In our last blog, we looked at wellbeing in the workplace and how well-designed workspaces can make a valuable contribution to both people and performance. We also touched on how some of the world’s biggest companies have invested in always innovative, often off-the-wall workspaces.
As a business that continually rises to the challenge of designing practical and dynamic workspaces for companies in every sector, we are fascinated by the diversity of a company’s needs and wants and how they are driven by what stage of growth the business is at.
‘Fun’ workspaces are now synonymous with start-ups. But how quickly in a business’s growth does this newness get old? When do primary colours feel out of sync with the maturity of the team and just feel like ‘primary school’?
Well, it depends… Business success, especially at start-up stage, can be driven by the energy a vibrant workplace generates. But once you’re established, it’s time to grow up. So revisiting your workspace design at key stages of a business’s growth is very important.
Just last summer, for example, Apple’s 12,000 employees began the move into their brand new Cupertino spaceship, Apple Park. Eight years in the building and at a cost of $5 billion, it’s the world’s most expensive office.
But what does it say about where the 41 year old Apple is as a business? Well, as they continue to mature and understand what drives maximum productivity at work, they continue to invest in high quality, high tech office space. AND they complement it with all of the recreational and leisure space that people also need to switch off and find a balance.
So while you’re perhaps no longer a start-up, you still need to generate energy. The real question is what kind?
More established businesses with more mature teams may not need such a clear focus on shared or co-working spaces, for example. But they still need to think about generating agility and dynamism.
Stepping up from wide open work spaces can be the key to further developing your own style, brand and culture. However, the proviso is always that workspace should have flexibility built in – it’s the key to productivity whatever stage of growth a company is at.
Personalisation is also key. A space that really allows you and your team to own it also encourages a closer relationship between a company and its people, enabling them to really live and work your brand values. Bespoke finishes are something that many of our customers ask for as a key element of their design brief from the start.
Plus, of course, it’s all got to be functional. You may have had to compromise on the details when starting up, but now that you’re more established, it’s such a worthwhile investment to build a space around how your people work, building in exactly what they need, where they need it. From a post slot to seamless wireless charging and USB sockets wherever you need them, our storage solutions also incorporate space for the latest technology accessories.
Donna Hayman of James Tobias says:
“Whatever your area of business, building workspace around your people is an excellent way to get the best out of them – every day. So it follows that investing in high quality materials and finishes isn’t a cost but an investment: keeping that workspace fresh and pristine for the longest time makes sure it doesn’t get tired quickly – which in turn maintains the joy of working in it.”
What we don’t necessarily agree with is spending exorbitant amounts of money to get what you want. You can also have quality in quantity without busting the bottom line. That’s something we know all about.”
