1. Going for comfort!– Feeling a long day at the office, as the winter draws in? Well hey: you may as well make it as cosy as you can whilst you’re there… Give your space a little makeover, playing around with different textiles and cushions. It’ll make your co-workers longing for yours!

Image from Ikea: http://www.ikea.com

2. Grab a bulletin board and fill it with pictures that inspire you!- Family, friends, dream home, holiday destinations, goals, to do lists, the lot! The more, the merrier; the bigger, the better… So long as it’s not going to leave you day-dreaming all afternoon. We’re adding this to PUSH YOU!

Photo via Habitissimo: https://fotos.habitissimo.com.br/foto/paredes-revestidas-de-cortica_897200

3. Have some fun with wall art- posters, stickers, humorous quotes, the lot! Don’t walk into a room that’s empty; have something there that gives you a little giggle or brightens your day in the morning. Sometimes, it’s the small things that make all the difference.

Photo via Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/ie/listing/251821610/humorous-print-maybe-swearing-will-help

4. Epic organisers- A messy desk means a messy mind, or so they say right?! Remove all distractions by getting creative with your desk space. When you have a look around, you’ll actually find heaps of pretty cool options. Which one’s your favourite?

Photo via Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/514677063646031828/?lp=true

5. Let’s make some space- Feeling cramped? Want a little more light and life? We have the perfect solution… And no, this is not an excuse for you to look at yourself (although we’ll all have a cheeky glance right?!)- Instead, these mirrors are going to add some serious reflecting, making the space seem bigger than it actually is!

Photo via Carly Cristman: http://www.carlycristman.com/uncategorized/home-office-and-apartment-decorating-ideas/

6. Go green!– Okay so maybe this is going a little to the extreme, but a few plants/ flowers in the office will do you the world of good… That fresh air circulating in your workspace, taking out all the bad CO2- it’ll help to fuel your brain and bring ideas to life! Clean, fresh and let’s not forget: it gives you an excuse to take a little break to water them!

Photo via GreenTower: http://greentower.info/plants-for-the-office.html

7. Fly into your day- Okay so maybe this is not quite in your office, but wouldn’t it make you excited to get there?! Maybe one to bring up with the boss 😉

Photo via Zingy Homes: http://www.zingyhomes.com/latest-trends/creative-office-space-interior-design-ideas-tips/

Have fun! And remember- if you’re looking for a new office space, we’re here with free, impartial advice and property searching. Feel free to have a look through our properties for some inspiring workspaces – www.loc8commercial.com 

The post Seven Ways to Make Your Office More Inspiring appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.

Melbourne Server Hosting

If you are looking for ways to differentiate a typical office floor, why not stick a library room in the middle? All of sudden, office meetings feel more like the start of a murder mystery tale set in an English manor house.

Couchsurfing

Living up to its name and business, Couchsurfing’s office space is seriously cool and laid back. Looking more like a teenager’s basement than the office space of a global business, Couchsurfing employees enjoy sofas, swings and plenty of open space.

Inventionland Design Factory

This office is like nothing you’ve ever seen before. This office is designed with 15 different sets, ranging from pirate ships, race tracks, faux caves, red carpet walkways, a castle and a giant robot. Not only does the space have fun, creative decor, but the facility also has a state-of-the-art sound/video/animation studio and fully-equipped workshops for creating working prototypes of inventions.

Dropbox

The mission of the popular file hosting and sharing platform Dropbox is to make it easy for people to work comfortably from anywhere. So when it came time to design office space, Dropbox wanted the space to do the same thing. It’s an office that Dropbox likens to a city plaza: a mixture of public and semiprivate spaces that encourage workers to find their own personal bliss.

The post 4 of the coolest offices in the world appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.

At Loc8 Commercial, we know offices and have compiled a collection of office images giving an insight into how far office design has come.

Office Design in 1950s

Large heavy filing cabinets filled with paperwork could be seen as large pieces of furniture taking up space in small workspaces. It was common to find two people sharing a desk with an interior that consisted of chunky desks, carpet flooring, the odd picture on the wall and cream coloured décor.

