Deanestor, one of the UK’s leading furniture specialists in the healthcare sector, has delivered a second hospital fitout project in the Scottish Highlands. The new Broadford Community Hospital on the Isle of Skye is part of a £40m development by NHS Highland. This investment included the award-winning Badenoch & Strathspey
One of the UK’s leading joinery and interior fit-out contractors is celebrating a major milestone this spring. EE Smith Contracts in central Leicester reaches its 125th birthday – and is marking the occasion with numerous celebrations and team building events. The company goes into its 125th year of trading with
ISG has been awarded the £50m Northcliffe House refurbishment project to restore the historic Art Deco office to its former glory. The refurbishment of the 25,119m2 building will see an increase to the building’s net lettable space of 1,150m2 with the extension of two new levels. It will also include
Research by VonHaus has revealed that on average, first-time buyers spend £1,397 on furnishing within the first 12 months of moving in. It can be daunting to splash the cash on home furnishing without knowing how long your pieces will last. This is why buyers should consider upcycling older items if their
Deanestor, one of the UK’s leading furniture and fitout specialists, has been awarded a £3.1m contract by Robertson Group to manufacture and install bespoke kitchens and wardrobes for a new £80m build-to-rent neighbourhood in Glasgow developed by Moda Living. Holland Park is Deanestor’s first build-to-rent contract in Scotland. It follows
Biggest win to date for expanding business unit specialising in refurbishment/fit-out and ‘cut and carve’ works. Glencar, a construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has announced the award of a £12M fit out project instruction from global ready to assemble furniture, kitchen appliances and housewares
Work has been completed on a refurbishment project to create flexible new office and meeting space for housing and homelessness services in north London. The fit-out and refurbishment specialist contractor, Willmott Dixon Interiors has transformed the second floor of Edmonton Green Library in Enfield, to deliver contemporary and accessible office
Ministry of Furniture, the company which emerged from Remploy Furniture, has made a further investment in its workforce, creating seven new positions, six of them new hires, as it enjoys further growth on the back of its enhancement of its offering during the pandemic. The new appointments, which span design,
Office Principles North has reinvigorated the Doncaster headquarters of furniture retailer, DFS into a flexible and collaborative workspace inspired by its Yorkshire roots. The leading interior design consultancy has modernised the interior of the traditional three-storey office building on Adwick le Street following a 16 week refurbishment. The project has
Chameleon Business Interiors – a Yorkshire-based interior design, fit-out and furnishing business, specialising in commercial buildings – has been operating internationally for over 20 years. The interior design and fit-out industry has experienced a lot of challenges during this time, but none more so than in the last two years.
Deanestor, one of the UK’s leading furniture specialists in the healthcare sector, has delivered a second hospital fitout project in the Scottish Highlands. The new Broadford Community Hospital on the Isle of Skye is part of a £40m development by NHS Highland. This investment included the award-winning Badenoch & Strathspey Community Hospital in Aviemore, which opened towards the end 2021, and was also fitted out by Deanestor. Delivered by hub North Scotland and designed by Oberlanders Architects with Rural Design, the new 24-bed hospital on Skye provides a range of services. There are consultation and treatment rooms on the ground floor, emergency department, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, chemotherapy, x-ray and ultrasound, and a midwife-led maternity facility. A renal dialysis unit – a new service for Skye established last year – ensures patients can access treatment closer to home. Deanestor provided both loose and bespoke fitted furniture for 142 rooms throughout the new hospital. This included storage units, medicine cabinets, height-adjustable changing benches, bedroom wardrobes, foldaway beds in some inpatient rooms, nurse stations, and a main reception desk with a walnut wood-effect finish and contrasting glacier white solid surface countertops. Bespoke joinery was also manufactured and installed by Deanestor for a new six-bay suite for chemotherapy and renal patients to help create a more welcoming patient environment. This suite has large picture windows with stunning sea views. The white low-level counters are designed to house medical gases and vacuum outlets, and incorporate lighting, solid surface worktops, oak privacy screens, coat and bag storage, and IPS panels. Commenting on the opening of the new hospital, Tracy Ligema, Project Director at NHS Highland, said, “This is a significant milestone in the history of Skye, Lochalsh and South West Ross. There has been a considerable amount of work involved in this process and we want to thank everyone who has contributed.” “The new hospital will serve the community for many years to come and highlights the health board’s commitment to developing remote and rural health and social care services.” Peter Ramsay, Project Director for hub North Scotland, said, “Broadford Hospital is