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The Importance of Inclusion and Diversity in the Workplace

Finding a new person to join any team can be a challenge. From deciding if they have the proper experience to figuring out if they’ll be the right fit for the team, there are a lot of factors to consider. One that can be overlooked, but is of the utmost importance, is diversity and the importance of having a well-represented organisation.

When thinking of diversity in the workplace, it can be easy to pigeonhole the understanding of the term, to simply mean an employee’s ethnicity, however, diversity includes a variety of characteristics including religious and political beliefs, gender, ethnicity, education, socioeconomic background, sexual orientation and geographic location.¹ With a diverse workforce must come an inclusive workplace, which is why the two terms go hand in hand. And while diversity and inclusion are always stressed, it is important to understand why.

Diversity = Better performance as a team

Some impressive statistics reinforce that having a diverse team will lead to better performance at a company. In a study analysing 200 teams across different companies, it was found that the diverse teams outperformed individuals 87% of the time and that these teams benefited from an improvement on decision making 60% of the time.²

To bring new ideas to the table

It’s common sense that a diverse group of people would generate an abundance of different ideas as they come from different backgrounds and ways of life – however, for this to happen, it is important that there is a work culture that embraces creativity, known as a culture of sharing knowledge.³ A community that truly fosters diversity and new ideas is a co-working or serviced office space. Putney is home to Proper Office, a serviced office space which also have offices in Shoreditch, where diversity and inclusion is encouraged through social events at their managed offices, bringing together a wide variety of individuals.

Your company’s image

To begin with, in the UK, larger organisations are required to publicly disclose their gender pay gap – therefore it is in a company’s best interest to have proper diversity and inclusion polices in place.⁴ It also looks better for a company to have a diverse team and the executive teams in place to enforce them – take Netflix who hired a Vice President for Inclusion Strategy and Uber who recently hired a Chief Diversity and Inclusion officer, both respected and successful brands. ⁵

Retain Talent

By 2020, millennials are forecasted to make up 35% of the global workforce and it is these same millennials who are concerned about diversity and inclusion policies and consider them when deciding where to work.⁶ Therefore, it is important to factor this when seeking new employees as you could lose out on quality employees if you don’t have the right policies in place.

Whether you work at company’s headquarters’ or in serviced offices, London is a cultural melting pot with individuals from all different walks of life. This is why successful companies ensure they have a diversity and inclusion plan in place as it can only benefit an organisation, not hinder it.

https://smallbusiness.chron.com/define-diversity-workplace-4926.html

https://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/experts/research/diversity-drives-better-decisions

https://hbr.org/2017/06/does-diversity-actually-increase-creativity

https://www.ciphr.com/advice/5-reasons-diverse-workforce-matters/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/janicegassam/2018/12/19/5-diversity-and-inclusion-trends-we-can-expect-in-2019/#1ede5a9b6f7b

https://www.manpowergroup.com/wps/wcm/connect/660ebf65-144c-489e-975c-9f838294c237/MillennialsPaper1_2020Vision_lo.pdf?MOD=AJPERES

The Ins and Outs of Putney: February

Putney is reputed as ‘one of London’s most pleasant suburbs,’ and it really does have something for everyone. With our new serviced office space, Putney now has a growing number of start-ups and freelancers working in the area.

For February, we found the best places for you to enjoy just a short walk away from our serviced office spaces in Putney.

Where to eat…

Nothing says Valentine’s day quite like treating someone to breakfast in bed, and at the Brew Café in Putney you can enjoy the experience without having to do any cooking yourself. Lining the café’s cosy terrace are an even cosier series of beds available for hire – and as a Valentine’s day treat, each booking includes a bottle of Champagne to go with their usual brunch menu. You can find it on Lower Richmond Road, SW15 1JP.

