Photo by Nastuh Abootalebi on Unsplash
Most small businesses will aim to transition to a building that can house all of the staff, operations, and sometimes even stock. The inside and outside of your office building become a part of your brand and identity. You must make sure your build represents who you are and what you do.
In shared buildings, this can be more difficult, but if you are in a position to choose things like the outside aesthetics and work with an architectural metal panel fabricator, you can create a building that makes an impact.
Both the inside and the outside matter, so what can you do to make sure your office space is the best place for your team to achieve their best work?
Location
While the idea of having an office building surrounded by greenery and nature can be a goal, you’ll need to consider how your team can get there. Not everyone drives, and if you’re not near good public transport lines, you might be missing out on amazing team members.
Look for the balance between convenience and location, and it is even worth considering if having a bike scheme could help you choose somewhere outside of the main city.
As part of considering the location, if you would prefer an inner-city building, consider how much parking you are going to need - an account for the cost of that too.
Internet
Almost all businesses run online, and if your building doesn’t have the best internet, you’re going to have to configure your building to ensure you have the best connection.
In shared buildings, you might only need to request to be connected, but if you buy the building, you’ll need to arrange it all.
Flexible space
Opting for an interior space that is easy to move around can work wonders as you grow your business. Initially, you might move in with a small team, and the space might seem a little too big. But as you scale, you’ll add new desks and new people.
Opt for a space that is just a little bit larger than what you need so that you can add in more as you need to.
Open plan space is often better than choosing a building that has pre-built offices. While offices for the CEO and some other upper management are a good idea, it is better if they can be added later.
Facilities
If you want to follow the greats like Apple, Facebook, Spotify, and Google, then having on-site facilities is a must. Somewhere that your team can get a fresh and delicious lunch, good coffee machines, plenty of WC space.
The facilities you have in-house will mean that your staff has access to everything they need to have a productive and comfortable day.
Everything about your office space should be designed - both inside and out - to ensure that your team and you get the most productive hours and that it speaks to your brand as a whole.
In the last few years, an office building posed more than a few challenges, and if you are still navigating that, this post can help: It's Time To Bring People Back To The Office.