Choosing to refurbish your London office gives you the opportunity to create a workspace that is enjoyable for employees, boosts their productivity and can make a positive statement about your business. Here are five questions to ask before you start on the process of an office upgrade.
Have you set a clear budget?
As with any project, setting a clear budget is critical to defining its success. For an office refurbishment, you should discuss your budget and what you want to achieve from the upgrades at the start of any discussions with contractors. You must also consider timescales and work out how long each element might take, and think about a backup plan should any complexities arise during the work.
What type of refurbishment will best inspire employees and increase productivity?
Research has shown that a well-designed office can increase the productivity of a workforce by as much as 20 per cent by creating a working environment that promotes collaboration, creativity, and focus. Natural light is critical to wellbeing and reducing stress, so should always be a focus where possible, but all office can benefit from comfortable workstations and flexible spaces where employees feel comfortable and confident to share new ideas.
Options to consider to improve staff motivation includes sound proofing to reduce noise, storage areas to reduce clutter, and flexible partitioning so that the office can be easily reconfigured depending on the changing needs of the business.
Do you want the fit out to take into account possible future staff expansion?
Upgrading a tired and cluttered office space is always an improvement, but if your company is growing one question to consider before starting on any changes is whether you will be adding any new members of staff in the near future.
Most offices can accommodate one or two new hires without making the area feel too congested, but if your company is on the up and hiring, then consider the possibility that you may need to make room for 5, 10, or more additional team members. Flexible partitions can help with this, but it may also be worthwhile to specifically build in an extra few workstations from the outset if you know you will be filling them within the next 12 or 24 months.
How green is the refurbishment?
There is a growing trend towards offices becoming more sustainable, and the green credentials of any new refit should always be considered. First think about natural light, as it is better for your staff’s wellbeing but importantly also useful to reduce your energy bills which is good for both your bottom line and the planet. Beyond energy usage, consider using sustainable materials where possible, such as wood from sustainable forests, and making recycling and reuse a focus within the office where possible.
Can the office be occupied during the refurbishment?
Most major office refits will require the space to be vacated while the works are carried out. However, if it is impossible for your team to work from home for a few weeks during this period, then depending on the work that needs to be done, it may be possible for work to continue in the office for most if not all the period of the fit out. Do note, however, that this will generally slow down the pace in which the work can be completed and could push up the bill.
If you are looking to upgrade your office space then call the experts at Beall Group on 0208 058 2203 or contact us online to discuss your options today.
