Search Results for: economic

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

by • Environment, News, Property, 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

by • News, Workplace, Workplace design

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…)

How to spot a good investment from a mile away

How to spot a good investment from a mile away

by • Company news

strong investments often reveal themselves through simple, consistent signals that anyone can learn.  You do not need insider knowledge or complex formulas to spot quality opportunities early. What you need is a clear mindset and the ability to recognize patterns that repeat over time.  Let’s learn a few ways you can identify a good investment from a distance.Investing can feel overwhelming, especially when every opportunity claims to be the next big thing. You see bold promises, confident pitches, and glowing testimonials that sound almost too perfect. The truth is that strong investments often reveal themselves through simple, consistent signals that anyone can learn.

You do not need insider knowledge or complex formulas to spot quality opportunities early. What you need is a clear mindset and the ability to recognize patterns that repeat over time.

Let’s learn a few ways you can identify a good investment from a distance.

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Memories of the Office Age 

Memories of the Office Age 

by • Cities, Features, Working lives

memories of the office ageOriginally published in November 2021. No author uses the built environment like J G Ballard. In his 1975 novel High-Rise, the eponymous structure is both a way of isolating the group of people who live and compete inside it and a metaphor for their personal isolation and inner struggles. Over the course of three months, the building’s services begin to fail. The 2,000 people within, detached from external realities in the 40-storey building, confronted with their true selves and those of their neighbours, descend into selfishness and – ultimately – savagery.  (more…)

Employee engagement falls worldwide as AI investment fails to deliver productivity gains

Employee engagement falls worldwide as AI investment fails to deliver productivity gains

by • AI, News, Wellbeing, Workplace

Global employee engagement has declined for a second consecutive year, despite rapid investment in artificial intelligence, according to Gallup’s latest State of the Global Workplace report.Global employee engagement has declined for a second consecutive year, despite rapid investment in artificial intelligence, according to Gallup’s latest State of the Global Workplace report. The study, based on one of the largest ongoing surveys of employee experience, suggests that organisations are struggling to translate technological change into measurable improvements in performance or working life. Employee engagement fell to 20 percent in 2025, down from a peak of 23 percent in 2022 and its lowest level since 2020. This decline has significant economic implications, with Gallup estimating that low engagement costs the global economy around $10 trillion in lost productivity, equivalent to 9 percent of global GDP. (more…)

British workers now entirely unproductive, claims report

British workers now entirely unproductive, claims report

by • News, Wellbeing, Workplace

The overwhelming majority of UK workers don’t do anything productive at all, according to a new report published today. The study of available research into the illnesses, injuries, distractions, wastes of time, procrastinations, productivity drains and paralyses that afflict British workers found that the annual cost to the British economy is around £1.8 trillion, equivalent to 98.9 percent of GDP.

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Applying a bit of know-how to the issue of sustainable office design

Applying a bit of know-how to the issue of sustainable office design

by • Comment, Environment, Workplace design

Sustainable office design is a constantly evolving, complex, and, at times, contested subject and the perfect subject for a get togetherSustainable office design is a constantly evolving, complex, and, at times, contested subject. It has shifted from a narrow focus to a broader, holistic framework embracing environmental, social, and economic issues – and now further to include governance. Collaboration is critically important – combining knowledge can ensure that environmental goals align with social metrics leading to more comprehensive, high-performance, and adaptable, human-centric spaces. Now in its fourth year, the Sustainable Design Forum returns on 23 April at Crypt on the Green in Clerkenwell, London. Hosted by the SDC – the Sustainable Design Collective, the day is not a trade show or conference. It is specifically focussed on collaboration and knowledge sharing to provide an opportunity for all members of the workplace and hospitality design community to build connections and understanding. (more…)

AI adoption slows in workplaces despite hype and massive investment

AI adoption slows in workplaces despite hype and massive investment

by • AI, News

Corporate adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) appears to be slowing, raising questions about the pace at which the technology will deliver economic returnsCorporate adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) appears to be slowing, raising questions about the pace at which the technology will deliver economic returns, according to a new analysis of data in The Economist. Figures quoted from the US Census Bureau suggest that the proportion of employees using AI at work has edged down to around 11 percent in recent weeks. The decline is most notable among larger organisations with more than 250 staff, where uptake had previously been stronger. The findings indicate that, three years into the current wave of generative AI development, business demand may be less robust than anticipated. (more…)

Government sets £7.4 billion procurement target with small businesses

Government sets £7.4 billion procurement target with small businesses

by • Business, News

For the first time, individual government departments have been given specific targets for the proportion of spending that should go directly to small businessesSmall businesses across the UK are expected to receive more than £7.4 billion a year in direct government spending by 2028 under new procurement targets published by ministers. For the first time, individual government departments have been given specific targets for the proportion of spending that should go directly to small and medium sized enterprises. Departments will also be required to publish annual progress updates, with those falling short expected to outline how they will improve performance. (more…)

Government confirms Manchester digital campus as part of civil service relocation strategy

Government confirms Manchester digital campus as part of civil service relocation strategy

by • News, Property

The government has confirmed plans for a major new digital campus in Manchester, marking a significant step in efforts to relocate civil service roles and strengthen regional technology capabilityThe government has confirmed plans for a major new digital campus in Manchester, marking a significant step in efforts to relocate civil service roles and strengthen regional technology capability. The Manchester Digital Campus received Treasury approval for its outline business case on 19 March, allowing the project to move forward as a central element of the government’s digital and data strategy. (more…)

Parliamentary group warns misuse of NDAs undermines workplace trust

Parliamentary group warns misuse of NDAs undermines workplace trust

by • News, Wellbeing, Workplace

While NDAs can serve a legitimate purpose, their use to mask harassment or discrimination risks undermining accountability and eroding trust within organisations.A cross-party group of parliamentarians, business leaders and experts has warned that non-disclosure agreements are “good for no-one” when used to conceal harmful behaviour in the workplace rather than address it. The warning followed a roundtable held in Parliament on 18 March, hosted by the Policy Liaison Group on Workplace Wellbeing. Participants agreed that while NDAs can serve a legitimate purpose, their use to mask harassment or discrimination risks undermining accountability and eroding trust within organisations. (more…)

Finland is yet again the world’s happiest country. UK and Canada slide

Finland is yet again the world’s happiest country. UK and Canada slide

by • News, Wellbeing

Finland has been named the world’s happiest country for a record ninth consecutive year, according to the World Happiness Report 2026, as new findings highlight a more complex and uneven global picture of wellbeing, particularly among younger peopleFinland has been named the world’s happiest country for a record ninth consecutive year, according to the World Happiness Report 2026, as new findings highlight a more complex and uneven global picture of wellbeing, particularly among younger people. The Nordic nation retained its position at the top of the rankings with an average life evaluation score of 7.764 out of 10. Its continued dominance comes amid widening contrasts between regions, with several European countries maintaining relatively high and stable levels of wellbeing while English-speaking nations continue to slip down the table. (more…)

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