roundtable


offices redundant by 2000. “Well, they’re still here. I wouldn’t write off the office sector yet, but it is clearly evolving.”


What’s driving the agile evolution ... is it technology?


The Roundtable accepted that Internet global communication and digital devices had provided people with locational freedom, flexibility and empowerment, but was technology driving workplace design change?


Stamatis: “If you are a small company, your technology generally starts very simply, perhaps with an iPad, and you build from that. The agility vibe also often starts like that, because you don’t have major technological investment or legacy to overcome.”


Having changed their business processes and space utilisation, noted Head, companies were now beginning to drive operational building efficiencies down. “Technology can help reduce that business footprint.”


Technology also facilitated businesses having a drop-in head office ‘showroom-in-town’ and an out-of-town ‘back-office’,” noted James Finnis.


Thomas: “If you can get the office space, technology, and cultural shift right then agile can work, but too often one of those doesn’t. It’s no good going agile and everyone sitting in the same desks as before.”


Stevens: If new agile technology doesn’t work, your people won’t be empowered to fulfil their job role either.”


Stevens, Fryer and Finnis each mentioned the ongoing lack of suitable broadband and fibre connectivity in key southern business areas.


Corporates may be able to afford the new technology infrastructure required; smaller companies may not, noted Stevens.


Are other catalysts at work?


Major existing and potential UK influences on Thames Valley workplaces were discussed:


• Rental cost differentials between London and the M4 western corridor driving an occupier decentralisation flow


• The success of online shopping causing retail premises to close; commercial warehousing and delivery logistics demand to surge


• Heathrow’s green lights for new runway and western rail access, plus CrossRail and SmartM4 infrastructure developments are business beneficial, boosting confidence and regional appeal


• Significant Thames Valley town regenerations are happening, noted York, and such towns were currently experiencing net inflows of commuters, added Head.


• The residential offering for workforce catchments is improving


But ...


• Brexit presented future uncertainty and business-change opportunities/threats. (Thomas suggested change of prime minister, new government and post-Brexit policies were now of more concern to occupiers than lease or space decision-making.)


• London’s social and centralised links, plus more cost-efficient use of business space, would help retain the capital’s appeal, said Stamatis


“Our local property market fundamentals are still phenomenally strong,” stated Finnis.


“Ultimately it is employees who influence market trends, because they vote with their feet. Either they will treat this area as a dormitory and use rail links into trendy London or they’ll choose to stay because it’s a nice place to live and work.”


From Roundtable comments it appears, the key driver now and in coming years will be employers investing to attract and retain employees.


Sorry to interrupt, but … is agile working productive?


Task-oriented work often requires silence and concentration, remarked Thomas. “Apparently, after an interruption it takes 23 minutes to get back into full working mode.”


Finnis said research had shown that operational efficiency could be hugely impacted by workplace noise, such as nearby conversations.


Within some environments, agile workspace might actually reduce overall productivity, Thomas suggested.


Gary Chandler countered that agile design, with good balance between productive work stations and alternative platform zones, could overcome such concerns while giving employees workspace choice.


Spencer Meredith also refuted productivity loss, exampling an 82-desk agile office where 150 people worked very productively. “Is this perception through fear of innovation or because ‘if people aren’t working at their desk all day, they must be less productive’?”


Several Roundtablers mentioned young people working at home, while wearing headphones listening to music. Interruptive ‘noise’ is a generational thing.


Welcome to the gig-economy


Leeson Medhurst asked what workplaces needed to win the hearts and minds of young post-millennial generation Z talent with its perception of entitlement to employment at enticingly excessive ‘get-out-of-bed’ salaries.


“Agility”, answered Stevens. “Flexible working tends to benefit the employer, whereas agile working focuses on getting the best out of the whole organisation, but we are going through a transitional stage where that generation will expect to work where, and wear what, they want.”


Continued overleaf ... THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – FEBRUARY 2017 businessmag.co.uk 37 James Finnis Dave Stevens Aki Stamatis


Leeson Medhurst


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