Ascentis Office Fitout

Why you should upgrade your office in 2021

New figures show that 70% of UK businesses are planning an office upgrade this year as staff look to return back to the workplace following the COVID-19 pandemic. The rise of hybrid working means that many businesses are looking at how they can use their office space in new and different ways. And for many this means a redesign. Take a look at why we think you should join them.

Culture

The way your office is designed can really help to enhance you company’s unique culture. Gone are the days of dull cubicles and teams working in isolation. Workplace design now is all about creating spaces that encourage the behaviours that are important to your business.

If that’s collaboration, flexible furniture for impromptu team huddles and project meetings might be important to you in your office upgrade. If it’s creativity, the colours you use or the artwork on your walls might be just the ticket. Whatever you choose, offices should be as unique as the businesses and employees within them. So let your creativity go wild and let design really bring your culture to life.

Unique office design at Ascentis

Sustainability

Sustainability will continue to be a major concern for office design in 2021 as companies look to ‘do their bit’ to help meet challenging global carbon reduction targets.

If you’re considering an office upgrade, now’s a great time to think about the different ‘green’ elements that you could bring into your office to help reduce your carbon footprint. If you’re concerned that you might not have the budget or space to make a difference, don’t be! As Anne-Marie Bonneau famously said: “We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.” A little really can go a long way.

As experts in office design and fit out we can help to create your perfect sustainable office. But here are some ideas to give you some inspiration:

Sustainable design features at LuvGroup

Recruitment and retention

We’ve said it before, but we’ll say it again – great talent needs a great office.

In a competitive, globalised world (with more companies offering remote or partially remote working positions) competition for the best staff is at an all time high. And staff retention presents one of the biggest challenges facing any business. With the true cost of replacing an employee earning the average UK salary now costing up to £12,000, it’s never been more important to retain employees. An office upgrade can really help!

Many employees are now choosing employers based on their company culture. In fact, around 63% of workers believe that cultural fit is just as important as salary in making their next career choice. And Millennials are especially likely to look for culture and fit. If your office truly reflects who you are as a business, you’re making a clear, bold statement to prospective employees visiting you for the first time.

We’re also firm believers that happy spaces, make happy people – it’s the ethos upon which Opus4 was built. And, put simply, happy people enjoy their work and don’t rush to look for other jobs. Say hello to your loyal and engaged workforce!  

Happy spaces, happy people

COVID-conscious design

COVID-19 has changed the way we view a lot of things, not least office design. As staff return to work, the health and safety of employees will be at the forefront of everybody’s mind. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean a complete re-design of your office or workspace.

Our Covid-19 Space Planning and Design service provides flexible solutions to optimise your existing space and implement social distancing measures for your staff. We can also advise how you can seamlessly incorporate hygiene measures, such as sanitisation stations, into your office to give your employees peace of mind.

Taking some time to really consider the safety of your employees will really help to build confidence, trust and honesty which are the foundations for a happy workforce.

Cost

We know what you’re thinking. Office upgrades can be expensive, right? Well, it’s probably a lot more cost effective than you think.

Firstly, a well-designed office can reduce the amount of space your business needs. By utilising your space more effectively, you can reduce your office square footage, cutting down on rental and building costs.

There’s also lots of research out there to suggest that office design can significantly improve productivity. As Phil Wilkinson, CEO of Ascentis, whose office we recently redesigned, puts it: “I’m absolutely certain that it will increase staff performance and I think that will be reflected in financial performance [of the business]. Yes, there was a big initial outlay but over a period of time, I genuinely believe it will pay for itself.”

Finally, an office upgrade can be a lot more cost effective than an office relocation. If the space suits your business, there’s no need to put yourself through the upheaval and cost of an office move.

If you’re thinking about redesigning your office we’d love to hear from you.

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