Slough: How to create workspace for innovation

Enabled people allowed to be creative within a supportive workplace is the blueprint for innovation space, suggests inspirational change specialist Kursty Groves.

The rapidly changing 21^st century business world with its diversifying internet-assisted workstyles is being reflected in the design of modern workplaces – as it should be, stated Groves during an enlightening breakfast seminar in Slough hosted by commercial property consultants Lambert Smith Hampton and The Business Magazine, and fittingly held at Landid and Brockton Capital’s ‘WELL different’ office development The Porter Building, the Thames Valley’s first to gain WELL Core and Shell gold certification.

The open, flexible and collaborative nature of work today is changing workplace design, and experiential workplace environments that attract and motivate employees can be key to companies achieving their objectives, explained Groves.

Not only, can the physical and cultural nature of workplace environments make people feel healthier and inspired, but they can also improve their work and efficiency, or help them learn or alter a mindset.   

But, simply following the latest workplace design themes – beanbags and slides, exposed bricks and ducts, etc – was not a one-size-fits-all solution. While such concepts might suit some business models, today’s modern workplace environments need to be relevant to diverse individuals, differing workforces and globalised business demands.

With AI and robotics set to become integrated within the future business world, particularly for monotonous or repetitive workflows, the human values of creativity, empathy and innovation will increasingly be key conceptual resources.