Search Results for: financial

Flexible working increasingly the norm for financial services firms

Flexible working increasingly the norm for financial services firms 0

by • Flexible working, Technology, Workplace design

Commuters walking into the central financial business district of London's DocklandsFlexible working is on the way to becoming the norm in financial services with the average employee spending 39 percent of their time working remotely, according to new research from tech consultancy Intercity Technology. The company surveyed a mere 100 employees from different organisations within the financial services market to gain insight into their workplace habits so you may want to treat this carefully. The respondents also thought this proportion of time spent remote working would increase in the next two years to 41 percent, with an ever increasing adoption of technology-led solutions in the workplace. Additionally, the surveys suggests that 70 percent of employees believe using a device of their own choosing positively impacts the way they work with their colleagues, with the biggest specific benefits identified as flexibility (51 percent), more productivity (42 percent) and improved collaboration (33 percent).

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The financial services sector leads the way in how we think about office design

by • Comment, Facilities management, Workplace design

Office design and the cityThe office as we know it may continue to change, but that doesn’t mean its vital role at the heart of the organisation will diminish. The recent downturn meant some tough decisions had to be taken by many companies. It certainly focussed more attention on the way firms design and manage their workplace, based on a clear understanding of their economics. It is one of the most commonly cited truisms about office design that after staff, buildings are easily the second highest item of expenditure for the majority of organisations. The conclusion often drawn from this is that there is a compulsion to reduce space through new working practices or more efficient office design and management. Which may be true but the challenge is to take advantage of these opportunities without adversely affecting the company’s most expensive and valuable asset; its staff.

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HOK releases new workplace benchmarking report for financial services sector

by • Architecture, Briefing, News, Workplace design

HOK Benchmarking reportArchitectural practice HOK has released a new benchmarking report that examines design and work-style trends at leading financial services firms over the past three years, including the finding that space is underutilised across the sector by nearly a half, meaning that growth can easily be accommodated within the existing facilities of many firms. The HOK Benchmarking Report claims to provide information on recent trends affecting the industry, an analysis of how organisations are using office space and metrics for space standards based on recently completed workplace projects for financial services firms in New York, Toronto and London. The authors claim that because ‘companies are eager to understand the link between their work environments and organisational performance, the space standards and findings in this report can provide a baseline to help corporate real estate and facilities professionals identify and respond to opportunities for improvement.’

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Business leaders expect AI to expand rather than shrink workforces, JLL report claims

Business leaders expect AI to expand rather than shrink workforces, JLL report claims

by • AI, News, Workplace

Most senior business leaders expect artificial intelligence to lead to workforce growth and job redesign rather than widespread redundancies, according to new global research from commercial real estate firm JLLMost senior business leaders expect artificial intelligence to lead to workforce growth and job redesign rather than widespread redundancies, according to new global research from commercial real estate firm JLL. The company’s 2026 Future of Work Survey, based on responses from more than 2,200 C-suite executives and corporate real estate leaders across 21 countries, found that 60 percent of respondents expect their organisations to increase headcount over the coming years, while the same proportion believe AI will reinvent existing roles rather than replace them. The findings challenge what JLL says are widespread concerns about AI-driven job losses, although the report acknowledges that some roles are still expected to disappear as organisations adopt the technology. (more…)

Tales from the built environment: some reflections on the conference circuit 

Tales from the built environment: some reflections on the conference circuit 

by • Comment, Facilities management, Property, Workplace design

The built environment sector, like many other sectors, spends a great deal of time talking to itself. So what is it saying right now?The stories we tell ourselves can be powerful. They shape how we see reality, whether they’re true or not. The trouble is that the ones which endure are rarely the most helpful. Here’s a familiar story: every industry is privately convinced that its image problem is uniquely severe. This leads to a lot of navel-gazing and going round in circles. Often, however, they’re grappling with versions of the same challenge: trying to explain their value to people outside the room. I saw this play out at two recent conferences related to the built environment: the UK Real Estate Infrastructure & Investment Forum (UKREiiF) in May and IWFM Live last week. (more…)

London could generate £76bn boost to UK economy through ‘frontier industries’, says PwC

London could generate £76bn boost to UK economy through ‘frontier industries’, says PwC

by • News, Property, Technology

London could help generate an additional £76 billion a year for the UK economy by 2030 if productivity growth in finance, technology, and science and research industries is acceleratedLondon could help generate an additional £76 billion a year for the UK economy by 2030 if productivity growth in finance, technology, and science and research industries is accelerated, according to a new report from PwC. The consultancy’s Grow London report argues that the capital is well positioned to support growth in what it describes as “frontier industries” due to its concentration of skilled workers, access to investment, established technology clusters and stable business environment. (more…)

