Office Refurbishment Checklist

The refurbishment of your office is likely to be one of the biggest expenses in the history of your business. So it's vital to get it right first time.

If you've been tasked with creating a brand new space for your company, you're probably wondering where to start. And if that's not enough, it's pretty daunting knowing it'll all take place under the watchful gaze of your company's board of directors and all of your colleagues.

But by taking it step by step, and breaking everything down into easily manageable stages, your project will run smoothly and will be an enjoyable process.

Think about WHY you are refurbishing

Identifying the reasons for refurbishing your office space is critical in ensuring that the finished result meets all of your company's needs. For instance, if you're running out of storage space, then designing an office with insufficient storage capacity is the last thing you want to do.

If you think about the 'why' early on, you're well prepared to identify the 'what' when you come to writing up your brief and discussing your new space with your chosen office refurbishment partner.

What reason or reasons does your company have for refurbishing?

• Expansion

  Recent mergers or acquisitions can mean more people moving into an already packed space. A refurbishment allows you to reorganise your space to maximise its potential.

• Contraction / reorganisation

  In the current financial climate every company has had to make concessions. Unfortunately this may have included a reduction of staff numbers, and empty seats do little for staff morale. Make the most of your space by introducing new facilities and creating a pleasant working environment.

• New or upgraded facilities

  Is your boardroom looking dated? Would you like to provide your staff with an area in which they can take a break? Consider the existing layout and facilities in your office, and how you can add to and improve them.

• Morale & productivity

  Employees spend at least 8 hours a day in the office. It's been proven that morale and productivity suffer in an uninspiring environment. A change of scenery could be just what's required to turn your workforce into a happy, productive team.

• Legislation

  The Government are constantly bringing in new legislation, such as the Energy Performance of Buildings 2006 Directive and the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, that can result in fines for non-compliance. Use your office refurbishment to comply not only with existing rulings but to put you in good stead for compliance with future legislation.

• Health & safety

  Nobody wants to work in an unsafe environment. Tired offices can also be hazardous, so avoid any unwanted legal action by tackling problem areas.

• Environmental

  The environment is high on the agenda of many businesses these days. Use your refurbishment to send out a green message to your competitors and clients. Green issues are close to the hearts of many employees too, so attract and retain the best people by walking the walk and not just talking the talk.

• Improve your image to clients & prospects

  Just as your people sell your business, so does your office. Think about what visitors to your office see on arrival: a tired and dated workplace for a tired and dated company or a fresh and vibrant office for a forward-looking business? Your office is a blank canvas, so use it to your advantage.

Refurbishment tip

Think about how your business is likely to change over the next 5 years and plan for that now. Whilst your workplace needs to reflect your current business values it must be able to adapt to any future changes that might be around the corner.