Office Design in 1960s

The rise of G-Plan furniture in the home and office allowed workspaces to become more colourful, playful and contemporary. Offices moved from carpets to wooden floors with slightly more comfortable chairs. Desks were designed to allow easier cleaning in and around the workspaces. Large filing cabinets were still popular but the rise of personal desk storage and filing meant workers had more freedom and trust.

Office Design in 1970s

Major office developments in the 70s included wall colours and personal workstations.  Workers had more space to themselves and were often at their desk most of the day using the typewriter. As you can see in this office they have opted to go back to carpets but the desk designs still allowed cleaning to happen easier. Office plants and telephones are the other two new additions to offices in this era. Offices were still full of paperwork and storage cabinets.

Office Design in 1980s

Some would say the best decade to have been alive in. As you can see the 80s didn’t really deliver on office design innovation. The introduction of personal computers on each desk along with more ergonomic chairs and slightly more private working spaces summed up this era. Personal storage space was important and workers often brought in photos of their friends and family which were left in the office. People had their own desks which allowed for personalisation. Due to the increase of technology, offices were full of wires and health & safety began to creep into people’s conscience. Orange chairs were very trendy during this time!

Office Design in 1990s

Not much changed in the 90s, computers were still big and heavy taking up a large amounts of space on a desk. Telephones, keyboards, mobile phones and integrated personal storage in desks with the odd plant, photocopier, fax machine and more wires oh and along with very unstylish carpet sums up the 90s work environment.

Office Design in 2000s

Computers became thinner and more light weight taking up less desk space. Mobile phones were smaller and emails were the main form of communication meaning less paperwork for the first time. Offices became slightly more casual with people hanging their personal items on the backs of their chairs. Chairs were more ergonomic as people become more body and health conscious. Exposed brick walls became popular adding character and style along with white boards and artwork decorating the walls. Wood flooring proved to be more hardwearing and became the number one choice of office flooring.

Office Design in 2010s

Creative, casual, fun, engaging, colourful, interactive, inspiring, comfortable office environments can we found in every city across the country. Furniture that doesn’t match or is upcycled has become cool and contrasting colours are the norm. Break out spaces where employees can work or play are expected with laptops allowing people to work wirelessly from anywhere with access to food and drink on tap. The integration of plug sockets in the floor, walls, ceilings and sofa’s mean people can charge their phones and computers anywhere whilst hot desking. Having a fixed formal desk and workspace is seen as old fashioned. If you’re working in a coworking space then it is likely you will be working next to someone from a completely different company with clients in a completely different time zone.

If your looking for a modern, inspiring office solution then give us a call on 020 3031 8563 or search via our website https://loc8commercial.com

The post How Office design has changed over the years appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.

For most of us the office is not just a great place to work or get motivated. You may have worked in an office that has tired old brown carpets, furniture falling apart and desks with coffee stains on that have probably been there for 10 years.

 
The rise of tech companies has famously tried to buck this trend, showing their employees they have the ‘best’ work culture and environment to maintain their interest for long enough that they won’t have their head turned when headhunted on a daily basis. From start-ups to MNC’s they are furnishing staff with all the free food, pool tables and ‘music jam’ rooms they could possibly want. This certainly isn’t for everyone and if you are wondering what the hell we are talking about. Read on……

If you are passing Hoxton Square in East London make sure you detour to see the TREExOFFICE for yourself. It’s an ‘unsocial-able social-able’ space that shouldn’t work but does. It not only works but people have reportedly been more efficient and driven in this space. Some say it’s down to the lack of disruption although if someone in the room is on the phone it’s fair to say you will feel involved in the call.

This urban office is built on stilts around a tree. The pop-up has eight seats with power and wifi available to rent. You can also book this space for small company meetings or pitch opportunities to impress prospective clients. However, if you need the loo, well that is one mod con you won’t find here. There are of course lots of public places nearby but if it’s raining or snowing you may get wet. “It is made of compressed paper with see-through plastic and translucent polycarbonate,” says architect Kathryn Timmins. This is good for the environment, but also helps workers feel at one with nature.

