Author: develop

In the modern business world, effective meetings are crucial for enhancing the enterprise and its work. The rapid growth in business domains often requires modern technology for success. Even if the online meeting tools are important, finding a place to brainstorm the ideas becomes important too, and hence comes the demand for renting a meeting room in Bristol for you and your team to take important decisions. Whether you are new to the business or an established company, having the support of the right technology in the meeting rooms is essential to avoiding aimless conversations. They help you make strategy development and team building quicker and enhance innovation.

This is shocking when you break down the exact hours you have spent sitting in a meeting room finding reliable tech solutions to connect with your clients and investors to take your business to the next level. Therefore, in this write-up, we are providing some suggestions to integrate tech tools for effective meeting rooms in Bristol and Reading to minimize time waste.

Why the need for tech tools to enhance the features of the meeting rooms?

• Planning and scheduling: Planning out the blueprint to enhance the chance of success is significant to the organization. Prior to scheduling, having a clear agenda and setting focus on it increases the chances of getting a favourable outcome.
• Documentation: modern technologies help organisations record every move that is accountable to get preferable results.
• Time-saving: Using important tech tools during a meeting helps to save unnecessary hours discussing insignificant topics.

Key tech tools to enhance productivity in the meeting rooms.

There are various modern tech tools that are used for different functions during client meetings, such as note-taking tools, time management tools, video conference tools, and more. Here are five such tools, offering you some extraordinary features to enhance the experience of meeting rooms in Bristol with your team and clients.

• Note-taking tools: There are various tools that provide the feature of creating meeting agendas. One of the go-to tech tools for business improvisation is Microsoft Onenote. This tool helps to take notes in real time with multiple notebooks to take down the important points during an investor meeting.
• Video conferencing tools: Since the pandemic, video conferencing tools have been one of the useful tech solutions implemented by companies for meetings. Zoom has become a useful tool to record meetings and provide instant connectivity with clients.
• Online scheduling tools: Missing a schedule for an organisation means missing a growth opportunity. Therefore, tech tools like Calendly help schedule meetings and can be customised easily according to the requirements.

The modern meeting rooms in Reading, with the facility of HD flat TV screens and high-speed internet access, make it easier for businesses to use the tech solutions without any hassle. Whether the meeting is organised for a small project or for a large corporate organisation, our meeting rooms suit all kinds of requirements.

If you are looking for a new office space to line up with your growth plans, renting a meeting room in Reading can be a good fit for you. You can enjoy the touch of modern technology with comfort at an affordable price. Get in touch with us to learn more.

PreviousStudy finds bringing pets to work increases employee satisfaction by 22%.

The business landscape in the UK has changed with an increase in searches for coworking spaces by 100% among professionals. This rise indicates a shift in how people view work and the environments in which they choose to work.

Wellness is also high on the agenda, with around 75% of employees agreeing that their generation experiences more work-related stress than previous ones. These factors combined have led to a growing trend in coworking spaces incorporating wellness centres to support the health and wellbeing of their members.

What is a Wellness Centre?

A wellness centre in a coworking space typically includes facilities and services designed to promote health, such as yoga classes, meditation rooms, gyms, massage therapy, or even access to nutritionists and mental health support.

The Benefits of Wellness Centres in Coworking Offices

1. Improved Physical Health
   Providing access to fitness and wellness facilities helps combat the negative effects of sedentary work, including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
2. Better Mental Health
   Wellness offerings like mindfulness classes or quiet relaxation spaces can reduce stress and anxiety, leading to improved mental clarity and emotional well-being.
3. Increased Productivity
   Healthy employees are often more productive, engaged, and motivated. Regular breaks and physical activity can boost energy levels and creativity.
4. Community and Connection
   Wellness programs often involve group classes or shared experiences that help build community within coworking spaces, increasing collaboration and satisfaction.

Final Thoughts

Adding wellness centres to coworking spaces isn’t just a luxury—it’s becoming a necessity. As professionals demand more from their work environments, providing holistic support for both physical and mental wellbeing can set coworking providers apart.

