Posted in Office Design by Active on 3rd August 2022
Visit us to learn how the appearance of different areas of your
office can affect the reputation of your business – and how facilities management can
help.
Posted in Office Design by Active on 15th March 2022
As more workplaces start to return to some sense of 'normality'
amid the COVID pandemic, many firms have taken the last two years as an opportunity to
'refresh and reset' the way they operate.
Posted in Office Design by Active on 22th September 2021
COVID-19 has created unprecedented and extraordinary challenges
for people around the world – not least within our workplaces. However, as restrictions
are slowly being lifted as vaccines are being rolled out, we can at the very least, look
to get back to some semblance of the ‘normal’ we experienced pre-March 2020.
Posted in Office Design by Active on 7th February 2021
After a tough 2020, the continuing rollout of Coronavirus
vaccines has given us all hope that we’ll be able to get back to some semblance of
‘normal’ in 2021. After a year of working from home, it’s understandable if people are
reluctant to return to their desks – and the primary focus of any business should be
ensuring the safety of its workforce.
Posted in Office Design by Active on 2nd February 2021
With 2020 being such a write-off, as most of us have been working
from home, it’s no surprise that many firms have taken the time away from the office to
consider its future – namely, ‘am I getting value from my current fit-out?’
Posted in Office Design by Active on 27th January 2021
2020 has been a challenging year for us all – at the very least
we’ve had to deal with an erratic work schedule that has seen us work from home. The
initial lifting of the March lockdown in late June proved to be a false start – November
saw offices close again, with many of them already spending thousands of pounds in
adapting their spaces for COVID-safe measures.
Posted in Office Design by Active on 17th January 2021
With news of a vaccine on the way, there is a glimmer of light
ahead in what has been a dark 2020. After a false start already, this is certainly
encouraging for the many businesses that have had to close, then adapt to the ‘new
normal’, before having to close all over again.
Posted in Office Design by Active Workplace Solutions on
24th March 2020
The technology used for work nowadays dictates how an office
design is set up. From working alongside collaborative robots, through to wearable tech
that can track levels of stress – it’s safe to say that workplace technology has
advanced greatly from the Macs, laptops and smartphones that dominated the previous
decade.
Posted in Office Design by Active Workplace Solutions on
2nd March 2020
Throughout the years on this blog, we have discussed the
challenges that flexible working creates for unseen workers and the organisations that
employ them.
Posted in Office Design by Active Workplace Solutions on
21th February 2020
As we’re a bespoke workplace solutions company, it can be easy
for us to ‘talk the talk’ about our client-based work – it’s another thing to ‘walk the
walk’, however. As workplace refurbishment is a speciality of ours, when it came to
performing an office refurbishment in Berkshire for our own HQ, we had to ensure that we
were fully-equipped and up to the challenge to ensure that we practice what we preach.
Posted in Office Design by Active Workplace Solutions on
21th February 2020
Whilst every single business out there would love to have a
working environment that has been created for the needs of their employees, obtaining a
bespoke office design may be seen by some as expensive and unaffordable.
Posted in Office Design by Active Workplace Solutions on
16th January 2020
Flexible working is one of the fastest-growing office design
trends – with the latest technologies cutting the tethers that bind workers to their
desks, people are now able to move around and choose the environments in which they
work. This opens up exciting new possibilities for businesses who want to get the best
out of their employees.
Posted in Office Design by Active Workplace Solutions on
13th December 2019
There was once a time when the office was used solely as a
workplace – this is why office design of the past was based on the ‘factory floor’
concept; people were stuck in every inch of space to complete work as efficiently and
quickly as possible.Time allows us to learn and develop and soon enough, we realised
that the workplace should be more than simply ‘a facility to play host to a workforce’.
Posted in Office Design by Active Workplace Solutions on
13th December 2019
In April this year, the team here at Active Workplace Solutions
were tasked with performing a ‘get out’ and ‘get in’ office relocation job for the 70
staff of Nationwide Hire – within a window of 48 hours.
Posted in Office Design by Active Workplace Solutions on
4th December 2019
One of the most important things regarding office design and
workplace refurbishment is employee wellbeing. After all, just like nation’s are often
measured on their GDP, it’s often much more valuable to look at the health and happiness
of your employees, just like the happiness of a citizen gives a much more down-to-earth
understanding of life in that nation.
Posted in Office Design by Active Workplace Solutions on
10th October 2019
Simply put, office furniture shouldn’t be an afterthought. It
isn’t just about choosing comfortable and stylish furniture, your furniture is a
powerful tool to boost the productivity and wellbeing of your business.
Posted in Office Design by Active Workplace Solutions on
4th September 2019
Just think about how much time your employees spend in the office
environment? How can you make this environment more productive, is the secret modern
office furniture?
Posted in Office Design by Active Workplace Solutions on
4th July 2019
Technology is quickly changing, as such it is very important that
your business’ office is designed in such a way that it can utilise improvements in
technology that could be used to boost either or both workplace productivity and
employee wellbeing.