 
Perched above a converted warehouse called Village Underground in Shoreditch is one of the most unusual and exciting workspaces in London. On a disused underground train. If you are fortunate enough to visit this space you surprisingly won’t feel as trapped as you could in an office.

 
The trains were stripped of their mechanical parts, then carefully lifted on to the building by cranes in 2007. It was part of a project to make affordable working spaces for artists. As we all know Shoreditch is very well known and respected as an area for creative and artistic types and seems to be growing with all sorts of interesting characters.

Since 2007 many have seen the advantages of leaving the coffee shop environments for these special places. Working in an open, creative and unusual location can be inspiring if not scary at times.

 
People that work in these spaces don’t conform to the typical 9-5 jobs. It wouldn’t be crazy to see a member of staff arriving at 10.30am and leaving at 9pm with lots of ‘creative’ breaks throughout the day. It has been suggested these locations are more relaxing environments and allow you to ‘get in the flow’.

 
One question we have, how good is this space in the middle of winter?

 
For those that get the train to work then spend 8+ hours a day on a train for work, we are keen to hear from you and if it’s as cool as it looks?

Multi-National Companies like Google have taken this concept and expanded it on a much larger scale. They also offer soft benefits that will make you want to never go home, these range from free meals, free gym membership, free coffee, ride to work schemes, discounts off Google products oh and being the first in the world to know how they are helping change the world with technology.

Whether your business is looking for something funky and unusual or something a bit more traditional Loc8 can assist in finding you the perfect office for your business. Give us a call to discuss on 020 3031 8563 or alterntiavely get your search started here

The post The UK’s most unusual Workspaces appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.

According to a recent article by Business Zone one of the biggest reasons people leave are feelings about their working environment. This reason has a broad number of factors that include not only company culture but the quality of office space people are asked to work in.

The connection between good office design and productivity has long been a topic of conversation. The move away from bland “factory” style offices has reached new heights in the last few years with interior designers working to improve the look of office space to make them better places to come to work in. Providers like WeWork, Landmark, BE Offices and LEO amongst others have all used the services of leading interior designers like Oktra great effect. And the occupancy figures of these locations speak for themselves.

Large corporates like Microsoft, Google, Facebook and Yahoo have been strong advocates for the move towards well positioned office space that’s close to good transport links and designed innovatively to help motivate their teams with modern, fun and well thought through office design. For many these famous businesses have led the way with funky interiors that have included slides, snooker tables and slot machines, balanced with inspiring places to eat and grab a coffee.

Why Work-Life Balance is important to Office Workers

Dr Travis Bradberry published a recent article on Linkedin were he explained that people are more likely to place their work-life balance higher than financial remuneration and seek out businesses that are in an accessible location, offer flexible working hours and foster a participative culture.

And if that wasn’t enough proof, an extensive poll by Accenture came up with similar findings with more than 75% of those surveyed saying having good tech in their office space allowed them to have a more flexible work schedule and 80% said having a good work-life balance was more important than financial rewards.

Nellie Borrero, managing director of global inclusion and diversity at Accenture commented, “The fact that finding the right approach to integrating career and life demands continues to be critically important to employees is significant for employers. Companies that can help their employees navigate both their professional and personal lives are likely to see strong employee engagement and enjoy an advantage as they recruit and retain high performers.”

Many serviced office and flexible workspace providers have started to embrace the importance of the many factors that provide the perfect place to work. One of the first considerations for any workspace provider is location (read our article “Office Location, Office Location, Office Location”) and as its one of the most important considerations for business owners it’s no surprise that it’s just as important for employees who do not want time consuming long journeys to work.

With the many factors contributing to staff turnover it’s easy to lose sight of the things you can change. If we concentrate on the physical elements, companies can easily start to reduce the number of people who leave the business:

The Well-Being Checklist:

1. Location – Easily the most important factor that allows you to be close to your clients and just as important for your employees to have a number of transport links and not too far to walk.
2. Office Design – We already know that innovative design can add a real spark of creativity to teams and help to increase productivity.
3. Amenities – Having an office with great breakout facilities and a place to eat lunch are important to employees. Who wants to sit outside in December to eat lunch?
4. Beverage Kitchen – The importance of a good cup of coffee shouldn’t be underestimated. Businesses that provide access to free tea and coffee facilities help to save time and help bolster productivity, team interaction and the general office feel-good factor.

