Search Results for: Gen Z

Sustainable Design Awards call for entries

Sustainable Design Awards call for entries

The Sustainable Design Collective (SDC), a think tank group of leading design professionals working in the office workplace sector – is inviting entries for its annual awards.The Sustainable Design Collective (SDC), a think tank group of leading design professionals working in the office workplace sector – is inviting entries for its annual awards. The announcement follows confirmation that the third SD Forum will be held on 24th April 2025 at the Crypt on the Green in Clerkenwell, London. Free to enter, each entry will be assessed completely independently by a panel of eight industry experts against specified criteria. New to the team, this year’s panel includes award-winning product designer, Luke Pearson and Sophie Thomas, founding partner at Thomas.Matthews. Assessments include: whole life carbon performance including contribution to the circular economy; contribution to the health and wellbeing of the occupants; and social value. (more…)

When it comes to business change, persistence eats resistance for lunch

When it comes to business change, persistence eats resistance for lunch

People’s favourite word in change is RESISTANCE.  We seem to not be able to talk about it enough.  The problem is that many times, the thought of resistance stops us from doing something because we are either afraid of it or just don’t want to deal with it and this causes big problems for us as leaders in our businesses. Whenever there is change, there will be resistance, that is a given.  Why – because it is human and natural to resist any change, whether that be positive or negative.  If I or someone else said to you “You have the winning lottery ticket!” your first reaction would be to dis-believe, which is a form of resistance. (more…)

HLW announces three new managing partners as part of new leadership team

HLW announces three new managing partners as part of new leadership team

Design and architecture practice HLW has announced a new Global Leadership Team as the firm enters its 140th year.Design and architecture practice HLW has announced a new Global Leadership Team as the firm enters its 140th year. Established in 1885, HLW has been led by partnership since 1900, when founder Cyrus Eidlitz joined with Andrew McKenzie to pioneer the design of a new building typology. From that foundation, the firm has grown into a dynamic global architecture practice  headquartered in New York with a flagship international office in London, and steward of the built environment. The new Global Leadership team will advance HLW’s legacy of innovation through collaboration in a historic expansion of its governance, codifying the commitment to integrated leadership at an international scale. (more…)

We need to address the UK’s creative skills shortage 

We need to address the UK’s creative skills shortage 

With the right investments in skills, tools, and training, the UK can continue to lead the world in creativity and cultural influenceThe UK’s creative industries, from film and television to the dynamic video game sector, are cultural flagships and economic cornerstones. Valued at £125 billion annually, the creative industries are named one of the UK government’s eight growth-driving sectors in its Industrial Strategy. Yet, a significant obstacle looms over their continued success: a persistent and growing skills shortage. This gap threatens to stifle innovation and global competitiveness, particularly in the booming video game industry. (more…)

CIFF Guangzhou creates a new ecosystem of sustainable office and commercial space

CIFF Guangzhou creates a new ecosystem of sustainable office and commercial space

After the remarkable success of the March 2024 edition, CIFF Guangzhou is preparing to unveil an even more innovative chapter in March 2025, welcoming global furniture industry leaders to the Canton Fair ComplexAfter the remarkable success of the March 2024 edition, CIFF Guangzhou is preparing to unveil an even more innovative chapter in March 2025, welcoming global furniture industry leaders to the Canton Fair Complex, with the Office and Commercial Space sector poised to redefine workplace environments for the future. The timing of the 55th CIFF Guangzhou 2025 aligns perfectly with the global office furniture market’s exceptional growth, projected to reach $66.1 billion in 2024 and expand to $99.3 billion by 2029, driven by rapid economic growth, urbanization, and increasing renovation projects worldwide. (more…)