A research project by Lincoln University has found that employees who bring their pets to work report a 22% higher satisfaction within their working environment.

Conducted in 2019, a study by Lincoln University in conjunction with Purina pet foods reported a 16.5% increase in work dedication and a 14.4% increase in overall work engagement when employees brought their dogs to work.

Fast forward to 2021 as the world of business prepares to step back into the office, the wellbeing of employees seems more relevant than ever. Although the “return to the office” is a welcome thought for many, there is still a sense of apprehension in the air.  

In an article published by the University of Lincoln about the study, a quotation from Dr Daniel Mills from the School of Life Sciences said: “If you told employers there was a simple way to increase their workforce overall satisfaction with the working conditions, they’d be very keen to learn more.  

“Our results show that far from being a distraction, (a fear expressed by some in our earlier work) allowing dogs in the workplace has the potential to improve employees’ focus and probably productivity too. Forward-thinking companies should consider very seriously if they can accommodate dogs in the workplace and the Purina Pets at Work programme can enable them to do this efficiently.”

Over the past months, employees have proven that productivity can be just as effective within a home environment, pets or no pets. With statistical data supporting the concept of “pets at work”, in many respects it seems like a step in the right direction in securing a welcoming environment to help boost productivity, enthusiasm and motivation as employees re-adjust their working habits once more.  

At Impact Working, we don’t underestimate the power of a dog friendly working environment. That’s why our offices are dog friendly spaces. To find out more, please contact us on enquiries@impactworking.co.uk

Sources:

https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/news/2019/06/1547.asp

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2019.00138/full

Imagine working from your private office space in Bristol at the Spectrum or the R+ in Reading. Imagine your own space. Here, you can schedule appointments with clients or other stakeholders. The traditional workspace is where you have all the control and privacy you need. Give your team sophisticated office space in Reading and other prime business hubs with strong green credentials and enjoy an enhanced professional image.

Now, what if you are a freelancer? A remote worker? Or perhaps an OPC owner? Privacy could mean isolation for someone whose partners, clients, or team are all inside the computer. Over the priorities of budget, socialising and networking opportunities, would you choose privacy at a higher cost? So, imagine working from a coworking space in Bristol or Reading in the same buildings as Spectrum or R+. Access a desk on-demand, enjoy flexible membership plans or choose a day pass. Have a wide range of infrastructure, operational and recreational facilities. And most importantly, meet new people and even make friends.

What makes more sense? This blog by Impact Working is for professionals and entrepreneurs who are in a tiff between choosing a coworking space or a traditional private office. Let’s make an informed decision.

Comparing Pros and Cons of Coworking Spaces and Private Offices

Before we begin, you must understand that both the options of coworking and private offices are important. The choice is based on the specific needs and preferences of users. The feature that works as an opportunity for one user may appear as a liability or insufficiency for the other. So, comparing the two options is all about discovering what works best for you!

Private Office Spaces

For developing companies with a growing need for privacy, exclusivity and dedicated IT infrastructure, business owners frequently need a custom private space. Strengthening the company’s foothold in the competitive market, having a design-led office often works as an asset to improve growth prospects. Take a cue from our office space in Reading. The town has emerged as one of the most powerful tech hubs in the UK, where some of the world’s top tech companies, like Microsoft, Oracle, and Ensygnia, have offices. If you have a private office in the R+ building, it positions your business in the hub of the high-value knowledge economy. Below are the pros and cons of private offices.

Pros

✔️ Control: Private offices offer you greater control over hygiene, access to facilities, entrants and visitors and even what happens in your office in your absence.

✔️ Productivity: With fewer distractions, compared to more public working areas and dedicated infrastructure, private offices offer greater potential to boost productivity.

✔️ Branding: You have more branding opportunities in our design-led office space in Reading or Bristol. Use banners, standees and other customisations to create an impact.

✔️ Security: When you have more control over who enters your office and what happens at particular times, it enhances the security of your data and belongings and your overall privacy.

✔️ Lower Long-Term Cost: Comparing the long-term lease costs of private office space in Bristol or Reading with those of frequently used day passes or membership plans, the former could offer greater savings.

