…’ ment recognised
Taking a fa- it, Tech City was
SLICKEST WORKSPACE
vourite old quote already well estab-
and turning it lished with flexible
into something new operators. New and
seems appropriate growing companies
when talking about the had already created their
future of the workplace. desired community, and more There is a complete software solution to running a shared
The workplace itself is a new traditional landlords were only
and changing place. Technology starting to look at how to get in workspace, says Mark Furness, chief executive of essensys
lessens the separation between on the act.
work and home, and the office is no The success of the serviced office
longer nine to five or a place with and flexible space industry is far
desks and a photocopier. As tech- from just a London story. Across
nology improves, so the need for the regions, rates and occupancy
presenteeism lessens. As working continues to increase with differ-
hours change, so the need for desks ent regions displaying their re-
in fixed offices lessens. spective strengths. Light industri-
A
Over the past few years the focus al continues to be a strong driver
has shifted from demands of land- of occupancy rates in the North s this report makes clear, workers need to become a friendly The idea of having to do
lords to demands of customers. East, Yorkshire and Humber, and co-working and shared and productive community. these things manually is painful.
Traditional property companies Scotland with serviced offic- workspaces are booming. The core of our philosophy is Workspace administrative staff
and lease struc- es dominating in Cushman & Wakefield estimate the automation. If something can should be freed up to concentrate
tures find them- East England. sector now soaks up 8 per cent of be automated, it should be. This on the issues that really matter, not
selves challenged Our research also all new global office space. There are cuts down costs and admin time, bogged down in manual labour.
by businesses shows more and thousands of providers and many new and provides a much richer and A real key is our analytics. The
that may not Disruption has more operators en- ones springing up all the time. frictionless experience for all parties. platform collects a wide variety of
want what they tering the market, The challenge for the managers data. It enables you to spot trends
are providing.
the potential along with more of these facilities is how to run the and patterns in member behaviour,
The fleet-of-foot to be the new and more proper- slickest operation. Hosting a shared see which tenants use which space,
nature of the best friend of the ty companies let- workspace isn’t easy. There are
If something can and for how long. You can sell more
flexible space
office market ting space to flex- hundreds of tenants, all of whom
be automated, it
space and provide better customer
sector gives the ible operators in have their own specific requirements. service. Key performance indicators
ability not just grade-A buildings. In the early days, administrators should be. This cuts on occupancy, revenue, sales,
to respond to Customers in flex- used whatever tools they could. They debtors and other areas are auto-
emerging trends, but to develop ible space trade and socialise with would run a plethora of applications down costs and admin generated, meaning you can finesse
and guide those trends. The rise each other, businesses grow faster side by side to manage their time, and provides the running of the business.
of co-working and the focus on when they collaborate and work- workspace, often using Excel and The essensys platform has been
nurturing small businesses from places themselves become a core paper diaries to cope.
a much richer and built and refined over years, using
startup through growth is not just a part of that dynamic, fuelling the Our mission at essensys is to end frictionless experience feedback from our customers. It is
good thing to do, it makes econom- economic engine. this. We provide a complete solution for all parties at the heart of operations at some
ic and business sense.
As a not-for-profit trade associa-
Underpinning this is high-speed
broadband as the workplace only
for running a workspace – from
membership and payments, to IT and
of the world’s most successful
workspace operators. We are
tion representing the needs of op- works when the technology allows meeting room management. So all back-office functions are always upgrading our platform to
erators, suppliers and customers of it to. Government at all levels needs To help tenants get to know their automated. Sales, membership ensure clients have the very best
managed and serviced workspace, to recognise this because, when neighbours and build a support and payment is handled with the technology for every task.
and with more than 1,200 member you get better broadband in Bul- network, numerous spaces operate minimum of fuss. There is seamless In 2015, we were named a
locations across the UK, at the BCA garia than in London, Manchester a social network. Many startups and integration with accounts systems. Gartner Cool Vendor and won the
we know diversification and ad- or Birmingham, there is a prob- multinationals use shared workspaces Late payers are automatically chased UK Tech Award for Innovation. We
aptation are key to the success of lem. Without the right connec- because they love the social side. and end-of-month customer billing were proud to be named one of The
the sector. tivity, the future of the workplace There are networking events, parties becomes a breeze. Sunday Times Tech Track 100 two
Our research has shown the sector is uncertain. and guest lectures. It’s a big part of And tenants naturally prefer to years in a row.