a fantastic health facility which will bring huge benefits for the communities of Skye, Lochalsh and South West Ross. We faced major challenges progressing construction during the Covid pandemic but the support of all the partners and the local community ensured we have delivered a hospital that everyone can be proud of.” A durable laminate finish was used for the storage solutions in two shades of blue to reflect the sky and the sea in the surrounding landscape. Darker blue was specified for the inpatient bedrooms and utility areas, with calming aqua for the treatment areas. As part of the infection control strategy, infill panels were designed to fully integrate the wall cupboards up to the ceiling. This feature is an efficient and highly effective alternative to sloping cabinet tops to avoid dust gathering on top of the units in the clinical areas. Deanestor also fitted out the pharmacy with tall cabinets, worktops, dispensing cabinets with integrated trays and metal drugs cabinets. A wide range of specialist equipment was also installed across the hospital – from physiotherapy bars to white boards, dispensers, sanitisers, and appliances. Originally established in 1948 to manufacture hospital furniture and fittings for the newly established NHS, Deanestor now has the resources and expertise to manage 5,000-room hospital projects. It offers bespoke design services to meet specific healthcare project requirements and is responsible for installation to provide a seamless approach and a single point of contact for contractors, NHS trusts and other construction clients. For further information, visit www.deanestor.co.uk/healthcare, call 01623 420041 or email enquiries@deanestor.com.
One of the UK’s leading joinery and interior fit-out contractors is celebrating a major milestone this spring. EE Smith Contracts in central Leicester reaches its 125th birthday – and is marking the occasion with numerous celebrations and team building events. The company goes into its 125th year of trading with its largest ever order book, totalling an impressive £115 million, which will lead to record annual revenues of £60 million this year and £70 million next year. To support the ongoing business growth and with eyes on the future, they continue to expand their award-winning apprenticeship scheme. This year, the business is increasing its number of employees more than ever before across its factory and site operations with 40 apprentices currently earning while learning across various departments in London and Leicester. The business was founded back in 1897 by Edward Elijah Smith who supplied and repaired gas stoves and chandeliers from Canning Street, Leicester. In 1937, he employed 14-year-old apprentice Basil Richardson who, after serving in the Second World War, returned to find Mr Smith in poor health, leaving Basil as the managing director and foreman at just 22! Basil put the company back on the road to prosperity, and later taught his eldest sons, Rodney and Nigel, who worked their way up through the business to take over in 1989. Under their guidance, EE Smith Contracts continued to thrive when the company expanded and developed into the super prime residential and five-star hotel market before a management buy-out in 2016, including Basil’s youngest son John Richardson. Rodney Richardson said there are not many companies in its sector that have been in existence for as long as EE Smith Contracts and with such a wide breadth of experience. “We have always delivered to a very high quality, with a real customer focus and I think that has been vital to our success and longevity,” he said. This trade-based, directly employed but customer centric approach to the joinery and interior-fit out sector led the company to undertake some of the most iconic projects across London such as the Savoy Hotel, Battersea Power Station, the Houses of Parliament, One Hyde Park Penthouses and The Corinthia Hotel. Further testament to the excellence EE Smith has continued to offer over the decades is the 40-year continuing relationship with the Edwardian hotel group, culminating in the recent fit out of The Londoner Hotel in Leicester Square which is the largest in the company’s history and included a full fit out of 355 bedrooms and bathrooms and all of the public area spaces. Neil Bottrill, managing director at EE Smith Contracts, said that the 125-year milestone was an incredible achievement and was a testament to the hard work and skill base throughout the company and the loyalty of the staff who give the business, despite its size, a real family feel. “Our current portfolio of projects is amongst the best in the UK fit-out and joinery markets and we have every reason to believe that further exciting times are ahead for the business,” he said. “We are growing year-on-year and we currently have 40 apprentices, doubling last year’s apprentice joiner workforce. We hope they will rise through the ranks and be an asset to the company as we teach them the skills we have always relied on for EE Smith Contracts to prosper. “Despite our evolution over the years our core values established by Edward Elijah Smith in 1897 are the same, as we strive to deliver the highest quality product and service whilst operating as a close-knit community, with our incredible people at the forefront of our success. “We will continue using the latest cutting-edge technology and seamlessly merging this with our unparalleled craftsmanship to continue setting the standard in our industry. Here’s to the next 125 years!”
