Search Results for: technology

Data centres are the most significant building type in the world right now. And we need to talk about that

Data centres are the most significant building type in the world right now. And we need to talk about that

Data centres have always been a slight anomaly in the Built Environment sector, part property and part critical infrastructure (talking in wattage rather than square footage for example), lacking aesthetic appeal and they are not significant employers, they are often considered a necessary evil to support our hyper-communicative lifestylesThe Data Centre Congress which took place from June 1st to 4th in Cannes is to data centres what mipim is to the more traditional markets in property, a place where the good and the great – from investors and operators, to the engineers and power providers, gather to network and contemplate the challenges and the future of the sector. In Q1 last year there was a slight chill through the sector after Microsoft halted data centre plans across the US and Europe to the tune of 2GW, citing caution around the overexpansion of AI and uncertainty around tariffs. What seemed like bombshell news at the time, felt like a mere blip and a distant memory at the 2026 edition and this juggernaut of activity is showing zero signs of slowing, a market that is currently worth over $300 billion is set to rise to $699.13 billion by 2034. (more…)

The ten emerging technologies set to transform the World in the near future

The ten emerging technologies set to transform the World in the near future

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has published its annual Top 10 Emerging Technologies Report, highlighting a group of scientific and technological advances that it believes are approaching a tipping point between research and widespread adoptionThe World Economic Forum (WEF) has published its annual Top 10 Emerging Technologies Report, highlighting a group of scientific and technological advances that it believes are approaching a tipping point between research and widespread adoption. Produced in collaboration with scientific publisher Frontiers and developed with the Dubai Future Foundation, the report focuses on innovations expected to reach significant commercial and societal scale within the next three to five years. According to the WEF, this year’s list reflects a broader shift towards technologies that are more distributed, personalised and resource-efficient, with potential implications for energy systems, healthcare, manufacturing, environmental management and digital security. (more…)

One third of knowledge workers considering career change over AI concerns

One third of knowledge workers considering career change over AI concerns

A third of knowledge workers are considering moving to a different industry because of concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on their careers, according to a new survey from Adaptavist.A third of knowledge workers are considering moving to a different industry because of concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on their careers, according to a new survey from Adaptavist. The poll of 2,500 professionals in the UK, US, Canada, Germany and Spain, claims that 33 percent are actively looking to change industries due to fears about AI. A quarter of respondents said they are specifically considering moving into sectors they believe are less exposed to automation, including manual occupations. (more…)

A beacon of hope in an uncertain world. Works magazine 20 digital edition is here for you

A beacon of hope in an uncertain world. Works magazine 20 digital edition is here for you

The digital edition of issue 20 of Works magazine is now available for you to read here.  The new issue explores a workplace sector that is becoming increasingly confident about its future, even as it navigates rapid technological, social and economic change. The latest edition brings together major workplace projects, design debates and industry commentary that point to a common theme: the enduring value of connection, community and shared experience in an age of uncertainty. (more…)

London could generate £76bn boost to UK economy through ‘frontier industries’, says PwC

London could generate £76bn boost to UK economy through ‘frontier industries’, says PwC

London could help generate an additional £76 billion a year for the UK economy by 2030 if productivity growth in finance, technology, and science and research industries is acceleratedLondon could help generate an additional £76 billion a year for the UK economy by 2030 if productivity growth in finance, technology, and science and research industries is accelerated, according to a new report from PwC. The consultancy’s Grow London report argues that the capital is well positioned to support growth in what it describes as “frontier industries” due to its concentration of skilled workers, access to investment, established technology clusters and stable business environment. (more…)

What does Gen Z really think about AI? Boooooo!

What does Gen Z really think about AI? Boooooo!

I regularly meet with CEOs and Board members and the conversation always comes around to the same topic: how can we attract new talent? C-Suite upwards are borderline-obsessed by how to recruit and retain younger employees, eager to harness their energy, enthusiasm and the total lack of work-life boundaries that will come with experience. When keynote speakers were tasked with motivating graduating students during commencement speeches this year, they naturally looked at what was ‘in vogue’ and landed upon AI. This is hardly surprising. We cannot contact, purchase from or seek assistance from an organisation, without butting up against an AI agent, eagerly waiting to ‘help’. We are constantly being told that AI is the unavoidable future and so, for Gen X/ Boomer speakers seeking to connect with Gen Z and garner their approval, AI was a natural talking point. Except, it wasn’t. In a beautiful act of rebellion, Gen Z have taken a different path and have made their feelings about AI known. Loudly. (more…)

Government report warns of ‘economic catastrophe’ as young people struggle with mental health

Government report warns of ‘economic catastrophe’ as young people struggle with mental health