contributes £2.5 billion a year to We are living in an era of change the appeal. manage tasks themselves using a We are massive believers in the
UK plc with an overall contribution and the flexible space sector is lead- Like Facebook and LinkedIn, sleek app, rather than wait for a workspace revolution. It’s fabulous
of just under £8 billion to GDP. All ing in creating that change. Disrup- members get a homepage listing staff member to attend to it. With for business, from startups to blue
this is based on a business model tion has the potential to be the new their profile details. They can chat easy, on-demand access to products chips. With the right platform, the
which makes it very easy for cus- best friend of the office market. Be with other members, post requests, and services in your workplace, experience of workspace providers
tomers to grow in the same space proactive, embrace new technolo- photos, create events and build specific requests such as booking and their growing community of
and to exit without any financial gies and business models valuable commercial relationships with meeting rooms are done online. IT tenants can be made so much better.
penalties – and, by doing so, tends which can add value to ex- other tenants. Our platform is perfect and communications provisioning is
to mean they stay. isting propositions. for this; it has all the functionality automated, as are wi-fi passwords. To find out more visit essensys.tech
12 THE FUTURE WORKPLACE
Self-employment is on
the up in UK workforce
Could half of us really be self-employed contractors or freelancers
by 2020? Whatever the figure, the trend is upwards
FREELANCE ECONOMY
NIKI CHESWORTH
T
he freelance economy is
one of the great UK success
stories of recent years.
It has grown by 25 per
cent since 2009 to turnover an
estimated £109 billion a year,
more than the entire automotive
sector, according to figures pub-
lished today by IPSE, the mem-
bership body supporting contrac-
tors, independent professionals
and freelancers.
Not only does the freelance econo-
my provide an estimated £30 billion
a year in “added value” to UK gross
TOP 10 SKILLS SUPPLIED BY UK FREELANCERS TO BUSINESSES
01
ARTICLE WRITING
02
CONTENT WRITING
03
STUDY
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
04
BLOGS
05
WEB CONTENT
domestic product, IPSE says, it has
contributed to much of the growth
in employment in recent years,
with the latest labour force figures
from the Office for National Statis-
tics showing a record 4.63 million,
one in seven of the workforce, are
self-employed.
However, this number includes
everyone from plumbers to plas-
terers and caterers to childminders
with the government-commissioned
Self-Employment Review published
in February highlighting that con-
struction, taxi and cab drivers, and
carpentry and joinery are the most
common job roles.
Freelancers, who tend to be knowl-
edge-based workers, account for
06
GRAPHIC DESIGN
07
PHP
08
AD
COPYWRITING
09
CREATIVE WRITING
10
HTML
Source: Elance 2015
raconteur.net
says: “The professional flexible
workforce continues to see place-
ments increase and this will not
change as UK businesses need to
compete, buying in talent when
they need it.”
“It is now the norm,” says Chris
Bryce, chief executive of IPSE.
“There has been a structural shift
in the way the UK economy works.
However, what has really changed
is that the use of freelancers, which
multinationals have used for two
or three decades, is now more prev-
alent among smaller and medi-
um-sized companies.”
The gig economy is also fuelling
growth, although PwC’s research
highlights that this makes up only
2 per cent of total recruitment. In-
stead it is higher skilled managerial,
professional and associate profes-
sional jobs that are the real drivers
of growth, with nearly 60 per cent
The Office Group’s of the rise in self-employment in the
co-working space last five years coming from these
at Henry Wood
highly paid and experienced free-
House in London's
Oxford Circus lancers, according to the Self-Em-
ployment Review.
There has also been a shift in the
demographic profile with more
women becoming self-employed
and a 51 per cent increase in the
number of freelancers aged 16 to 29
since 2008, and an even larger 63
per cent rise in freelancers over 60,
according to IPSE.
However, professionals in all age
groups are attracted to this way of
working. Half of the 9,000 knowl-
edge-based workers across the UK,
United States and Germany sur-
veyed for The Way We Work study,
commissioned by software firm Uni-
fy, said they would consider chang-
ing to a freelance or on-demand
model of work over regular employ-
ment if it were offered. Already one
a much smaller percentage of this in five currently worked as freelanc-
workforce – around 1.91 million, ers or contractors.
according to IPSE. This segment of Startups and the booming tech
self-employment is among the fast- sector are particularly reliant on
est growing with numbers up by 36
per cent since 2008.
While many of those becom- NEW BUSINESS MODEL
ing self-employed after the credit
crunch did so out of necessity, in the
last five years it is has increasingly
been through choice.
“It is called a labour market for
a reason. On one side you have in-
creasing demand from businesses
wanting to keep costs down and
hire in skills as and when they
need them, and on the other you
have a growing number of individ-
uals who want to work flexibly,”
says Kevin Green, chief executive
of the Recruitment and Employ-
ment Confederation.
“It is a win-win that you just do
not see to the same extent in other
Freelancers are increasingly
part of the business model
European countries, which is great of new startups, which
for our economy. So over the next
need a highly skilled, on-tap
