Why your gloomy office is holding you back: the case for better workplace design February 24, 2020 Whatever industry you’re in, most companies will tell you that their biggest cost is talent. That’s why the prediction that stress-related illnesses will be the main cause of sickness in 2020, accounting for 44 per cent of all work-related absences, should be a big concern. One source of this stress is technology, which has altered [...]
Cushman & Wakefield enters UK’s flexible office market February 20, 2020 Commercial property agency Cushman & Wakefield has entered the UK’s growing co-working market with the launch of a new flexible workplace service. The service – named Indego – will offer landlords design and build, marketing, sales and on-site operations services under a management agreement with Cushman & Wakefield. The service was set up to offer [...]
Businesses must take a hard look in the mirror to understand their corporate purpose February 11, 2020 Fifty years ago, Nobel-winning economist Milton Friedman published an article in which he analysed the relationship between business and corporate social responsibility. The commentary was driven by the principle that the sole responsibility of business was “to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits so long as it stays within [...]
Stop clinging to the last century and let the high street evolve February 10, 2020 Every January, without fail, the hand-wringing begins. After predictably poor Christmas retail results, everyone wants to know: are we seeing the death of the high street? The gloom doesn’t stop. Last week, the boss of John Lewis was the latest to lament the retail landscape, warning of potential store closures and job losses. Why are [...]
Flexible office firms push ahead with growth in competitive market February 3, 2020 The UK’s biggest co-working office firms grew rapidly last year, despite operating in an increasingly competitive market. Shared office providers grew their portfolios by 22 per cent in the last year, as major players such as Wework expanded into new global markets. The value of Wework’s UK portfolio jumped 30 per cent from £3.05bn to [...]
Build it better: How the office of the future can help save the planet January 23, 2020 Climate change is the headline topic in Davos this week, where business leaders and politicians have gathered for the World Economic Forum. Activist Greta Thunberg told the gathered elite that their inaction over the climate was “fuelling the flames by the hour”. While many may dismiss her warnings (President Donald Trump earlier urged leaders to [...]
Wework sells software firm Teem as it slims down after float fiasco January 22, 2020 Wework today said it has sold management software firm Teem as the troubled coworking company offloads fringe businesses after its botched initial public offering (IPO) last year. The sale to digital workplace solutions provider iOffice came as Wework also offloaded its minority stake in coworking startup The Wing. Wework said the deals, whose values were [...]
Will the office become redundant in the 2020s? January 6, 2020 According to a survey by the Trade Union Congress, the number of people who regularly work from home in the UK has increased by 27 per cent over the past 10 years. As more and more companies acknowledge the benefits of flexible working, the technology enabling it continues to advance, offering remote workers improved connectivity. [...]
Trellis tower: London’s second-tallest skyscraper gets green light after planning battle November 25, 2019 Plans to build London’s second-tallest skyscraper, the Trellis, have been given the nod after a three-year planning war. The tower, whose real name is 1 Undershaft, will be 1,000 feet tall when completed, standing just 17 feet shorter than the Shard. Read more: Was Sadiq Khan right to reject plans for the Tulip tower? After [...]
Wework lays off 2,400 employees in Softbank-led efficiency drive November 21, 2019 Wework today confirmed it will lay off roughly 2,400 employees around the world as the company launches a drastic bid to cut costs and shore up its business. A Wework spokesperson said the cuts were part of the company’s efforts to focus on its core business and “create a more efficient organisation”. Read more: New [...]