While office space matters more than you think, your business’s most important asset is your people. To help them feel valued and give you and your customers 100%, the importance of the working environment shouldn’t be underestimated. To avoid the pitfalls of poor planning Officeworks offers its clients a free Expert Walkthrough – a no obligation office layout and design … Read More
Tips for keeping cool in the office
From call-centre workers to industrial bakers, productivity lags and health risks accumulate for many employees in indoor environments during spells of hot weather. This hurts their employers and the broader economies as well. For example, one estimate is that by 2100, losses to the urban economy due to increased heating could reach 9.5% in Bilbao, Spain. No one is immune: in … Read More
How to create a productive office team
1. Don’t be afraid to try something new One of the most obvious ways to create a productive workplace is to ensure that employees have access to the tools and resources they need. However, it’s just as important to think outside of the box. Every office has standard industry equipment and systems that they tend to stick to, so why … Read More
Office layouts for workplaces post-coronavirus
Australian architecture firm Woods Bagot has created four proposals for workplace design following coronavirus that merge working from home and office life to “strengthen culture and performance”. The Working from Home, Working from Work project was created by the architecture firm to move beyond health and safety measures, which are a given, and focus on encouraging collaboration and creativity during and after the … Read More
Redesigning workspaces for a post-Covid-19 world
Pandemic-proofing offices could involve short-term fixes, new working patterns and long term design upgrades that put hygiene at the heart of workplace planning. As many nations cautiously make their way to relaxing Covid-19 lockdowns one area that will come under particular scrutiny is the office workplace where social distancing measures are often difficult to maintain, and workers are often in … Read More
Posture tips for when you’re working from home
By now many of us have been working from home for a couple of weeks and are settled into a spot where we like to work whether it’s a home office or the kitchen table. But without the ergonomic chair and desk we usually have in the office it’s easy to spend hours hunched over a laptop screen. Or constantly … Read More
7 Tips for Productive Home Working
As more and more companies implement work-from-home policies due to the spread of COVID-19, employees are now tasked with trying to be just as productive without their normal resources and routines. While working from home sounds like a luxury in theory, it’s certainly no vacation and being productive is easier said than done. Every job is different and the amount you’re … Read More
Share the Valentines love with Officeworks
To celebrate Valentine’s Day we would like to share our love of all things office design! Book a free office layout and design Expert Walkthrough by 28th February to find out how your key office environmental factors are performing plus tips for improvements. Contact us on 01442 875666 or email info@officeworks.co.uk. Offer only available until Thursday 28th February.
Introducing new Officeworks Project Manager Emily
We would like to say a warm welcome to Emily Spurr who has recently joined the Officeworks team as Project Manager. With over two years’ experience as a project assistant for data centre refurbishments, Emily will be putting her scheduling and structured planning skills to use to ensure that Officeworks projects run smoothly as well as on time and on budget. … Read More
What does a biophilic office look like?
Tim Hanwell at Officeworks looks at the how the use of nature in a biophilic office can help to reduce stress and maximise productivity in Part 2 of an article recently published in Connect Magazine from Cardinus Risk Management. Biophilic design is more than a ‘nice to have’. The use of nature to harness employees full potential is becoming an … Read More
Introducing new Officeworks Interior Designer Zoë
We would like to say a warm welcome to Zoë Bigsby, the newest member of the Officeworks team. With an interior design degree from the University of Huddersfield, Zoë joins Officeworks as an Interior Designer and will be assisting the team with design concepts, layouts and creating 3D visuals. Before completing her final year at University Zoë spent a placement … Read More
Tips for maximising space in a small office
Your office layout is the most basic consideration. Can you make small changes to your current layout? Are you working in a cellular environment but find most of your activities are collaborative? Do you need to think about making your space more open plan? Does your current furniture support your way of working? Are you making use of each piece … Read More
5 steps to help employees beat the winter blues
Thirty-four per cent of office workers believe that winter affects their productivity, according to the results of a survey by workplace consultant Peldon Rose. The survey found that the workplace contributes to the ‘depressed mood’ with most employees (56 per cent) saying “they feel unappreciated or only sometimes appreciated by their company” and 31 per cent believe their office environment … Read More
Technology and office environment affect productivity