Or, if you’re not feeling particularly lovestruck, consider getting a group together after work to pop along to Popeseye on Upper Richmond Road. Don’t expect fancy starters or sides – this old-school steakhouse specialises in no-nonsense, great quality steaks, plus a highly recommended wine list to toast away the end of Dry January…

Where to go for a drink…

And speaking of the end of Dry January, what better way to celebrate than with a nostalgia trip right back to childhood? The Toy Shop on Putney High Street is a quirky bar with a self-explanatory theme – the colours are bright, the walls are textured like a child’s board game, and the cocktail menu includes specialities like the Play-Doh milk punch (although fortunately there’s no actual Play-Doh in the recipe). Reasonably priced and centrally located, this is an ideal location for groups and casual after-work drinks.

Everything else…

Putney institution The Half Moon is one of the area’s most popular watering holes, but it’s equally as committed to keeping people entertained in its other identity as a vibrant and diverse music venue. The pub hosts regular music nights on almost every night of the week, making it an ideal, informal place to kick back and relax after a hard day of work.

Or, if you’re in the mood for soaking up some of the area’s history, take a short walk over the river to explore Fulham Palace, one of London’s historic houses and a Grade I listed building. Admission to the palace and its surrounding grounds is free every day, and can be accessed from Fulham Palace Road, just across Putney Bridge.

If you’re looking for a small office for rent, Putney could be a great place to develop your business in the new year. Why not check out our offices and see which ones suit your company’s needs?

The Ins and Outs of Shoreditch – February

The Ins and Outs of Shoreditch – February

With the new year well underway, there’s also a new wealth of opportunities for places to eat, drink and be merry – all within walking distance of our serviced office space in Shoreditch.

Where to eat…

If you’re looking to impress a date over dinner this Valentine’s day, hotel and member’s club The Curtain is pulling out all the stops with a six-course tasting menu in their rooftop restaurant Lido – or the more casual Red Rooster, where you can take in some live music over sharing dishes. Find them both at 45 Curtain Road, London, EC2a 3PT.

Or, if you’re not planning on breaking out the love hearts and just fancy a bite to eat  with friends, then consider heading to BunBunBun – one of many Vietnamese restaurant’s to be found along the ‘Pho Mile’ on Kingsland Road, but undoubtedly one of the best. The clue is very much in the name with this one – it specialises in Vietnamese delicacy Bun cha, but you’ll almost certainly be able to find something for everyone.

Where to grab a drink…

Dry January is officially over! Congrats to everyone who made it all the way through, now get yourself to one of Shoreditch’s many bars or pubs to celebrate…

If you fancy taking in a spectacular view of London and the Shoreditch area over an after-work tipple, Shoreditch institution the Ace Hotel runs Night Light every Friday – a chance for an exclusive number of visitors to take in views of the city from the private hotel bar. It’s right at the end of the week, so why not treat yourself – TGFF, after all.

Everything else…

Looking to catch a film, exhibit or performance after work? Near our serviced office, Shoreditch is home to Rich Mix, an independent, all-purpose, cultural hub with three cinema screens, exhibition and performance spaces, along with a café and bar. Visit their website to find out what they have on, or pop along to 35-47 Bethnal Green Rd, London, E1 6LA, to have a look for yourself.

Plus, Proper Office’s Yoga teacher Letizia will be helping you to stretch away those January cobwebs. She’ll be running intermediate level classes every Tuesday from 6-7, plus beginner sessions on a bi-weekly Thursday basis. This class can be joined anytime, so just send us an email at enquiry@properoffice.com to find out more and book yourself a place.

As London’s startup and small business centre, Shoreditch has no shortage of places to eat, drink and hang out – check the Proper Office blog regularly for our monthly recommendations.

Make the Most of Your Serviced Office Space: How to Boost Productivity

Proper Office is a serviced office space, Putney and Shoreditch based, that is home to a variety of different companies. And while these companies are all different in size, structure and purpose, one thing that they all have in common is their goal to boost productivity. In this blog post, we will explore ways to boost productivity to benefit our diverse tenants at all of our Proper Office locations.

