Flexible Working.. What the experts say

We are always promoting flexibility in the workplace so it’s great to see key figures are also supporting it. Read below to find out their shared views.

Adam Crozier, chief executive of ITV:

When we set out to transform ITV it was clear that the ability of our people to work flexibly and adapt to a changing media environment would be a key part of that journey.

While there is still some way to go the changes we have made in our workplace technology have facilitated flexible and mobile methods of working, which have enabled staff to communicate and collaborate more effectively.

Creativity and consumer needs are at the heart of our business and increased agility in our workforce benefits both our employees, and our business, in particular our customers and clients.

The media landscape will continue to evolve and we will continue to look at ways to keep adapting for the needs of all our stakeholders.

Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister:

The Coalition Government believes that a more flexible approach to working practices can deliver real benefits for business, the economy and families. The leadership being shown by the Agile Future Forum on flexible working practices is an important input for helping British business to be competitive in the global market place.

Martyn Phillips, chief executive of B&Q:

We're delighted to be a founder member of this new forward-looking employers' group, and are committed to encouraging and facilitating workplace agility not only to help future-proof our employment needs but also to help future-proof the careers of our employees.

B&Q has a strong track-record of flexible employment policies. They are core to our business and help us to ensure that we attract and retain a diverse talent pool: people who are able to work flexibly ensuring a work-life balance, who deliver a great service for our customers, and whose skills, knowledge and expertise we are able retain within our business.

Retail is renowned for being a dynamic sector, and that's no more true now with our constantly transforming operating environment. We look forward, through membership of the AFF, to working alongside other leading organisations to develop employer best practice to further strengthen the agility of our business.

John Cridland, CBI Director-General:

Businesses need to be agile as they go about creating and managing increasingly mobile workforces.

That means thinking about flexible working, responding to fluctuations in demand to meet business and customer needs, as well as engaging fully with staff.

The Agile Future Forum’s work throws a spotlight on both the tangible economic benefits of workforce agility and the challenges that lie behind building models of flexibility for the future which work for employers and employees.

Jo Swinson, Employment Relations Minister:

We know that flexible working is good for business - it can boost motivation and productivity of staff and ultimately help support growth of our economy. This report by the Agile Future Forum provides clear evidence to show this.

I welcome businesses taking the lead on this issue and demonstrating to other business how valuable flexibility can be. Sharing best practice is important in making sure that flexible working becomes the norm.

We love Dropboxes new head office

As Dropbox enthusiasts as Hi design we couldn't help but notice the inspiring new offices the file sharing geniuses have moved in to. Located in San Francisco and designed in collaboration between Geremia Design and Boor Bridges Architecture, the office space provides a flexible environment for the fast-growing team.

Geremia Design notes:

“We clad the entire core of the building in a washed black walnut, and used raw copper throughout the space that will continue to patina as it is used. The copper reception desk is an original design of ours, as are all of the conference room tables (fabricated by Alexis Moran), and the couch seating in the main lobby. We hired a local designer to make all of the desks and a traditional sign painting company for the signage above and around the conference rooms.

Plants, especially palm trees, were an important part of the design, we were dedicated to having a lot of greenery in the space. A collaboration with a local lighting designer led to the creation of innovative LED lighting in the office, rather than the traditional fluorescent lights found in most offices. We designed a ping pong ball wall was an experimental art piece in one of the hallways. The creation of office lounges were an important part of our design, our design included a music room with a grand piano and a beautiful custom chandelier designed by Lindsey Adelman.”

Boor Bridges Architecture notes:

“If cubicles are the suburbs then our approach to Dropbox HQ is downtown, with their core product as the design inspiration.  The company’s new workspace a simple, well-executed container that maximizes functionality and allows for customization without compromising honest aesthetics.  Our design reiterates our belief that all spaces – particularly the all-too-often neglected office – deserve real materials and attentive, appropriately-scaled interventions.

The primary challenge of this design was to continue the charged and collaborative newsroom feel of the company’s former open office space, while planning for projected growth that could more than quadruple staff.”

Location: San Francisco
Size: 87,000 sf
Completion: Spring 2012
Design: Geremia Design
Contractor: Skyline Construction
Architecture: Boor Bridges Architecture
Photography: Bruce Damonte and Boor Bridges Architecture

We think Geremia Design have done a fantastic job and we can really appreciate their creative use of space and colours. We also love the exposed ceilings as its something we would love to do with the right client!

Could that be you?.. take a look here