five to ten years, the numbers will workforce without committing
only increase.” to costly overheads.
PeoplePerHour, the online free- Philip Lillefelth, founder
lance platform, recently forecast
and chief executive of
that half of us could be working Pansofica, a design concept
for ourselves by 2020. Profession- studio that develops products
al services firm PwC is more con-
including the AxionMotion
servative with its research show- app, which is similar to Uber,
ing that half of human resources but for manufacturers,
professionals expect at least one in enabling them to tap into
five of their workforce to be made
fleet transport, says: “It is
up of contractors or temporary imperative that we keep
workers by 2020. evolving. However, upskilling
Samantha Hurley, operations staff can be expensive and
director of the Association of
Professional Staffing Companies,
26 / 04 / 2016 RACONTEUR
this flexible workforce. Geoff Smith,
managing director Europe of IT re-
sourcing specialist Experis, which
produces the Tech Cities Job Watch,
says that the UK is one of the top five
leaders in the use of IT contractors,
outpacing the US, with a 10 per cent
rise over the last year.
Upwork, which has 355,000 free-
lancers on its online talent market-
place in the UK, is also experienc-
ing phenomenal growth. Last year
the number of UK freelancers start-
ing to work on its platform grew by
126 per cent.
However, the life of the freelancer or
contractor is not an easy option, with
IPSE’s Mr Bryce warning: “There is no
job security, working on your own can
be difficult and you have to provide
your own services from marketing to
accounting and pensions.”
Even so, the vast majority are sat-
isfied with their career choice. SJD
Accountancy, which provides ac-
counting services to contractors,
recently surveyed 1,000 of them and
discovered that, since becoming a
contractor, three quarters felt there
had been a positive effect on their
work-life balance, while eight in ten
said they found being a contractor
more satisfying. More than nine in
ten were also earning more than
when they were an employee.
One factor, which is not often con-
sidered when examining the growth
of the freelance economy, is that the
alternative is much less attractive
than it once was. Simon Curry, chief
executive of SJD Accountancy, says:
“The steady erosion of employment
rights and the decline in the addi-
tional extras related to permanent
employment, such as defined bene-
fit pension schemes, has made con-
tracting seem less risky than being
an employee.”
Share this article online via
raconteur.net
time consuming, so we
decided to have a core staff
of three founding partners,
and to then access a network
of up to 30 engineers and
designers who take it upon
themselves to stay up to date
with technical skills.”
The CV Centre, which
started as a one-man band
in 1998 and has grown into
a multinational business
operating in 12 countries, also
uses this business model.
“We have only 20 salaried
staff, but use 150 freelancers
around the world,” says
founder James Innes. “It
is a very flexible way of
managing expansion, keeping
commitments and costs
under control, and I can hire
in freelancers with experience
in specific areas, such as
writing a CV for someone in
the legal sector, when I need
to. This flexibility works both
ways. Many of our freelancers
are looking for the work-life
balance salaried staff can
only dream of.”
RACONTEUR xx / 04
26 xx / 2016
xxxx raconteur.net XXXX
THE FUTURE WORKPLACE 2
13
COMMERCIAL FEATURE
OPINION COLUMN
ATION PL ATFO
HESTR RM
Flexible workplaces ORC
fuel economic engine
Unified
lephony
The future of the workplace is
i -f i
Co
&w
llab
commu
Cloud te
flexible, dynamic and diverse – and
ora
et
s
es
ern
Kn
tio
cc
ow
nicatio
int
the traditional office market ignores
a
n
le
or
dg
st
o
td
r fa
tr
Ne ar
ns
an
this phenomenon at its peril
ce
pe
tw Sm spa
sf
ork
Su
ice
er
ing ff
o ko
Bo
Online co ent
mmunitie e managem
JENNIFER BROOKE s Workspac
Real-time
Executive director insight
On-demand Automation Self-service Security
BCA
‘The office A great deal of focus
is a foreign is on the success
HOW TO RUN THE
c o u n t r y, of Tech City. By
they do things dif- the time govern-
ferently there…’ ment recognised
Taking a fa- it, Tech City was
SLICKEST WORKSPACE
vourite old quote already well estab-
and turning it lished with flexible
into something new operators. New and
seems appropriate growing companies
when talking about the had already created their
future of the workplace. desired community, and more There is a complete software solution to running a shared
The workplace itself is a new traditional landlords were only
and changing place. Technology starting to look at how to get in workspace, says Mark Furness, chief executive of essensys
lessens the separation between on the act.
work and home, and the office is no The success of the serviced office
longer nine to five or a place with and flexible space industry is far
desks and a photocopier. As tech- from just a London story. Across
nology improves, so the need for the regions, rates and occupancy
presenteeism lessens. As working continues to increase with differ-
hours change, so the need for desks ent regions displaying their re-
in fixed offices lessens. spective strengths. Light industri-
A
Over the past few years the focus al continues to be a strong driver
has shifted from demands of land- of occupancy rates in the North s this report makes clear, workers need to become a friendly The idea of having to do
lords to demands of customers. East, Yorkshire and Humber, and co-working and shared and productive community. these things manually is painful.
Traditional property companies Scotland with serviced offic- workspaces are booming. The core of our philosophy is Workspace administrative staff