Former health secretary Alan Milburn has warned that Britain risks a “generational, societal and economic catastrophe” unless employers and government adapt to rising levels of poor mental health among young peopleFormer health secretary Alan Milburn has warned that Britain risks a “generational, societal and economic catastrophe” unless employers and government adapt to rising levels of poor mental health among young people. An interim review led by Milburn into the growing number of 16 to 24-year-olds not in education, employment or training argues that businesses will need to provide greater flexibility, pastoral care and mental health support to what he describes as an “anxious generation”. (more…)

Corporate real estate strategy will be defined by resilience now, report suggests

Corporate real estate strategy will be defined by resilience now, report suggests

Resilience, not scale or speed, will define the next phase of corporate real estate strategy across EMEAResilience, not scale or speed, will define the next phase of corporate real estate strategy across EMEA, as occupiers face a convergence of pressures reshaping how and where they operate. A new report from Colliers, Building Resilience: 5 Megatrends Redefining Corporate Real Estate, identifies five long-term megatrends – AI-enabled workforces, demographic shifts, energy scarcity, climate risk and a shifting global order – that are fundamentally changing how organisations choose locations, design workplaces and manage risk. While the full impact will play out over time, many companies remain underprepared for the scale of disruption. (more…)

London is the second most expensive office fit-out market in the world

London is the second most expensive office fit-out market in the world

A new report from Turner & Townsend claims that a combination of a rise in demand for premium, Grade A office space and a shortfall in supply in many markets has led to double digit percentage increases in office fit-out costs over the past yearA new report from Turner & Townsend claims that a combination of a rise in demand for premium, Grade A office space and a shortfall in supply in many markets has led to double digit percentage increases in office fit-out costs over the past year in major global cities including Miami, Dublin and Bangalore London is now the second most expensive office fit-out market in the world, with Dublin 18th, Edinburgh and Glasgow 21st, Birmingham 22nd, and Manchester 25th. The year-on-year picture is mixed, as while Edinburgh and Glasgow saw costs rise by 12 percent, Manchester and Birmingham saw prices rise in line with inflation at 2 percent and 3 percent respectively, while in London costs fell by -1 percent, albeit they have increased significantly in recent years. (more…)

Firms are ignoring the needs of people in the adoption of AI, and it will cost them

Firms are ignoring the needs of people in the adoption of AI, and it will cost them

Companies that fail to adopt a people-focused approach to artificial intelligence risk losing their best AI employees within the next two years, according to new research from Gartner. The analyst firm predicts that by 2027, half of enterprises without a “people-centric strategy” will see top talent leave the organisation. The warning reflects growing concern that many organisations are pursuing AI deployment primarily through cost reduction and automation rather than workforce development. Gartner argues that firms focused solely on replacing jobs with the technology are unlikely to achieve the long-term returns they expect. (more…)

Aquablu launches the new REFILL+ Series 2 in the UK with AURA system

Aquablu launches the new REFILL+ Series 2 in the UK with AURA system

Aquablu, the Dutch cleantech company transforming how employees access and enjoy drinking water, has unveiled the REFILL+ Series 2.Aquablu, the Dutch cleantech company transforming how employees access and enjoy drinking water, has unveiled the REFILL+ Series 2. Powered by the new AURA operating system, the Series 2 sets a new benchmark for sustainable, intelligent hydration in the workplace. Founded in 2018 in the Netherlands by Marnix Stokvis and Marc van Zuylen, Aquablu was created with a clear mission: to make healthy, sustainable hydration accessible to a billion people worldwide. Since then, the company has grown rapidly, partnering with major clients including Heineken, Adyen and Microsoft, and now operates in more than sixteen countries, serving over 100,000 workers. (more…)

Geopolitics reshapes CEO priorities as firms focus on profitability, AI and dealmaking

Geopolitics reshapes CEO priorities as firms focus on profitability, AI and dealmaking

Geopolitical instability has become the dominant concern for global business leaders, prompting a shift in corporate strategy towards profitability, resilience and targeted growth, according to the latest EY-Parthenon CEO Outlook Survey.Geopolitical instability has become the dominant concern for global business leaders, prompting a shift in corporate strategy towards profitability, resilience and targeted growth, according to the latest EY-Parthenon CEO Outlook Survey. The quarterly study, based on responses from 1,200 CEOs across 21 countries, suggests that executives are adapting to what they see as a prolonged period of structural uncertainty by tightening their focus on disciplined investment, artificial intelligence and strategic transactions. More than half of respondents, 56 percent, identified geopolitical risk as the most significant threat to their business over the next 12 months, representing a rise of 28 percentage points since September 2025. The findings indicate that geopolitical pressures are now shaping boardroom priorities more directly than in previous years. (more…)