Posted in Office Design by Active Workplace Solutions on
11th June 2019
Struggling with what office design to choose? As experts in
Office Design Reading, the Active Workplace Solutions team is on hand to provide advice
and office interior solutions to help bring your dream workplace into reality.
Posted in Office Design by Active Workplace Solutions on
9th April 2019
As experienced providers of office refurbishment in Berkshire, if
you want to update your office environment, there are numerous different workplace
solutions that we can provide to enhance your business and boost the productivity of the
office.
Posted in Office Design by Active Workplace Solutions on
9th April 2019
One of the many challenges businesses face is the question of
boosting workplace productivity. However, did you know that your workplace design and
layout could be harming the morale and quality of work produced by your employees?
By embracing mindfulness, we can better understand ourselves and
increase the amount of enjoyment and fulfilment from our lives. As such, any business
seeking to improve the wellbeing and productivity of their workforce should seek to
promote mindfulness in office design.
Posted in Office Design by Active Workplace Solutions on
25th February 2019
Patterns; are they just there to look pretty or do they have
other uses within the office environment? As prestigious providers of office design in
Reading, we’re always searching for new and innovative ways to improve our workplace
design and management, so join us as we embark on a quest of discovery regarding the use
of patterns in the workplace.
Posted in Office Design by Active Workplace Solutions on
18th February 2019
Office furniture doesn’t go bad in the same way that milk or
cheese goes bad, however there are a few tell tale signs that it might be time to
replace your current furniture and upgrade to modern office furniture.
Posted in Office Design by Active on 16th November 2018
Office Interior Office interior services can provide a wide range
of advantages to your business, however in order to gain these benefits, you'll need to
make sure that you choose the right office fit out company. So how do you know which
business is best suited to your needs?
Posted in Office Design by Active on 5th November 2018
Businesses are looking for different ways to improve their
business’ working conditions; one way to do this is to improve the office furniture.
However, how do you know what areas of modern office furniture you need to improve and
what elements are currently working well?
Posted in Office Design by Active on 31th October 2018
Businesses are frequently looking for ways that they can improve
the productivity in their workplace, but did you know that the office design and space
planning of your office environment can have a significant impact on the productivity
and well being of your employees?
Posted in Office Design by Active on 1st October 2018
As a bespoke workplace solutions company, it is important that we
don't just 'talk the talk'. We've got to walk the walk too. Workplace refurbishment is
something we specialise in, so when it came to the challenge of refurbishing our
ActiveHQ, we were well equipped and up to the challenge.
Posted in Office Design by Active on 24th September 2018
Office Interior services empower businesses to transform their
working environment into one that motivates and inspires their employees to achieve
their best. However, with a variety of different office interior solutions to choose
from including refurbishment and design, how do you know which service is best suited to
your needs?
Posted in Office Design by Active on 10th September 2018
We all know that first impressions count, but did you know that
the layout of your office could be causing potential candidates to turn down job offers?
Here’s a list of 2 reasons why your business needs the assistance of a skilled office
fit out company.
There are numerous different office design factors that can
affect the productivity of an office environment such as office furniture and office
layout. However, could the use of colours in your office affect office productivity and
wellbeing?
Sometimes it can be difficult to know when the time is right to
change the design of your workplace. Indeed, with numerous different trends coming and
going it can be confusing to know when the time is right for you to change your
business’ office design.
When designing an office it is very important that you think
ahead. Indeed an office not only has to meet your business’ needs of today, but it also
has to provide you with the tools to meet the needs of the future.
This month work officially started on the refurbishment of
Active’s Reading HQ. Find out more about how we plan to transform our office over the
next 4 weeks...
Many businesses want to improve their workplace in order to boost
productivity and employee wellbeing. However,sometimes it can be difficult to think of
ways that you could improve your business' office design.
Active was awarded the contract to design, fit out and source the
furniture for a 60 seat business incubation centre and co-working space at Thames Valley
Science Park’s (TVSP) new Shinfield campus. The space will form an integral part of the
‘Innovation Catalyst’ partnership providing a comprehensive offering to business
innovators across the region.
We are extremely proud to announce that we have been shortlisted
for the SME of the Year category in the Thames Valley Business & Community Awards 2018.
After reaching the finals in both the IoD and Thames Valley Business Magazine Awards
towards the end of last year, we are over the moon to have started 2018 with yet another
fantastic achievement!
In the busy business world, it can be easy to put thoughts about
the office design to one side – after all, it’s only the building that plays host to our
work. With so much to concentrate on, on a day-to-day basis, it’s understandable that
the role of the office is forgotten about.
There are lots of different things to consider when designing a
new office environment. As such, designing your business’ new working environment can
sometimes be a difficult, challenging, and sometimes stressful experience.
2017 has been a great year for Active. We have welcomed new
faces, new clients, participated in lots of events and banked some great achievements
along the way. We would like to share with you the highlights of 2017 and preview our
2018 plans.