and lease struc- es dominating in Cushman & Wakefield estimate the automation. If something can should be freed up to concentrate
tures find them- East England. sector now soaks up 8 per cent of be automated, it should be. This on the issues that really matter, not
selves challenged Our research also all new global office space. There are cuts down costs and admin time, bogged down in manual labour.
by businesses shows more and thousands of providers and many new and provides a much richer and A real key is our analytics. The
that may not Disruption has more operators en- ones springing up all the time. frictionless experience for all parties. platform collects a wide variety of
want what they tering the market, The challenge for the managers data. It enables you to spot trends
are providing.
the potential along with more of these facilities is how to run the and patterns in member behaviour,
The fleet-of-foot to be the new and more proper- slickest operation. Hosting a shared see which tenants use which space,
nature of the best friend of the ty companies let- workspace isn’t easy. There are
If something can and for how long. You can sell more
flexible space
office market ting space to flex- hundreds of tenants, all of whom
be automated, it
space and provide better customer
sector gives the ible operators in have their own specific requirements. service. Key performance indicators
ability not just grade-A buildings. In the early days, administrators should be. This cuts on occupancy, revenue, sales,
to respond to Customers in flex- used whatever tools they could. They debtors and other areas are auto-
emerging trends, but to develop ible space trade and socialise with would run a plethora of applications down costs and admin generated, meaning you can finesse
and guide those trends. The rise each other, businesses grow faster side by side to manage their time, and provides the running of the business.
of co-working and the focus on when they collaborate and work- workspace, often using Excel and The essensys platform has been
nurturing small businesses from places themselves become a core paper diaries to cope.
a much richer and built and refined over years, using
startup through growth is not just a part of that dynamic, fuelling the Our mission at essensys is to end frictionless experience feedback from our customers. It is
good thing to do, it makes econom- economic engine. this. We provide a complete solution for all parties at the heart of operations at some
ic and business sense.
As a not-for-profit trade associa-
Underpinning this is high-speed
broadband as the workplace only
for running a workspace – from
membership and payments, to IT and
of the world’s most successful
workspace operators. We are
tion representing the needs of op- works when the technology allows meeting room management. So all back-office functions are always upgrading our platform to
erators, suppliers and customers of it to. Government at all levels needs To help tenants get to know their automated. Sales, membership ensure clients have the very best
managed and serviced workspace, to recognise this because, when neighbours and build a support and payment is handled with the technology for every task.
and with more than 1,200 member you get better broadband in Bul- network, numerous spaces operate minimum of fuss. There is seamless In 2015, we were named a
locations across the UK, at the BCA garia than in London, Manchester a social network. Many startups and integration with accounts systems. Gartner Cool Vendor and won the
we know diversification and ad- or Birmingham, there is a prob- multinationals use shared workspaces Late payers are automatically chased UK Tech Award for Innovation. We
aptation are key to the success of lem. Without the right connec- because they love the social side. and end-of-month customer billing were proud to be named one of The
the sector. tivity, the future of the workplace There are networking events, parties becomes a breeze. Sunday Times Tech Track 100 two
Our research has shown the sector is uncertain. and guest lectures. It’s a big part of And tenants naturally prefer to years in a row.
contributes £2.5 billion a year to We are living in an era of change the appeal. manage tasks themselves using a We are massive believers in the
UK plc with an overall contribution and the flexible space sector is lead- Like Facebook and LinkedIn, sleek app, rather than wait for a workspace revolution. It’s fabulous
of just under £8 billion to GDP. All ing in creating that change. Disrup- members get a homepage listing staff member to attend to it. With for business, from startups to blue
this is based on a business model tion has the potential to be the new their profile details. They can chat easy, on-demand access to products chips. With the right platform, the
which makes it very easy for cus- best friend of the office market. Be with other members, post requests, and services in your workplace, experience of workspace providers
tomers to grow in the same space proactive, embrace new technolo- photos, create events and build specific requests such as booking and their growing community of
and to exit without any financial gies and business models valuable commercial relationships with meeting rooms are done online. IT tenants can be made so much better.
penalties – and, by doing so, tends which can add value to ex- other tenants. Our platform is perfect and communications provisioning is
to mean they stay. isting propositions. for this; it has all the functionality automated, as are wi-fi passwords. To find out more visit essensys.tech
14 THE FUTURE WORKPLACE raconteur.net 26 / 04 / 2016 RACONTEUR RACONTEUR 26 / 04 / 2016 raconteur.net THE FUTURE WORKPLACE 15

