7 things to consider before your next office fit-out

According to a recent report, up to a third of professionals have considered quitting their jobs due to a negative working environment. If you’re looking for ways to re-engage and motivate your workforce, investing in an office fit-out is a good idea. That’s because 97% of workers say that their workplace is a symbol of whether or not they’re valued by their employer, and 25% say they’d commute an extra 30 minutes if they could work in the perfect office. Below, we’ve rounded up some key considerations to make before beginning your next office fit-out.

Reflecting your brand identity

Check out Google’s headquarters. It’s fun, modern, and designed with collaboration and flexibility in mind. Why? Those are Google’s values. Your office space should reflect the mission statement and culture of your business, serving as an extension of your company.

Both your clients and staff should feel the same about walking into your office as they would when they check out your website. Decide exactly what your business looks and feels like and make sure your office fit-out reflects that. Working with your teams can help here.

Review current trends in design

Before you get started on an office redesign, you should consult the latest industry research and trends. Although open-plan offices are still popular, more and more businesses are introducing ways to accommodate teams, remote working, and pets! Moving desks can be fun, and standing desks have some significant health benefits. Other trends include spaces that can be easily repurposed for meetings, collaboration and projects, and using natural materials and making the most of natural light, rather than depending on stuffy office lights.

Make the right first impression

In today’s competitive marketplace, finding ways to compete against other businesses is critical. Your office design can play part of that. Whether you’re trying to score a lucrative client contract or win over top talent, a good office space will communicate your passion and industry standing with ease. Think about making the first impression with your reception or welcome area, commissioning local artists to create artwork for your walls, and having some fun with breakout spaces where clients and staff can unwind after a hard day’s work.

Think about future expansion

As a growing business, it’s important that your new office design is not only space-efficient but able to accommodate future expansions. You might decide that you want to grow one of your teams, but you certainly don’t want to relocate after spending thousands of pounds on a new look for your business. Look for opportunities to repurpose your spaces; for example, use modular design, think about introducing a mezzanine level, and moving equipment to corridors to free up space for your future growth. You’ll need to be smart to make it work.

Reduce your carbon footprint

“Going green” is no longer an option for businesses. If you want to create a sustainable and ethical organisation, the environment should be at the heart of your office redesign. As well as improving your company’s reputation, it can help you increase your bottom line and future proof. Go paperless by removing your printers and introducing television screens to display important messages, invest in solar technology to power your lights and cut your electricity bills, and utilise the natural sunlight, positioning office spaces to help avoid glare whilst getting the most from the sun. This cuts lighting overheads and increases employee morale. You can also use plants to add more greenery to your office spaces – there are benefits for your business, too, like reducing stress, increasing productivity, and boosting air quality.

Develop a fit-out action plan

The chances are that your office space will be out of action during the refurbishment, so it’s a good idea to have a plan in place to reduce disruption. Where possible, you could allow staff to work from home during the renovation works, or have key departments working in areas that won’t be disturbed during construction. You can redirect calls from clients to a mobile phone to avoid downtime, schedule training and development during renovation works, and invest in new cloud technology to ensure your business remains connected.

Efficiency should be a priority

Finally, think about ways your office can improve the efficiency of your business. If you’re spending money on a new look, it’s vital you generate a return on your investment. We have rounded up a few key points to raise with your maintenance company before work begins:

• Upgrading to smart lights and thermostats will reduce energy usage
• Placing electrical sockets strategically will future-proof your office space
• Sound should be a consideration when designing collaborative workspaces
• Ergonomics must be a key priority; comfort significantly impacts productivity 
• Lounges and breakout zones can stimulate impromptu collaboration
• Dedicated client spaces ensures the boundaries aren’t blurred 
• Privacy pods are ideal for client phone calls in busy, noisy working environments

The truth is that there will be aspects of your office refit that you have yet to consider, so the more planning you can do ahead of work taking place, the more efficient and effective your new space will be. Working with a workplace design specialist will make life much easier.

There you have it – seven things to consider before your next office fit-out. Whatever you’ve got planned, we wish you the best of luck, and encourage you to reach out to Precision Facilities Management on 0116 366 6508 for help creating great-looking, high-performing spaces.