June 27, 2023

Early detection of COVID-19 in the workplace

by Susanne Deissenberger and Alex Sauer • Company news

Most workplaces have returned to full operational capacity following the COVID-19 pandemic, with the majority of restrictions being lifted, much to the delight of staff. Unfortunately, the initial relief of newfound freedom has been short lived, as the relaxation of rules continues to result in surges of COVID-19 cases, forcing some production facilities to close down due to high levels of employee sickness. A Thermo Fisher Scientific manufacturing site in Erlangen, Germany, has managed to avoid this situation, thanks largely to the installation of air sampling equipment that flags any positive cases in its vicinity. This article describes how this early warning system allows individuals to test and self-isolate if necessary, and discusses how this has improved employee peace of mind and ultimately contributed to limiting the spread of the disease within the facility. (more…)

June 1, 2023

The circular economy is a great opportunity, but it doesn’t add up yet

by Joanna Knight • Comment, Environment, JK, Workplace design

The circular economy, carbon measurement, product material content, rental, ‘take back’, reuse and recycling – all actions for a more environmentally responsible workplace sector. But what are the priorities? Manufacturers and suppliers are arguably challenged by lack of clarity, requirements for significant investment, combined with cost pressures in a heavily subscribed market. (more…)

May 28, 2023

The Furniture Makers’ Company announces Design Guild Mark 2023 holders

by Freddie Steele • Furniture, News

Innovation of materials and creativity remain at the forefront of British design as 30 outstanding submissions from three categories are to be awarded the coveted Design Guild Mark in 2023, The Design Guild Mark is awarded by The Furniture Makers’ Company, the City of London livery company and charity for the furnishing industry, to drive excellence and raise the profile of British industrial design. (more…)

May 23, 2023

Office giant Sedus announces partnership with Watson Furniture Group

by Freddie Steele • Company news

Sedus Stoll AG, the Germany based office furniture giant, and US based Watson Furniture Group have announced a new global partnership. The deal was signed at last year’s Orgatec office furniture exhibition. For both companies, the global partnership is seen a logical next step in the development of their businesses, the firms claim. Shared values and similar market strategies and expertise in the areas of technology and manufacturing are an excellent stepping stone to strategic cooperation. (more…)

May 15, 2023

Flexible working and its benefits are enjoyed most by highest paid workers

by Neil Franklin • Flexible working, News

Low paid workers have the least flexible working, and the gap between the number of flexible workers on the lowest and highest salaries has increased in the last year, according to figures from the Flex for Life 2023 report from advocacy group Flexibility Works. Just half (51 percent) of workers surveyed for the report earning less than £20,000 a year work flexibly, compared with eight in ten (80 percent) workers earning more than £50,000. The figures are from an analysis of flexible working in Scotland, which is supported by the Scottish Government and The Hunter Foundation. (more…)

May 2, 2023

BCO Awards winners for North of England again focus on sustainable office design

by Neil Franklin • Environment, News, Property, Workplace design

Following last week’s announcement of the annual BCO Awards winners for London, the British Council for Offices has announced the winners of its annual Awards for the North of England. In fact all but one of the winners are located in Greater Manchester and the one that isn’t lies within twenty miles of it. The organisers suggest that the theme of sustainable office design runs through the submissions of the winning entries. (more…)

March 23, 2023

UK productivity continues to drag despite variations across sectors

by Jayne Smith • Business, News

The UK has seen a significant dip in productivity growth since the Global Financial Crisis of 2007-8, according to a new report from PwC UK. However, this new analysis also highlights sectoral differences in productivity growth, with some sectors performing better than others in recent years. The slowdown in manufacturing productivity is also shown to have played a significant role in the fall in economy-wide productivity, but there is positive sentiment amongst manufacturers, with almost 1 in 5 expecting to see gains of 10-25 percent in the coming year. According to PwC UK’s new UK Productivity Tracker, a lack of sustained investment expenditure may be behind the UK’s weak performance. (more…)

February 21, 2023

What to expect at next week’s Workspace Design Show

by Freddie Steele • Company news, Events

With only a few days until The Workspace Design Show returns to London’s Business Design Centre, on 27-28 February 2023, here is a taste of what to expect. The show brings together striking features, a thought-provoking programme of talks featuring a whole host of speakers, from developers to architects and their blue-chip clients, along with accomplished exhibitors showcasing the latest workplace interiors innovations. All of this incredible content aligns perfectly with the show’s theme, Destination Workplace: Places Where People Want To Be. (more…)

January 27, 2023

Bisley debuts at Stockholm Furniture Fair

by Freddie Steele • Company news, Furniture

Bisley is to present its first ever showcase at the Stockholm Furniture Fair (7-11 February 2023), illustrating the multitude of innovative ways in which the brand’s collections can support and enhance home working. Organised in four zones, the stand will focus on key products which tell the story of Bisley’s wide-ranging expertise in designing and manufacturing office furniture solutions, at home and in the workplace. (more…)

December 19, 2022

Humanscale charts a path to a sustainable future

by Freddie Steele • News

Humanscale is celebrating CSR success in the way it manufactures the elements used in its award-winning workplace solutions. In 2021, 26 products equating to 60 percent of the company’s sales were certified climate positive. This means they had a positive impact on climate, energy, and water, the first products in the world that are ‘beyond neutral’. (more…)

November 23, 2022

The unspoken privilege of wellbeing

by Stephanie Fitzgerald • Comment, SF, Wellbeing

I sat in the main hall at a recent conference, listening to the keynote presentation. A Head of HR at a large manufacturing company described the implementation of their wellbeing strategy over the last year. So far, so important. There is no doubt that the conversation around wellbeing has been rightly amplified, as employees are seeking to gain and maintain more life in their work-life balance. However, as I sat there listening, I became uncomfortable. Seriously uncomfortable. Then I became cross. (more…)

November 15, 2022

The four day week and a case of less is more

by Sara Bean • Features, Flexible working, Premium Content

When a pilot programme for a four day week was announced in the UK early in the New Year, #4dayweek trended for days on twitter, with jokey comments on how employees taking part in the trial should do everything not to ‘f*** it up for the rest of us.’ But behind the humour there’s a real issue with productivity in the UK. Recent Office for National Statistics reveals that while productivity grew across all G7 countries during the pandemic, the UK experienced the largest falls in GDP growth and an increase in the number of hours worked. (more…)