Imaginative design nur tures creative thinking

Good office design can attract and retain the best talent, creating an environment which helps boost creativity as well as productivity

01

PEER 1 Hosting
OFFICE DESIGN TOP 5 DESIGN TIPS
03

Morgan Lovell
PETER CRUSH

LONDON

E 01
nter the London office of
big data software company GO MINIMALIST
Splunk and the first thing Last year BNP Paribus decided
you’ll notice are the walls to declutter and move to
with Banksy-style painted Daleks, paperless-working to free
corrugated iron and graffiti. Oh, and up space for collaboration.
not forgetting an original 1950s Pull- The only place staff can store
man train carriage, complete with paper is in a locker each
worn seats and overhead luggage employee has been assigned.
racks, that serves as a meeting room.

Maximise the
Rated by Management Today
magazine as one the UK’s coolest
offices, Splunk is one of a growing

02
potential of
list of workspaces that’s had a de-
CREATE CABINS
sign makeover, where kitting it out
Atlas Copco, whose Hemel
has involved adding kitsch rather
Hempstead office services
London’s leading your property
than kitchenettes.
and sells vacuum pumps,
It joins the likes of Southamp-
portable compressors,
business club, meeting ton-based IT firm PEER 1 Hosting,
generators, and construction

asset.
which opened in 2013 in a former
and mining equipment,
and event space pub and now sports an adult helter
skelter, a mini-golf course and park 02
has introduced “cockpits”

A new way of doing business and the
smarter alternative to a London office.
ateljé Lyktan
as part of zoning its work.
benches, and Manchester-based
Small cabins fit only one
Bright HR, whose newly-opened
01 person, while larger ones can
office not only has an indoor 50ft have to be part of the conversion
Jack and the Beanstalk-themed gar- Reception of with boards,” says Sarah O’Cal-
accommodate three or four. At Orega we create serviced office
Southampton IT
den, but even a designated “sleep firm PEER 1 Hosting, laghan, managing partner of Space solutions for businesses across
room”, complete with bed, so staff which features & Solutions, which worked on the
can catch 40 winks. a slide from the PEER 1 building.
London, the UK and Europe.
floor above

