London Office Buzz – Page 19 – More than an office blog

How to Keep your Office Healthy

Posted on December 6, 2013

If you run a business or are an office manager, chances are that one of your main concerns has to do with keeping up productivity levels so that your company can compete in the local economy. As you probably know, one of the most important factors affecting productivity is absenteeism. According to the most recent Absence and Workplace Health survey, workplace absenteeism costs the British economy a whopping £14 billion a year. Most of it is due to sickness, as research has shown that the average British employee takes up to four more times the amount of sick days off than workers in other developed countries.

Because the business implications of absenteeism due to poor health are so important for companies, it is only natural that business owners will want to prevent health issues among their employees as much as it is reasonably possible. This is particularly important during the winter season, when health problems rise substantially. In this article we offer some useful suggestions that can help you keep your office healthy and provide a better working environment for your staff.

How to achieve a healthy office environment

Keeping your workforce healthy cannot be achieved by simply targeting one factor. It is important that office managers and business owners have a holistic perspective of what can be done in this respect, as the health of your workforce depends on both physical and psychological elements. So what are some of the things that can be done to improve the physical environment of your office in order to make it healthier? Continue reading “How to Keep your Office Healthy” →

The Most Interesting Office Conversions in London

Posted on November 29, 2013

The Most Interesting Office Conversions in London

London isn’t a city that does things by halves. While there are plenty of contemporary and standard buildings about, there are plenty of unique office locations. In fact, some of the most interesting office conversions in the world can be found there. From historic buildings to air raid shelters, London features plenty of interesting office conversions.

The Kingsway Tunnels
London’s Kingsway Tunnels acted as air raid shelters during WWII. Located in the heart of Holborn, it is perfectly situated for the financial district. Despite this, thousands of people walk past the modest looking doorways without giving a second glance. Over the years, the Kingsway Tunnels have acted as a unique office location for over 200 BT employees at any one time. In 2009, BT announced that they were selling the tunnels, generating a flurry of interest from art galleries, retail stores, and more.

Nike Town in Oxford Street
The exterior of the buildings in Oxford Street haven’t changed since the Regency Era. When Nike came along to develop Nike Town, they revolutionised the inside of the building, but left the outside in tact. Indoors there are table legs formed from scaffolding, TVs on every wall, and branded sports equipment almost everywhere. This makes a refreshing change from the usual shops you find on Oxford Street, by plonking a high-tech office in their midst.

Broadgate Office Building
Broad Street station was a functioning tube stop off from 1865 to the mid 1980s. After being closed, the station stood derelict for more than a decade. Today, it acts as office space for artists and other workers. However, that isn’t the full story. As well as using the space that one housed commuters on their way to work, there are recycled underground carriages sitting on top of the building. From the outside, these carriages look as though they have been dumped there and grafitied. On the inside, there is a team of artists hard at work, making the most of the sustainable office space they got their hands on. Continue reading “The Most Interesting Office Conversions in London” →

Six Unusual, Quirky and Unique Coffee Shops in London

Posted on November 15, 2013

Some of London’s finest coffee shops

The heartland of theatre, dining, shopping, and nightlife, the City of London has more to offer than anywhere in the world. The home of unique, artisan coffee shops, exquisite afternoon tea arrangements, and quirky menus designed by talented chefs, makes London the place to stop for the ultimate coffee shop experience, after you’ve taken in your favourite tourist sites. For a taste of what’s on offer check out these six incredible coffee shops in London.

1. South Bank: Westminster Bridge – Brassierie Joel

Park Plaza Hotel, Westminster Bridge

Enjoy free live music, seasonal produce and a snack, on London’s trendy South Bank. The lounge and patisserie coffee shop attached to the brand new Park Plaza Hotel, Westminster Bridge, is home to celebrity chef Joel Antunes. Serving gorgeous afternoon teas and a view to die for, this perfect place overlooking the River Thames, is the place to go after viewing the art at the Tate Gallery, or going for a ride on the London Eye.

2. Marylebone: Near Oxford Circus – Villandry Charcuterie

170 Great Portland Street, Marylebone, W1W 5Q.

This delightful restaurant and Grand Cafe venue is also a food store, making it ideal to pick up a hamper to go picnicking in nearby Hyde park. Complete with several dining rooms, two cafes, including an outdoor tearoom, this stylish venue prides itself on sourcing the best produce from around the world. You’ll think you’ve died and gone to coffee heaven sipping deluxe beverages, and sampling the famous cake counter menu. Continue reading “Six Unusual, Quirky and Unique Coffee Shops in London” →

Has the Royal Baby boosted the Economy?

Posted on October 29, 2013

Despite predictions of doom, prophecies of gloom, and the never-ending austerity anachronisms bandied about by the British media, the British economy has edged into recovery. This recovery has leading financial pundits grasping for explanations, including the possibility Royal Baby George is somehow responsible for pushing macro-economic pounds around the United Kingdom.

The mystical source of rising GDP in the Northern Hemisphere’s seventh largest economy, is rumoured to be due to a chunk of benevolent circumstances, which fall outside technocratic economic models. Think-tanks have been out-thunk by the birth of a magical boy baby, whose Midas-touch upon arrival, blessed the London Stock Exchange with trading certainty. In the month leading up to the Royal birth the FTSE index rose by 59 points – equalling the highest net-rise for the market in 2013. This can’t be coincidence.