 Cons

✔️ Expensive – While long-term leases could offer good savings, the upfront cost is more expensive than shared spaces.

✔️ Isolation – As mentioned earlier, if you have a one-person company and work alone, then even the most stunning private office space in Reading may seem lonely at times.

Coworking Spaces

Coworking spaces can be an affordable and adaptable option for independent professionals, solopreneurs and anyone who essentially works alone. While you can still enjoy a sophisticated office space in Bristol or other prime locations, the shared aspect opens many horizons of prospects to scale your career.

Pros

✔️ Networking: People from different industries, cultures and countries are joined on one platform. The social aspect of coworking often leads to healthy business networking and greater expansion opportunities.

✔️ Affordable: If you compete for the upfront costs of a shared office space in Reading or Bristol with those of a private one, shared spaces win the race.

✔️ Sustainable: Shared spaces, shared amenities like central lighting, common-use printers and photocopiers and coffee machines — shared resources promote sustainability and reduced consumption per person.

✔️ Flexible: With flexible membership plans and day passes, our coworking spaces particularly offer greater freedom from long-term obligations. It works perfectly for independent workers or project-based teams that need temporary workspace solutions.

✔️ Managed Services: A big benefit of working in a coworking space is having the idea of running an office. Being a part of the larger workplace, these offices offer many premium facilities and amenities at the cost of a small workspace, such as well-maintained spaces, complimentary beverages and access to sophisticated IT infrastructure.

Cons

Distraction – The dynamic culture of coworking spaces can often create noise or distraction, which could impact your productivity.

Limitation of Visitors – While you can have walk-in visitors in private offices, coworking spaces usually have a “visitor policy.” There is a limit to how many visitors you can have with your membership. You might have to book a meeting room separately if you have frequent face-to-face meetings.

Choose the Right Workspace Solution – Schedule a Tour with Impact Working

So, what is it going to be for you? A private office space in Bristol to enjoy the controlled environment of your growing company? Or a flexible coworking space to leverage a dynamic and supportive community environment? Choose the right workspace that positively impacts the growth and success of your business. Make an informed decision only when you are 100% sure. We welcome you to schedule a tour with us to get an up-close idea of what’s on offer for you at Impact Working’s workspaces.

The sustainability agenda has been a hot topic for quite some time. Lockdown safety measures imposed across the world have shown us how quickly nations can adapt in extreme circumstances, from our way of life to the ways in which we work. 

As we emerge into a so-called new-normal, it is vital that sustainable practices are part of this change. Businesses have a significant role to play here; a responsibility to encourage environmental awareness by promoting recycling, less printing and smart energy saving systems like automated lighting. 

But there’s more that can be done. Take for instance, a reduction in air pollution because of less traffic on the roads. All achieved because of the emerging hybrid model, where a business embraces flexibile working.

What if businesses reimagined their working spaces too? Like an office with sustainable interiors, from re-purposed and recycled furniture through to living plants that purify the air, creating an environment that enhances the health and wellbeing of its employees. 

Brands across the world are under increasing pressure to become more sustainable as the world demands an eco-friendlier way of life. Sustainable business practices to date in the likes of the ISO1400 accreditation are certainly a step in the right direction, but so much more needs to be done.

Reimagining our relationship with the planet is to imagine a good future where the threat of climate change no longer lurks around the corner. It calls for creative thinking, to help us break our hard-wired consumption habits and become more conscious of how our everyday actions effect the world that we live in, even in business. 

Impact offices are built to make a positive impact on the world, by considering the environment, embracing social cohesion and fostering a safe environment which promotes and encourages the wellbeing of its occupants. They allow occupiers to adapt these values as part of their own brand, allowing them to promote and feel good about the spaces they work in. To find out more, reach out to us on enquies@impact-working.co.uk

As hybrid and remote work gain popularity, more and more people are asking the question, “what exactly is a coworking space?” Coworking is when individuals assemble in a neutral work space independently, working on different projects, or come in groups and work on the same projects. A coworking space is much different from a typical office workspace, as in a coworking environment, people are generally not working for the same company.