“Our surroundings continually
affect how we feel, whether it’s in
Designed around the needs of today’s our homes, the countryside or even
business people and entrepreneurs in our cars, so to think it shouldn’t
happen in the office would be very
strange,” says Neil Morrison, hu-
Meeting Rooms Flexible Meeting Areas man resources director at Penguin
Boardrooms Clublounge Random House, of what he calls the
“logical link” between human per-
Presentation Rooms Virtual Office formance and environment.
Hot Desks Flexible PA A host of studies indicate that
Events Space Members’ Events whether it’s through better light,
colours, sense of space, furniture
and air quality, staff feel more en-
gaged, work better, are more cre-
ative, and more productive when
offices have been designed this way.
According to architecture and
design consultancy Gensler, cram-
ming people into offices like sar-
dines has meant workplace per-
www.theclubhouselondon.com formance actually fell 6 per cent
11–14 Grafton Street | 50 Grosvenor Hill between 2008 and 2013. It argues
Mayfair, London having balanced workplaces, de-
020 7183 7210
signed to foster better focus, but
also better ability to collaborate, is
the answer. Indeed, MIT finds 35 per
cent of a team’s performance can be
predicted simply by the number and
quality of face-to-face interactions
they have, which begs the question
of why office design isn’t higher up
in boardroom discussions.
studies, human resources directors
and chief executives are surprised
by how much space is unused or
causing unwanted inefficiency. At
Splunk, they specifically wanted
a playful environment, but also a
place they could create an experi-
ence for clients when they came in.”
Design still has to
answer a business
requirement and
not be about
gimmicks
“Space is increasingly seen as
needing to serve a specific role,”
he says. “Typically staff have been
organised by job function, but pro-
ductivity is now being understood
more in the context of how people
are organised around activities.
This means needing quiet rooms
– for anyone – when concentration
is needed or more collaborative
spaces when ideas need throwing
around. Activity-based design is
where we are.”
Space serving a purpose could be
as simple as reflecting company
values. At Box.com, a cloud-based
content management provider,
it has half a black cab poking out
02
Stockholm
workplace of
Arcona and
Exengo, awarded
Sweden's best-
looking office 2015
03
Meeting room
of London
software company
Splunk, voted
one of the UK’s
coolest offices by
Management Today
the need of the business has to drive
the design of the building, not the
other way around. While Box didn’t
specifically demand more produc-
tivity, better productivity is the
byproduct of a clear vision for how
a business wants to showcase its
brand to staff and customers.”
When firms get this, well-designed
offices return figures finance direc-
tors suddenly become interested
in. “Since moving 18 months ago to
our new Chiswick HQ – complete
with a bar and huge top-floor with
scattered chairs for meetings and
no desks – our turnover of people
has halved,” says Denis O’Flynn,
UK managing director of Pernod
“A fit-out that doesn’t answer these
questions hasn’t done its job properly.
PEER 1 wanted to create a place pri-
marily to attract scarce talent – that
was the established business need –
but for others it may be to help people
do their jobs better so they don’t want
to leave. Fundamentally people are
still sitting down working, but design
still has to answer a business require-
ment and not be about gimmicks.”
Fortunately, the gut feel a good
environment creates is being mon-
etised by some firms at the cutting
edge of this. Four years ago National
Grid challenged itself to boost pro-
ductivity by redesigning its War-
wick head office.
According to Simon Carter, Na-
tional Grid’s head of property, the
roll-out redesign throughout the
building has helped boost staff per-
formance by a significant 8 per cent.
National Grid believes the impact
of the 3,000 people in its head-
quarters working more effectively
equates to £20 million-worth of in-
creased productivity
Sounds good, doesn’t it? But there
is an important caveat. Good de-
sign is for nothing if there isn’t a
cultural shift to go with it. “We call
it how the physical – the building –
03
ADD COLOUR Our model is different. We partner
Interior designers do it, so why with forward-thinking landlords who
shouldn’t you? A University of
Texas study has found people realise they can get more from their
are more productive in low- commercial property. They appoint
wavelength blue and green
rooms because these colours us to manage their property, we
elicit feelings of tranquility and co-invest in the set up and together
confidence, and can aid focus.
we share the profits above that
which a landlord would expect from
a conventional market letting.
04 LIGHTEN UP
Make better use of Since 2000, we’ve proven we know
natural light. A study from
Northwestern Medicine
what it takes to succeed in the
and the University of Illinois serviced office market time and again.
found workers with more
light exposure in the office
If you’re a landlord looking to
had longer sleep duration,
better sleep quality, more maximise the potential of your
physical activity and better
quality of life compared to commercial property then get in touch
colleagues with less light on partnership@orega.com
exposure in the workplace.
05
ADD PLAY SPACES

Opening on
“While it’s still not a conversation
in all boardrooms, we’re certainly
seeing acceptance of the science of
St James’s Square workspace design,” says Sam Sah-
ni, head of workspace consultancy
May 2016 at Morgan Lovell, which designed
Splunk’s office. “Space is expen-
sive, so it’s being seen more as an
asset that needs a value attached
to it. When we do spatial usage
According to Matthew Glenny,
associate director of London Un-
limited, part of real estate firm JLL,
Splunk’s design brief is a classic ex-
ample of how office environments
are now being redesigned around
employees’ or clients’ needs.
from one of its meeting room walls
which can even be used for meet-
ings, and a huge floor space speck-
led with a few high-backed sofas
for private collaboration.
The space was designed by Area
Sq. Its design director James Geekie
says: “We know people feel disen-
gaged with a company if they don’t
feel part of the business. We believe
Ricard. “Our view was that we can’t meets the philosophical,” says Mr A survey by Staples found
create the entrepreneurial spirit we O’Flynn. “A good office environ- 85 per cent of employees
want without giving people freedom ment only works when everyone said they would be more
to think and meet.
Real pressure, of course, comes
knows how it works – and when
people are given control over their
productive if they were
able to go somewhere that
when firms are struggling to fit space and time.” enabled them to have regular
more people in and there’s an in- breaks.
door garden or play area that looks Share this article online via W W W.OREGA.COM
like wasted space. “This is when de- raconteur.net
sign, profitability and performance
14 THE FUTURE WORKPLACE raconteur.net 26 / 04 / 2016 RACONTEUR RACONTEUR 26 / 04 / 2016 raconteur.net THE FUTURE WORKPLACE 15