ISG has been awarded the £50m Northcliffe House refurbishment project to restore the historic Art Deco office to its former glory. The refurbishment of the 25,119m2 building will see an increase to the building’s net lettable space of 1,150m2 with the extension of two new levels. It will also include the addition of 9,000sq ft worth of green space including the south-facing landscaped roof terraces across levels six and seven. Upon completion, the refreshed space will provide its occupiers with a modern workplace to a Cat A standard. It will boast scenic lifts overlooking the renovated atrium extension, all within the existing cast steel frame. Whilst providing state of the art amenities internally, cleaning and repairs will also take place to restore the building’s historic Art Deco façade. The former home to the Daily Mail newspaper is targeting BREEAM Outstanding. The approach has been strongly informed by a Life Cycle Assessment, which considered the savings in embodied carbon by retaining the existing structure compared with demolition and a full, new-build redevelopment of the site. A key feature of the Grade II listed building is the reconfigured internal atrium, which upon completion will link the reception with the renovated office space and break out areas. However, during renovation works the atrium is home to the 40-metre crane, reducing external disruption and improving efficiencies while guaranteeing the project’s high-quality and consistent delivery. Scott Knibb, Project Director for Fit Out at ISG, said: “Sitting in the heart of the Fleet Street Business Development District, the refurbishment of Northcliffe House plays a pivotal role in the regeneration of this area. Its development will further attract other businesses to bring the former glory back to what was once recognised globally as the beating heart of the newspaper industry. “This project has benefited from a truly collaborative approach from across the board to offer this unique and flexible office space of the future to meet the requirements of today’s workforce. Showcasing the best-in-class amenities, features and scenic views both internally, via its atrium lifts, and externally, via its extensive green spaces. The sustainable principles it has followed ensure it is future-proofed, all while maintaining the building’s 1920s charm and heritage.”
Research by VonHaus has revealed that on average, first-time buyers spend £1,397 on furnishing within the first 12 months of moving in. It can be daunting to splash the cash on home furnishing without knowing how long your pieces will last. This is why buyers should consider upcycling older items if their pieces of furniture need some extra TLC. Putting your DIY skills to work and making old items look as good as new can be a fun challenge. Alternatively, if upcycling isn’t for you, make sure you research reputable furnishing websites which stock good quality items. This can be more expensive, but your items are likely to last for the long haul than upcycling already worn items. “The life expectancy of most pieces varies by several years and is greatly dependent on the original materials used and construction of the pieces, the amount of daily use, and the amount of care taken during the use of the furniture. A sofa in a family room with small children, teenagers, and lots of pets will not last as long as one in a formal living room,” commented Katie Thomas, Interior Designer and Founder of KTM Design. “Although there isn’t any specific life expectancy on furniture as a rough guide, sofas and chairs last between 7-15 years, dining tables between 15-20 years and beds between 15-20 years, however it is all dependant on usage and care. “It’s obvious when it’s time to replace your milk or an everyday essential like your toothbrush, but the expiration dates of our furniture isn’t always clear. While furniture doesn’t have an expiration date like packaged foods, most consumers no longer purchase home furnishings with the plan that they will last forever.” The top 10 best and worst housewarming gifts Searches for ‘best housewarming gift 2021’ were up 600% last