Search Results for: wellbeing

Better offices for all as occupiers shift focus away from cost cutting

Better offices for all as occupiers shift focus away from cost cutting

New research suggests a worldwide shift in workplace strategy, with portfolio optimisation (better offices basically) now the top priority for corporate real estate leaders, overtaking cost reduction for the first time.New research suggests a worldwide shift in workplace strategy, with portfolio optimisation and better offices now the top priorities for corporate real estate leaders, overtaking cost reduction for the first time. JLL’s 2025 Occupancy Planning Benchmark Report found that 73 percent of respondents identified portfolio optimisation as their main focus, compared with 70 percent who cited cost reduction and improved reporting. (more…)

TRILUX and Sweco deliver circular lighting upgrade in Maidenhead

TRILUX and Sweco deliver circular lighting upgrade in Maidenhead

TRILUX partnered with Sweco UK Ltd to deliver a circular lighting upgrade at the consultancy's Maidenhead office.TRILUX has partnered with Sweco UK Ltd to deliver a circular lighting upgrade at the consultancy’s Maidenhead office. By refurbishing and upgrading the existing fluorescent luminaires, the project significantly reduced waste and improved the quality and efficiency of lighting in the open-plan workspace. Sweco UK Ltd, a leader in sustainable engineering and design, recently partnered with TRILUX to deliver a circular lighting refurbishment at its Maidenhead office. The project involved upgrading old fluorescent luminaires installed in multi-service chilled beams on the first floor, bringing a more sustainable, energy-efficient, and visually comfortable lighting solution to the space. (more…)

More young workers take on second jobs to deal with cost of living

More young workers take on second jobs to deal with cost of living

New research suggests that a growing number of younger workers in the UK are turning to second jobs as they struggle to manage everyday living costs.New research suggests that a growing number of younger workers in the UK are turning to second jobs as they struggle to manage everyday living costs. According to a poll from Boostworks, more than half of Gen Z workers and over 70 percent of Millennials are exploring ways to supplement their income, with many already taking on additional work outside their primary employment. The findings, based on a survey of 5,600 working adults, highlight the scale of financial strain facing the workforce, particularly among younger generations. (more…)

Regional inequalities in the quality of work continue to widen, new report claims

Regional inequalities in the quality of work continue to widen, new report claims

A new report from the Institute for the Future of Work (IFOW) shows that while employment levels across the UK remain high, the quality of work available to people varies sharply depending on where they liveA new report from the Institute for the Future of Work (IFOW) shows that while employment levels across the UK remain high, the quality of work available to people varies sharply depending on where they live. The 2025 edition of the Good Work Time Series suggests that regional inequalities in job quality are widening. Although people are in work, they are not necessarily in good work, with the study highlighting issues such as low autonomy, poor pay, unsocial hours and limited opportunities for development in many parts of the country. (more…)

Cities must embrace the radical retrofit of buildings to meet future challenges

Cities must embrace the radical retrofit of buildings to meet future challenges

The Radical Retrofit report by Economist Impact, supported by JLL, argues that making cities more sustainable and resilient will depend on retrofits that improve safety, health and accessibility, while also driving economic valueAs cities continue to grow, the pressure on infrastructure, resources and the environment is intensifying. A new global study warns that urban centres must move beyond new construction and reimagine the buildings they already have. Retrofitting – enhancing and upgrading existing structures -is emerging as a key strategy to cut emissions, improve energy performance and boost urban liveability. The Radical Retrofit report by Economist Impact, supported by JLL, argues that making cities more sustainable and resilient will depend on retrofits that improve safety, health and accessibility, while also driving economic value. Though still in its early stages, the movement is gaining traction across global cities such as Singapore, New York, Paris and Dubai. Yet the pace must accelerate dramatically from today’s retrofit rate of 1 percent per year to at least 3 percent to align with net-zero goals. (more…)

Office utilisation reaches equilibrium, and demands a rethink of workplace strategy

Office utilisation reaches equilibrium, and demands a rethink of workplace strategy