Imaginative design nur tures creative thinking

Good office design can attract and retain the best talent, creating an environment which helps boost creativity as well as productivity

01

PEER 1 Hosting
OFFICE DESIGN TOP 5 DESIGN TIPS
03

Morgan Lovell
PETER CRUSH

LONDON

E 01
nter the London office of
big data software company GO MINIMALIST
Splunk and the first thing Last year BNP Paribus decided
you’ll notice are the walls to declutter and move to
with Banksy-style painted Daleks, paperless-working to free
corrugated iron and graffiti. Oh, and up space for collaboration.
not forgetting an original 1950s Pull- The only place staff can store
man train carriage, complete with paper is in a locker each
worn seats and overhead luggage employee has been assigned.
racks, that serves as a meeting room.

Maximise the
Rated by Management Today
magazine as one the UK’s coolest
offices, Splunk is one of a growing

02
potential of
list of workspaces that’s had a de-
CREATE CABINS
sign makeover, where kitting it out
Atlas Copco, whose Hemel
has involved adding kitsch rather
Hempstead office services
London’s leading your property
than kitchenettes.
and sells vacuum pumps,
It joins the likes of Southamp-
portable compressors,
business club, meeting ton-based IT firm PEER 1 Hosting,
generators, and construction

asset.
which opened in 2013 in a former
and mining equipment,
and event space pub and now sports an adult helter
skelter, a mini-golf course and park 02
has introduced “cockpits”

A new way of doing business and the
smarter alternative to a London office.
ateljé Lyktan
as part of zoning its work.
benches, and Manchester-based
Small cabins fit only one
Bright HR, whose newly-opened
01 person, while larger ones can
office not only has an indoor 50ft have to be part of the conversion
Jack and the Beanstalk-themed gar- Reception of with boards,” says Sarah O’Cal-
accommodate three or four. At Orega we create serviced office
Southampton IT
den, but even a designated “sleep firm PEER 1 Hosting, laghan, managing partner of Space solutions for businesses across
room”, complete with bed, so staff which features & Solutions, which worked on the
can catch 40 winks. a slide from the PEER 1 building.
London, the UK and Europe.
floor above