Most people are happy for AI to inform decisions about work, CIPD claims

Most people are happy for AI to inform decisions about work, CIPD claims

To coincide with National Productivity Week, a CIPD poll suggests that almost two thirds of people (63 percent) would trust artificial intelligence (AI) to inform - but not make - important decisions at workTo coincide with National Productivity Week, a CIPD poll suggests that almost two thirds of people (63 percent) would trust artificial intelligence (AI) to inform – but not make – important decisions at work. According to the poll of over 2,000 people, over a third (35 percent) wouldn’t trust AI to make important decisions at work, preferring to use human intelligence. Just 1 percent of respondents would trust AI to make important work decisions. (more…)

Half of people would quit  their job if they thought their boss were spying on them. (And they are)

Half of people would quit their job if they thought their boss were spying on them. (And they are)

More than half of British employees would quit their job if they were subjected to surveillance whilst working, but more than half of UK bosses say they cannot trust their employees without monitoring them, according to a new poll from ExpressVPN. The new study explores the views and experiences relating to the ‘workplace surveillance’ of 1,000 employees and 1,000 employers in the UK. While physical surveillance through the use of cameras and badge/pass scanners in the workplace is more widely known, the increase in remote working in recent years has driven the rise of online surveillance, according to the report. (more…)

The constant craving to put numbers on working relationships

The constant craving to put numbers on working relationships

The answer to the great question of life, the universe and everything is not 42, as you may have been led to believe. It’s 1/137 (or near enough). This is the greatest of the two dozen or so universal constants. According to current thinking, without the physical and quantum relationships it describes, the universe as we know it could not exist. (more…)

Businesses are cautiously optimistic despite economic and technological uncertainty

Businesses are cautiously optimistic despite economic and technological uncertainty

Nearly three-in-five businesses optimistic about global economic outlook as they plan headcount increases and continued AI rolloutAlmost 60 percent of CEOs around the world expect global economic growth to increase over the next 12 months, according to PwC’s 28th Annual Global CEO Survey, launched during today’s World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. The report, which surveyed 4,701 CEOs across 109 countries and territories, also finds that 42 percent of businesses expect to increase headcount by 5 percent or more in the next 12 months – more than double the proportion who expect headcount decreases (17 percent), and up from 39 percent last year. The percentage is highest (48 percent) among smaller companies (less than US$100 million) and those in the technology (61 percent), real estate (61 percent), private equity (52 percent) and pharma and life sciences (51 percent) sectors. (more…)

Forget all the talk of Blue Monday; work is still (largely) good for us

Forget all the talk of Blue Monday; work is still (largely) good for us

blue mondaySo here it is. Blue Monday. Today. Officially the most depressing day of the year. We say ‘officially’, but like the idea of ‘Body Odour’ its common usage hides the fact that it was originally created as part of a PR campaign, in this case one for Sky’s travel channel in 2005. The whole idea of Blue Monday is couched in a pseudo-mathematical equation which includes factors like the weather, levels of debt, time since Christmas, low levels of motivation and, apparently, an unspecified variable known simply as ‘D’. (more…)

Five predictions for how the public sector will tackle challenges and lead digital transformation in 2025

Five predictions for how the public sector will tackle challenges and lead digital transformation in 2025

widespread skills shortages and legacy IT systems within the public sector remain an obstacle to digital transformationThe UK government is committed to modernising and becoming tech-first, but widespread skills shortages and legacy IT systems within the public sector remain an obstacle to digital transformation. While we are seeing steps to digitise, and the £2bn set aside to improve IT across the NHS is a good case in point, capital investment is only one part of the puzzle. As we look to the new year, we can expect the public sector to continue to face challenges in keeping pace with technology innovation, particularly in adopting AI and cloud solutions, combating talent gaps, and modernising workflows. (more…)

The Sustainable Design Forum returns

The Sustainable Design Forum returns

The Sustainable Design Forum - a one-day interactive event designed specifically for workplace designers and specifiers – is returningThe Sustainable Design Forum – a one-day interactive event designed specifically for workplace designers and specifiers – is returning to the Crypt on the Green in Clerkenwell, London for its third year on Thursday 25th April 2025. With a focus on ‘People and Planet’, this year’s event has been expanded to include additional workplace topics. (more…)