Search Results for: environment

Zumtobel and Thorn deliver energy efficient lighting to MEMS Power Generation’s new HQ

Zumtobel and Thorn deliver energy efficient lighting to MEMS Power Generation’s new HQ

Zumtobel and its sister brand, Thorn, both lighting brands of the Zumtobel Group, have designed a cutting-edge, energy efficient lighting scheme that supports MEMS Power Generation's operational efficiency, employee wellbeing, and environmental sustainability goals.Zumtobel and its sister brand, Thorn, both lighting brands of the Zumtobel Group, have designed a cutting-edge, energy efficient lighting scheme that supports MEMS Power Generation’s operational efficiency, employee wellbeing, and environmental sustainability goals. MEMS Power Generation, founded in 1978, has evolved into the UK’s premier specialist in temporary power solutions. With one of the country’s largest generator rental fleets, MEMS constructed its new headquarters in Kent, which has been designed to serve its growing workforce for decades. (more…)

Rise of AI gives us a chance to rediscover a world beyond the screen

Rise of AI gives us a chance to rediscover a world beyond the screen

If scheduling, communication, analysis, and recall can be handled by AI that operates through conversation or ambient cues, the screen starts to look less essential and more habitual.Over the past three decades monitors have colonised desks in workplaces, homes and in public spaces, with the presence of a screen often signalling that something productive is taking place. This assumption may now be under quiet revision with implications for technology, management, and workplace culture. The growing maturity of artificial intelligence agents is having an incremental but significant impact on how we work. AI is now more capable of carrying context across tasks, acting independently, and responding through natural language, which is leading to the need for visual interfaces to be reduced. If scheduling, communication, analysis, and recall can be handled by systems that operate through conversation or ambient cues, the screen starts to look less essential and more habitual. (more…)

UK government outlines £86 billion science and technology plan to support regional growth

UK government outlines £86 billion science and technology plan to support regional growth

The UK government has announced a package of funding and initiatives aimed at strengthening the country's position in science and technologyThe UK government has announced a package of funding and initiatives aimed at strengthening the country’s position in science and technology, which it believes will offer a particular focus on helping regions capitalise on local research and innovation. The investment, totalling £86 billion, forms part of the government’s broader Science and Technology Framework. It includes targeted support for universities, researchers and businesses outside of the traditional innovation hotspots in the South East of England. (more…)

Milan proves to be the perfect setting for an optimistic BCO conference

Milan proves to be the perfect setting for an optimistic BCO conference

Milan may not seem an obvious choice for the BCO conference. Turns out it was perfect for an increasingly optimistic sector, writes Anna KingIf anyone was asked to think of where to find the best examples of an office, I doubt very many people would reply ‘Milan’ but that may just be the reason that this year’s BCO conference was a resounding success. With Milan and its layers of history, culture, design and the vital ‘caffè’, we are reminded that workspaces are about so much more than function. A view certainly held by Amber Luscombe, Head of ESG at Oxygen, “This is my third BCO conference I was expecting more of the same, but the discussions have moved on with engaging speakers, stimulating conversations and a more positive – yet realistic –  outlook from the attendees. So many factors influence, surrounds and support good office design, from fostering a sense of belonging and community to wellbeing and nature and they were all on the table at Milan.” (more…)

How BPO enables business flexibility in rapidly changing global markets

How BPO enables business flexibility in rapidly changing global markets

What was once viewed as a cost-cutting tool, BPO has evolved into a strategic advantage, providing businesses with the flexibility they require to remain competitive and resilient during volatile periods.Global markets are changing at an unprecedented rate due to economic uncertainty, shifting consumer behavior, and technological breakthroughs. Businesses must be agile and able to adapt to market changes. This is where Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) comes in. What was once viewed as a cost-cutting tool has evolved into a strategic advantage, providing businesses with the flexibility they require to remain competitive and resilient during volatile periods. (more…)

How you handle your home life is reflected in how you handle your work life

How you handle your home life is reflected in how you handle your work life

A new study shows that people who proactively reorganise their family routines – such as adjusting childcare schedules or redistributing domestic responsibilities – are more likely to demonstrate adaptability and innovation in their work lifeA new study shows that people who proactively reorganise their family routines – such as adjusting childcare schedules or redistributing domestic responsibilities – are more likely to demonstrate adaptability and innovation in their work life. Researchers found that employees who take initiative at home carry the momentum into their professional lives, becoming more resilient and forward-thinking. The study, published in the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, was led by the University of Bath’s School of Management. Over a period of six weeks researchers followed 147 full-time, dual-income heterosexual couples with children in the US to explore how home life influences work performance. (more…)

