Month: October 2018

Make the Most of Your Serviced Office Space: Setting Up Your Space

When it comes to designing the layout and décor of your office, the process is as much about inspiration as anything else. Here, Proper Office outline how you can set up your space for maximum impact and efficiency.

The first thing to do is identify the main goals you have in mind for the new space. You may want to prioritise collaboration, in which case you’ll want to ensure breakout areas and spaces that encourage and allow working together, such as a space large enough to hold bigger meetings, or somewhere where everyone can eat and have lunch meetings together.

Other possible objectives you may have in mind could be preparing for future growth, increasing productivity, projecting a certain brand and image to workers and clients, or making it a place that attracts and retains workers.

It’s a good idea to look at what other companies in your industry, or even within the same shared office space, are doing, so you can discover any best practices. Not only is this good for design, but for practical reasons, too. This inspiration can work both ways, too – Amazon’s recently built UK headquarters was designed to mirror the sort of flexible, shared office space Shoreditch built its reputation on.

You will also need to take into consideration the practical elements, such as ample space for technology and equipment, as well as enough storage and the security of the storage.

When it comes to the design, every decision can make a difference. The colour of your décor can dictate the mood, the openness of the kitchen can dictate how people move around it, how they socialise, and even effect their moods. Multiple studies have shown that employees based in offices with more creative, inviting décor are happier and more productive as a result.

Next, think about your employees, and how the nature of their roles dictates how they work. For example, open spaces that encourage collaboration are great for designers, but for those working intensely on their own work, having a space that prioritises concentration will be more effective.

One major factor to consider here is sound. It depends on how much leverage you have to design the office, but trying to keep at least one are separate for loud or private meetings, and keeping breakout areas away from desks, are a few ways to design the office with concentration in mind.

The design will also massively depend on the type of office you are moving into. If you are based in a shared office space, for example, you may have the layout already done for you. In this case, you can focus energy and budget on the décor. Do you want the office to be filled with fresh flowers, modern lighting or bookshelves full of books?

Again, this comes down to the nature of the business and what you want to encourage in employees, and how you want the office to make them feel. Regardless of whether they’re based in the headquarters of a large company or the sort of shared, serviced office Old Street has to offer, everyone works better in a space that’s been set up right.

Meet the Professional

This month for our ‘Meet the Professional’ series we spoke with Victoria Vannicola, Marketing & Content Strategist at Snapppt, a company that drives sales via Instagram. We sat down with Victoria to find out more about herself and her career.

What are the main things you do in your role?
I create campaigns for brands, match influencers with brands and campaigns, create social plans – IG/FB/Twitter and formulate analytics based on brands x influencer // overall reach (success) they had.

What are the first three things you do when you get to the office in the morning?
1. Check my emails
2. Open up Business of Fashion + Refinery 29 for ideas + industry news
3. Scan through influencers to check for new content

How did you get your start in your career?

I started working with Childrenswear – attending trade shows, I realized that I loved being with the people and being able to ‘sell’ a vision. I then moved into a PR role for a marketing company – this is where my passion for analytics and the science behind what makes the world of social stemmed.

What is your favourite thing about what you do?

Being able to create content – envisioning a campaign and having it come to life through the brand and handpicked influencers is so much fun!

What is your least favourite thing about what you do?

I think the worst part is telling someone they aren’t a good fit for a campaign, even though it isn’t personal.

Where do you work: rented space, serviced office, owned office, co-working space?

Owned office

How important is office environment to you?

Very important – if you don’t feel comfortable with your surroundings, your productivity definitely goes down. I hate feeling like I’m locked up in a quiet zone – work shouldn’t feel like a school library!

Do you prefer open plan or individual offices?

Open plan, but for meetings and video calls I do prefer an individual office.

If you weren’t doing this job, what would you be doing?

Psychologist

What piece of advice would you give to someone starting in the business?

It’s easy for people to make it seem like your job isn’t as important as theirs, they don’t understand the power of influencers & how important a campaign can be in the world of marketing. Big or Small – give every account everything you have. Do not get discouraged if not all your ideas work, it’s a learning curve!

Did you have a mentor?

No

Is there a motto or quote that you live by?

No one is promised tomorrow. Don’t take today for granted. We all have days where life just seems impossible – it’s important to remember that we need to enjoy every moment, don’t take anything for granted.

What keeps you awake at night?

How much work I know I have to do in the morning…. #procrastination

We hope you enjoyed learning about Victoria. Watch this space for our monthly ‘Meet the Professional’ series, where we will be interviewing a new professional each month and sharing everything from what they do, to what keeps them up at night with you from our serviced office space, Shoreditch based. Did you get a chance to read about Karen Lane in our last ‘Meet the Professional’ post? Karen is the MD at Plus 1 Communications in London business center Shoreditch, where she and her team thrive.

If you’re looking for an office space, Shoreditch has many – Proper Office is a great option with a friendly staff that will help cater to individual’s needs. Contact us today to find what we have available.

The Ins and Outs of Shoreditch: October

Shoreditch has become the place to be – whether you’re hungry, thirsty, or in need of some inspiration or excitement. It’s also become the number one place to base your small business or start-up, with its diverse and creative community, and plenty of shared office space. Shoreditch has so much to offer that we’ll be publishing a monthly guide to the ins and outs of the area. For October, we take a look at some of the best places to eat, drink and be merry near our premises.

Where to eat:

Cereal Killer Café

It started with a bang when two bearded brothers set up the country’s first ever cereal café in 2014 on Brick Lane. Since then, the divisive hipster duo have won over the capital’s taste buds, and even had to move to larger premises on the opposite side of Brick Lane. But don’t worry – it’s still decked out with enough retro memorabilia to send you on a trip down memory lane.

It may not be the most conventional choice for dinner, but its cereal concoctions are surprisingly filling – and tasty. Choose from a variety of milks – including non-dairy options, as well as chocolate milk – and a tonne of cereals from the UK and US, and finish with a variety of toppings. They also offer a variety of other food options, but we recommend keeping to the classic cereal. Oh, and you can top it off with a pretty impressive selection of decadent milkshakes.

Where to go for a drink:

Bar Three

This chic, stripped-back basement cocktail bar in Spitalfields is a good old-fashioned option for a fuss-free, well-made cocktail. Each one is created with care and precision, and your taste buds will thank you for it.

The interior design at Bar Three is the perfect balance of sleek, and cosy and chilled out, with many low-lit nooks and corners to cosy up into. It’s the perfect after-work drinks atmosphere, right in the heart of Shoreditch.

What else is going on?

There’s never a shortage of things to do in Shoreditch. And as the weather cools and the leaves begin to fall, there’s no better time of year to appreciate nature, and there’s no better way to appreciate nature than with a visit to Columbia Road Flower Market.

It’s one of London’s most popular weekend markets, with vendors filling the narrow street and selling everything from succulents and cacti to humble houseplants, bouquets and herbs.

Shoreditch is one of London’s best places to work and explore, which is why we’ll be bringing you our picks of the best it has to offer every month. Make sure to keep checking the blog to get all of our recommendations.