After three years during which the Covid 19 pandemic turned the economy upside down, there is hardly a business in the UK which hasn’t reviewed its working environment. The desire to attract people back to the workplace and boost in-person collaboration and creativity must be balanced with demands for increased flexibility and hybrid working.
Businesses are seizing the opportunity to create a bespoke space which is unique to their organisation and which will improve productivity, lift morale and improve communication.
A fit out is a major project, particularly if it involves upgrading a space while your business is in situ. Minimising disruption is essential and the most important consideration is to undertake robust pre-planning to cover all eventualities from concept to completion.
This includes a scope of works which details the construction responsibilities, timelines and expectations of all contractors, subcontractors and suppliers on the project. You may need architectural input, landlord’s consent or building regulations approval; if your fit out is going to change the purpose of the building, you will need planning permission for change of use. Assembling an experienced professional team who are used to working with each other will help hugely with communication and co-operation.
The length of time allocated for the fit out will dictate ordering and delivery of supplies. If any have a long lead in time, this will need to be accommodated.
A fit out of an empty space is relatively straightforward, but if it has to be undertaken around your normal working day then particular care has to be taken to avoid disturbance and resulting downtime. Different types of business will have different needs; some, for example the creative industries, may be well set up to work from home temporarily, but others such as retail or manufacturing need careful planning to ensure a trouble-free project.
Electrical works should be carefully scheduled to avoid loss of power and potentially serious IT issues. Health and Safety regulations must be taken into consideration, including noise levels and the generation of hazardous fumes and dust.
As a specialist in fit outs, Oakwhite has years of experience in maintaining ‘business as usual’ for clients. A recent job involved working through the night to spray paint a large trampoline park unit so that fumes could be safely contained and the park could open as normal during the day.
Other options to limit disturbance include fitting out different areas in succession, so that only a small number of people have to relocate at a time. Your existing layout can be refigured to accommodate this.
Weekend and overnight working hours can also be scheduled, and if the completion of a fit out in the least possible time is vital, two teams can be employed to work day and night to achieve this. An intensive weekend session can produce impressive results.
Quiet hours can be rostered into the timeline so that meetings, phone calls and customer visits can be planned without background noise. If work is being undertaken within an employee area, screens may be erected to avoid workers being distracted by the interesting spectacle of a skilled electrician wielding wires!
As with any major project, but particularly with a fit out involving employees in situ, a key component is ensuring all parties are kept informed throughout the whole operation. A reliable team overseeing the job will handle communications consistently from the initial planning to the handover.
A fit out may seem a complex undertaking but using the right contractor with a proven track record will ensure a smooth process with the least possible disruption, and the resulting benefits of a workspace tailored precisely to your business and employees will easily outweigh any disadvantages.
At Oakwhite, we have decades of experience in fit outs and refurbishments, and the expert advice from our professional and friendly team guarantees the perfect outcome. Our reputation for the highest standard of work is legendary and we are used to working to the tight deadlines which are inevitably required for a fit out. We have never missed one yet!
Read more about our fit out work on our website or check out some of our case studies, and if you’d like to have a chat about a prospective project, we’d be delighted to hear from you.
You can call us on 01403 586062 or get in touch using our online contact form.