Shop fittings Fife, If you’re looking to improve your office space, an office refurbishment may be worth considering. It can save you the cost of relocation and be more beneficial in terms of productivity.
As with any project, it’s important to identify clear goals and get a professional involved from the beginning. Shop fittings Fife, this will ensure that the renovation is managed effectively and efficiently.
Identify Your Needs
The first and most important step in planning an office refurbishment is to identify your needs. Shop fittings Fife, this will involve putting together a cross-departmental team that includes finance, facilities management, human resources and IT. Involving key people at an early stage will ensure that the project runs smoothly and with minimal disruption to the business.
Defining the reasons for the office refurbishment will allow the design and build partner to create a space that meets your overall objectives. For example, if you are running out of space then your new workspace will be able to accommodate your growing team. If on the other hand, you want to encourage collaboration then your new workspace should be more informal and flexible.
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Your budget should also be a key consideration and it is vital that you communicate this to your design and build partner. They will be able to guide you through the different options available and often provide cost savings through value engineering, supplier relationships and market intelligence.
Once the initial scope is understood, it is worth identifying any key project milestones that need to be achieved and setting dates. Shop fittings Fife, this will allow your refurbishment partner to schedule works and deliveries in line with key milestones and ensure that your staff are able to work around the contractors during the renovation. Shop fittings Fife, it is also a good idea to schedule regular site visits to appraise progress and communicate with project teams (especially other tenants if you are in a multi-tenanted building) and your employees to keep them updated on what is happening.
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It’s also a good idea to communicate the importance of the refurbishment with your workforce from an early stage, and this will need to include the reasons for the work and how it will affect them. Shop fittings Fife, if you fail to tell them what is going on, it could lead to a decline in morale during the renovation and may even cause some to leave during the process. For example, if your office will be undergoing a lot of construction work and the lighting will be changing frequently it is always a good idea to provide your workforce with some alternative working space.
Plan Your Space
Once you know what you want your office refurbishment to achieve and have a good idea of the challenges that you are facing in your current workspace, it’s time to start planning. Creating a brief will help your office design and build company to prioritise ideas that will work for you and create a space which meets the goals of your refurbishment. Shop fittings Fife, make sure to include everything that you would like to see in your new workspace; this will change as you work through the project, but starting with a wish list can help keep your initial costs down.
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This is also the time to review your current equipment and furniture to see if you can use any of it in your new office design. Using existing furniture that is in good condition and still fits your staff will save you money on the cost of replacing it. Shop fittings Fife, taking the time to trial furniture and understand which types of seating your staff prefer will ensure you choose the right options, both for now and the future.
At this stage, it’s also important to think about the logistics of your office refurbishment and how it will impact on your business. Shop fittings Fife, you will need to consider your working hours, what you can do outside of normal business hours and how much disruption you can handle during the project. Discussing this with your refurbishment partner will give them an understanding of how the project needs to be run and will allow them to plan the construction phase to minimise disruption to your team.
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In the planning stage, it’s important to work with a company that can provide all of the key services needed for an office refurbishment; project management, space planning and design, mechanical and electrical works, decorating and furniture supply. Shop fittings Fife, this will make the process much smoother and simpler and will save you time and money.
It’s also worth taking this opportunity to address any changes you need to make in regards to building regulations and fire safety. Shop fittings Fife, this can be done at the same time as completing your office refurbishment and will ensure that you are in compliance with all of the necessary regulations.
Get a Budget
After you’ve identified your reasons for refurbishing and worked out what kind of workplace you want, it’s time to start working out the details. Shop fittings Fife, this should include a clear brief which outlines everything you want to achieve from the office renovation and a budget that takes into account the cost of the work, any additional costs that may arise as well as the price of any furniture or decorations you’re considering.
It’s also important to consider your company ethos and styles of working when you’re creating your brief, as this will help you to design an office that is a perfect fit for you. For example, if you have lots of open workspaces, but some staff prefer to work in more private areas, then you might need to add in some meeting rooms or partition walls. Shop fittings Fife, you should also think about your future plans, so that your new office will be able to accommodate any growth you might have in the next year or two.
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Once you’ve created your brief and established what you want, it’s vital to get everyone involved in the project on board. This includes putting together a cross-departmental team of people who can support you throughout the refurbishment process. Shop fittings Fife, this should include someone from your operations team (as they will need to continue their day-to-day activities without disruption) and a senior project champion who can manage the budget and keep all the admin in check.
A big part of your budget will likely be spent on labour and materials. It’s important to make sure that you don’t cut corners in these areas, as this can often lead to problems down the line. So, it’s worth taking the time to visit your local suppliers and find out what’s available at a competitive price before you commit to any quotes.
It’s also worth setting aside around 10%-20% of your budget for unforeseen expenses, as these can often arise during the build. Shop fittings Fife, this will ensure that you don’t end up going over-budget and can still finish the project with a successful outcome.
Find the Right Partner
A good office fit-out partner will be able to give you advice on the best way to carry out the refurbishment and how it may impact your business. They will be able to advise whether it is possible to refurbish in occupation and, if not, how you could work around the construction phase and when it would be necessary to relocate temporarily. A good partner will also be able to recommend temporary storage solutions so that essential equipment, documents and supplies aren’t disrupted during the renovation process.
An experienced partner will be able to help you develop an initial design brief that will set out your project goals and the desired outcomes for the space. Shop fittings Fife, this will incorporate factors such as your company ethos, the styles of working you favour and how many staff you have. It will also include your functional requirements, branding and a budget.
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Once the design brief is finalised, it will be easy to create a project timeline that gives you an idea of what can be achieved within your budget. Be sure to add 20 percent to the total cost as a contingency – many refurbishment projects run over budget, so having this buffer will help you avoid any nasty surprises.
During the refurbishment, your partners should be able to provide you with regular updates and communicate effectively so that everyone knows what is happening when. Shop fittings Fife, this can be done by email, hosting pre-move team meetings or taking your staff on tours of the refurbished space. Keeping everyone up to date will ensure that your team is aware of what is happening and can ask questions as necessary, minimising disruption.
While an office refurbishment is an opportunity to revamp your workspace, it’s also an ideal time to review how your organisation operates and identify areas for improvement. A well-designed workplace can improve the productivity of your team and support the achievement of your strategic goals. To optimise your workplace, consider the following workplace trends to inspire the creation of a collaborative and productive environment.