year, showing that Brits are conscious of gifting their loved ones with the best or most thoughtful items possible.. Whilst it’s a lovely tradition in the UK to gift an item to someone when moving house, there are some presents which first-time buyers would prefer not to receive. A survey conducted by VonHaus reveals the top 10 housewarming gifts that are perfect for a new home as well as the 10 worst housewarming presents which appear to be better left on the shelf. The housewarming gifts that people really want: Money (28%) Gift cards (27%) Plants (24%) DIY Tools (17%) Kitchen crockery (17%) Alcohol (16%) Scented candles (16%) Basket of tea and coffee (13%) Food (12%) Glassware (11%) The housewarming gifts that people don’t want: Toilet paper (28%) Exercise gear (27%) Air freshener (19%) A house pet (17%) Prints with quotes such as ‘live laugh love’ (15%) Underwear and socks (15%) Second-hand appliances (14%) Calendar (14%) Novelty drinking cups (13%) Teddy Bear (13%)
Deanestor, one of the UK’s leading furniture and fitout specialists, has been awarded a £3.1m contract by Robertson Group to manufacture and install bespoke kitchens and wardrobes for a new £80m build-to-rent neighbourhood in Glasgow developed by Moda Living. Holland Park is Deanestor’s first build-to-rent contract in Scotland. It follows its successful delivery of multiple fitout projects for private rental schemes in other parts of the UK, and the company’s long track record of providing furniture solutions for major new developments across Scotland. Deanestor will provide 433 contemporary kitchens and 599 wardrobe sets for the high-tech studios and apartments in Holland Park. Set around a new public courtyard, the development will provide 433 homes for rent in four buildings up to 22 storeys, creating a vibrant community of around 900 people. The scheme is designed by Haus Collective and delivered by Ryder Architecture. Deanestor is manufacturing L-shaped and linear kitchens in 18 different configurations for the 1, 2 and 3-bed apartments. These will have a dark grey woodgrain finish for the base cabinets and matt arctic grey wall units with contrasting white quartz worktops and splashbacks. According to Ramsay McDonald, Managing Director of Deanestor Scotland, “We engaged with Robertson at the early pre-construction planning stages of this project and so were able to develop the furniture solutions to meet Moda Living’s stringent design, cost, quality, and programme requirements. We look forward to starting on site, and to completing the furniture and fitout works by Spring 2023.” “Holland Park will help to address a significant under-supply of quality homes for rent in Glasgow whilst contributing to the cityscape. Demand for our kitchen and fitted bedroom furniture solutions continues to rise in the fast-growing UK build-to-rent sector. We are delighted to be involved in this exciting new city living scheme for Moda Living in Scotland.” The kitchen cabinets will have integral formed handles and integrated appliances including extractor fan, ceramic or induction hob, combi or dual fan oven, dishwasher, built-in fridge/freezer or under-counter fridge, microwave, and washer/dryer fitted in a specially designed utility cabinet. The bespoke, full height fitted wardrobes for Holland Park will have a woodgrain finish and will be installed with mirrors, shelving, and hanging rails. Deanestor’s sister company, Offsite Solutions, is also working on the Holland Park project, manufacturing bathroom pods in its third contract for Moda Living. Deanestor provides a complete furniture and fitout service for both bedrooms and kitchens, working on major residential schemes for some of the UK’s leading developers and contractors. Its high specification cabinets are built for longevity and crafted using robust glue and dowel constructions which provide a durable finish for build-to-rent developments. The units are all pre-assembled in the factory for consistently high quality and to reduce work on site. For further information, visit www.deanestor.co.uk/buildtorent call 01623 420041 or email enquiries@deanestor.com .
