Redefining the modern workplace: flexibility, zoning, and employee wellbeing

Redefining the modern workplace: flexibility, zoning, and employee wellbeing

by • News

The modern workplace is evolving faster than ever. Traditional layouts of rows of desks and enclosed cubicles are giving way to offices designed around flexibility, collaboration, and employee wellbeingThe modern workplace is evolving faster than ever. Traditional layouts of rows of desks and enclosed cubicles are giving way to offices designed around flexibility, collaboration, and employee wellbeing. For organisations seeking to stay ahead, the key lies in thoughtful workspace zoning—creating adaptable environments that respond to how people actually work today. One of the most significant trends shaping office design is flexibility. Work patterns have changed: teams collaborate in bursts, focus deeply in concentrated periods, and switch between in-person and digital modes throughout the day. Workspaces that can transform to meet these changing needs without major disruption are becoming essential. Mobile partitions and modular systems allow offices to create temporary or permanent zones that can adapt in real time, supporting a mix of focused work, collaboration, and social interaction. (more…)

Trump appoints Airbnb co-founder as first official government head of design

Trump appoints Airbnb co-founder as first official government head of design

by • News, Workplace design

US President Donald Trump has appointed Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia as the United States’ first Chief Design Officer, a role created as part of the launch of the National Design StudioUS President Donald Trump has appointed Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia as the United States’ first Chief Design Officer, a role created as part of the launch of the National Design Studio within the Executive Office of the President. The new position was confirmed through an executive order signed on 21 August. The initiative, called America by Design, has been established to address the way federal services are designed and delivered. The government says the focus will be on improving the usability and consistency of the government’s digital presence, from websites and forms to broader systems that affect how citizens access services. The National Design Studio says it will work with agencies across government to ‘streamline interfaces and reduce duplication, with the goal of creating a simpler, more coherent experience for the public. (more…)

Younger people want more office time as remote work leaves many feeling isolated

Younger people want more office time as remote work leaves many feeling isolated

by • Flexible working, News, Wellbeing

A new poll suggests that younger people are increasingly seeking a return to office working, as large numbers report that remote work has left them feeling lonely and disconnected. The survey from Bupa, based on responses from employees aged between 16 and 24, found that around 40 percent say they feel lonely when working from home. Many of those in this group began their careers during the pandemic, with limited experience of office-based work and the informal social interactions that accompany it. (more…)

UK public sector appears to be phasing out remote and hybrid working

UK public sector appears to be phasing out remote and hybrid working

by • Flexible working, News

A new report suggests the UK public sector is moving sharply away from remote and hybrid working, despite signs that the shift could be undermining recruitment and retentionA new report suggests the UK public sector is moving sharply away from remote and hybrid working, despite signs that the shift could be undermining recruitment and retention. According to the 2025 State of Digital report by Unit4, just over half of UK public sector organisations now require employees to be fully office-based, compared with only 7 percent in 2023. The proportion operating fully remote models has dropped from 37 percent two years ago to 15 percent, while hybrid arrangements have fallen from 93 percent to 49 percent. (more…)

Public sector productivity gap costs UK economy eighty billion pounds a year

Public sector productivity gap costs UK economy eighty billion pounds a year

by • News, Workplace

A widening gap in productivity between the UK’s public and private sectors is costing the economy around eighty billion pounds annually, according to new analysis from EYA widening gap in productivity between the UK’s public and private sectors is costing the economy around eighty billion pounds annually, according to new analysis from EY. The report, Mind the productivity gap, claims that if public sector productivity had kept pace with the private sector since 2019, the economy would now be three per cent larger. Instead, public sector productivity has fallen by over eight per cent since the pandemic. (more…)

UK office take-up reaches highest level in three years

UK office take-up reaches highest level in three years

by • News, Property

Office take-up across the UK has reached its highest level in three years, according to new figures from CBRE.Office take-up across the UK has reached its highest level in three years, according to new figures from CBRE. The total for the twelve months to the end of the second quarter of 2025 stood at 20.3 million square feet, the highest rolling annual figure since the third quarter of 2022. CBRE reports that activity was strongest in the first half of 2025, with occupiers continuing to focus on high quality, well-located space. The firm says demand is being driven by a combination of business expansion, lease events, and the desire to secure the best available stock in a competitive market. (more…)

