Search Results for: london

March 5, 2025

An AI divide risks growth for many organisations, new Microsoft research claims

An opportunity to boost the UK’s economy and improve its public services in ‘the coming age of agentic AI’ could be at risk if too many organisations remain ‘stuck in neutral’ on artificial intelligence, ?according to?new research?commissioned by Microsoft. The study, led by Dr Chris Brauer at Goldsmiths, University of London, claims that the highest performing businesses and most productive public sector organisations have a clear strategy in place and are preparing for the next wave of the technology – which the report refers to as agentic AI.?1 (more…)

February 19, 2025

Sustainable Design Awards call for entries

by Freddie Steele • Environment, News, Workplace design

The Sustainable Design Collective (SDC), a think tank group of leading design professionals working in the office workplace sector – is inviting entries for its annual awards. The announcement follows confirmation that the third SD Forum will be held on 24th April 2025 at the Crypt on the Green in Clerkenwell, London. Free to enter, each entry will be assessed completely independently by a panel of eight industry experts against specified criteria. New to the team, this year’s panel includes award-winning product designer, Luke Pearson and Sophie Thomas, founding partner at Thomas.Matthews. Assessments include: whole life carbon performance including contribution to the circular economy; contribution to the health and wellbeing of the occupants; and social value. (more…)

February 8, 2025

HLW announces three new managing partners as part of new leadership team

by Freddie Steele • Company news

Design and architecture practice HLW has announced a new Global Leadership Team as the firm enters its 140th year. Established in 1885, HLW has been led by partnership since 1900, when founder Cyrus Eidlitz joined with Andrew McKenzie to pioneer the design of a new building typology. From that foundation, the firm has grown into a dynamic global architecture practice headquartered in New York with a flagship international office in London, and steward of the built environment. The new Global Leadership team will advance HLW’s legacy of innovation through collaboration in a historic expansion of its governance, codifying the commitment to integrated leadership at an international scale. (more…)

February 6, 2025

Demand for high quality office space continues to grow worldwide, and so do its costs

by Neil Franklin • News, Property, Workplace design

Rents for prime office space across the globe rose by 0.3 percent and fit out costs by 0.2 percent in the final quarter of 2024, says Savills, as demand for top quality office space continues to grow in many markets around the world. According to Savills in its latest quarterly Prime Office Costs report, in the fourth quarter of last year, average net effective costs rose slightly, by 0.1 percent, continuing a moderate upwards trend of 1.9 percent over 2024. London (West End), Hong Kong, and New York (Midtown) remain the top three locations in terms of costs of the 35 markets Savills examines. (more…)

February 4, 2025

Take up of flexible office space hits highest levels since 2019

by Neil Franklin • News, Property

Research from Savills and its specialist firm Workthere claims that take-up of flexible office space from operators across the UK reached just over 1.06 million sq ft in 2024, which is the highest level since 2019 and 12 percent above the total reached in 2023. In line with this growth, Workthere suggests that transaction levels were also up 35 percent, despite a moderate drop in enquiries by 12 percent from a 2023 peak (based on a 2022 index). There were also positive signs in the make up of demand with Workthere reporting a 7 percent increase in the number of businesses entering a new market and a 33 percent increase from businesses outgoing their current space. (more…)

January 29, 2025

Furniture Makers to hold next sustainability event focussed on material choices

by Freddie Steele • Environment, Furniture, News

The Furniture Makers’ Company, the City of London livery company and charity for the furnishing industry, is hosting its next sustainability event focussed on examining some of the established and widely used materials in the furniture and furnishings sector. The seminar, which is sponsored by the Furniture Industry Sustainability Programme (FISP), Ocee & Four Design, Panaz and Satra Technology, will be held on Tuesday 4 March at Furniture Makers’ Hall, London. Organised by The Furniture Makers’ Company’s Climate Change and Sustainability Committee, the event will include presentations on foam, fabrics, textiles, leather and wood. In addition, new materials will be discussed and the necessary investigations in relation to recycled content, future recyclability and other implications. (more…)

January 29, 2025

Demand for commercial property investment jumped in last quarter

by Marvin Gort • News, Property

There has been a significant surge in demand for commercial property investment, reflecting a marked recovery in the sector, according to a new report from Rightmove. The platform attributes this rise to recent interest rate reductions by the Bank of England, which have made investment opportunities more affordable and appealing. Rightmove’s Quarterly Commercial Insights Tracker, which monitors supply and demand trends among the UK’s largest commercial property audience, revealed that overall demand for commercial property investment increased by 28 percent year-on-year in the final quarter of 2024. The office market also witnessed a notable increase, with demand for office space investment climbing by 57 percent year-on-year. (more…)

January 21, 2025

People say they are more distracted by online meetings than those carried out in person

by Neil Franklin • News, Workplace

A new poll conducted by the London conference and events venue, The QEII Centre, claims that the economic value of distraction during meetings has risen to an estimated £20.7 billion per year, partly as a result of the shift to online meetings. Based on a survey of over 1,000 UK desk-based workers, the research set out in the new report builds on findings from The QEII Centre’s inaugural 2023 Distracted Economy report. It claims that the cost of distraction in online and face-to-face meetings and events has increased from £19.9 billion in 2023 to £20.7 billion. In The QEII Centre’s latest Distracted Economy report, 80 percent of desk-based workers admit to losing concentration during meetings. Just over half (55 percent) say they are more likely to be distracted in online meetings compared to 16 percent for in-person meetings and 27 percent who find both equally distracting. (more…)

January 20, 2025

Step into the Future: The Future of Work Experience Lounge at EXE 2025

by Freddie Steele • Company news

The way we work is changing faster than ever, and with it comes new challenges for HR professionals. Hybrid work, employee well, being, and fostering meaningful connections are top priorities, but how do we create spaces that deliver on all of this? The answer lies in reimagining the workplace as a vibrant ecosystem where collaboration, creativity, and well, being take centre stage. At EXE 2025, we’re bringing this vision to life in the most exciting way imaginable. Welcome to the Future of Work Experience Lounge, a space that isn’t just about work, but about how work feels. It is where connection meets innovation and focus meets flow. Created for HR leaders, employee experience experts, and people, first organisations, this lounge isn’t just another feature of the event, it’s the reason you’ll want to be there. (more…)

January 10, 2025

The Sustainable Design Forum returns

by Freddie Steele • Environment, News, Workplace design

The Sustainable Design Forum – a one-day interactive event designed specifically for workplace designers and specifiers – is returning to the Crypt on the Green in Clerkenwell, London for its third year on Thursday 25th April 2025. With a focus on ‘People and Planet’, this year’s event has been expanded to include additional workplace topics. (more…)

January 7, 2025

Here’s how to support neurodivergent employees at work

by Stephanie Clarke • Comment, Wellbeing, Workplace

Businesses have much to gain from neurodivergent employees. According to a recent Deloitte report “teams with neurodivergent professionals in some roles can be 30 percent more productive than those without them”. Benefits of neurodivergent individuals to the workplace – according to the CIPD, range from “problem-solving, to creative insights and visual spatial thinking.” (more…)

January 3, 2025

Lack of space continues to hold back a ‘return to office’

by Marvin Gort • News, Property, Workplace design

Workers are resisting the so-called return to office due to a lack of desk space, following widespread reductions by companies in the wake of Covid. A fifth of workers cited a shortage of desks and facilities among their top three reasons for avoiding the office, according to a survey by real estate consultancy Remit Consulting. The firm claims that businesses may have scaled back desk numbers too aggressively after the pandemic spurred a rise in home working. (more…)