What Are Coworking Spaces?

Coworking spaces are shared work environments where individuals from various professions and companies work alongside each other. These spaces provide a range of amenities, including desks, high-speed internet, meeting rooms, and communal areas, fostering a sense of community and collaboration.

Benefits of Coworking Spaces

• Flexibility: Coworking spaces offer flexible membership plans, allowing individuals to choose from daily, weekly, or monthly options based on their needs.
• Networking Opportunities: Being surrounded by professionals from diverse fields provides ample opportunities for networking, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
• Increased Productivity: The structured environment of a coworking space can help individuals stay focused and motivated, leading to increased productivity.
• Cost-Effective: For freelancers and startups, coworking spaces provide access to essential office amenities without the overhead costs associated with traditional office leases.

Is Coworking Right for You?

Consider coworking if you:

Are looking to separate your work life from home life to improve work-life balance.

Work remotely or are a freelancer seeking a professional environment.

Desire a community of like-minded professionals.

Need access to office amenities without the commitment of a long-term lease.

As the UK begins to ease out of lockdown and companies prepare to welcome employees and clients back to the office, it is apparent that the pandemic has had a profound effect on the way that we work. From reconfiguring the office layout, through to new hygiene and safety measures, businesses have had to rapidly adapt to government guidelines to protect and promote the wellbeing of their workforce and guests.

Although many of us find the thought of returning to the office extremely exciting, there is a huge sense of apprehension in the air. Lockdown has affected us all in different ways. Isolation from colleagues and an inability to clearly separate home and work life has been challenging for some, whilst others thrived in the safety and comfort of their homes.

Recent data gathered by YouGov in September 2020 has revealed that 57% of employees are more inclined to adopt a hybrid working model, whilst 39% prefer to return to the office.

Our sense of wellbeing and social cohesion can be greatly affected by the physical environment in which we work, which is why the interior of our new Bristol location has been designed with the occupier in mind. We have created a vibrant, organic setting, designed to boost creative thinking and a general feeling of contentment.

It is apparent that the way we work is changing rapidly. The objective of Impact Working is to provide a happy working environment, in which corporate occupiers, start-ups and freelancers can thrive, post-pandemic.

Since the ease of lockdown earlier this year, whilst many of us smoothly returned to normality, there are those who continue to silently struggle. It is imperative that employers prioritise the wellbeing of their workforce and encourage a healthy work environment. 

The most recent reports, generated by Oracle (Human Capital Management), indicate that 2020, the most stressful year ever, presented employers and employees with the biggest challenges to date. The survey, taken by over 12,000 business representatives has also revealed that employees expect their companies to recognise and support good mental health in the workplace.

Rapidly evolving workplace dynamics, heavy workloads and poor communication practices are just a few factors affecting mental wellbeing at work. According to the Mental Health Foundation, 1 in 6.8 employees experience mental health issues, resulting in 12.7% of all sickness absence days being attributed to the condition. 

But how exactly can we promote a healthier workplace and support those, who are suffering in silence?

We have reached out to Gemma Holmes, our Community Associate at Impact Working, for some answers.

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1.    How would you define mental health?

Mental health affects the way we think, feel, and behave. What defines it for me is the stability of our thoughts, combined with the overall state of body and mind. 

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2.    Do you think there is a stigma attached to mental health illness at work?

In my experience, I would say that there is a social stigma regarding mental health, both in, and outside work. People don’t always recognise mental health issues and assume only certain individuals can suffer from them when in reality, it can affect anyone at any point in their life.

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3.    Why is it important to open up about struggles in life?

By speaking out about the struggles in life you open yourself up to new perspectives and viewpoints. This can help you see things in a new light, potentially allowing you to find inner peace and build a healthy relationship with yourself.

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4.    How important do you think it is for businesses to recognise the mental health of their staff?

It is so vital for a workplace to focus on the mental health of its employees. No one should be left feeling isolated and alone, unable to ask for help with any issues and concerns they may have. I think that by promoting a healthy workplace and implementing relevant practices and policies, a business can successfully support their employees by allowing them to be open and ask for help, whenever they need it. This in return can aid the employer in building a stronger rapport with the team and encourage a happier working environment overall.

