May 29, 2022

Only a quarter of remote workers feel connected to company culture

by Neil Franklin • Flexible working, News

Three quarters of HR leaders feel that hybrid work challenges employees’ connection to organisational culture, according to a survey from Gartner. The poll of more than 200 HR leaders claims the most challenging aspect of setting their hybrid strategy is adjusting the current organisational culture to support a hybrid workforce. While 40 percent of HR leaders reported they have increased their culture budget since the beginning of the pandemic, the survey of more than 3,900 hybrid / remote workers in December 2021 suggests only one in four are connected to their organisation’s culture. More →

May 24, 2022

Climate neutral buildings roadmap for EU launched by Green Building Council

by Neil Franklin • Environment, News, Property

The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) has launched a new policy plan for the European Union to accelerate progress on decarbonising buildings and construction, one of the most heavily emitting sectors in the world. Developed with the support of a coalition of over 35 leading industry bodies through WorldGBC’s flagship BuildingLife project, the EU Policy Roadmap claims to be the first of its kind in Europe to address the whole life carbon impact of the built environment with the aim of creating climate neutral buildings. More →

May 23, 2022

The future of work isn’t what it used to be

by Mark Eltringham • Comment, Technology, Workplace design

At the 1983 International Design Conference in Aspen, Steve Jobs delivered a speech addressing the theme of the conference; The Future Isn’t What It Used to Be. In it he set out his thoughts on new technology, intuitive design, personal computing as well as the need for a constantly evolving idea of what the future will look like, including the future of work. More →

May 20, 2022

Humanity’s omni-fear or meta-opportunity? Uncertainty Experts (with Sam Conniff)

by Freddie Steele • Podcasts, Premium Content

In the latest episode of Workplace Geeks, Chris and Ian interview serial entrepreneur and purpose-driven pirate Sam Conniff, to explore his new project Uncertainty Experts. Described by Sam as an ‘interactive learning documentary’, their discussions explore the motivations behind his latest venture (with collaborators Katherine Templar Lewis, Dr Avri Bilovich and Dr Vivienne Ming), its inventive design, and Sam’s commitment to academically evaluate its impact. More →

May 20, 2022

Half of people aren’t comfortable talking about disability in the workplace

by Jayne Smith • News, Technology, Wellbeing, Workplace

A new poll from Samsung UK claims that people are generally uncomfortable talking about disabilities, including the issue of disability in the workplace. According to the survey, nearly half of the population (45 percent) admit to feeling uncomfortable saying the word ‘disabled’ or ‘disability’ in everyday conversations. Meanwhile, over half of people with disabilities say they have tried to conceal their challenges from work colleagues due to the fear of stalling their professional progression or landing a promotion (almost 45 percent) or being judged and made to feel like an outsider (41 percent). Forty percent felt that their colleagues valued them less after they realised they had a disability. More →

May 19, 2022

Clerkenwell Design Week should leave us all feeling in the pink

by Mick Jordan • Features, Workplace design, Works Magazine

It feels like a long, long time since we all came together for Clerkenwell Design Week. Mainly because it is. This month, however, conditions allow us to once again come together to enjoy the largest event this sector has to offer in the UK – you may even be reading this during the festival itself. With a vast variety of showrooms and pop-ups offering new product presentations, talks and seminars, food and drink, parties and workshops, Clerkenwell Design Week has plenty to keep even the most fidgety of us happy. More →

May 19, 2022

How to prepare your business for the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act

by Jessica McGoverne • Business, News, Works Magazine

Global supply chains are incredibly complex, crossing multiple countries and borders. This complexity brings many challenges for businesses, including managing overseas suppliers, maintaining the flow of goods, and navigating currency fluctuations. One of the biggest challenges is the growing number of supply chain laws that companies need to understand and meet. More →

May 19, 2022

Reinventing procurement for a post pandemic world

by Stuart Waine • Business, Company news, Technology

Most businesses have undergone some form of digital transformation over the last two years simply to remain afloat. This has typically involved a total shift to the cloud, the relocation of inhouse comms rooms to co-location facilities, or incorporating remote login functionality into core IT systems to support home/hybrid working. This also boosted the demand for cloud computing courses. Whilst 5G, all fibre broadband and cloud computing have been gaining traction for a while, the pandemic has given agile working a turbocharge. This change has resulting in businesses relocating to smaller premises with flexible, more appealing leasing contracts. Hybrid working has also affected many internal departments, none more so than procurement which has been totally transformed More →

May 19, 2022

NeoCon announces full programme of dynamic events

by Freddie Steele • News, Workplace design, Works Magazine

With more than 400 companies showcasing thousands of new products, programming from the industry’s top thought leaders, and more, the 2022 edition of NeoCon (June 13-15) will be jam-packed with innovation and opportunities to experience the future of commercial interior design first hand. A hub for community and connecting within the industry, this year’s NeoCon will offer a wealth of engaging installations, as well as on-site activations and events that will provide invaluable moments to gather together, learn from each other, and share ideas. More →

May 19, 2022

Bisley introduces new colours for 2022

by Freddie Steele • Company news, Works Magazine

Spring has finally sprung, and now is the time to give your surroundings – whether it be at home or in the office – the well-earned refresh it deserves. Adding colour is a simple yet effective way to revitalise and inject freshness into a space. Expanding its colour palette, British office specialist Bisley has introduced two new hues, Bisley Lilac and Bisley Coral, to a whole host of furniture and desktop accessories from its Belong collection – as well as selected products for the contract market. More →

May 19, 2022

Firms rethink office portfolios to accommodate hybrid working

by Neil Franklin • Flexible working, News, Property

A significant majority of businesses, (68 percent) expect to be promoting a more regular return to the office by the middle of this year, according to the latest EMEA Occupier Sentiment Survey from real estate advisor CBRE. Nearly a quarter of those surveyed (23 percent) said the process is already underway, with 45 percent focussing on the remainder of H1 as the return period. However, nearly three quarters are doing so as part of a shift to hybrid working. More →

May 18, 2022

Google opens new Bay View campus in California – image gallery and video

by Neil Franklin • News, Property

Google has announced the opening of its new Bay View campus in Silicon Valley, representing the company’s first time developing its own major campus. The Bay View campus was designed by architects Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and Heatherwick Studio, as well as Google’s design and engineering teams, and spans 42 acres adjacent to the NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley. It totals 1.1 million square feet, with 20 acres of open space, two office buildings, an 1,000-person event centre, and 240 short-term employee accommodation units. More →