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Work is changing rapidly in the 21st century. As digital tools and data take on some of the most repetitive tasks, there’s a new focus on human interaction, collaboration and stimulation. Businesses are becoming less hierarchical, more like communities, but offices, workplaces and headquarters still represent the factory-based thinking of the early 20th century. Whether we are working for end-user tenants, asset managers, landlords and developers or initial investors, Arup is helping clients to rethink a fixed, physical environment in an era of great change.
Navigating the new work agenda
Understandably, there are no simple, one-size-fits-all solutions to the question of what makes an effective modern workplace. Rather, we are helping organisations to consider which elements of change are most beneficial to them, before exploring the implications for both their physical environment and working practices.
Post-pandemic, some organisations are leaning into working flexibility, allowing their people to work whenever and wherever works best for them. Others are recognising the need to offer more collaborative and stimulating environments, where teams can thrive. Others still are realising that they’re less geographically dependent – it’s the digital infrastructure plus cultural engagement that their people really rely on. The only unifying factor is change itself: to do nothing in the face of these powerful trends is no longer an option.
The pandemic has also shone a much needed light on employee safety and wellbeing, and provided an opportunity to embed this agenda in an organisation’s structure and operation. A business’ resilience starts with its people.
How we help you
Our 21st century workplace team bring a wealth of expertise from traditional workplace strategy to digital advisory and occupational health. The team works with clients to develop a framework for thinking through these issues and responding to them in the most effective way:
Leadership in a changing world
There is talk of a new social contract in the workplace, and that also means a new conversation about what spaces are for and how best to use them. Flexibility is emerging as a new corporate virtue – in roles, locations and the form of the physical working environment.
Strong, imaginative leadership is key to success in this era of adaptation. It means getting your people involved, to co-design the future of work and the most relevant environment for their needs. This is an opportunity to build a more collaborative culture with your employees or to establish a deeper connection between your people, clients, customers.
While we are all benefitting from powerful digital collaboration tools, many buildings and estates still need to be reshaped to take true advantage. It’s also vital that those working remotely don’t become forgotten, underappreciated by those returned to workplaces – we need to retain our focus on equity in the era of digital/physical working.
Our workplace consultancy team is helping clients to plot their way through this changing landscape, conducting focus groups to developing culture change programmes. For some organisations it’s already proving a valuable opportunity to shift from simply employing a workforce to running a thriving, collaborative community.
Work vs workplace – a new debate
Everyone knows that the company is not the desks or the computers, it’s the people – but that still leaves big questions to answer. How does changing your property portfolio or your building’s design affect performance? Which trends are here to stay, and which might fade? Which mix of design and cultural changes will make your business more resilient to change? Our workplace of the future team can provide a useful framework for thinking through these elements and shaping future investments.
The reconfiguring of physical space has profound implications for the way companies operate and develop in future. Organisations need to ensure that everyone’s contribution is recognised and that their people have equal opportunity for advancement and development, even when working remotely. There are also new emerging etiquettes to office life – from when tasks are completed to how communications are responded to – all things organisations must think through.
The path ahead
Our approach is to help clients to start this conversation, taking a human-centred approach to these often overlooked or unfamiliar questions. It’s a time to hear from your employees, imagine new futures, and to be bold – these trends will continue to redefine what work is and how it is conducted. Responding to these questions is a chance to revitalise your organisation, adopt a start-up ethos, experiment, and in so doing, reconnect with your people and build an organisation that talented people want to join.
Ultimately, the changing workplace is an opportunity for innovation, for differentiation, and to set new standards of sustainability in an increasingly regulated world. Responsible and resilient businesses will be ones that are prepared to rethink the way that they work.
Explore more
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Project
80 Charlotte Street
We began planning a new London office in 2010, fully committed to producing a ‘net zero ready’ enabled’ building. The first aim of net zero enabled design is to reduce the whole life carbon impact of the building to the greatest degree possible, before seeking to responsibly offset the hardest to abate emissions.
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Expertise
People and organisations
Getting the best out of your people doesn’t happen by accident. Our Advisory Services team helps leaders to lead and organisations to develop a work culture where everyone can make a contribution that counts.