Workplace Trends: Responding to Changing Markets
- Exploring the consequences of a new economic environment
Tuesday 4 November 2008, 9.30am - 5.00pm
at the British
Museum, London
For over a decade the UK had experienced a period of sustained economic growth with low interest rates. Last year the global economy changed and we now have an increased cost and reduced availability of capital funds and a greater unwillingness to take risks. This has been combined with rapid inflation in commodity prices, particularly oil.
This conference will examine how these trends are expected to develop over the next 2-3 years and focus on the practical implications for workplace occupiers, designers, investors and specifiers. It will help workplace decision makers reflect this new environment in their day to day business. It is aimed at those responsible for managing office portfolios, workspace designers and suppliers of facilities and services to the private and public sectors.
Programme for the day includes:
The Kings Cross development: A fresh approach in a turbulent market
''King's Cross; with 20 new streets, 10 new squares, 50 new buildings and a site wide Combined Heat and Power system you would expect the new 'work place' buildings to be something different? Will the 30000 workers be more productive, healthier and happier in this first whole new piece of central London for over 150 years,or will it be more of the same?''
The UK and Property – when will normal service be resumed?
Charles Follows, ING REIM (UK) Ltd
The UK commercial property market has seen falling values as it reacts to the financial market turmoil. As the UK economy slows the occupational markets are becoming more difficult. Charles will explore the outlook for the UK and the likely impact on UK commercial property.
Wikinomics - parallel impact of mass communications
The changes in the global economy have been rapid and unpredicted. The unwillingness to take risks stems from the unprecedented range of changes taking place throughout society. They are like waves crashing into us from major changes in the demographics of the workforce, to environmental concerns, to the impact of technology on our working lives, all creating a virtual surge of uncertainty as to what the next few years will bring. Most studies have looked at the impact of technology on the workplace, but more corporations are turning to futurologists to broaden their perspective. Wikinomics - parallel impact of mass communications will take a look at the human aspect of change and how that enhances our vision for the future of work. Is Wikinomics correct in predicting that SMEs and virtual collaborative networks will take over the world of work? How would large corporations survive in this type of world?
The changing agenda for workplace designers & advisors and the implications for density, space allocation
The impact on flexible working / virtual working - increase or decrease?
Debate - The Credit Crunch: Tsunami or storm in a tea cup
Paul Morrell, former senior partner, Davis Langdon & Mat Oakley, Savills
Adrift in a sea of trends: Are we overreacting?
Ellen Bruce Keable, Jacobs Consultancy
Changing markets, energy policies, workforce, and business expectations push us all to get back to basics: what is the workplace for? How can we shift FM to create and show value beyond buildings, rather than just cutting costs? What have we learned from building long term client relationships and trust which link business and facilities strategies to withstand economic twists and turns?
ECHQ – A Building that has Impacted on organisation and workplace by transforming the way a business works
EC Harris has long been an adviser to clients on delivering better value results from their built assets, and in December 2006 began its own transformation using its London office move as a catalyst for the acceleration of business plans to create the leading international built asset consultancy. A clear vision that linked workspace design to clearly articulated sources of competitive advantage and strongly held beliefs on how to implement change, resulted in the creation of ECHQ in London’s Kings Cross.
Industry awards followed as did improvement in the key metrics of the benefit case including a 35 % increase in distributable profit in year one and 57% in 2008.
What did we do differently and what lessons can help others?
‘They want it all’
Despite, or perhaps because of, the market downturn, the world has become an even more competitive market place. Businesses now want their buildings to express their values, be better quality, help them impress new clients, attract the best staff, be more technically advanced, built quicker and cheaper. And why not?
Supported by:
Conference moderators:
Paul Bartlett, Strategic Business Solutions
Nigel Oseland, Director, AMA Alexi Marmot Associates
Cost:
£345 + VAT (BIFM members £310).
Click here to book on-line (you can pay by PayPal or request an invoice)