What makes an office a great place to work? This article reveals the secrets behind great office design and what you need to consider to retain and attract new talent to your workplace.
Business owners and HR Managers all have a vision for their company, and part of this vision should include creating the right working environment.
After all, your staff spend over half their working lives in an office, so you will want to support them as best you can by providing a comfortable, inspiring and productive place from which to work. So how do you create a great office? Here are 5 essential steps to help you achieve just that:
1. Determine what type of workplace you want to create
The type of workplace you want to create will depend on the culture of your company and the job functions that your staff carry out. Every office has a different style, ambience and feel about it, so make sure you have a clear vision of the "office vibe" you want to create.
Do you want a collaborative atmosphere? A formal or relaxed environment? Whatever the case, discuss your vision with an Office Fit-Out company who will incorporate the right space plan and design accordingly.
2. Light & Air
Make sure you get the very basics right. Light, airy and spacious environments tend to reduce fatigue and increase productivity. When desiging your space plan, make the most use of natural light, and position desks close to windows that will help to give your staff a more positive outlook to the day ahead.
Even with this dreary weather, natural light is far better for productivity than relying on artificial sources.
3. Reduce Files, Paper & Storage
A well organised workplace helps to increase productivity. Your office should be orderly and tidy and everything should have a place. Where it might not be possible for your business to go entirely paperless, you should at least avoid hauding lots of files that are no longer in active use.
Reducing your storage is not only a great space-saving solution, it also helps to increase levels of business efficiency by relying on management systems, and centralised data storage. And we are in the electronic age after all!
4. Choice of Office Furniture
The importance of your choice of office furniture cannot be overstated. With staff increasingly spending longer periods of time in front of their computers, it’s so important that they’re comfortable. When considering your office space plan, incorporate flexible desks that can be reconfigured according to the needs of each individual employee.
Consult with staff about the positioning of their workstation so they are comfortable and productive. Staff should be aware of how to adjust their own chairs and desk height to their own personal preferences.
5. Reception Areas – Make a Statement
Reception areas give the first impressions to visitors and clients, so make a splash with your reception area to give off the right statement – using colour, design and attention to detail. Flowers, cleanliness and pleasant smells can make all the difference to that all-important first impression. Give careful thought to the seating area for visitors, and use your reception area to maximise brand awareness and enhance visitor experience.
For more tips on how to make your office a great place to work, download our FREE Tenant’s Guide to Office Design.
Clare Moorhouse is marketing director at relocation services provider, Help Moving Office.
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