Last week saw Mix Week descend on Manchester, including the inaugural Mix Design Collective event and the highly regarded Mixology North awards. Mix Week is always a hotly anticipated event, but with the addition of the new Mix Design Collective, the A&D community came out in their droves to discover what was hot and innovative in the world of workplace design, employee experience and technology.
As more research is undertaken into the future of the workplace, what we consider to be innovative office design will continue to change. 30 years ago, open-plan office spaces with breakout zones and games rooms were practically unheard of, nowadays they’re becoming the norm. As the younger generations join the workforce, companies are changing the way they design the office space (click here to find out how to engineer your workplace for next-gen employees), and the amenities they offer as standard. But what will the workplace look like in 10, 20 or 50 years?
Co-working spaces, sometimes known as shared offices or flexible workspaces, aren’t a new trend, but have increased dramatically in popularity in recent years. A couple of months ago we attended the GCUC (Global Co-Working Unconference Conference) and they estimated that between 2017 and 2022 there’ll be an increase of 15,000 spaces and over 3 million members. We’ve already shared the best co-working spaces in both London and Dublin, but with co-working growing outside of the capital cities we thought it was about time we shared our list of the best spaces across the North of the UK, including Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool and Glasgow.
As more companies become aware of the fact that a well-designed workspace can have a positive impact on the employees working in it, they are devoting more time and money to designing the space that works for them. Whilst certain workplace features will be specific to each company, one growing trend is suitable for each and every firm, no matter the size, location or budget: Biophilic Design.
It’s a really exciting time for the coffee industry right now. Consumers are developing a deeper understanding and interest in coffee, including the processes and science behind their beverage. Because of this increased interest, the expectation of the average consumer has grown significantly, forcing all involved in the coffee sector, including non-specialist operators, to up their game. Premium coffee is not concentrated in coffee shops any longer, consumers expect a barista-quality beverage wherever they go – from the office tea point, to the supermarket, to the hotel lobby. In this blog, we explore the biggest opportunities and challenges facing the coffee industry right now and identify simple changes to help operators meet and exceed consumer expectations.
Part of what makes the TopBrewer Experience so outstanding is our team of passionate TopBaristas. They are key to ensuring our customers are receiving a great experience and are drinking fantastic coffee.
Read on to find out what they get up to on an average day…
It’s no secret that the workplace has changed massively in recent years, and what employees expect from a workplace in 2018 is completely different to what would have been expected just 10 years ago. As the youngest generations start to graduate from university and join the working world, companies are starting to update their spaces to reflect what Generations Y and Z actually want from a workspace. It’s estimated that by 2020, almost half (46%) of the workforce will be millennials, so it’s important to start making changes or risk getting left behind.
The worlds of work, play and travel are merging, and in today’s connected society, where freelance and remote working is becoming more prevalent, whole industries are having to adapt to reflect this. It’s not a secret that the hotel market is saturated, and so hotels are having to find new ways to compete and bring in new clientele. Whether it’s a collaboration with a Michelin-starred chef to open an exciting new restaurant, or opening your business centre to a crowd of co-workers, there is a need to stand out. A “multi-use” strategy like this is not new in the hotel world, but the emergence of co-working spaces in hotels certainly is. Hotel managers have primarily worked with restaurateurs to bring high-end restaurants, cafes and bars into their hotel, but recently they have been experimenting with other ventures.
Co-working spaces (sometimes known as shared office spaces or flexible workspaces) have been on the rise for the last few years. According to GCUC (Global Co-working Unconference Conference), between 2016 and 2017, there was a global increase of over 3,000 co-working spaces. This trend is set to continue, with GCUC forecasting an increase of 15,000 spaces and over 3 million members between 2017 and 2022. In a recent blog, we identified the 10 Coolest Co-Working Spaces in London and with Dublin quickly becoming another co-working hot bed we thought it was only right that we curate a list of what we believe are the best co-working spaces in Dublin.
We’re proud to be partners for the Mix Design Collective event, 4-6 December 2019. Part of Mix Week Manchester, Mix Design Collective will take place alongside MixologyNorth18 and MixInspired, and is a 3-day Design Experience aimed at those involved and interested in the world of commercial property and workplace design.