Do Not Multitask

While this advice may go against everything you thought you knew, Earl K. Miller, a neuroscience professor at the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, stated that “Multitasking is not humanly possible.” Instead, focus on monotasking and perform one task at a time. You’ll find that you’re more productive then if you had been trying to do five things at once. If you have many different things to do, work in intervals, dedicating a certain amount of time to one task and then switching to another when time is up.¹

Take Breaks

Breaks are an essential part of everyone’s day. It has been proven that walking around for five minutes every hour will not only improve your health but your well-being as well – furthermore, sitting too much will increase the risk of dying early.² It is for these reasons that at our managed offices, we provide ample breakout spaces to give our tenants a place to take a break including a relaxing rooftop garden and ping pong tables that promote comradery.

Exercise  

As we highlighted in a previous blog post this month, working out has countless benefits, especially when it comes to augmenting productivity. Research shows that people who spent at least 30 minutes working out at lunch had an average performance boost of 15% and that those who worked out in the middle of the work day developed better time management skills and met deadlines more effectively on days that they worked out.³

Track Your Progress

Will a certain task take you one hour or just ten minutes? It’s hard to know unless you keep track of your work to better understand your ability to complete tasks and in what timeframe. Don’t worry if you don’t know the answer yet, as research suggests that only 17% of people can accurately estimate how long a task will take them. Gain awareness of your daily activity through tools such as Toggl or Rescue Time that will let you know exactly how your time is being used.⁴

Be Happy!

Do your best and always remember that tomorrow is another day to start fresh. It has been proven that happy people are more productive as shown by various studies including ones performed by The University of Warwick, Maastricht University and KPMG.⁵

At Proper Office, we aim to provide our tenants with a productive environment to ensure they have everything they need to get their best work done in our serviced offices. London is a city full of distractions, find an office space with us in Putney or Shoreditch for a refuge from the hustle and bustle in a place where you will always be well taken care of.

https://www.nytimes.com/guides/business/how-to-improve-your-productivity-at-work?mcubz=1

https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/changepower/201703/is-it-true-movement-is-medicine

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235275530_Exercising_at_work_and_self-reported_work_performance

https://www.inc.com/john-rampton/15-ways-to-increase-productivity-at-work.html

https://www.thebalancesmb.com/top-ways-to-increase-productivity-2948669

Working Out During the Work Week

As we all know, taking breaks throughout the day is proven to improve productivity.¹ That is why, here at Proper Office, we believe in breakout areas that include ample space for some time-out — there’s even a Ping Pong table available to employees in both neighbourhoods that we host our serviced offices. London is a busy city with so much going on, making it even more important to consciously include times to take a break. And what better to get your energy levels up than squeezing in a powerful workout during the working week? Here, we explain how working out can improve employee’s quality of life and share some of our favourite places near our serviced office spaces in Shoreditch, so you too can fit in the best workouts during the work week.

Sweat the Stress Away

As much as we enjoy our jobs, there are bound to be moments of stress that threaten to wreak havoc on our mental state. Exercise reduces levels of adrenaline and cortisol, which cause us stress while simultaneously stimulating the production of endorphins – delivering a satisfying natural high. ² Whether it’s right before work, at lunch or before you head home, even a quick workout can do wonders at making that stress simply melt away.

Augment Your Productivity

Working out takes your break one step further in terms of boosting productivity. In fact, it was found that people who spent at least 30 minutes working out at lunch had an average performance boost of 15%. Furthermore, 60% of people who worked out in the middle of the work day developed better time management skills and met deadlines more effectively on days that they worked out.³

Cultivating Creativity

Squeeze in 4 work outs during the week and reap the benefits: a 2013 study showed that workers who followed this plan were more creative than their counterparts, giving them a professional and personal advantage.

A Twist on Networking

Many people network by meeting other professionals at events and conferences; however, the truth is that networking doesn’t have a time or place. You can meet a potential connection while out for a drink just as easily as at your favourite yoga class at lunch – not only that, working out can be a great way to get to know clients and woo them, making working out beneficial for you and your employer.