The Furniture Makers’ Company announces Design Guild Mark 2025 holders

The Furniture Makers’ Company announces Design Guild Mark 2025 holders

At a time when sustainability is a given, aesthetics, innovation of materials and creativity have all been key factors in the success of the 16 outstanding submissions who received the coveted Design Guild Mark 2025At a time when sustainability is a given, aesthetics, innovation of materials and creativity have all been key factors in the success of the 16 outstanding submissions who received the coveted Design Guild Mark 2025. Additionally, one entrant received the accolade of the Jonathan Hindle Prize for an exceptional entry. The presentation takes place at KI’s stunning new showroom during Clerkenwell Design Week today (20 May), with a presentation by the notable design leader,  Sebastian Conran, who has led his own product and brand development consultancy Sebastian Conran Associates for many years. (more…)

Ping pong, perks, pizza and beanbags won’t get you a better workplace culture

Ping pong, perks, pizza and beanbags won’t get you a better workplace culture

Organisations have become increasingly inward-looking, preoccupied more with symbolic purpose statements and curated internal experiences of workplace culture than delivering real value to the business or its customersBusiness has taken a wrong turn. Since the 2008 financial crisis, best practice has led companies to believe that the route to driving greater productivity and performance is to establish a workplace culture that prioritises purpose, meaning, and how people feel. As a result, organisations have become increasingly inward-looking, preoccupied more with symbolic purpose statements and curated internal experiences than delivering real value to the business or its customers. However, in today’s challenging economic climate, and with UK productivity at an all-time low, this navel-gazing approach is not only proving ineffective, but is also actively holding companies back. What began as a well-meaning shift towards cultivating happier employees has become a harmful distraction from genuine employee engagement and performance. (more…)

Journal of Biophilic Design to launch Biophilic Design Sourcing Hub at Clerkenwell Design Week

Journal of Biophilic Design to launch Biophilic Design Sourcing Hub at Clerkenwell Design Week

The Biophilic Design Sourcing Hub offers a destination for specifiers to discover responsible materials and productsOur friends at The Journal of Biophilic Design have announced the launch of the ‘Biophilic Design Sourcing Hub’ at Clerkenwell Design Week 2025: an innovative new platform that connects architects, designers, and industry professionals with verified suppliers of biophilic and sustainable materials and products. The Sourcing Hub will offer a unique destination for specifiers to discover responsible materials and products, while allowing suppliers to showcase their offerings. This streamlined platform brings together verified manufacturers with engaged buyers actively seeking sustainable and biophilic design solutions. A dedicated platform for the A&D community to discover and buy approved biophilic interior solutions, from standard products and materials to bespoke pieces. (more…)

Sustainability and wellbeing yet again key themes of South West BCO Awards

Sustainability and wellbeing yet again key themes of South West BCO Awards

Seven office developments across the South of England and South Wales have been recognised as the region’s most outstanding workplaces at the annual British Council for Offices (BCO) AwardsSeven office developments across the South of England and South Wales have been recognised as the region’s most outstanding workplaces at the annual British Council for Offices (BCO) Awards. Among the winners were three Bristol-based projects, highlighting the city’s growing reputation for innovative, inclusive and sustainable office design. The awards ceremony, held at We The Curious in Bristol, celebrated excellence in office design, fit-out, and environmental performance. With a strong emphasis this year on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), wellbeing, and inclusivity, the judges praised the winning projects for their forward-thinking, occupier-focused approaches. (more…)

Giant digital artwork will Illuminate THE MART’s Facade during NeoCon

Giant digital artwork will Illuminate THE MART’s Facade during NeoCon

A new large-scale digital projection will light up the facade of THE MART during NeoCon in downtown Chicago this summerA new large-scale digital projection will light up the facade of THE MART in downtown Chicago this summer, offering a reflection on the forces shaping the city’s past, present and future. Currents of Chicago, created by architecture and design firm Perkins&Will, will be displayed from 5 June to 6 July as part of the ongoing ART on THE MART programme. Lighting up the building’s 2.5-acre riverfront facade, the work coincides with the 2025 edition of NeoCon (9–11 June), a major event in the commercial design industry. It is the third year in a row that ART on THE MART has timed one of its major presentations to coincide with the NeoCon design fair. (more…)

The world needs amazing leaders like never before. But where are they?

The world needs amazing leaders like never before. But where are they?

rapid changes in today’s environment can put even the best leaders under immense strain and cause ripple effects within the organisationDemand for integrity and strength in leadership has never been greater. A wave of quickly evolving AI technologies, combined with geopolitics and other pressures, is increasing this need at an unprecedented pace. The rapid changes in today’s environment can put even the best leaders under immense strain and cause ripple effects within the organisation. In fact, even those changes that are expected to bring efficiency and simplicity like GenAI, translate into confusion, anxiety, and complexity in many situations. According to McKinsey research, a staggering 56 percent of employees report that their leaders are either mildly or highly toxic. Even more concerning, 75 percent of employees identify their boss as the most stressful part of their workday. (more…)