Growing demand drive City of London prime office rents to narrow gap with West End

Growing demand drive City of London prime office rents to narrow gap with West End

by • News, Property

Prime office rents in the City of London have continued to rise, bringing them closer to levels traditionally associated with the capital's West EndPrime office rents in the City of London have continued to rise, bringing them closer to levels traditionally associated with the capital’s West End as demand for high quality workspace outpaces supply. New figures from Savills show that average prime rents in the City reached £130.80 per square foot during the first quarter of 2026. By comparison, prime rents in the West End stood at £165 per square foot. The West End of London is typically one of the most expensive markets in the world.  The figures are based on the top 10 percent of Grade A office rents recorded during the period. (more…)

London is the second most expensive office fit-out market in the world

London is the second most expensive office fit-out market in the world

by • News, Property, Workplace design

A new report from Turner & Townsend claims that a combination of a rise in demand for premium, Grade A office space and a shortfall in supply in many markets has led to double digit percentage increases in office fit-out costs over the past yearA new report from Turner & Townsend claims that a combination of a rise in demand for premium, Grade A office space and a shortfall in supply in many markets has led to double digit percentage increases in office fit-out costs over the past year in major global cities including Miami, Dublin and Bangalore London is now the second most expensive office fit-out market in the world, with Dublin 18th, Edinburgh and Glasgow 21st, Birmingham 22nd, and Manchester 25th. The year-on-year picture is mixed, as while Edinburgh and Glasgow saw costs rise by 12 percent, Manchester and Birmingham saw prices rise in line with inflation at 2 percent and 3 percent respectively, while in London costs fell by -1 percent, albeit they have increased significantly in recent years. (more…)

Geopolitics reshapes CEO priorities as firms focus on profitability, AI and dealmaking

Geopolitics reshapes CEO priorities as firms focus on profitability, AI and dealmaking

by • AI, Business, News

Geopolitical instability has become the dominant concern for global business leaders, prompting a shift in corporate strategy towards profitability, resilience and targeted growth, according to the latest EY-Parthenon CEO Outlook Survey.Geopolitical instability has become the dominant concern for global business leaders, prompting a shift in corporate strategy towards profitability, resilience and targeted growth, according to the latest EY-Parthenon CEO Outlook Survey. The quarterly study, based on responses from 1,200 CEOs across 21 countries, suggests that executives are adapting to what they see as a prolonged period of structural uncertainty by tightening their focus on disciplined investment, artificial intelligence and strategic transactions. More than half of respondents, 56 percent, identified geopolitical risk as the most significant threat to their business over the next 12 months, representing a rise of 28 percentage points since September 2025. The findings indicate that geopolitical pressures are now shaping boardroom priorities more directly than in previous years. (more…)

Microsoft report claims AI agents will reshape organisations and redefine knowledge work

Microsoft report claims AI agents will reshape organisations and redefine knowledge work

by • AI, News, Workplace

Microsoft’s latest Work Trend Index report suggests that organisations are entering a new phase in the evolution of knowledge work, in which artificial intelligence agents become embedded in everyday operations and employees take on supervisory roles over digital systemsMicrosoft’s latest Work Trend Index report suggests that organisations are entering a new phase in the evolution of knowledge work, in which artificial intelligence agents become embedded in everyday operations and employees take on supervisory roles over digital systems. The study, based on a survey of 31,000 workers across 31 countries alongside labour market data and productivity signals, suggests that this shift is already underway and could accelerate rapidly over the next few years. (more…)

More than half of UK freelancers have considered quitting self-employment in past year

More than half of UK freelancers have considered quitting self-employment in past year

by • News, Wellbeing, Workplace

More than half of UK freelancers and small business owners have considered giving up self-employment over the past year, according to new researchMore than half of UK freelancers and small business owners have considered giving up self-employment over the past year, according to new research from The Accountancy Partnership. The survey of 1,060 self-employed professionals found that 50.7 percent have thought about returning to traditional employment in the past 12 months. Of these, 16.4 percent said they had seriously considered leaving self-employment altogether, while 34.3 percent said the idea had crossed their minds briefly. (more…)

AI displays bias when judging people, and that matters for some of its most common uses

AI displays bias when judging people, and that matters for some of its most common uses

by • AI, News

AI systems don’t just process information; they systematically ‘judge’ people in ways that resemble human trust, but with important differencesAI systems don’t just process information; they systematically ‘judge’ people in ways that resemble human trust, but with important differences, according to a new study by researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU). The results have implications for some of the most common ways AI is already being used as a decision-maker and opinion-former, especially in recruitment and law. According to the new study in Proceedings of the Royal Society A by Prof. Yaniv Dover and Valeria Lerman of the Hebrew University Business School, the reason is both reassuring and deeply unsettling. (more…)

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