Biggest win to date for expanding business unit specialising in refurbishment/fit-out and ‘cut and carve’ works. Glencar, a construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has announced the award of a £12M fit out project instruction from global ready to assemble furniture, kitchen appliances and housewares company Ikea. The project will see Glencar undertake extensive racking, sprinkler and office fit-out works within Ikea’s giant new 450,000 sq ft distribution centre recently completed located at the former Littlebrook Power Station site on the south bank of the River Thames in London. The works will also include the construction of a new additional storage unit in the service yard together with the installation of a security gatehouse, vehicle ramps and fencing adaptions. Talking about the contract award and rapid expansion of this specialist division, Neil Johnstone Commercial Manager Glencar Special Projects Division said: “The new ‘Special Projects’ division was established to service the fit-out and refurbishment needs of Glencar’s existing industrial client base as well as offering the same high level of service to other market sectors. This approach has proven successful to date, having secured a number of projects in other market sectors and establishing relationships with new clients who have not worked with Glencar previously. The award of this significant contract from Ikea on their recently completed massive new 450,000 sq ft Dartford regional distribution centre is a significant testament to that as we continue to offer our customers an end-to-end service offering. We are delighted to be working with Ikea for the first time and supporting the growth of their business across London and the South East”
Work has been completed on a refurbishment project to create flexible new office and meeting space for housing and homelessness services in north London. The fit-out and refurbishment specialist contractor, Willmott Dixon Interiors has transformed the second floor of Edmonton Green Library in Enfield, to deliver contemporary and accessible office accommodation. Part of Enfield Council’s Build the Change programme, the new facilities will serve as a hub for the borough-wide Housing services. Willmott Dixon Interiors has carried out substantial alterations to the interior and exterior of the building at second floor level, to create a large, open plan office area with flexible meeting spaces. New partitions have been installed with glazed screens, as well as a new kitchen area, toilets and showers, and raised access flooring. The workspace benefits from an MEP installation throughout, with a new mechanical plant on the roof and new air handling, condenser and air conditioning units. Externally, new large windows have been added to the east elevation, which also incorporates new steel wind posts and beams to create the increased structural openings and now greatly improves natural daylight penetration into the floor plate. Construction of the building has been characterised by strong sustainability credentials, with 98% of project waste directed from landfill and harvested rainwater used to limit dust on site. Graham Shaw, managing director at Willmott Dixon Interiors, said: “The way we work is continually evolving and we are placing new demands on our offices. Employers need modern and dynamic workspaces that can attract and retain talent, and enable their teams to work flexibly and efficiently. At the heart of the Council’s vision for Build the Change is also the wellbeing of their staff and residents; it’s investment in Edmonton Green Library has created a modern light-filled space that brings vital services closer to the people who need them most and will serve the local community for many years to come.” As part of the delivery of the project, Willmott Dixon Interiors and Enfield Council developed a strategy to maximise investment in local suppliers, with 74% of total project spend made within 10 miles of the site. Willmott Dixon Interiors also delivered a 71% social return on investment through deployment of a social value plan. Activities included a careers event with local sixth form students and a virtual site tour designed to give an insight into the construction industry to an audience of 300 secondary school students. The refurbishment was procured through SCAPE, one of the UK’s leading public sector procurement authorities. It was delivered by a project team including architect, TP Bennett; quantity surveyor, Stace LLP; and Pick Everard as project manager and services engineer.
