Oxfordshire
JDE
Hertfordshire
DAI
The Brief
Having adopted a more flexible style of working pre-pandemic, DAI was able to embrace new ways of connecting and collaborating remotely almost immediately.
From early survey results it was clear that working from home was delivering productivity gains and improvements in employee engagement, however DAI wanted to use this opportunity to review their ways of working strategy and real estate requirement to ensure their workplace supported a future-proofed hybrid model.
The key objectives for the project included understanding the purpose of the workplace and how teams collaborate to enable a transition to activity-based working permanently. Developing the sense of community within each business unit whilst creating a sustainable, collaborative and versatile destination space was vital in delivering their ‘future of work’ vision.
About:
Workplace Strategy, Employee Engagement
Where:
Hemel Hempstead
Size:
16,000 sq ft
What We Did
Our workplace strategy process involved a high employee engagement, with various workshops facilitated with different demographics to understand the generational requirements of the physical workplace. Insights collected illustrated employees had enjoyed working from home but were concerned about maintaining company culture upon adopting a hybrid working model. Results demonstrated how teams needed to collaborate in the future, both physically and virtually. This deep dive allowed us to build a picture of what the post pandemic workplace would look like for DAI.
Data is right at the heart of DAI’s corporate strategy – providing the analytical framework from which we have plotted their route to return. To ensure their new workplace was conducive to their team’s agile working preferences, insights collected during employee engagement exercises – shifting occupancy patterns, new employee expectations and a safe office return – informed strategic pathways.
The Outcome
With an aspiration to become carbon neutral, DAI needed a workplace that reflects their values and culture and embodies the principles of sustainability. DAI have focused on efficiency, community and ‘green design’ - these themes extend throughout the environment with biophilic experiences to enhance mood and creativity and increase health, wellbeing and productivity. ‘Agility’ is personified throughout their new space with a variety of work zones enabling teams to connect, collaborate and innovate.
- 90% of employees wanted to adopt a hybrid model
- 83% of staff missed face to face interaction during the pandemic
