The very nature of work is that it’s always evolving. Requirements surrounding hybrid working, employee wellbeing, and sustainability continue to change at speed. 

How can businesses respond to these challenges? And how can they make sure their workplaces foster connection, collaboration and resilience in the face of such flux?

To find out, we talk to our Workplace Strategy Director, Craig Murray and Sustainability Director, Jamie Richardson about how they help clients future-proof their workplaces.

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Craig, what are the biggest challenges businesses are currently facing in relation to changing workplace requirements?

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One of the biggest obstacles companies are facing is how to encourage people back into the office. While remote working has its advantages, most organisations still see a huge benefit in people coming together to role model, collaborate, and develop their careers. 

They want to maintain a level of organisational resilience around shared values, culture and unity. And, of course, collaboration is vital when it comes to areas such as innovation and problem solving. It’s the ‘organisational glue’ which is so key to success.

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What role does TSK’s consultancy and engagement process play in future-proofing office design?

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Put simply, our consultancy and engagement process is about establishing the brief. We start with leadership vision – understanding senior leaders’ objectives – and then we move on to engagement with a group of advocates, or ‘change champions’ from across the business. 

We involve these advocates throughout the entire workplace transformation journey, and they become champions of the solutions we create. This collaboration is crucial because change champions are the guardians of their organisation’s culture and succession. They represent the voice of many, raising any concerns, sharing experiences and offering feedback. 

These engagement sessions provide valuable insights into how roles and workplace activities are evolving, enabling us to design a flexible environment that can accommodate both current needs and future changes.

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How important is it to create a workplace that can flex and evolve in response to changing business needs?

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Our work is about supporting business objectives, not just building offices, so it’s crucial that the spaces we shape can flex and evolve. Investing time up front to fully understand impact and value is so important.

With Direct Line Group, for example, we created a flexible workplace for their new London HQ. In applying the principle of activity-based design, we created dynamic zones according to activity rather than department. By being flexible, you allow groups of people to come together in different ways and adapt the space to suit their needs. 

By putting employees first, we delivered a workplace that encourages connections and supports a spectrum of daily tasks. It’s a space that can easily evolve and adapt alongside the changing nature of work.

Jamie, can you tell us a bit about the role sustainability plays in the future of workplace design?

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Absolutely. There’s a growing awareness that we can’t continue doing business in the same way in terms of material consumption and energy consumption. But, alongside the rise in adhering to sustainability practices, people are also realising that sustainability allows businesses to be more resilient to change. 

For example, a company which invested heavily in renewable energy a few years ago – putting solar panels on their roof or installing heat pumps – would now be reaping the benefits in relation to the energy price hikes we’ve seen. 

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‍What about an example of a workplace where sustainability principles are embedded?

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When we worked with Sodexo on the refit of their London HQ, they had a hybrid working model, so we identified the need for a flexible workplace that could adapt to the changing requirements of the team. 

Many of the desks chairs and sofas are on castors so they can be wheeled around according to the task at hand.

The Sodexo team can transform their office into a town hall space for exhibitions, for example, or a breakout area with workstations as touchpoints. 

We also reused doors from one of Sodexo’s other locations – repainting them and refitting them at the London office.

The added bonus of reusing materials is that it reduces costs while meeting sustainability goals.

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How do issues around sustainability impact on talent attraction and employee retention?

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In the past, salary, holiday, and bonus packages were the key motivators for staff. But now people are putting more emphasis on businesses’ ethics, morals and values. Issues surrounding sustainability have a big part to play here. 

A recent survey from Deloitte showed that 46% of Gen Zers have already changed or plan to change job or industry due to climate concerns, and 54% say they are putting pressure on their employers to take action on climate change. (Deloitte)

Sustainability is clearly a motivating factor in talent attraction, but it’s important for businesses to show they’re being authentic in adhering to sustainability initiatives.

People are becoming increasingly aware of greenwashing, so companies need to be transparent in their approach and show their commitment through action rather than just words.

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Craig, any final thoughts on the challenges of evolving workplace design? 

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Yes. At TSK, we’re aware that we’re not designing for the moment, we’re designing for the future. This means we try to be mindful of the expectations of the next generation of employees.

How do we drive the resilience an organisation is looking for? And how do we attract the next generation into the workplace? These are some of the key themes that shape our approach to workplace design. 

‍Want to speak to our team about keeping up with the ever evolving workplace? Get in touch.

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