Ministry of Furniture, the company which emerged from Remploy Furniture, has made a further investment in its workforce, creating seven new positions, six of them new hires, as it enjoys further growth on the back of its enhancement of its offering during the pandemic. The new appointments, which span design, production and operations, have been made by the firm on the back of an expansion and diversification of its services, a move prompted initially by the COVID-19 pandemic. Terry Mortimer has joined as a technical designer and estimator. He has more than 20 years’ experience in bespoke design. Qualified in Revit, Autocad, and 3D Studio Max, he has a technical background with the ability to carry out surveys, produce detailed technical plans and product drawings. He will work alongside Whitney Harris who has joined as an interior designer. Whitney is a graduate interior designer with Revit and 3D visualisation experience who joins from Do Digital. David Bond joins as a production operator through the Government’s Kickstart programme. David, a blacksmith in his spare time, previously worked as an observation assistant at Hawkeswood Ecology. He will also benefit from a rigorous training programme at the company in line with the company’s social aims. Ministry has also recruited Adrian Badcock as a production operator. Jake Webb joins the sales team as a fitted furniture sales specialist. Jake, who will be responsible for developing vector sales across the education sector, brings a depth of experience in the construction sector where he has worked as a sales estimator. He can use CAD and Revit and has Graphic Design qualifications. Samantha Garnett joins as purchasing manager. Samantha is an experienced procurement and product manager with an extensive background working across a range of sectors in both the retail and automotive industries. Reporting to the operations director, Samantha will manage strategic procurement activities across multiple category spends negotiating the best deals and managing the suppliers. Finally, Kay Wood has been promoted to project coordinator. She has a wealth of customer service experience having worked for Remploy for 22 years and Ministry for five years in sales and customer service roles. She will be responsible for ensuring that projects are delivered to the highest standard. Ministry is enjoying a period of sustained growth, partly on the back of changes it made in the business prompted by COVID-19. Now, it is eyeing growth and diversification in line with its values and aims as a company in 2021 – and is investing in the people, systems and skills to allow it to leverage that. This also includes anticipated growth in the commercial, construction and education sectors over the next 12 months. Having realigned the company’s working practices and offering in the past 12 months, it now offers clients a seamless journey over the timeline of a big project – from concept to completion. In Wales, as a framework supplier for The National Procurement Service (NPS) for Wales, it can offer its suite of services to all public sector bodies. Graham Hirst, Managing Director, Ministry of Furniture, said: “We are delighted to see five new faces join the company as we consolidate some of the changes we made through the pandemic and realign our values to ensure we are always offering the best possible customer service. The appointments will help to strengthen and improve departments throughout the business as we gear up for 2022.”
Office Principles North has reinvigorated the Doncaster headquarters of furniture retailer, DFS into a flexible and collaborative workspace inspired by its Yorkshire roots. The leading interior design consultancy has modernised the interior of the traditional three-storey office building on Adwick le Street following a 16 week refurbishment. The project has created a comfortable, socially-oriented environment, with a fully inclusive design that reflects and celebrates the retailer’s heritage and craftsmanship. It features a new accessible, open plan layout that promotes employee collaboration through a series of purpose-built office, catering, event and activity-based spaces. Its centrepiece is a new coworking cafe bar and deli that delivers a ‘grab and go’ style food and beverage offering, with seating arrangements to encourage small informal meetings and larger ‘family-style’ gatherings. A new welcoming reception area flows into a ground floor virtual store and touchdown space that can be reconfigured for events, launches or town hall gatherings, with seating for more than 80 people. A wide range of furniture options increases the choice of places to meet and work, with high tables, a giant extendable sofa, couple seats, family gathering table, cosy club bench seats, wheelchair accessible meeting booths and a collection of DFS breakout furniture. Wellness is at the heart of the design and is promoted through the addition of a new landscaped community garden. The space connects employees to the outdoors, with decked seating and house frame structures for meetings and social events, as well as an outdoor chef station. The first, second and third floors all benefit from a workspace refresh, including a new Group Ops hub and reconfigured furniture, as well as breakout, meeting and additional activity-based workspaces. A new platform lift has been installed to improve connectivity from the ground floor to the first floor. Office Principles has deconstructed and reimagined DFS’s product range, applying a naturally-derived colour palette, tactile surfaces, patterns and comfort throughout the space. They include warm fabrics and timber flooring, a handcrafted slatted feature wall and large scale wall and window branding, with lighting and materials selected according to their sustainability credentials. Tina Batham, joint managing director of Office Principles North, said that the new workplace had created a ‘work life’ experience for DFS employees. She said: “DFS is a brand based on great people, which is why this workplace refurbishment promotes collaboration and fosters a real sense of wellbeing and togetherness. We have placed a large emphasis on delivering well balanced floor plates that contain several distinct spaces, each with a deliberate function. They are unified by a design that reinforces the quality of craftsmanship that is a hallmark of DFS and allows employees to immerse themselves in the materials that underpin its product range. It’s an inviting and inclusive coworking space that will positively shape the way that the company’s employees eat, meet and work together for years to come.” Office Principles North was chosen to deliver the refurbishment of DFS in Doncaster, following a competitive tendering process.