Places Around the Office to Feel the Burn

Near our managed offices in Shoreditch, there are plenty of places to get your sweat on and have a productive and energising lunch break or start to your day. We have a few staff favourites that we thought we’d list below.

Frame
“Move your Frame” is the motto of this Shoreditch-native exercise studio. From trampolining to dancing, Pilates and more – there’s something for everyone to enjoy. We love Rebounding and Dance Cardio — why not give them a try? You can find them at New Inn Yard, London EC2A 3EY.

Psycle
Known for their high-energy spinning classes, this boutique fitness brand founded by a Canadian is so much more. At their Shoreditch studio, you’ll have the option of spinning or barre. Go on a ride or take a barre class at 17-23 Whitby St, London E1 6JU.

Blok
A boutique fitness studio with 100’s of classes a week. From boxing to yoga, Pilates and signature workouts – Blok’s classes are designed to push your limits. We’ve enjoyed blokflex and Yogasana. You can find them at Principal Place, 2 Hearn street, London EC2A 3BR.
 

Chroma Yoga
Last but not least, a yoga studio that combines colour therapy with yoga – delivering an immersive, multi-sensory yoga experience. Choose from Red, Yellow, Blue, Orange, Pink, Super Pink, Chromatic or Ganzsound and prepare for yoga like you’ve never experienced before. Find your zen at 45 Charlotte Road, London EC2A 3PD.

When looking for an office space, Shoreditch has many options. Choose Proper Office for its proximity to a variety of fitness studios that will keep you and your team energised and productive throughout the week. Get in touch today to find out more about our currently available offices: enquiry@properoffice.com

 
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494415000328

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/exercising-to-relax

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235275530_Exercising_at_work_and_self-reported_work_performance

https://www.ciphr.com/advice/promote-exercise/

The Ins and Outs of Putney: January

Putney is reputed as ‘one of London’s most pleasant suburbs,’ and it really does have something for everyone. With our new serviced office space, Putney now has a growing number of start-ups and freelancers working in the area.

For January, we found the best places for you to enjoy just a short walk away from our serviced office spaces in Putney.

Where to eat

An old favourite hang-out in Putney is Isola del Sole on Lacey Road. This authentic Sardinian restaurant has a warm, neighbourhood feel to it, and is a favourite among locals. Its name translates to ‘Isle of the Sun’, a nickname for the island of Sardinia.

With fresh cooking that remains true to its roots, enjoy seasonal, flavourful recipes of fresh food, presented beautifully.

Where to go for a drink

The Dukes head is a grand Victorian grade II listed building, built in 1864, sitting at the side of the River Thames in Putney.

The almost 150-year-old establishment resides at the start of the Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Race, and has four venues under its one roof. The Duke’s Bar is a traditional British pub with comfy chairs and plenty of beers, spirits and wines to choose from. Perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon with friends.

Everything else

Hurlingham Books is a well-loved hidden gem in Putney. This old fashioned bookshop offers antique classics among its paperbacks, and has been going since the 1960s. And if you can’t find what you’re looking for, don’t sweat – they also have a huge warehouse in Fulham, 10 minutes from the shop, where they hold over a million books.

And then there’s London Wetland Centre, an urban oasis nestled next to the Thames.

This nature reserve offers a great place for a relaxing walk beside lakes, meadows and gardens, where you’ll see ducks, water birds, butterflies, bats, amphibians and water voles.

If you’re looking for a small office for rent, Putney could be a great place to develop your business in the new year. Why not check out our offices and see which ones suit your company’s needs?

The Ins and Outs of Shoreditch: January

It’s the beginning of a near year, and there’s no better place to start afresh than Shoreditch, where there’s just enough excitement to get us through the cold months.

