September 11, 2024

Digital transformation efforts yet to translate into greater productivity at many firms

British and Irish firms are increasing their investment in digital transformation, according to Docusign’s Digital Maturity Report 2024, but this hasn’t yet translated into improved productivity or digital maturity. The poll of 600 decision makers in the UK and Ireland, now in its second year, reveals what it claims is a ‘stark productivity and efficiency paradox’ for employers, as well as a Catch-22 for workers. More →

August 28, 2024

UK startups economy relies on high quality immigration

by Neil Franklin • Business, News

New data suggests that 39 percent of Britain’s top 100 fastest-growing companies were founded by individuals born outside the United Kingdom, even though immigrants make up less than 15 percent of the overall population. The research, conducted by think tank The Entrepreneurs Network and supported by Fragomen, highlights the significant role that high-quality immigration plays in driving business growth and innovation. Previous research from 2019 showed an even higher proportion, with 49 percent of Britain’s top 100 fastest-growing companies having a foreign-born founder.
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August 20, 2024

How generative AI is shaping a new landscape for creativity

by Chris Hewish • AI, Comment

Every significant leap in technology has promised more than it has delivered. Or, perhaps more accurately, it has delivered something different from what was promised. When automation began infiltrating manufacturing in the 19th century, there was widespread fear that it would render human labour obsolete. Instead, it transformed the nature of work, creating new categories of jobs and even eradicating others. The digital revolution of the late 20th century followed a similar trajectory. It shifted the burden of tasks, spawned entirely new industries, and necessitated new skill sets. More →

August 15, 2024

Most people support shift to a four day week

by Marvin Gort • Flexible working, News

A new poll claims that a significant majority of voters who supported the new Labour government are in favour of transitioning the UK to a shorter working week. According to data collected by Survation and commissioned by The Autonomy Institute, 72 percent of Labour voters back the idea of a four-day work week. The survey, which included responses from 2,048 adults, specifically asked whether participants would support a government initiative to move towards a shorter working week, with no loss of pay, by the year 2030. More →

August 6, 2024

How can companies address the skills gap and ongoing talent shortage in their industry?

by Freddie Steele • Company news

The modern business landscape is facing a significant challenge: a growing skills gap and a persistent talent shortage across various industries. Companies are finding it difficult to find qualified candidates with the necessary skills to fill important roles as technology changes quickly and job requirements change. This talent shortage may hinder general productivity, growth, and innovation. Employers can, however, take proactive measures to address these problems and thrive by implementing smart solutions and adopting innovative tactics like Employer of Record (EOR) services to acquire top talent. More →

August 3, 2024

People can be so obedient in the workplace, they become Stepford Employees

by Lisa Stone • Comment, Workplace

The ‘Stepford Employee’ is a growing phenomenon in the workplace, where staff become overly agreeable, seldom ask questions, and rarely push boundaries, hindering both their personal growth and their organisation’s success. The term ‘Stepford Employee’ originates from the popular feminist horror novel, “The Stepford Wives”, which highlighted the dangers of subservience and docility for women. This growing trend in the world of work sees employees getting stuck in the status quo – not challenging leaders or pursuing professional growth. More →

July 25, 2024

Shortage of high-quality data threatens the AI ‘boom’

by Neil Franklin • AI, News

A number of fundamental issues, including a shortage of high-quality data with which to ‘train’ the technology is threatening the AI ‘boom’, according to a new white paper from the Open Data Institute. The paper Building a better future with data and AI is based on research carried out by the Institute in the first half of 2024. It claims to identify significant weaknesses in the UK’s technological infrastructure that threaten the predicted potential gains – for people, society, and the economy – from the surge of interest in artificial intelligence and its applications. It also outlines the ODI’s recommendations for creating diverse, fair data-centric AI. More →

July 24, 2024

Organisations struggle to nurture creativity even though they see it as essential

by Neil Franklin • News, Workplace

A new report from Harvard Business Review Analytic Services, in collaboration with Canva, claims to have uncovered the significant challenges organisations face when it comes to fostering creativity within the workplace. Despite the widespread belief in the importance of creativity, many organisations are struggling to create environments that nurture and encourage innovative thinking. More →

July 19, 2024

Book review: Workspace Made Easy

by Mark Eltringham • Comment, Facilities management, Property, Workplace design

There’s a dog-eared, yellowing paperback on my bookshelf called Understanding Offices. Written by Joanna Eley and Alexi Marmot, it dates from 1995. It is a handbook for everybody who needed to know how to develop a workplace strategy during the infant phase of the digital and cultural revolution of the late 20th Century. I used to refer to it all the time, but now it serves mainly as a reminder of how much has changed over the past thirty years, and also how little. More →

July 18, 2024

CIBSE and IBPSA-England announce their partnership for 2025 Technical Symposium

by Jess Gratton • Company news

CIBSE and IBPSA-England are pleased to unveil their partnership for the upcoming 2025 Technical Symposium. This joint effort merges two premier events in building performance and sustainable design: CIBSE’s annual Technical Symposium and IBPSA-England’s biennial Building Simulation and Optimisation event. Themed “Fit for 2050 – Achieving Net-Zero through Intelligent, Resilient and Sustainable Design in the Built Environment,” the CIBSE IBPSA-England Technical Symposium 2025 aims to serve as a platform for the latest research and innovations in sustainable practices. This partnership underscores a shared dedication to advancing knowledge and best practices in building performance. More →

July 12, 2024

Crown estate announces details of latest London commercial property developments

by Freddie Steele • Company news, Property

The Crown Estate has unveiled details of its pipeline of commercial property developments in London’s West End. According to The Crown Estate, the first three projects, which have a Gross Development Value of over £430 million, will deliver 250,000 sq ft of office, leisure and retail space in the heart of the Capital, which it claims will help to stimulate the renewal of the West End, attract global investment and contribute to the wider success of London. More →

July 11, 2024

How AI will transform the way we design and manage the places we work

by Nell Watson • AI, Comment, Facilities management, Workplace design

The integration of Artificial Intelligence into the workplace is not just a technological shift; it’s a fundamental reimagining of how we work, interact, and manage our professional environments. As AI capabilities rapidly evolve, they promise to transform every aspect of workplace design and management, from physical layouts to organizational structures and employee experiences. More →