Almost a quarter (23 per cent) of UK employees rate themselves as ‘unproductive’ at work, equating to seven million of the nation’s total workforce. Perceived productivity slips even further amongst Generation Z employees. When asked to rate their productivity out of ten, with ten being the highest possible number, 28 percent of Generation Z employees gave themselves an ‘unproductive’ score … Read More
The rise of the sit stand desk
Renowned for being the healthier alternative to traditional sedentary desks we take a look at the rise of the sit stand desk, some of the benefits of standing while working, and also share some tips on how to best use your sit stand desk. Sitting is the new smoking – blamed for increasing the risk of heart disease and cancer, … Read More
How to get back to work after a summer holiday
The summer holiday season is coming to an end and for many of us that September ‘back to school’ feeling has arrived. Saying goodbye to the sun and freedom not to look at your emails can feel desperately hard so here are our top tips for beating the back to work blues in the face of the British Autumn. 1. … Read More
How office lighting affects productivity
There are certain factors that everyone knows affect workplace productivity but did you know that employees sitting closer to windows are more likely to go to work? Being happy at work is not just about the people, the job and the money. The data gathered by Leesman, the world’s largest independent assessor of workplace effectiveness, indicates that the physical work … Read More
Proud to host Hospice of St Francis Corporate Partner event
We have been supporters of the Hospice of St Francis in in our hometown of Berkhamsted for nearly two years and on a sunny Tuesday evening in May we were delighted to host a networking evening at Berkhamsted Tennis Club. Officeworks co-founders Craig Phillipson and Tim Hanwell also gave a short talk on the top 5 ways to improve your … Read More
Boosting productivity with biophilic office design
At Officeworks we firmly believe that employers should be embracing a design approach that puts the wellbeing of office workers at its core. Here we explain the benefits of a biophilic design in the workplace and why a growing number of employers are bringing nature into the workplace. Biophilia is a concept first popularised by Edward O. Wilson in 1984, … Read More
How to sit-stand correctly
As the UK sees a rise in demand for Sit-stand workstations, KI and Officeworks have created a flyer, and a video guide to help users best adjust their new sit-stand furniture. Following in the footsteps of the Scandinavian countries, research shows that sit-stand workstations and meeting tables can improve productivity and wellbeing, but without proper guidance these potential benefits could … Read More
Top 10 tips for a healthy workstation
Here is our guide to some simple changes you can make to survive sitting in an office all day. Move your chair close to the desk. Adjust the seat height to ensure your thighs are slightly above your knee with your feet flat on the floor or a footrest. Recline and relax into your chair to make the most of … Read More
5 ways the workplace will change in the next 5 years
Work trends have evolved dramatically over the past few decades with a recent report by PricewaterhouseCooper estimating that in the decade between 1990-2000, the majority of the workforce was employed in roles whose titles only existed after 1990. However, workplaces have failed to adapt to the changing face of the workforce, particularly within the world of SMEs where real estate … Read More
Boosting productivity through workplace design
Taking the time to understand how a business environment affects an employees’ performance is crucial for an effective workplace design. And it was just this topic that was discussed and debated at a recent Officeworks business breakfast held at the Shard. Co-hosted with Leesman who provide the largest independent measure of workplace effectiveness, insights were shared into what are the … Read More
Generation Y – who are they? And why are they different?
Generation Y and the Workplace – is this generation different or not and what does it mean for space and ergonomics? Much has been made of the perception that Generation Y individuals are different from previous generations. Evidenced, for example, by the way they act, connect and operate within office environments. However, our research suggests that in many ways they … Read More
5 most common workplace injuries
Officeworks osteopath Tim Hanwell recently told delegates at the Workplace Trends conference in London about common musculoskeletal injuries in the work environment. Straining the levator scapulae, found on the sides of the neck, is one of the most common workplace injuries. The causes of straining this muscle include: the mouse being too far away; carrying a laptop bag; wedging a … Read More
Company recycling scheme means new homes for old office furniture
A recycling initiative launched by Hertfordshire office design company Officeworks is set to reduce the amount of furniture going to landfill. The ‘new homes for old furniture’ scheme is the brainchild of Tim Hanwell, a local osteopath and partner in the Berkhamsted-based firm. Often when companies purchase new office furniture, old desks, chairs and carpets are disposed of. This can … Read More
Taking the strain out of health and safety at work
Recent research published by The Work Foundation highlights that 12.5 per cent of all UK sick days are attributable to back pain. More than ever, employers are under pressure to take better care of their employees; but perils such as bad seating and poorly-positioned computer screens are putting people at risk of discomfort or even workplace-related injuries. So new Berkhamsted-based … Read More