As London’s startup and small business centre, Shoreditch has no shortage of places to eat, drink and hang out, which is great for those who work in the area, in managed offices such as our own. For January, we found the best places for you to eat, drink and have fun, all within a short walking distance from our serviced office spaces in Shoreditch.

Where to eat

Dirty Bones Shoreditch is certainly a unique experience. Set in a stunning Grade II listed building, the ambiance, for a start, doesn’t get much better – until you hear the lovingly curated playlist of old-school hip-hop, funk and soul in the background, that is.

Alongside the nostalgic soundtrack, Dirty Bones offers NYC-inspired comfort food and delicious cocktails to wash them down with, including chicken and waffles, cheeseburger dumplings and burnt onion and ale beef short rib, not to mention the mouth-watering famous Moving Mountains vegan mac daddy burger for all of those doing Veganuary – and those who aren’t.

Where to go for a drink

TT Liquor is one of Shoreditch’s finest speakeasy-style bars. Once a police station, the building now allows customers access through an unassuming entrance and into a cellar bar transformed from old jail cells.

Kick back and relax on leather benches and enjoy a delicious, handpicked selection of fine liquors and cocktails. There’s even the option to create your own liquor collection by taking a deposit box for bottles customers have purchased upstairs in the booze shop. If you need a particularly big January pick-me-up, TT Liquor also offers cocktail-making masterclasses and tasting experiences.

Everything else

This month, Shoreditch is treating workers to a month-long pop-up for gin-lovers at Ham Yard Hotel. A celebration of all things gin, Hot Gin Roof: The Chronicles, organised by Sipsmith And Ham Yard Hotel, greets guests with a hot gin and tonic on arrival to warm you up, and is hosting two masterclasses, where you can create bespoke cocktails and taste a few cheeky samples along the way.

And on the 10^th Jan, yoga fans are in for a treat with Shoreditch’s beloved The Book Club, which is hosting a session of Sade Yoga. That’s right – a night of yoga poses along to your favourite Sade hits.

If you’re looking for a small office for rent, Shoreditch could be a great place to develop your business in the new year. Why not check out our offices and see which ones suit your company’s needs?

Make the Most of Your Serviced Office Space: The Benefits of Socials and Events

If you’ve considered the possibility of a serviced office space, Putney is a great area to find one of these managed offices for your business. Serviced office spaces are becoming more and more popular nowadays with new start-ups that might not want to spend the money or be able to afford spending it on buying an office. Therefore, a serviced office space like ours at Proper Office, are much more attractive. There are also many benefits of serviced spaces, particularly when it comes to events and socials.

Networking Opportunities

A serviced office space will often have multiple organisations renting it out and therefore it can be a great opportunity for those within the office to network. With a mixture of businesses, networking can be a great advantage, whether they are established or new to their specific industry. You’ll often have similar industries in the building too so it’s great if you’re looking for something in particular for your next project or campaign, they might just be in that same office.

A Balanced Work-Life

With most serviced office spaces, socials and events are put on not just for networking but to give the business or businesses a chance to relax and focus on the wellbeing of staff. If your staff aren’t getting a balanced work-life then they’ll end up resenting the business for it, so these social outings are a great opportunity to boost morale and make the workplace more than just work. After all, we do spend a lot of our lives working, so why not have a bit of fun?

No Hire Costs

Running a business in London is costly, however, by renting a serviced office space you don’t need to worry about spending thousands of pounds to hire a space for your events or social occasions. No hire costs mean you can spend more money on developing the business or making these events more memorable to clients and guests who come to them.

And you can also save money on staffing too, as many serviced offices come with a team. There are receptionists, a facilities and general manager and even a handyman at our office spaces in Putney and Shoreditch.

The Work Environment Changes

When you combine a space both for working and socialising, you get a new type of environment. It’s more creative and you’ll find that your staff will communicate more between departments, which is all productive when it comes to running the business. It will also be a more exciting experience for everyone, both those who work in the office and visit it. Why? Because they’ll associate the workspace with having fun and that’s something that would be hard to create in a traditional office that has little to no flexibility.

