HOW TO SELECT A WORKPLACE DESIGN EXPERT

Most businesses agree that there is a strong connection between office design and business performance.

However, the inefficiencies of offices are often over-looked. There are numerous examples of these inefficiencies, from the quantity and usage of meeting rooms to the inability to adopt suitable digital transformation strategies that support flexible or hybrid working. The secret to solve these inefficiencies, is to appoint a workplace design expert.

So, how do you do this?

1. Well, there are many companies that purport to be office design consultants or experts, but the quality that distinguishes the best of them is their ability to demonstrate a thorough understanding of what really makes your business perform, that is to say the soul of your business.

2. While longevity isn’t always the only indicator, it certainly helps to know you’re working with a workplace design company that has extensive years of experience. Lack of experience can lead to poor build quality, which in the worst case that could equate to employee-based injuries in the workplace.

3. Consider appointing a cost consultant or project manager. Building your new workplace can be incredibly stressful, these independent consultants can act on your behalf by fielding and vetting multiple workplace experts to leave you with a small selection of experts, tailored around your brief.

4. Meet as many workplace design experts as you can! The best ones will help you to challenge the way you currently work and have a good interpretation of your initial brief or vision. Aim to host multiple informal interviews to assess their capabilities.

5. Do your research. Review public company financials, request tours of similar projects they’ve created, question the strength of their supply chain and create a checklist.

In most cases you will have a good indication of what you are trying to achieve from your property strategy.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Do your research and begin preparing a shortlist

• Ask your commercial agent for referrals

• Consider appointing a cost consultant or project manager

• Meet as many workplace experts as you can

• Age is just a number - but experienced workplace experts can save you in future liabilities