The demand for great office environments is higher than ever

The pandemic changed the working landscape completely, with an unprecedented rise in the number of people working from home. Nearly three years later there are many industries for which hybrid working is now the norm, with more employees spending significantly less time in the office on a weekly basis than pre-Covid. During this period however it has become clear just how crucial a role office spaces and the wider developments they’re part of play in the job market, with workers now increasingly considering a range of factors – such as flexibility, the impact of their commute and place of work on the environment and overall health and work life balance – when deciding on where to work. As such, organisations are having to place much more emphasis on what their employees think about the office they offer for them to work in beyond a place to sit and tap on a keyboard; is it really worth the cost and time to travel there? Healthier and more productive As a result, we are, thankfully, seeing a lot more developments being designed to enhance the environment in which they sit, and provide occupants with a healthier and more productive standard of working. Recognition of the importance of creating communities is also taking hold as developers and employers recognise that people coming to offices to work want to interact with those around them, with neighbouring organisations, on a social level as well as professional level. A once insular view has been replaced by cooperation and collaboration, and there is a growing undercurrent that people want to use their time in the office to connect and interact with others. Through a new wave of property in our cities and towns, this is being achieved through the development of places that incorporate co-working and private spaces, contemplation rooms, wellness areas and even stylish roof terraces where people can take time out from the working day to relax and meet with colleagues away from the desk. Supporting this trend, Eden has a 3,648 sq ft reception and co-working area which includes a café and comfortable communal workspaces. Physical and mental health Physical and mental health are high on the agenda too. Having great facilities for active travel – such as cycle stores and extensive shower facilities (Eden has space for 156 bikes, 12 showers and 2 drying rooms) – are big plus points for workers, as are spaces on-site for activities such as yoga or pilates. For employers factors like the air quality matter; Eden has enhanced ventilation rates which enable higher cognitive functioning, decision making performance, and the ability to retain information. As demand grows from some sectors for workers to start spending more time in the office again going forward, as was hinted at by the Confederation of British Industry’s Tony Danker, these are all factors that workers are taking into account. If they are going to have to be there more than, ideally, it needs to be attractive for them to do so. Also at the forefront of more and more peoples’ minds is sustainability. Indeed recent data from Bupa’s sustainability team found that 64% of Gen Z workers say it’s important that employers act on environmental issues, while 31% said they would turn down roles in companies with poor Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) credentials. Recruitment deal breakers Clearly then the design and eco-friendly elements of office spaces that companies are based in could be recruitment deal breakers or deal makers, with a building’s impact on the environment a key consideration for some employees. On this topic, greater numbers of developments are now being designed and built with accreditations in mind, such as NABERS; a simple, reliable sustainability rating for the built environment. Like the efficiency star ratings that you get on your fridge or washing machine, NABERS provides a rating from one to six stars for buildings efficiency across energy, water, waste, and indoor environment. This helps building owners to understand their building’s performance versus other similar buildings, providing a benchmark for progress. Eden is the third building in UK to be awarded a NABERS certification. It wasn’t a surprise to me to read that a recent peer reviewed study on WELL Certified buildings found that occupant satisfaction was nearly 30% higher in buildings with the accreditation than those without – occupant perceived well being scores were 26% higher too. On a related note, an Infogrid report on Air Quality and Health in the Workplace recently found that 48% of workers under the age of 35 believe their companies could do more to manage workplace air quality. All this just goes to show that there are so many more factors at play when it comes to recruitment and the role of the office than there were even just four years ago. Crucially, there is plenty of evidence highlighting how great physical office environments are an important factor in not only helping to attract workers but potentially stopping them from going elsewhere too. This can only be a good thing however and I’m looking forward to seeing more and more offices and developments being built with themes such as physical and mental health, wellbeing and the environment at the forefront of their plans. Byline: Emma Payne, project manager of Eden in Salford on behalf of The English Cities Fund

The demand for great office environments is higher than ever

A once insular view has been replaced by cooperation and collaboration, and there is a growing undercurrent that people want to use their time in the office to connect and interact with others

Read Next

Basement space to become flood damage claims without protection

How to add value to your property this spring

What is causing European investors to lower their real estate allocations?

Unlocking the full potential of unused land in urban areas

Developers must unlock empty buildings for decarbonisation

Basement space to become flood damage claims without protection

How to add value to your property this spring

What is causing European investors to lower their real estate allocations?

Unlocking the full potential of unused land in urban areas

Developers must unlock empty buildings for decarbonisation

Commercial Market Forecast shows signs of recovery, study finds

Sirius Real Estate appoints new CFO

Chancerygate begins work on Trafford Park urban development

Countryside Partnerships acquires Grimsby site for 299 homes

Wavensmere Homes unveils £170m Nightingale Quarter show home

Read Next

Basement space to become flood damage claims without protection

How to add value to your property this spring

What is causing European investors to lower their real estate allocations?

Unlocking the full potential of unused land in urban areas

Developers must unlock empty buildings for decarbonisation

Related Articles

Commercial Market Forecast shows signs of recovery, study finds

Sirius Real Estate appoints new CFO

Chancerygate begins work on Trafford Park urban development

Countryside Partnerships acquires Grimsby site for 299 homes

Wavensmere Homes unveils £170m Nightingale Quarter show home