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5.    What practices help improve mental wellbeing?

I think that there are no universal ‘set in stone’ methods to improving someone’s mental wellbeing. Everyone has different coping mechanisms; some people may go to the gym, whilst others prefer a long walk or a good read.

However, there’s nothing more important than reaching out to someone and talking about the way you feel. Never forget that support is always available.

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There is still so much that can be done to raise mental health awareness and combat the stigma so strongly attached to it. What we can do, as businesses and individuals, is to recognise the importance of a healthy body and mind, nurture it and comfort each other, both in, and outside of work.

At Impact Working, we value mental and physical wellbeing and understand the importance of togetherness in creating a happy working environment. This is exactly why we decided to launch the Impact Events Calendar.

Thanks to our occupiers and their invaluable feedback, we have picked several fun activities, designed to promote social cohesion and wellness within our Impact Working community.

Every week will see a variety of events, from yoga classes and HiiT, through to social get-togethers and fireside chats. 

Click here to see what we have in store for our members. 

Want to learn more about our events?

We are more than happy to help, so drop us a line at enquiries@impactworking.co.uk.

Did you know that 4.95 billion people across the world currently use the Internet?   

The World Wide Web first became publicly available in 1991 and we’ve gone from 0-4.95 billion users in just 31 years!  

Fast forward to 2022, more than half of the World make up today’s online community and there is no sign of “slow down” either. With the release of Web 3.0 last year, the ever-evolving world of technology and a spike in Internet usage thanks to the pandemic, the internet is the place to be for business.  

B2B and B2C consumers can now be found on our mobile devices, tablets and laptops, more than ever before. As a result, their appetite for engaging content has kicked up a fuss. They demand unique, on trend, human content – if you want their attention, that is. 

Enter the dark art of digital marketing! Like it or not, juicy content is a powerful weapon in your marketing arsenal! Contrary to wider belief, it’s not rocket science either. When it comes to digital content, you’re spoilt for choice. From images through to website blogs, the right mix of mediums can not only satisfy consumer hunger for valuable content feeds, but it is also essential in paving the way to exposing your business and what it stands for. 

It’s a well-known fact that video has been dominating the digital landscape for quite some time. In fact, it is expected to make up 82% of all online traffic this year alone. 

In 2020, Content Marketing Institute’s research showed that video was the preferred form of advertising in 71% of B2B, and 66% of B2C marketing strategies. 

What’s even more astonishing is that 9/10 users continue to express a real hunger for more video content from the brands and businesses they support. But exactly how effective is video at communicating a message, compared to other content mediums? 

MediaMind’s recent study shows that when done correctly, a video can increase brand association by a whopping 136%. Viewers can quickly understand the narrative and easily memorise 95% of the message, which is fundamental for effective long term lead generation. 

What’s more, podcasting is also experiencing mammoth growth, with 28.3 million adults in the UK alone listening to digital audio on an average week. In 2020, the BBC reported that branded podcasts result in a 89% increase in brand awareness, 57% more brand consideration, and 24% higher brand favourability. 

Given the above findings, it’s no wonder that savvy businesses are taking to video and podcasting as their preferred digital content tool. By engaging and forming a narrative with this open pool of users, companies can successfully broaden their reach and form a more personal connection with their audience.  

The numbers certainly speak for themselves. Video and audio is a real asset in the content marketing space!

Finding the right place to produce quality and engaging material can be nothing short of a challenge. At Impact Working, we know this very well, and that’s why we’ve created a tech-savvy, easy to use Contents Studio, where our occupiers can unleash their inner creativity. And it’s not rocket science either, we’ve simplified the set up with an easy step-by-step guide for our occupiers to help them go live – without employing a tech expert!  

With the latest tech and resources at hand, we’ve got our occupiers covered. So go on, hit the ‘record’ button and create your next digital masterpiece at our IMPACT WORKING offices!  

Want to learn more about our Content Studio? 

Drop us a line at  enquiries@impactworking.co.uk.