Why putting people at the centre of offices will fuel the return

COMMENT: With most businesses having lived through a turbulent year of crisis management and remote working, it is no surprise that the workplace and role of the office has been a hot topic. The debate around the office was well underway for many businesses long before the arrival of Covid-19, and we have been lucky enough to have been a part of that discussion for some time at Derwent London. We are constantly talking with businesses and occupiers across sectors, along with agents and prospective buyers, to ensure a deep understanding of ever-changing demand drivers and needs. Many of the trends already seen have accelerated in the past 12 months and will continue to push our thinking. More important than the specifics of what an individual office floor might look like in the future is our focus on bigger subject matters – behavioural change and new working practices, which ultimately inform what an office building and workplace need to provide for.   Nurturing individuality The way we have worked since March 2020 has meant that colleagues, employers and employees have had a better insight into people’s personal lives and needs. We can all better empower people by appreciating and respecting what makes them different. Those businesses that fully embrace this will be leaders of the future.   More agility in how, when and where we work, along with behavioural change in the workplace, feels inevitable. The traditional working week may well be a thing of the past, and who’s to say that’s a bad thing? It feels to be a much-needed adjustment to the reality of how we live.   Office buildings for the next generation of talent in London need to provide inspiring spaces that offer an experience and a community that people choose to come to and want to be a part of. The high-quality physical environment needs to be digitally enabled, sustainable and offer best-in-class design and customer service. It must be a safe and healthy environment with user wellbeing at its core. Amenity-rich solutions will be paramount, offering generous space both indoor and outdoor for social and business collaboration.   The power of the office is its ability to provide space for people to be together, live and breathe business culture and identity, understand purpose, inspire, innovate, and drive that all-important collective productivity. We must also acknowledge that every business is different, and it will be important to adopt a personalised, solution-based approach for the customer.   A sustainable office must be at the heart of all our future workplaces. It will continue to be a key driver in all real estate decisions. Sustainability is an essential part of our office planning, and we are fully committed to our 2030 Net Zero Carbon Pathway.   Through the amazing work of the scientists responsible for delivering Covid-19 vaccines, we have seen the true power of collaboration. As an industry, we can learn from this. We need to move up a gear and work collaboratively to move forward meaningfully on the net zero carbon agenda to protect our planet. We can achieve so much more together.   Something I have personally been aware of is how our habits have changed in the way we communicate with each other, and I think there is some important retraining to be done. The obsession with emails and video calls, coupled with not being able to meet people in person, has meant that face-to-face interactions and normal telephone conversations have been put on hold. We are a people business, and strong relationships are a huge part of our success.    Building trust This is not just about business but about life, and this is one area where the younger generation will need to tread carefully. I fully embrace the benefits of new tech and digital change, but we must not forget the power of human interaction. Whether it’s building relationships and trust, solving problems, innovating, creating or collaborating, some things just need to be done in person and not behind a screen or app.   I look forward to moving beyond the old normal into a new world of sustainability, collaboration, innovation and wellness. We understand the power of the office at Derwent London, and we also understand that the success of the office will depend on the quality and service provided within.  As businesses and individuals continue to make their decisions around their return to the office, it will be increasingly important to ensure that the office provides a great place which people choose to come to, and which meets all the complex demands of a modern working world.   Emily Prideaux is director at Derwent London Image © RMV/Shutterstock