Having the right office space can benefit firms in a number of ways. For example, it can help to increase staff morale, boost employee recruitment and retention, impress third parties and much more. One organisation that has focussed on creating the ideal working environment is Innocent Drinks. Its office is based in Kensal Rise, north-west London and it is certainly out of the ordinary.
The London Evening Standard noted that the building “looks better suited for a indoor picnic than as a serious place of work”. The publication pointed out that the premises has synthetic grass, park benches and a ping pong table as part of its ‘chill out zone’. Also, personnel get free breakfasts, there is an unlimited supply of the firm’s smoothie fruit drinks available and workers can take advantage of a library to share novels or look up reference books focussing on food and drink.
Meanwhile, another company that is keen to push the boundaries in terms of its office is Mintel. Its working space features a Tardis that is guarded by a giant inflatable Dalek. This is where staff members hold meetings. The building also has two floors dedicated to free seating so that workers can sit anywhere they want. According to bosses, this encourages people to mix more.
Commenting on the positive impact the office has had on the firm, CEO of Mintel Peter Haigh said: “It’s been hugely successful for us. We have had far fewer staff sick days, with a more than a ten per cent reduction in days off. Our staff love being here and our clients love it too.”These days, there are lots of business centres and other working spaces for companies to choose from and the sort of premises firms choose depends on a range of factors, including their budgets, their practical needs and their general ethos.