I worked with Insights on their new workplace strategy way back in 2020-something (all those lockdown years are a bit of a blur now). It was a project delivered fully remotely, with my knowledge of the building gained from some photos and existing furniture layouts. Finally getting to see the completed office fit-out showed what a great job my interior design colleagues in SPACE did to create stunning spaces that are being well-used and appreciated by the local Insights team.
The part of the building we presented in was bathed in early morning winter sun, and was a really flexible group space; like an Everyman cinema transplanted (without the beer and burgers) to a workplace. Where often large spaces for catch-ups have rows of seats in a sterile theatre layout or a boardroom style table where you spend the majority of your time with your head turned left or right, the space at Insights has a number of sofas that can be set up in smaller huddles or, for presentations, arranged facing the speakers. As more and more clients talk of team days in the office for relationship building, developing strategies and such like, it is exactly the type of space that they are envisaging – informal and easily customisable.
Part of my talk had been aired previously – the quest for clean data when it comes to organisational information. An accurate org chart with up-to-date headcounts is still the holy grail for workplace consultants. Time and time again, the data supplied is at odds with how people see themselves (and call themselves) on the ground. Is the team who HR call Learning & Development the same as the team who call themselves Organisational Development & Wellbeing? How many people are in the building? How many people should be in the building? It’s really not rocket science, but is essential in order to create a baseline.
Finally, case studies always bring a presentation to life. It was good to dip back into another project from many years ago to show how a client-focused and data-driven consultancy approach can result in a workplace that is truly transformative, saves the organisation money, helps change workplace culture and from having visited the space recently, still stands the test of time. Said organisation has evolved in the intervening years, however, and this was the central topic of my presentation – as organisations evolve there can be a need to recalibrate their estate, which means right-sizing in terms of overall footprint, but also ensuring that what goes into that space is appropriate for the way they now work.
And for most organisations, the biggest change is at the opposite end of the scale from the space I presented in – it’s the small, soundproofed spaces where Teams calls can be taken, where 121s can be held in the full knowledge that confidential discussions cannot be overhead, and where quiet working can take place in the office free from distractions.
Sustainable workplaces at Insights was a great event, a chance to revisit former projects and an opportunity to be reminded by our fellow speaker (Sophie Simpson, Cundall) that the journey to net zero doesn’t mean that we have to tackle everything right now, but prioritise, see what’s possible, and put plans in place for sustainability in the workplace.
