There’s been a shift in the way businesses use their offices over the last 18 months, shaping office trends for 2022. Lincolnshire-based commercial interior design and fit out company APSS has nearly 25 years’ experience in creating amazing workspaces for businesses across the country and it has been looking at the different ways in which offices are changing. Many businesses are now opting for a more permanent hybrid working environment. The office design post-COVID has certainly changed. So what can be expected from the office environment, and what will this mean for companies? In 2022, office design, the flow of people moving about the office and its functionality are at the top the priority list. With a focus on environmental impact and creating flexible, hybrid working environments, businesses are adapting to a new working format. A pleasant office space increases productivity, boosts staff morale and makes an impression on visitors to your place of business. Biophilic offices are proving popular as they provide a link to nature. Nature friendly offices are becoming highly sought after by leading office designers as they create optimal working environments allowing occupants to work more. They have a positive impact on mental wellbeing, productivity, and morale for all who use the office space.

Hybrid Working Environment

According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, around 70% of companies will incorporate a hybrid working environment. Office trends will see a shift to create more varied spaces to work in. This includes more than just the normal banks of desks or office and meeting room space. The hybrid office design supports staff working both in and out of the office environment. They need to quickly access the information and speak to the rest of the team easily. The post-pandemic workplace needs to be far more flexible. The key is organising offices so they are optimized for staff productivity and efficiency. Different business types require various layout ideas. Some require a central meeting hub. Others will require staff to be in full time when it is not possible for them to work from home. In this case the traditional desk spaces will continue to be required. Staff have got used to working from home over the last 18 months. It has become apparent the hybrid working environment is not a passing trend. Staff want more comfortable furnishings in the office and separate areas they can work in a quieter environment. They are requesting freedom of movement in the office rather than being chained to a desk, depending on the work they are doing. Many businesses may find they are rarely at full capacity anymore as more people work from home at least some of the time. This has freed up space in the office for meeting areas and staff amusements like a games area or a table tennis table. It has become more important for hybrid working environments to be a central meeting hub for employees and customers.

Bring Nature Into The Office

According to the EMEA, offices which incorporate natural elements report a 13% higher level of well-being than offices that don’t. More businesses are looking to incorporate biophilic (or green) walls, planter storage units or potted plants to incorporate the outside on the inside. Living plants incorporated into offices will help increase oxygen levels, decrease fatigue and improve concentration levels. This will help boost productivity whether at home or in the office. Wooden slatted walls or area dividers are great for creating separation between departments or work/meeting spaces. They look aesthetically pleasing and create a more natural feel. Alternatively, go a step further and incorporate tree trunks for a unique partition wall.

The Sustainable Smart Office

Businesses are looking at the different ways they can become more environmentally friendly and reduce their carbon footprint. This is because of the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties 26th meeting (COP26) being held in 2021. As a country, we need to make big changes now so in 2030 we will start to see the effects of our efforts. The majority of consumers look for businesses which pay attention to the environmental and social impact they have on the world. Making changes to your corporate fleet, recycling more and minimizing business travel are great places to start looking to make a change. But many businesses are also looking to create a smarter office environment which reduces energy consumption. The last couple of years have pushed emerging trends into hyperdrive. What would normally have taken five to 10 years to become the norm in office design, has been forced to happen overnight. Many companies don’t want to go back to what can now potentially feel like the Stone Age. A smart office incorporates the best management tools to help staff work better, faster and happier. Using light sensors, installing automatic doors, using automatic bathroom facilities like flushes, taps and hand dryers is a great cost and energy saving tactic. It also helps reduce the number of touch points in a shared environment. You can even install intelligent climate controls now which detect preferences, usage patterns and regulate the temperate automatically. This could potentially end staff disagreements over whether the office is too hot or too cold. This has helped staff feel more confident in the work environment. It includes the extra benefit of creating a more efficient and environmentally friendly workspace, saving money on electricity and water. It’s a win-win situation. The government is looking at ways to incentivize businesses to use renewable energy. We have found many businesses installing solar panels on roofs which can significantly reduce bills and provides energy for your business.

