What to Look for in a Business Workspace: Whether you are looking to improve your current business premises or planning to move to a new site, there are several factors that you will need to keep in mind when creating the perfect workspace for your business. The workspace environment is more than just a place to do business, so you must choose carefully. Your choice of business premises directly impacts on your employees, and their happiness at work. Your business premises also provide your potential customers with their first impression of your company. Employee happiness and your client’s first impressions of your business play a significant part in the success of your organization. To ensure that your business has everything that you need to keep your company running smoothly, it is worth taking the time to choose your business premises carefully. Here are some of the factors to consider when selecting a base for your company, or improving your current workspace.
Location
If you are planning to relocate your business, it is vital to weigh up the pros and cons of the new location. Taking into account practical considerations is crucial, things to think about include:
- How easy is it for your staff to access the new location?
- Will the location increase your transportation or logistical costs?
- If your business relies on footfall, will your new location be visible enough to enable this?
If the move saves you money in rental costs but increases logistical costs, then the savings may not be worth the effort of moving.
Accessibility
How accessible is your building? If it doesn’t have an accessible entrance which is free from steps, or there is no elevator inside, then these are issues that will need to be remedied. Your business premises need to be accessible and welcoming to all, which includes both employees and visitors. Other accessible features to consider in your workplace include power assisted doors, adjustable height desks, and double width doors.
Health and Safety Procedures
Health and safety should always be a top priority for businesses. The health and safety of staff and visitors to your business should be considered at all times. When choosing your business premises, it is vital to ensure that it provides a safe environment. Assessing the health and safety of the workplace includes dealing with issues such as trip hazards, use of chemicals, fire risks, and fire escapes. To keep everyone safe, health and safety issues should be identified and corrected before your employees start working at the new site. As well as fixing current health and safety issues, it is also essential to have health and safety procedures in place for everyone in the building to follow. This may also include planning for temporary solutions, like portable bathroom rental, if facilities are limited during renovations or relocation.
Impressive Entrance
An impressive lobby and entrance to your building will create a positive first impression on potential clients visiting your business. Your entrance creates such an essential first impression, so it should reflect the values of your company. If your business prides itself on being charitable and ethical, then a more rustic, welcoming entrance is a great idea. If your business has positioned itself as a high end, luxury business, then a lobby that is designed to impress is needed. Think high ceilings, minimalist décor, and the use of materials such as glass and marble.
Branding
Branding is vital to your business premises for a couple of reasons. Firstly, branding your business makes it easier for visitors to find you, and secondly, branding your business premises consistently will help to strengthen your brand and build awareness of it. Your signage is a crucial element of branding for your business premises, so taking your time to choose the perfect sign is vital. Choosing a sign company that specializes in lighted channel letter signage will ensure that your business stands out both during the day and through the night.
Security
Your business premises requires adequate security to protect both the people in your building and the items belonging to your business. Issuing your employees with identification badges is a positive first step towards keeping everyone safe and will make it harder for intruders to enter the building. However, to keep the building fully secure, it is a wise idea to hire security staff to monitor the doors, so that unauthorized access is prevented. Technology also plays a crucial role in protecting your business from security violations. Installing CCTV and having it monitored is vital to keep everyone safe. Using a secure entry system is another useful security measure to keep your staff and buildings safe, by limiting access to those that have the relevant pass to be able to enter the building.
Wellbeing Facilities
While there are many issues relating to practical, logistical areas of the business to consider when improving your workspace, the wellbeing of your employees should always be top of the agenda. Your employees spend a considerable portion of their time at work. Did you know that the average person spends 90,000 hours at work during their lifetime. With such a vast amount of time spent at work, it makes sense to make the workplace a positive space for your employees. The work environment plays a significant part in job satisfaction and influences everything from staff turnover through to productivity. This demonstrates that making your workspace a positive place for your employees benefits both your staff and the business, so it’s a win-win situation.
Creating a spacious work environment for your employees and providing them with the resources needed to perform their role to the best of their ability is vital. Creating quiet areas in the building where staff can chill out on their breaks while spending time away from their desks is also essential. If you have room for an outdoor green space for your team, this can offer significant benefits to their wellbeing and a chance to get some breathing space and reduce their stress levels. Investing time and effort in your employee’s wellbeing is never time wasted. In the long term, creating spaces that nurture the wellbeing of your staff benefits everyone in the organization.
