Search Results for: collaboration

The ten emerging technologies set to transform the World in the near future

The ten emerging technologies set to transform the World in the near future

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has published its annual Top 10 Emerging Technologies Report, highlighting a group of scientific and technological advances that it believes are approaching a tipping point between research and widespread adoptionThe World Economic Forum (WEF) has published its annual Top 10 Emerging Technologies Report, highlighting a group of scientific and technological advances that it believes are approaching a tipping point between research and widespread adoption. Produced in collaboration with scientific publisher Frontiers and developed with the Dubai Future Foundation, the report focuses on innovations expected to reach significant commercial and societal scale within the next three to five years. According to the WEF, this year’s list reflects a broader shift towards technologies that are more distributed, personalised and resource-efficient, with potential implications for energy systems, healthcare, manufacturing, environmental management and digital security. (more…)

Announcing a new publication: Sustainability Works

Announcing a new publication: Sustainability Works

We are launching a new publication, Sustainability Works. With the first issue scheduled for August 2026, the new title will incorporate thought provoking articles, features and news stories embracing a truly sustainable approach to people and planet.We are launching a new publication, Sustainability Works. With the first issue scheduled for August 2026, the new title will incorporate thought provoking articles, features and news stories embracing a truly sustainable approach to people and planet. Edited by Joanna Knight, Sustainability Works will be published in partnership with the Sustainable Design Collective. As co-founder of SDC and a Fellow of the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals, Joanna has many years’ experience in the workplace interiors and furniture sectors. In 2001, she was a founder director of a company which led the field in environmental responsibility and lifecycle management of Furniture, Fittings and Equipment and since that time has championed the importance of greater sustainability. (more…)

CIFF Shanghai plans to focus on design, digital technology and sustainability for 2026 event

CIFF Shanghai plans to focus on design, digital technology and sustainability for 2026 event

CIFF Shanghai has announced a new strategic direction for its 2026 exhibition, centred on design, digital intelligence and sustainabilityCIFF Shanghai has announced a new strategic direction for its 2026 exhibition, centred on design, digital intelligence and sustainability as the furniture industry responds to changing market demands and technological developments. The 58th edition of the trade fair will take place in September at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai Hongqiao. Organisers say the event is intended to function not only as a marketplace but also as a platform for innovation, industry collaboration and international exchange. (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

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…)

Is being back in the office making you desk bound?

Is being back in the office making you desk bound?

According to the British Medical Bulletin, UK office workers spend up to three quarters of their day sittingMost UK offices were not designed with movement in mind. They were designed to fit as many people as possible into a given space, keep overheads manageable and ensure everyone had somewhere to plug in a laptop. According to the British Medical Bulletin, UK office workers spend up to three quarters of their day sitting. Scientific Reports puts it more precisely, between 68 percent and 82 percent of the working day is spent seated, the highest proportion of any occupation. (more…)

UK is trapped in reactive cycle of sickness and inactivity, warn wellbeing experts

UK is trapped in reactive cycle of sickness and inactivity, warn wellbeing experts

Business leaders, policymakers and workplace experts have warned that the UK’s fragmented approach to work, wellbeing and welfare is undermining economic resilienceBusiness leaders, policymakers and workplace experts have warned that the UK’s fragmented approach to work, wellbeing and welfare is undermining economic resilience, with comparisons to Denmark highlighting the pressure placed on the NHS and benefits system in Britain. The warning came during a Westminster roundtable  for the Policy Liaison Group on Workplace Wellbeing chaired by Dame Carol Black on 13 May. The discussion followed shortly after the King’s Speech opened the new parliamentary session with a renewed emphasis on “economic security”. Participants argued that Britain’s rising levels of long-term sickness and economic inactivity will require a more coordinated approach involving employers, government departments, healthcare systems and insurers. (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

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…)

The workplace continues to be a source of relationships, study claims

The workplace continues to be a source of relationships, study claims

A new study commissioned by the organisers of the ORGATEC office design trade fair suggests that the physical workplace continues to play a significant social roleA new study commissioned by the organisers of the ORGATEC office design trade fair suggests that the physical workplace continues to play a significant social role, with around one in three employees in Germany saying they have dated a colleague. The research, carried out by YouGov and based on a representative sample of more than 2,000 people, suggests that offices remain important settings for forming friendships, relationships and informal social connections despite the continued growth of hybrid and remote working. (more…)

Distractions at home undermine the benefits of remote work, study suggests

Distractions at home undermine the benefits of remote work, study suggests

New research from Durham University Business School suggests that remote work may undermine people’s wellbeing and productivity when domestic distractions interrupt the working day. The study, led by Professor Jakob Stollberger, found that interruptions from home life can disrupt concentration, reduce task completion and have a negative impact on employees’ wellbeing. Based on diary data from 87 remote workers across sectors including IT, finance and education, the research tracked participants’ experiences over a ten day period. Respondents reported their workload and wellbeing four times a day, allowing researchers to examine how work patterns and interruptions changed over time. (more…)

London BCO Awards winners highlight shift towards reuse and long term workplace design

London BCO Awards winners highlight shift towards reuse and long term workplace design

The winners of the British Council for Offices London Awards 2026 have been announced, recognising a series of workplace projects that reflect changing priorities in design, sustainability and social value across the capital. Six schemes were selected as regional winners. Deutsche Bank’s headquarters at 21 Moorfields (main image) was named best corporate workplace, while Stonecutter at 1 Stonecutter Street took the award for best commercial workplace. The best refurbished or recycled workplace award went to 76 Southbank, and Rabobank at 60 London Wall was recognised for best fit out of a workplace. The award for projects up to 2,500 square metres was given to 170 Piccadilly, while TBC.London at 224 to 226 Tower Bridge Road received the ESG award. (more…)

Challenge for workplace is balancing culture with the business’s need for speed and innovation

Challenge for workplace is balancing culture with the business’s need for speed and innovation

A new EU-funded study suggests that many European organisations are struggling to balance strong workplace culture with the need for speed and innovation.A new EU-funded study suggests that many European organisations are struggling to balance strong workplace culture with the need for speed and innovation. The Culture Compass 2026 report, developed by Rotterdam School of Management at Erasmus University and the Meet Your Purpose think tank, draws on responses from more than 540 managers and employees across Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. It identifies what researchers describe as a “productivity paradox”, in which employees feel valued and engaged but are constrained by slow decision-making and limited autonomy. (more…)

Recent events highlight a clear shift in how firms approach workplace strategy

Recent events highlight a clear shift in how firms approach workplace strategy

Two recent events hosted by HubStar in London and Amsterdam suggest there has been a shift in how organisations now approach workplace strategy, with a growing focus on three core prioritiesTwo recent events hosted by HubStar in London and Amsterdam suggest there has been a shift in how organisations now approach workplace strategy, with a growing focus on three core priorities. The regular quarterly gatherings bring together senior leaders from corporate real estate, facilities management, HR, IT and workplace experience to discuss current challenges and emerging trends. Conversations at the two sessions centred on how organisations are responding to changing expectations around hybrid work and the role of the office. Organisations are increasingly focused on creating workplaces that: justify the commute; develop a clearer understanding of how space is used through better data; and adopt more flexible approaches to planning and design. (more…)