Office Design for Staff Wellbeing

Office design has changed to incorporate more space between desks to accommodate social distancing. Perspex screens, also known as COVID screens, have become standard fittings in offices that continue to utilize an open plan environment. Alternatively, where offices have more space, the cellular office design is being brought back into fashion. This limits the spread of germs and has proven to reduce absence due to sickness by up to a quarter. It promotes productivity thanks to a quieter environment. Fewer distractions and additional privacy are also a benefit. Cellular offices can be tailored to each team or department’s requirements. Glass partition walls provide a good view of the full office and still allow for maximum natural light to penetrate throughout. APSS are specialists in commercial interiors, office fit outs, car showroom refurbishments, healthcare interiors and educational interiors. Since 1997, the company has been helping businesses to refurbish their premises to ensure the best use of space and productivity – priding themselves on being an approachable and innovative interior fit out specialist. For more information visit www.apss.co.uk

East Midlands-based patent attorney and trade mark attorney firm, Adamson Jones IP Ltd, has welcomed four new team members in the last twelve months. Natasha Walker (neé Hybner) joined the business in November as Associate and Chartered Trade Mark Attorney and specialises in brand protection, trade mark registration and enforcement of trade mark rights. Natasha brings additional expertise to the Trade Marks team with her experience in actioning social media infringement takedowns and brand enforcement across third-party selling websites such as Amazon, eBay & Etsy. Natasha is also involved in the Amazon Brand Registry enrolment program. Having been actively involved in the start-up of the Derby Junior Lawyers Division of the Derby & District Law Society in 2017, Natasha became active President in 2018, a role that she still holds to date. James Tagg is training at the firm to become a Chartered Patent Attorney, having joined the patent profession in 2016 as an Associate Patent Examiner at the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) in Newport and qualifying as an Examiner in early 2020. James’ knowledge and experience of the UKIPO provides valuable insight into the inner workings of the UK patent application process and he assists the Patents team in all aspects of UK and European patent drafting, searching and prosecution. The addition of Sedella Hearson and Jade-Akina Charlton to the IP Support team has seen an increase in capacity as well as experience. Sedella brings a huge amount of knowledge to the Formalities team as a qualified IP Administrator holding both the CIPA and CITMA qualifications. Sedella began her IP career with Boots where she coordinated their patent work before moving onto Saint-Gobain where she worked with both patents and trade marks. Jade is providing administrative support to clients and the team whilst training in all areas of IP formalities. Simon Cooper, Managing Director of Adamson Jones IP, said: “We hope to continue attracting the very best talent in the IP profession to the East Midlands. We believe in teamwork and by expanding the capabilities of each area of the business – patents, trade marks and IP support – we can meet the varied needs of clients at the highest standards.”

It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.  It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years. Here we speak to Kevin McGrath, managing partner at Smith Partnership. Before committing to giving my predictions, I thought I ought to check out what I said in a similar piece this time last year. It didn’t inspire confidence. “The optimist in me would hope that by the spring society will return to some form of normality but the realist accepts the summer is more likely.” With the pandemic showing no signs of abating and being fuelled by the new Omicron variant of Covid I’m not going to be so confident this year. Thankfully, in other ways my predictions proved more reliable – the hugely successful vaccination programme, the gradual opening up of society and the return of economic confidence were all very welcome in 2021. For me and all of my colleagues at Smith Partnership, 2022 will be a year to build on the lessons we have learnt in the last two years. We will continue to find new, innovative ways to meet the needs and expectations of our clients through rapidly evolving technology and continue to embrace flexible working for our staff so they continue to benefit from being able to find the right balance between home and office working. The irresistible optimist in me still believes that things will get better next year and when they do, we will be able to shift focus to the really important issues affecting not just business but all of society. Inclusivity and the environment will be issues none of us can ignore in 2022.