Sustainable Operator to Launch First Venture At 100 Barbirolli Square Koba, the new flexible workspace company creating premium, evidence-based sustainable workplaces, is launching its first UK venture at 100 Barbirolli Square in Manchester. Koba has agreed a partnership lease on a 10-year term with AEW to design, fit-out and operate its inaugural circa 30,000 sq ft location at the flagship 100 Barbirolli Square office building in Manchester City Centre. The new flex site, to be known as Koba @ 100 Barbirolli Square, will operate on Levels 0 & 1 within the 200,000 sq ft, 10 storey Grade A ..read more

Following their successful Scottish Showcase, creative plant designers Benholm Group are poised to bloom at two prominent events in London this April, showcasing their expertise and passion for plants as part of biophilic design. First on the agenda is The Office event within The Watercooler, the leading employee health, well-being and workplace culture event for professionals seeking insights and solutions related to office design and employee well-being. Taking place from 23-24 April at ExCel London, Benholm Group are delighted to be the official plant supplier of the exhibition and are pois ..read more

A Birmingham-based business has joined forces with Aston University in a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) to address production time and efficiency issues brought on by a post-pandemic return to the office. JDD Furniture specialises in commercial furniture. Their banquettes, easy chairs and roofed ‘sofa dens’ enable businesses to bring workers together to collaborate, or alternatively find privacy, in open-plan offices. They design, hand make and install their products, which come in a wide range of fabrics and finishes. A KTP is a three-way collaboration between a business, an academic pa ..read more

The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the landscape of the commercial office sector. A recent survey by Knight Frank and Cresa1 suggests that, among large companies of 50,000 staff or more, around half are looking to decrease their office space. With more people working from home permanently, or only coming into the offices for just part of the working week, many companies are downsizing. The latest data2 from the Office for National Statistics shows that most people (84%) plan to continue to work from home at some point in their week. Dominic Ponniah, CEO, Cleanology This shift in working culture ha ..read more

Successful execution of a big project such as implementing new technology platforms or a new growth strategy is fundamental in ensuring a business survives. Yet, according to Forbes, fifty percent of Fortune 500 companies that existed 20 years ago have disappeared and the outlook for new enterprises is even less encouraging with the US Bureau of Labor Statistics indicating only 30% of small businesses survive beyond a decade. Without the successful execution of big projects, businesses can face not just financial implications but also demoralized people less inclined to drive for innovation in ..read more

U.K. deskless workers feel considerably less valued at work compared with their desk-based colleagues. Just 43 per cent of U.K. deskless workers admit to feeling seen, valued and appreciated compared to 61 per cent of desk-based corporate employees. These are the findings from O.C. Tanner’s 2024 Global Culture Report which have been released to coincide with Employee Appreciation Day (1 March 2024). The appreciation divide between U.K. deskless employees – such as construction workers, delivery drivers and frontline employees – and those corporate employees who spend most of their time behind ..read more

NESCAFÉ® B2B by Nestlé Professional is giving small businesses across the UK a unique opportunity to win face-to-face business advice from DEBORAH MEADEN* In an exciting new partnership for 2024 –NESCAFÉ® B2B by Nestlé Professional – is giving small and medium businesses, a unique opportunity to win bespoke insight and advice from serial entrepreneur and business guru Deborah Meaden.    Open to SMEs*, across all industries, the new business programme, Let’s Partner up for Good, will see six lucky businesses win a seat at the table to discuss their business challenges relat ..read more

Arqiva, Novo Nordisk and Strativ Group Ltd have been named by Vitality’s Britain’s Healthiest Workplace (BHW) 2023 survey as the healthiest places to work in Britain. The communications company, pharmaceutical company and global recruitment agency were awarded first place in the large, medium and small-sized company divisions, respectively. The annual Vitality Britain’s Healthiest Workplace study has been developed by next generation insurer, Vitality, in partnership with Rand Europe, Aon, the University of Cambridge and the Financial Times. It enables companies to build an accurate picture of ..read more

Ever wondered why, in our tech-savvy world, some everyday annoyances persist? Despite all the cool tech around us, there are still simple problems waiting for solutions. Even with smart homes and AI, some things just haven’t been sorted out. Philipp Pratt, the Repocket Innovation Expert, gives us the lowdown on the top five everyday issues that modern technology hasn’t quite fixed yet. 1. Battery Woes Despite breakthroughs in battery technology, the eternal struggle for longer battery life continues. While our devices become more powerful, battery advancements seem to lag. According to a study ..read more

London-based office and commercial cleaning company Cleanology is celebrating a multi-award winning year after picking up six national and international trophies for its contribution to the sector and its approach to sustainability during 2023. The company, one of the UK’s fastest growing cleaning contractors, scooped one of the biggest business awards in the UK at the Lloyds Bank British Business Excellence Awards. Cleanology was named SME Business of the Year at an event attended by business dignitaries including the Chancellor Rt. Hon. Jeremy Hunt MP. Two of the awards personally recognised ..read more