5 Things to Consider when Refitting Your Office
So, you’ve bid farewell to your old office and secured the perfect space in a prime location. But how do you go about making your new office feel like home?
When it’s time for a commercial office fit out, there are many things to consider. However, with good preparation and careful planning, you can futureproof your office space to ensure that it remains fit for purpose for many years to come.
From large to small businesses, at McFeggan Brown, we have provided office fit outs for a broad range of clients with varying needs. To help you prepare for your new office design, we’ve decided to share some of our pearls of wisdom. Read on to find out more.
What Are Your Company Aims?
Before you dive into the artwork and colour schemes, it’s necessary to think about your company aims so that you can make the most out of your new office environment. For example, perhaps you’ve relocated to make room for new employees or are planning to expand in the near future. If this is the case, you’ll need to think about how many desks you’re going to need and whether you’ll want a designated area for training new starters.
If you’re aiming to create an office that will attract visiting clients, you’ll want to ensure that your working area is neat and professional to make a good impression. Furthermore, if you’re likely to be seeing clients face to face on a regular basis, you might also consider acoustic treatment options for your conference room so that you can host meetings and share ideas without being overheard.
What Wasn’t Working Before?
As well as taking into account your company aims, take time to think about what wasn’t working well in your previous office space.
Were your employees opting to work from home more post-lockdown? If the answer’s yes, consider why this might be. A lack of flexible working spaces or coworking spaces, safety concerns and reduced productivity when in the office can all be reasons why workers might opt to stay at home. By introducing a variety of working areas and ensuring that your space is well laid out with ample room for social distancing, you can quash these concerns and get staff back into the office in no time.
Along with a lack of flexible working spaces, the wrong colour scheme, inadequate lighting and unregulated temperature can all mean that your office isn’t fit for purpose. Why not ask your employees what they think? Gaining feedback from your staff will help you to establish any issues you had previously so that you can eliminate them going forward.
Budget and Timeframe
When it comes to your new office, your budget and timeframe are undoubtedly two of the most important things to think about. When undertaking an office fit out, you will need to work out how to effectively manage your workforce with minimal disruption. Will your staff be working from a temporary office whilst the work is being carried out or will they be working from home? Whichever it may be, consider how long you can realistically keep your staff working elsewhere before issues start to arise.
When budgeting for your project, think about what is manageable for your company. A good office fit out can add value to your business by attracting new clients and prospective employees, making it a worthwhile investment. That being said, you need to ensure that your budget is realistic. At McFeggan Brown, we agree on timeframes and budgets upfront so that there are no hidden costs. With our range of flexible finance options, you also get the reassurance of knowing that there is a price plan suited to you.
Do You Need a CAT A or CAT B Fit Out?
You may have heard of the terms CAT A and CAT B but might not be sure which is best for your business.
If you have recently found a new office space but already have plans to carry out the internal decorations yourself, a CAT A fit out is the ideal solution. With a CAT A fit out, your office will be finished to an industrial standard and will usually include features such as suspended ceilings, raised floors and basic electrical fittings. After a CAT A, you will be left with what is essentially a blank canvas so that you can make your mark on the space.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a fully furnished office that you can move straight into, CAT B is your best option. With a CAT B fit out, you can expect everything from wall finishes to partitions to brand-relevant colour schemes and logos. Cat B fit outs even include the planning and installation of your new IT infrastructure so that you can stay connected with colleagues and clients when they’re working remotely. This type of fit out is an exciting opportunity to transform your space.
Get Inspired
Now that we’ve got the logistics out the way, it’s time to get creative. There are so many useful websites out there that can help you to find ideas for your office fit out. Seeking inspiration from image-sharing platforms such as Pinterest and Instagram is an ideal place to start as it will allow you to find hundreds of images quickly. With these platforms, you can also save ideas and create your own mood boards which you can keep adding to as you continue to find designs that you like.
Since you’re here, why not take a look at our case studies? Our case studies are not only a great source of visual inspiration, but they also allow you to read about how we have helped companies to solve common office design issues with innovative solutions.
Whether you’re toying with the idea of something playful and contemporary or you’d rather keep it more traditional, we have a wealth of examples for you to browse through. If there’s anything in particular that you like the look of, get in touch today.