If your office space ticks all the boxes on our checklist, you can be sure your team shouldn’t be leaving any time soon. It’s important to remember that Accenture mentioned that company culture also goes a long way to reducing staff turnover.

In 2016 financial benefits are no longer at the top of employee’s job and career priority lists. When combined with the main factors we’ve mentioned, a positive and empowered workforce helps reduce the headcount turnover and can go a long way to improve productivity.

Sources: Dr Travis Bradberry via Linkedin, Accenture survey 2013

The post Is Your Office Losing You Top Talent? appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.

2016 is already looking like the year that significant new tech is set to transform the way we do business and whilst many of these advancements have been talked about for a while it’s this year that will see many really take off in offices around the country.

Here are a few ways office tech will develop in the year ahead:

Big data can unlock what your customers really want

Many businesses have a rich source of data at their disposal but a surprising number are not maximising the opportunity that their data presents. Understanding customer preferences and purchasing decisions allows companies to unlock what their customers really want and when they want it.

Printing and Scanning without wires

Cloud printing is a major advance providing employees with the ability to print whilst on the move. With providers like Ricoh developing solutions that allow companies to offer flexible printing solutions, employees can now benefit from a fully connected service.

Even 3D printing is finding its way in to offices as the cost of the technology becomes cheaper allowing its advantages to be fully exploited by both small and large business alike.

Bring Your Own Device

The worry that comes from people using their own equipment at work stems mainly from a lack of procedures to cover how the tech is used in the workplace. IT directors are embracing this latest challenge by acknowledging that it comes with huge hardware cost savings and means IT departments spend less time maintaining existing equipment.

BYOD is not new but with many companies putting clear policies in place it will definitely develop in 2016. With cloud storage and new tablet notebooks, working from a hot desk or a drop in point at a regional office is now an accepted part of everyday work.

And this innovative tech that will help increase productivity and customer retention should be balanced with an office environment that encourages teams to be more collaborative and engaged. We’ve all seen Google and Microsoft’s offices with cafes and soft seating areas around open plan communal working spaces. Lots of smaller businesses are now embracing this type of work space in order to encourage employees to feel part of the bigger company picture.

The BYOD revolution has encouraged people to accept that working from a comfortable seat in an inspiring location is almost the norm. With the explosion of co-working spaces around the country, work space design has taken great leaps forward.

Three big developments this year will be the move towards multi-purpose workspaces, the use of colour in the workplace and the drive to finally de-clutter the office.

Going Multi-purpose

With space costs rising, the need to make the office work harder is as important as ever. Multi-purpose space is on the rise with non designated seating and communal tables for both meetings as well as a comfortable place for a small group of people to work. Even standing desks are now popular, making even the smallest of spaces work much harder and delivering an improved return on investment.

Inspiring people with Colour

There are many studies about the use of colour that prove it can help improve happiness, wellbeing and productivity in the workplace. Lots of businesses are adding colourful accessories and using colours to highlight certain areas like work bays, lounge areas, specific departments and communal spaces.

A recent trend to bring the outside inside has seen the use of colour extended to textures with the introduction of wood and stone along with stunning artwork.  We all know about the calming aspects of the colour green so it can be no surprise that plants, small trees and images of woodland and countryside are being used to improve interior spaces and create an inspiring place to come to work.

Look no Wires!

The spaghetti under your desk and also on it for that matter has long been a topic of conversation in the office. With every new piece of equipment it just gets worse not better. Many companies are now seeing the negative aspects of this office clutter and doing something about it. With the move towards more multi-purpose workspaces it’s more important than ever to ensure the equipment used in the office is set up well and can be easily moved or replaced.

As the way we work continues to change it’s going to be important that office space keeps up with developments in working practices, technology and the need to protect the investment businesses make in their people.

Header image by Carlo Ponti Photograghy

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