Family problems can also undermine leaders at work

Family problems can also undermine leaders at work

by • Business, News, Wellbeing

Leaders who feel ignored or excluded by their own families are more likely to withdraw at work, undermining both team morale and customer service, according to new research from the University of Bath. The study, published in the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, examined how “family ostracism” – being left out of conversations, decisions, or support during difficult times – spills over into professional life. Researchers found that leaders experiencing this strain often adopt a “laissez-faire” leadership style, marked by passivity and disengagement. (more…)

Workstories joins forces with Roger Lewis to shape the future of British furniture design

Workstories joins forces with Roger Lewis to shape the future of British furniture design

by • News

Workstories has announced a merger with Roger Lewis, the renowned specialist in precision joinery and upholstery. The move strengthens the company’s position in British furniture design and manufacturing while broadening its market offering. Over the past twelve years, Workstories has enjoyed sustained growth, featuring in the 2024 Financial Times list of Europe’s long-term growth champions as the fastest-growing UK manufacturer. The addition of Roger Lewis to the portfolio supports Workstories’ vision for quality, sustainable British design and growth, reinforcing its commitment to customer service, expanding expertise, and delivering industry-leading products. (more…)

CBRE reports strong demand for premium office space and record data centre growth in the UK

CBRE reports strong demand for premium office space and record data centre growth in the UK

by • News, Property

the office market is benefiting from strong demand for premium office space and renewed overseas investment, the life sciences sector is seeing steady growth in funding but slower movement in transactions. At the same time, the data centre market is entering a period of exceptional expansionThe UK’s commercial property market is showing sharply contrasting performances across key sectors at the midpoint of 2025, according to CBRE’s latest UK Real Estate Market Outlook Mid-Year Review. While the office market is benefiting from strong demand for premium office space and renewed overseas investment, the life sciences sector is seeing steady growth in funding but slower movement in transactions.

At the same time, the data centre market is entering a period of exceptional expansion, with record levels of take up forecast and new developments extending beyond traditional hubs. The findings highlight how underlying supply constraints, shifting occupier needs and targeted government support are reshaping investment priorities across the country.

(more…)

Growing number of businesses want people back in the office, but not in all sectors

Growing number of businesses want people back in the office, but not in all sectors

by • Flexible working, News

Over two fifths (41 percent) of businesses have emphasised the need for people to work in a physical workspace such as an office over the past year, according to a new pollOver two fifths (41 percent) of businesses have emphasised the need for people to work in a physical workspace such as an office over the past year, according to a new poll from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). While most of the firms (67 percent) who require onsite working say it hasn’t impacted recruitment or retention, one in ten relevant businesses (9 percent) have seen staff leave in response. (more…)

Leadership teams are struggling to cope with the pace of change

Leadership teams are struggling to cope with the pace of change

by • Business, News

Executive teams are failing to keep pace with the demands of a world defined by constant disruption, according to a new report.Executive teams are failing to keep pace with the demands of a world defined by constant disruption, according to a new report. The study, from  consultancy Waldencroft, claims that most senior teams remain fragmented and reactive, with only a small proportion taking a strategic, enterprise-wide view. The report, The Executive Readiness Gap, draws on insights from 20 in-depth interviews and 40 surveys with Chief People Officers across a range of complex and international organisations. It suggests that disruption has become a permanent fixture in the business environment, but many leadership teams continue to treat it as episodic—responding only when necessary before trying to return to a previous norm. (more…)

HNI Corp to acquire Steelcase in $2.2 billion deal

HNI Corp to acquire Steelcase in $2.2 billion deal

by • Company news, Furniture, News

HNI Corporation, whose brands include HON and Allsteel, has agreed to acquire Steelcase in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $2.2 billionHNI Corporation, whose brands include HON and Allsteel, has agreed to acquire Steelcase in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $2.2 billion, according to a report from Rob Kirkbride of office insight. The deal brings together two of the US office furniture sector’s largest players and will create a combined company with annual revenue of around $5.8 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, Steelcase shareholders will receive $7.20 in cash and 0.2192 shares of HNI common stock for each Steelcase share they hold. Based on HNI’s closing price of $50.62 on August 1, 2025, the deal implies a purchase price of $18.30 per share for Steelcase. Once the acquisition is completed, HNI shareholders will hold 64 percent of the merged entity, with Steelcase shareholders owning the remaining 36 percent. (more…)

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