Chameleon Business Interiors – a Yorkshire-based interior design, fit-out and furnishing business, specialising in commercial buildings – has been operating internationally for over 20 years. The interior design and fit-out industry has experienced a lot of challenges during this time, but none more so than in the last two years. As the sector continues to negotiate supply chain delays, inflated material costs and a national labour shortage, Shaun Watts – chairman of Chameleon – shares his reflections from the last 12 months, makes his predictions for the year ahead, and offers insight into the plans to secure continued growth. It has certainly been a challenging time for our industry, and it’s incredibly sad to see firms in our sector close their doors recently. No one knew what to expect as we entered 2021. If you believed everything you heard at the time, you’d think that the office working model was dead and that we’d all be working from home permanently. Indeed, 2021 saw a slow-down in our Canadian business, despite delivering several projects successfully due to our strong management based in Toronto. But, overall, I’m very grateful and humbled that we have bucked the trend, starting 2021 on the back of the growth and success of 2020. We secured a number of large and complex contracts early on, with clients that took a long-term view to workspaces: they wanted to think creatively, design spaces their employees wanted to return to, and prioritise collaborative and safe working. As a result, we doubled our turnover and we have our innovative and hard-working team to thank for that. I also saw clients’ confidence in us grow because we’ve continued to invest and recruit. But I do recognise that we represent a small proportion of companies that emerged from 2021 in a strong position. 2022: industry predictions As we look ahead to 2022, I believe that: Sustainability will continue to influence everything we do. Carbon neutral buildings will become more important to occupiers and we’re even seeing projects that are aiming to be carbon negative. It’s a phenomenal purchasing mindset shift. Employee wellbeing is absolutely front-of-mind; the pandemic has focused everyone on this and they’re now investing significantly in their workspaces. It should be about putting people first and really considering how existing spaces can be maximised for the people that use it. Safe yet sociable hubs that enable collaborative working is essential for the return to office-based working. The workplace has changed forever and we have seen this new model work well in 2021. Reducing the office footprint is not the right approach – you can’t expect employees to live their whole career in their bedroom. There’s limited personal development opportunities with this model and it’s short-termism, in my view. British manufacturing has an opportunity to really thrive – with all of the delays and inflated costs we’re experiencing importing materials and furniture into the UK, now is the time for British manufacturing to make its mark. 2022: industry challenges In terms of challenges this year, I predict we’ll be looking at: The skills gap presenting us with ongoing difficulties – recruitment across the sector has been very difficult and there isn’t a large talent pool out there. To combat this, we need to be offering more opportunities to those entering the industry and enabling them to develop long-lasting and fulfilling careers not just ‘jobs’. Cost continuing to impact our sustainability goals – unfortunately, doing the right thing comes at a price. If we’re ever going to move the needle, we need to find some way to appease both clients’ budgets and the sustainability agenda. Motivating staff after a very busy few years becoming a bigger challenge – this is a challenge faced by businesses all over the world. The last two years have been stressful and we’ve all been working very hard. So this year will be the ‘Year of Fun’ for the team at Chameleon to give the team the opportunity to bond and have fun together again. It’s been well overdue! Chameleon’s 2022 The year has begun well, with a number prestigious projects already on site across country that we’re all very excited about and new projects in design stage. With the addition of new talent and expertise to the business, we anticipate the size and complexity of our projects continuing to grow. Acquisition will be part of our growth strategy in 2022, and I am actively looking for the right opportunity. We have some ambitious targets to meet that will stretch us all but we are up for the challenge. The infrastructure and talent we now have in place gives us the strength in depth to support our growth ambitions over the coming year.
