About Freddie Steele

Posts by Freddie Steele:

We need to talk about loneliness

We need to talk about loneliness

From a business perspective, loneliness can be something that is often overlooked, particularly with the growing trend of hybrid workingLast year the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that loneliness is a pressing global health threat. Research has shown that it poses the same health risk as 15 cigarettes a day. According to the ONS, between January and February 2024, one in four adults in the UK reported feeling lonely. The government estimates the cost of severe loneliness per person is roughly £10,000 per year as a result of its impact on wellbeing, health and productivity. From a business perspective, this issue can be something that is often overlooked, particularly with the growing trend of hybrid working. In a connected workplace, employees feel valued, supported, and motivated to contribute their best. More →

Less than a week to go before the Workspace Design Show opens its doors

Less than a week to go before the Workspace Design Show opens its doors

In just a few days the eagerly-awaited Workspace Design Show, the trade show that brings together the UK workplace interiors community, will open its doors.In just a few days the eagerly-awaited Workspace Design Show, the trade show that brings together the UK workplace interiors community, will open its doors. Held at London’s Business Design Centre, handily placed in the heart of Islington, from 27-28 February 2024, the event offers attendees the chance to explore the latest industry trends, see the latest products, and find inspiration in the thought-provoking talks programmes. More →

State-of-the-art European weather centre headquarters in Reading given go-ahead

State-of-the-art European weather centre headquarters in Reading given go-ahead

The UK Government has been granted planning permission to develop a new cutting-edge headquarters for the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) at the University of Reading. Construction of ECMWF’s modern, accessible, and highly sustainable headquarters is scheduled to start towards the end of this year and completion is expected in Autumn 2026, after Wokingham Borough Council approved the development at its February 2024 Planning Committee. More →

MuteBox brings Scandinavian modular office furniture to the UK

MuteBox brings Scandinavian modular office furniture to the UK

MuteBox, a Danish design company providing affordable but high-quality, modular furniture including meeting rooms and phone booths for open office spaces, today announces its expansion into the UK and Ireland. MuteBox designs, manufactures, and sells sustainable, flexible and modular solutions, with a focus on affordability, high-end design and employee satisfaction. MuteBox One, the company’s flagship offering, starts at £4,495. More →

Winners of the 2024 Surface Design Awards announced

Winners of the 2024 Surface Design Awards announced

The winners of the Surface Design Awards have been announced at this year’s Surface Design Show, with The Tarang Pavilion in Gandhinagar, India by The Grid Architects taking the Supreme Winner prize (main image). An impressive number of projects, totalling over 160 entries across an unprecedented 20 countries, were entered into this year’s Surface Design Awards, which are a celebration of innovation material usage in architectural design projects around the world. More →

Club Employés and Weavr partner to give people more choice and control over employee benefits

Club Employés and Weavr partner to give people more choice and control over employee benefits

European employee benefits platform, Club Employés, has partnered with embedded finance specialists, Weavr, to power a debit card solution for employee benefitsEuropean employee benefits platform, Club Employés, has partnered with embedded finance specialists, Weavr, to power a debit card solution for employee benefits, which gives employees the power to pick the perks they prefer. By expanding access to relevant benefits through the capabilities of embedded finance, employees are more likely to engage with the benefits provided by their employers. More →

Attendance registration opens for 55th NeoCon

Attendance registration opens for 55th NeoCon

Plans are taking shape for the 55th edition of NeoCon (held June 10-12 at THE MART, Chicago), the world’s leading platform for commercial space designPlans are taking shape for the 55th edition of NeoCon (held June 10-12 at THE MART, Chicago), the world’s leading platform for commercial space design, as show management announces a power-list of thought-provoking speakers, dynamic activations, best-in-class brands, and the newest movers and shakers impacting the built environment. The three-day event offers unparalleled opportunities to connect, learn, and experience the latest trends and innovations across verticals, from office to healthcare. More →

Andreu World unveils new showroom during Stockholm Design Week

Andreu World unveils new showroom during Stockholm Design Week

Furniture manufacturer, Andreu World, has opened its newest showroom in Sweden’s capital during Stockholm Design WeekFurniture manufacturer, Andreu World, has opened its newest showroom in Sweden’s capital during Stockholm Design Week, on now till February 11. This new showroom boasts Andreu World’s international presence along with the company’s dedication to nature, creativity, sustainability and wellbeing, with new and established collections presented throughout. The showroom will feature collections including collaborations with renowned international designers such as Patricia Uquiola (pictued), Philippe Starck, and Benjamin Hubert. The collections include: Bolete BIO, Nuez BIO, Oru, Mariya, Forest, Alla, Calma and more.

If you happen to be in town during Stockholm Design Week and would like to book an appointment or learn more about Andreu World’s new showroom and the events taking place, please feel free to get in touch.

Last year we hosted a round table debate with Andreu World at their London showroom on the subject of workplace wellbeing.

ARCHITECT@WORK set to welcome architects and designers to its March show

ARCHITECT@WORK set to welcome architects and designers to its March show

On 20th and 21st March ARCHITECT@WORK London will open its doors at the Truman Brewery and the team are ready to welcome the architecture and design community from London and everywhere else on both daysOn 20th and 21st March ARCHITECT@WORK London will open its doors at the Truman Brewery and the team are ready to welcome the architecture and design community from London and everywhere else on both days. Discover over 200 carefully selected product innovations brought to you by a selection of high-end brands. Register online and get your visitor badge. Admission is free for all trade visitors. More →

Salford’s record breaking sustainable office building reaches completion

Salford’s record breaking sustainable office building reaches completion

The City of Salford is now home to Eden, one of the UK’s most sustainable office buildings, containing Europe’s largest living wall. From the site of a derelict surface car park with no benefits to the people of Salford, English Cities Fund (ECF) has created a 115,000 sq ft development that will transform this neglected urban area into a diverse mixed-use destination and form a key part of ECF’s £1bn regeneration of the Salford Central area. More →

Woven Image adds five new colours to its acoustic offering

Woven Image adds five new colours to its acoustic offering

The allure of the natural world is the inspiration for Woven Image’s extended colour palette with 5 new coloursThe allure of the natural world is the inspiration for Woven Image’s extended colour palette with 5 new colours: dusk, mint, butter, cayenne and nutmeg. By embracing the ongoing evolution of colour and textural finishes in the built environment, these portfolio refreshments from Woven Image support interior designers and architects to deliver sustainable, acoustic solutions that evoke moods of relaxation and happiness through clever function and aesthetics. More →

Senator Group opens new showroom in Dubai

Senator Group opens new showroom in Dubai

Dubai has long been the destination of choice to showcase the most iconic of British Designs, and now it is the home to The Senator Group’s newest showroomDubai has long been the destination of choice to showcase the most iconic of British Designs, and now it is the home to The Senator Group’s newest showroom. The 3700 square foot space is nestled in Dubai’s Marina Plaza, a 28-story tower with panoramic views of the marina, city, and desert. Visitors to the showroom will fully experience, ‘The Social Office’, which blends the Senator and Allermuir brands to create a fluid and flexible contemporary working space. The concept was developed to address the challenges of every organisation, how can we align people and space efficiently, to nurture productivity and culture? How can we create human-centred environments with the right mix of focus, privacy, and collaboration? More →