Finding new premises to accommodate our growing business proved extremely difficult as there is a shortage of available business units in the Eastleigh area. This resulted in taking on a shell space and converting it into a 2 story multi-functional working environment that had the flexibility to adapt to the continually changing needs of the business.

The moved marked a significant step change for the business and the objective was to create a new working environment for the staff that would reflect the aspirations of the business and provide a working environment that staff enjoyed, both for them as individuals and for the various groups that needed to work together.

We wanted to create an open environment where everyone had sufficient space to work, but also enabled them to easily work together. An open-plan area was created and organised by customer support groups, including all staff and managers. Two meeting areas were also set up to allow for group sessions  – one at the end of the open plan office, screened off by a custom designed glass divider, and one a separate meeting room for more formal meetings and customer sessions. Two additional spaces were created for staff training and group sessions,  one in a classroom style and the other as a large informal area.

When designing the offices, we wanted to create an environment that reflected who we were, from the colour schemes to the acknowledgement of the importance of the people who work here. An artist was commissioned to create photography of the various teams, including a re-working of the famous men on the Steel Girder that sits in the first meeting room. Following this theme, the artist was also commissioned to create several new artworks which bring an energising aspect to the working area. The use of glass with etched wording was used both for the meeting room and for the copying room to keep the area light and create an effective sound barrier.

It is true to say that since the move, the business has continued to thrive and now accommodates an increase in staff while still maintaining a calm, well structured working environment.