We are pleased to announce that Active retained its accreditation
against the Investors in People Standard having upheld this accreditation for the
previous 3 years. We are extremely proud to be recognised for our commitment to high
performance through good people management...
This month Active was named one of the seven finalists for the
Thames Valley Business Magazine Award’s SME of the Year 2017! Joining Active in the
category is CitNOW, Diamond Logistics, Firefly Human Capital, Hawkins Group of
Companies, IPRO Solutions and McFarlane Telfer.
Adrian Powell, director and owner of office interiors company
Active, has been awarded the Institute of Directors (IoD) Highly Commended Award for SME
Company Director of the Year at last week’s glittering award ceremony.
Posted in Office Design by Active on 26th September 2017
Are productivity levels in the office falling? Perhaps you’ve
rebranded and your current office space just doesn’t suit your companies culture
anymore. Here are 6 sure signs it’s time for an office refurbishment…
Next month we will be exhibiting at The Festival of Business
Woodley in celebration of the strong business community across Woodley and surrounding
areas of Sonning, Twyford, Winnersh, Earley.
It is a well-known fact that our senses play a vital part in how
we experience and react to the environment around us. With sight, sound, touch, taste
and smell all having an influence over our perception and mood, it is vital that all of
these are considered equally when designing offices with a human focus…
Over the last year, Active’s office fit out team has gone from
strength to strength, winning a number of large refurbishment and fit out contracts for
some of UK’s leading businesses. Going forward, to assist with rapid growth plans,
Active looks to expand its team further...
Posted in Office Design by Active on 15th August 2017
First impressions are very important. As such it is vital that
any client or potential employee feels inspired and optimistic from the moment that they
first visit your premises. If your office space is in need of rejuvenation, have you
considered a professional service for office refurbishment in Reading from Active?
Today’s workplace is becoming ever more diverse, with people
working longer, the modern office is now home to multiple generations. So, what do these
generations want from their workspace? And how do we ensure we cater for all? Active
discuss…
Although there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to designing
for well being, there are certain areas that must be considered. Active discuss 5
concepts you must consider when designing for wellbeing in YOUR workplace…
Active has been awarded accreditation from Alcumus SafeContractor
for achieving excellence in health and safety in the workplace for the 9th year
running...
Although the look and feel of an office environment may vastly
change as the years go by, there are certain aspects and requirements of an office
design that, if remaining constant, will help the business to be a success. No matter
the design of a workplace, office fit out companies advise business organisations that
their in-office environment must meet its needs and aims, inspire its staff, as well as
reduce operating costs – it’s these aspects that make for the most cost-effective
workplace as possible.
The ability to retain an organised office environment is vitally
important for many reasons, the main reason, of course, being how successful your
business or company could be. It’s commonplace for a workplace to become slightly
disorganised after a period of time – especially during particularly stressful periods
in which everyone will be working flat-out to achieve their aims.
This year, the Active team went en masse to explore the latest
and upcoming furniture trends emerging in today’s workplace, as well as catching up with
existing furniture partners to see the new products they have to offer...
It is no secret that by designing a workplace that your employees
enjoy spending time in that you will see a positive impact on staff productivity,
engagement and retention. So how do you create a five-star experience for your
employees? Active discuss…
We are extremely pleased to announce that Active Director, Adrian
Powell, has been awarded the London and Southeast, Director of the Year (for companies
up to £9.99M) in the IoD, Director of the Year Awards 2017!
Posted in Office Design by Active on 24th April 2017
With 70% of workers reporting the sound of the conversation of
their coworkers as the most distracting thing in the workplace, it is important that
acoustics are not overlooked when designing a high-performance workplace. In order to
ensure this, there are a variety of acoustic solutions available to suit a range of
budgets and spaces...
Keeping your workplace in a good condition is very important for
numerous reasons; if you are in need of some advice, here are 6 office maintenance tips
to keep your office running smoothly in a good condition!
Just as companies were getting to grips with Generation Y, or
millennials as they are more commonly known, a new generation is set to enter the
workplace. Enter Generation Z; the Digital Natives, the leaders of online collaboration
and the future of our workforce…
When planning an office refurbishment, it is important to
consider the use of colour in your design and the effect your colour scheme will have on
your employees. Active discuss a range of colours and how they can be used in the
workplace design…
Posted in Office Design by Active on 8th February 2017
Despite the recent rise in flexible working, there are still some
companies who are apprehensive about implementing it within their own organisations.
Active discuss 5 main benefits for encouraging a trust based, flexible working
culture...
Posted in Office Design by Active on 6th December 2016
Recent research suggests that the incorporation of natural
elements within the office can have a positive effect on common workplace issues such as
wellbeing and productivity.
Posted in Office Design by Active on 6th December 2016
Last month Techo, one of the UK's leading office furniture
manufacturers, launched the new Sidiz Flight chair. Being a supplier of Techo furniture,
the team at Active had the pleasure of sampling the new chair in our very own office.