“Our surroundings continually
affect how we feel, whether it’s in
Designed around the needs of today’s our homes, the countryside or even
business people and entrepreneurs in our cars, so to think it shouldn’t
happen in the office would be very
strange,” says Neil Morrison, hu-
Meeting Rooms Flexible Meeting Areas man resources director at Penguin
Boardrooms Clublounge Random House, of what he calls the
“logical link” between human per-
Presentation Rooms Virtual Office formance and environment.
Hot Desks Flexible PA A host of studies indicate that
Events Space Members’ Events whether it’s through better light,
colours, sense of space, furniture
and air quality, staff feel more en-
gaged, work better, are more cre-
ative, and more productive when
offices have been designed this way.
According to architecture and
design consultancy Gensler, cram-
ming people into offices like sar-
dines has meant workplace per-
www.theclubhouselondon.com formance actually fell 6 per cent
11–14 Grafton Street | 50 Grosvenor Hill between 2008 and 2013. It argues
Mayfair, London having balanced workplaces, de-
020 7183 7210
signed to foster better focus, but
also better ability to collaborate, is
the answer. Indeed, MIT finds 35 per
cent of a team’s performance can be
predicted simply by the number and
quality of face-to-face interactions
they have, which begs the question
of why office design isn’t higher up
in boardroom discussions.
studies, human resources directors
and chief executives are surprised
by how much space is unused or
causing unwanted inefficiency. At
Splunk, they specifically wanted
a playful environment, but also a
place they could create an experi-
ence for clients when they came in.”
Design still has to
answer a business
requirement and
not be about
gimmicks
“Space is increasingly seen as
needing to serve a specific role,”
he says. “Typically staff have been
organised by job function, but pro-
ductivity is now being understood
more in the context of how people
are organised around activities.
This means needing quiet rooms
– for anyone – when concentration
is needed or more collaborative
spaces when ideas need throwing
around. Activity-based design is
where we are.”
Space serving a purpose could be
as simple as reflecting company
values. At Box.com, a cloud-based
content management provider,
it has half a black cab poking out
02
Stockholm
workplace of
Arcona and
Exengo, awarded
Sweden's best-
looking office 2015
03
Meeting room
of London
software company
Splunk, voted
one of the UK’s
coolest offices by
Management Today
the need of the business has to drive
the design of the building, not the
other way around. While Box didn’t
specifically demand more produc-
tivity, better productivity is the
byproduct of a clear vision for how
a business wants to showcase its
brand to staff and customers.”
When firms get this, well-designed
offices return figures finance direc-
tors suddenly become interested
in. “Since moving 18 months ago to
our new Chiswick HQ – complete
with a bar and huge top-floor with
scattered chairs for meetings and
no desks – our turnover of people
has halved,” says Denis O’Flynn,
UK managing director of Pernod
“A fit-out that doesn’t answer these
questions hasn’t done its job properly.
PEER 1 wanted to create a place pri-
marily to attract scarce talent – that
was the established business need –
but for others it may be to help people
do their jobs better so they don’t want
to leave. Fundamentally people are
still sitting down working, but design
still has to answer a business require-
ment and not be about gimmicks.”
Fortunately, the gut feel a good
environment creates is being mon-
etised by some firms at the cutting
edge of this. Four years ago National
Grid challenged itself to boost pro-
ductivity by redesigning its War-
wick head office.
According to Simon Carter, Na-
tional Grid’s head of property, the
roll-out redesign throughout the
building has helped boost staff per-
formance by a significant 8 per cent.
National Grid believes the impact
of the 3,000 people in its head-
quarters working more effectively
equates to £20 million-worth of in-
creased productivity
Sounds good, doesn’t it? But there
is an important caveat. Good de-
sign is for nothing if there isn’t a
cultural shift to go with it. “We call
it how the physical – the building –
03
ADD COLOUR Our model is different. We partner
Interior designers do it, so why with forward-thinking landlords who
shouldn’t you? A University of
Texas study has found people realise they can get more from their
are more productive in low- commercial property. They appoint
wavelength blue and green
rooms because these colours us to manage their property, we
elicit feelings of tranquility and co-invest in the set up and together
confidence, and can aid focus.
we share the profits above that
which a landlord would expect from
a conventional market letting.
04 LIGHTEN UP
Make better use of Since 2000, we’ve proven we know
natural light. A study from
Northwestern Medicine
what it takes to succeed in the
and the University of Illinois serviced office market time and again.
found workers with more
light exposure in the office
If you’re a landlord looking to
had longer sleep duration,
better sleep quality, more maximise the potential of your
physical activity and better
quality of life compared to commercial property then get in touch
colleagues with less light on partnership@orega.com
exposure in the workplace.
05
ADD PLAY SPACES

Opening on
“While it’s still not a conversation
in all boardrooms, we’re certainly
seeing acceptance of the science of
St James’s Square workspace design,” says Sam Sah-
ni, head of workspace consultancy
May 2016 at Morgan Lovell, which designed
Splunk’s office. “Space is expen-
sive, so it’s being seen more as an
asset that needs a value attached
to it. When we do spatial usage
According to Matthew Glenny,
associate director of London Un-
limited, part of real estate firm JLL,
Splunk’s design brief is a classic ex-
ample of how office environments
are now being redesigned around
employees’ or clients’ needs.
from one of its meeting room walls
which can even be used for meet-
ings, and a huge floor space speck-
led with a few high-backed sofas
for private collaboration.
The space was designed by Area
Sq. Its design director James Geekie
says: “We know people feel disen-
gaged with a company if they don’t
feel part of the business. We believe
Ricard. “Our view was that we can’t meets the philosophical,” says Mr A survey by Staples found
create the entrepreneurial spirit we O’Flynn. “A good office environ- 85 per cent of employees
want without giving people freedom ment only works when everyone said they would be more
to think and meet.
Real pressure, of course, comes
knows how it works – and when
people are given control over their
productive if they were
able to go somewhere that
when firms are struggling to fit space and time.” enabled them to have regular
more people in and there’s an in- breaks.
door garden or play area that looks Share this article online via W W W.OREGA.COM
like wasted space. “This is when de- raconteur.net
sign, profitability and performance
16 THE FUTURE WORKPLACE raconteur.net 26 / 04 / 2016 RACONTEUR