Emma Morley is the founder of commercial interior design consultancy trifle*. She\u2019s noted a significant change in attitudes to work since establishing the business: \u201cThe last 10 years has seen so much change in the way we work and the world of work and therefore the spaces in which we work.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you start to think about how big of a part work plays in our lives, it makes complete and utter sense to us that you would want to have the environment designed to support you, the way you work and the business as a whole.\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n
As part of their service, Emma and her team thoroughly interrogate the way in which their clients work in order to make sure they have the right tools to work as efficiently as possible.<\/p>\n
While each business may require specific elements, there are common threads that flow through each unique space: \u201cAs far as we\u2019re concerned, every office should have a range of different spaces to suit different modes of working, good amenities, proper facilities, be functional, have good air and good light,\u201d notes Emma.<\/p>\n For Matt Webster, Head of Wellbeing and Futureproofing at property company British Land, creating opportunities for social interaction through office design also has a direct correlation to wellbeing. Emma agrees: \u201cWhat we call engineering collision points, or hubs, huddles \u2013 those points where people can connect \u2013 are also really important. It\u2019s the classic photocopier\/water cooler moment but actually enforcing those.\u201d<\/p>\n Matt\u2019s suggestions for businesses include \u201canything from centralising your photocopiers or water to putting in staircases, making stairs really accessible and easy to use, to more technological-based things such as providing people with Fitbits and other wearables.\u201d<\/p>\n For Matt, addressing wellbeing in the workplace is about more than the actual office itself: \u201cWhen I think about wellbeing in the workplace, there\u2019s two areas. There\u2019s the internal environment, which is about workplace design, and the external environment,\u201d he notes.<\/p>\n \u201cSo that\u2019s the location of the office \u2013 does it give you access to local amenities, does it give you access to nature, does it give you respite from work, an opportunity to get out at lunchtime or engage in after-work social activities?\u201d<\/p>\n The internal environment also requires a multi-faceted approach: \u201cThere are three fundamental elements of a really good wellbeing strategy \u2013 your HR where you\u2019ve got the right policies and framework in place, the cultural element, and then the physical foundation for wellbeing, which is office design,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cA really good culture plus a really good workspace equals a great place to work.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n When considering designing new premises, both Emma and Matt agree that air quality should be a key focus area.<\/p>\n \u201cAir quality can have such an awful impact if it\u2019s not done properly. Buildings are often designed for a certain amount of people, but then a few more are added here and there and the air quality is compromised, especially in spaces where windows don\u2019t open,\u201d Emma explains.<\/p>\n Matt adds, \u201cWe know that cognitive performance is impacted as carbon dioxide levels rise, so we\u2019re less accurate, we\u2019re less likely to spot mistakes \u2013 that\u2019s not a good environment to make good decisions in.\u201d \u201cEven a view out of a window of a green space can lead to up to 25% increase in productivity.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Emma also advocates for a green-filled workplace: \u201cWe had one client who had quite sizeable plants, each with somebody\u2019s name on them. It was the employee\u2019s responsibility to look after that one plant.\u201d<\/p>\n On a larger scale, the most important thing employers can do is consider how they are using their space: \u201cIt\u2019s really important to have a landscape of settings\u201d, notes Emma.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you are limited on space in your office, then you have to trust people to work from a cafe or home when they need to.\u201d she continues.<\/p>\n Matt agrees, noting that having the choice over where you work and where you undertake your tasks is essential: \u201cHow your day looks and how you might be feeling in terms of productivity during the day changes so much, so you need different environments to suit those situations.\u201d<\/p>\n As the nature of work continues to shift, so has the office space. As companies work to attract the best talent, having workspaces that reflect the company\u2019s brand, culture and tasks is set to be more important than ever.<\/p>\n –<\/p>\n trifle* is a creative commercial interior design agency based in London. They specialise in space planning and designing workspaces, co-workspaces and retail environments, working closely with businesses to create brilliant environments that are fit for purpose. They aim to help businesses to get the best out of people by creating workspaces that enable talent to flourish.<\/p>\n British Land is one of Europe\u2019s largest listed real estate investment companies, with a portfolio of high quality UK commercial property focused on retail around the UK and London Offices. Their strategy is to provide places which meet the needs of their customers and respond to changing lifestyles – Places People Prefer \u2013 by creating great environments both inside and outside their buildings, using their scale and placemaking skills to enhance and enliven them.<\/p>\n –<\/p>\n This piece is the third in the series: \u2018Make your working life exceptional: a guide to creating a better workplace.<\/em>\u2019 Read part one about mental health here<\/a> and part two about flexible working here<\/a>. For more on workplace design, click here.<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s 11am on a Tuesday and your office\u2019s three meeting rooms are all booked out for the next four hours. With a very important team meeting just hours away, you\u2019ve found yourself with no venue and no time. For the next 30 minutes, your PA is frantically Googling \u2018cafes you can have meetings in\u2019 and<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/tiger-recruitment.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Trifle2.jpg\")
Getting social<\/h4>\n
\n\u201cDesigning in social spaces and social interaction is really important. Part of that is about active design \u2013 we spend 90% of our time indoors and most of that is sitting down, either at your workspace or on the sofa at home,\u201d he said.<\/p>\nWorking from the outside in<\/h4>\n
Clear the air<\/h4>\n
\nHe also recommends bringing the outside in: \u201cDon\u2019t underestimate the importance of greenery and internal landscaping. Our innate connection to nature as human beings means we are supposed to flourish in natural environments,\u201d says Matt.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/tiger-recruitment.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/BL-YorkHouse-FitOut2015-6-1024x657.jpg\")
One size doesn\u2019t fit all<\/h4>\n
About trifle<\/h5>\n
About British Land<\/h5>\n
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https:\/\/facilityexecutive.com\/2016\/05\/employee-engagement-linked-to-workplace-satisfaction\/<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
https:\/\/www.hassellstudio.com\/docs\/20141218_research_workplaceattaction_webversion_lr.pdf<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"