The British Council for Offices (BCO) has published a new report which claims that while office utilisation rates have stabilised, there has been a fundamental shift in how offices are usedThe British Council for Offices (BCO) has published a new report which claims that while office utilisation rates have stabilised, there has been a fundamental shift in how offices are used, with major implications for developers, investors and occupiers. The report, authored by Nigel Oseland of Workplace Unlimited, shows that the long-standing benchmark of 80 percent office utilisation is no longer fit for purpose. Post-pandemic data suggests a more realistic, but nevertheless conservative, figure of 66 percent equating to an effective density of 15 sq. m per occupant, up from the previous 12.5 sq. m. This recalibration reflects a maturing flexible working model that empowers organisations to right-size their space, reduce waste and enhance employee experience. With high-profile organisations in financial services and the public sector under the spotlight for space misalignment, the report offers timely, evidence-based guidance for the sector. (more…)

Workspace Design Show returns to Amsterdam with focus on sensory workplace design

Workspace Design Show returns to Amsterdam with focus on sensory workplace design

The Workspace Design Show 2025, returns to Amsterdam in November with a focus on how sensory workplace design is influencing the modern officeRegistration has opened for the Workspace Design Show 2025, which returns to Amsterdam on 5–6 November with a focus on how sensory workplace design is influencing the modern office. Held at the RAI exhibition centre, the event will bring together over 5,000 workplace professionals, including architects, designers and commercial interiors specialists. This year’s theme, Activate the Senses, explores how sight, sound, scent and touch can influence how we feel and function at work. (more…)

ROOM Launches The Room Collection: flexible architecture for today’s hybrid workplace 

ROOM Launches The Room Collection: flexible architecture for today’s hybrid workplace 

ROOM, the leading modular architecture company behind the award-winning Phone Booth and pioneer in hybrid workplace design, has introduced The Room Collection: a new series of scalable and adaptable rooms, designed to provide privacy in open floorplans and meet the dynamic needs of today’s businesses and office workers.ROOM, the leading modular architecture company behind the award-winning Phone Booth and pioneer in flexible workplace design, has introduced The Room Collection: a new series of scalable and adaptable rooms, designed to provide privacy in open floorplans and meet the dynamic needs of today’s businesses and office workers. A major pain point for employees is working in an office that hasn’t yet been optimized for the hybrid workplace. Simultaneously, businesses may find it difficult to swiftly adapt to changing workplace needs. While insufficient meeting spaces, poor acoustics and back-to-back virtual meetings plague workers, inflexible leases and hefty construction costs prevent business leaders from adapting accordingly. The Room Collection helps solve this through its easy-to-assemble, soundproof modular office system that can evolve to meet the needs of businesses at any stage. (more…)

At home down under: hybrid working has become a way of life in Australia

At home down under: hybrid working has become a way of life in Australia

The majority of Australian employees work from home at least part of the week, with hybrid working now embedded in organisational cultureThe majority of Australian employees now work from home at least part of the week, with hybrid working becoming embedded in organisational culture, according to a new report from the University of Melbourne and Western Sydney University. The study, Navigating the Future of Working from Home in Australia, is based on survey data collected in late 2023 and charts how working patterns have changed in the years following the pandemic. It suggests that while fully remote work remains uncommon, most employees now work from home one to three days per week and expect that flexibility to continue. (more…)

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…)

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…)

The amenity trap: why more isn’t always better

The amenity trap: why more isn’t always better

In a competitive market with a growing focus on employee experience, landlords are under pressure to differentiate their buildings, and amenity is often the tool of choice. But more isn’t always better.Over the past decade, amenity has evolved from a ‘nice to have’ to a key part of any office building strategy. In a competitive market with a growing focus on employee experience, landlords are under pressure to differentiate their buildings, and amenity is often the tool of choice. But more isn’t always better. The most successful amenity strategies aren’t defined by volume, novelty, or trend. They’re defined by relevance: to the building, the occupier, and the wider market context. When poorly thought through, amenity can become a sunk cost. When well-executed, it can drive rental growth, increase tenant satisfaction, and support leasing velocity. (more…)