Alongside one of the biggest baby booms seen in England since the birth of the previous Royal singleton, Prince William, in 1982, more than an explosion in the coffers of Mothercare has led to the economic recovery Britain is experiencing. The spirited flame containing Olympic Gold, lingering from the incredible successes of the 2012 London Olympics, must have been passed to new Prince George – if the price of gold is anything to go by. Commodity traders cleaned up on July 22nd, 2013, as the COMEX indice shot up to 1315 from a slump of 1200 at the month’s start. Pop those champagne corks now – there’s a new Royal baby in town! Continue reading “Has the Royal Baby boosted the Economy?” →

The 4 Office Personality Types – The Climber

Posted on October 18, 2013

Continued from the Four Office Personality Types: The Nice Guy/Girl

All we can say is may the various gods help you if you ever have to deal with this one (and chances are you will, as The Climber inhabits nearly every office). This office personality type can be scary and intimidating, and chances are that it’s not just your perception. The Climber gets noticed, whether he / she wants it or not. They probably don’t care anyway. On your first day at work, they were the ones who were probably too busy to greet you, and well, we hate being the bearer of bad news, but The Climber was most likely busy analysing whether your position was a threat to them in any way, and if it was, they were already plotting how to turn the tables in their favour.

Needless to say, The Climber is not particularly happy to work with other co-workers, unless working together gives him or her the opportunity to gather valuable information that can be used to go up higher and faster. There is yet another reason why The Climber is not precisely what you would call a collaborative member of staff: they just do not have the patience to put up with others. For The Climber, work is all about setting and reaching goals that will take them to the top. This means that Climber-type personalities are massively driven and ambitious, and they really push themselves hard. The vast majority of staff can simply not keep up with their pace, so less ambitious co-workers are perceived as a hassle by The Climber.

One thing you need to know is that you must brace yourself when dealing with The Climber. Often, he or she will make sarcastic or blunt comments, and you only really have two options: either ignore them, or sink into depression. The Climber is the natural enemy of The Nice Guy / Girl, and after reading about both personality types we are sure that you can easily see why. Continue reading “The 4 Office Personality Types – The Climber” →

Overview of London’s Commercial Property Market – 3rd Quarter 2013

Posted on October 4, 2013

According to the latest research data, during the third quarter of 2013 the commercial property market in the British capital continued to show signs of growth. These signs began to be evident earlier in the year, and in line with the forecasts, the market has continued to stabilise between the months of July and September.

Across all sectors take up figures have been on the rise, but particularly in the retail and office markets. With nearly 3 million square feet being taken up during this quarter, the availability of Grade A commercial space in London has recently hit a ten-year low. Following a period of generalised slowdown in economic activity caused by the recession, it finally seems that the commercial property market is on its definitive way to recovery. The positive signs are particularly striking when compared to the same period during 2012, as in the year to date take up figures for commercial property in London are 42 per cent higher than last year.

Despite the positive outlook, investors and occupiers remain cautious, and this has been reflected in the value of prime rents, which remain stable across the commercial property market in the capital. Other market indicators that are worth mentioning include the increased vacancy rates and supply indexes in the West End. This, along with low occupier demand and a very low volume of projects under construction, suggest that there is a clear preference for properties in The City and Docklands areas.

Key trends in the London office property market

During the third quarter of 2013, approximately 75 per cent of all the properties taken up were classified as office space were based in The City. The properties in this area of London continue to be favoured by firms who are looking to upgrade their office accommodation, despite the high cost of prime rents when compared to other parts of the capital. Continue reading →

The 4 Office Personality Types – The Fussy Perfectionist

Posted on September 27, 2013

The 4 Office Personality Types

Since most of us spend an average of 8 hours a day in the office and surrounded by our colleagues, it is not surprising that we end up getting to know their personalities pretty well. While most working relationships with office colleagues are pleasant enough, some days you just can’t wait to go home so that you do not have to deal with the quirks and eccentricities of your co-workers anymore. But as they say, knowledge is power, so by finding out more about the four most common personality types, you will be more prepared to deal with them. And who knows, maybe you even realise that you fit into one of these descriptions!

(Note: take these with a pinch of salt and with a lot of humour).

The Fussy Perfectionist

You surely know about this one: whether they have been working for the company for ages or have just been hired, they have a very particular way of doing things – and they insist that their way be respected! The Fussy Perfectionist usually prefers to work alone, probably because he / she really thinks that no one else would be up to the scratch. This office character has a strongly systematic personality, which extends to everything that crosses their path: from the office coffee machine (which has to dispense their preferred coffee just the way they want it – and don’t even dream about using their coffee mug or putting it away in a place other than its “designated” spot!), to their desks (which are invariably tidy and uncluttered).

You could say that the Fussy Perfectionist has some OCD-ish traits, and the most extreme cases will simply blow a gasket if anyone tries to “rearrange” their office space. The Fussy Perfectionist may have probably had a word with the cleaning staff, as there is nothing worse for this office character than coming back to work and finding that their computer screen is tilted a couple of degrees to the left, or that their strategically placed paper clip is no longer there!

Fussy Perfectionists are their own worst enemies and are highly critical of themselves, so avoid by all means questioning their work or the reasons why they do things in a particular way. Let’s put it this way: if you question their method, they will never forgive you. Continue reading “The 4 Office Personality Types – The Fussy Perfectionist” →

How to achieve a healthy office environment

Continued from the Four Office Personality Types: The Climber