If you’re looking for a small office space for rent, Putney and Shoreditch should certainly be areas to consider and we can certainly vouch that both are great areas to grow and develop a business. So why not give us a call and come take a look at our serviced offices? Did we mention we have break out areas with ping pong tables and a rooftop garden – both perfect areas to host your businesses next social or join in on one ours as a tenant.

The Ins and Outs of Putney: December

Got all your Christmas shopping done? Nope, neither have we – but that’s ok because it’s sort of a tradition to do it all last minute, right? With our new serviced office space, Putney now has a growing number of start-ups and freelancers working in the area. The festive party season is upon us and if you’re currently lacking a little festive spirit, then Putney has lots of it. Here’s what to see and do in the area in December.

Where to eat

December is truly the best month of the year. You’ll be guzzling down gingerbread lattes and orange hot chocolates while having all of the festive food, mince pie anyone?

As well as our office space, Putney has lots of great spots for eating out. If you love sugar, spice and everything nice, a trip to Blabar is a must. A Nordic paradise, this Scandinavian themed spot serves up warm cinnamon buns, Swedish coffee and open-top sandwiches aplenty.

If you’re still looking for a place to host a festive dinner or don’t fancy cooking on Christmas Day, then The Jolly Gardeners is serving up a range of festive menus with all of the trimmings included.

Where to go for a drink

An award winner of designmynight, Tequila Mockingbird Putney is an intimate bar that would be a great stop off on a night out. Enjoy 2-4-1 cocktails and then party until 2am while the DJ entertains you with some festive tunes. Expect to see a few drinks specials over the Christmas period.

If you fancy a drink with a view, The Boathouse is a fantastic spot overlooking the river and has both indoor and outdoor seating. Wrap up warm and enjoy a mulled wine or cider that they’ll have on offer throughout December. If you’re a fan of live music or comedy then you’ll love The Half Moon – a long established and respected live music pub and food house, it plays host to plenty of acoustic music, comedy and much more. They’ve also got a couple of regular Quiz Nights happening across the month, so it’ll be a great distraction from the thought of working on Monday.

What else is going on?

There’s nothing like a good old-fashioned market to get you in the mood for Christmas and Putney’s regular Saturday market will likely be jam packed with locals and tourists to the area. Bringing fresh, artisanal produce to Putney High Street, you can find all of your food and gift inspiration here. The market can be found in St Mary’s Church Square every Saturday between 10am-3pm.

For a traditional celebration through song, join the Epsom Chamber Choir on Saturday 8th December for a free choral concert. There’s likely to be a few classics to hum along to, so grab your friends or family and enjoy an evening of music without having to spend a penny.

If you’re looking for a small office for rent, Putney could be a great place to develop your business in the new year. Why not check out our offices and see which ones suit your company’s needs?

The Ins and Outs of Shoreditch: December

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and you’d better believe that Shoreditch is full of cheer – not to mention restaurants and bars transformed for the festive season. London truly knows how to do the festive season best with beautiful lights lining every street and store fronts dressed to the nines. As London’s startup and small business centre, Shoreditch has no shortage of places to eat, drink and be merry, which is ideal for all of the employees that populate the area in managed offices such as our own. For December, we found the best places for you to enjoy just a short walk away from our serviced office spaces in Shoreditch.

Where to eat

For those looking to get into the spirit of the festive season, The Princess of Shoreditch is the place to go for a festive meal. Nestled on Paul Street, the pub serves up a delicious Christmas feast for the month of December. There is mulled wine and mince pies galore and Christmas music playing all day long. The Princess of Shoreditch is not open on Christmas, however – if you find yourself in the neighbourhood on the day, The Hoxton Grill located inside the Hoxton hotel in the heart of Shoreditch, conveniently located across the street from our location on Great Eastern street, offers a lovely spread – roast turkey with all the trimmings, Christmas Pudding and of course some mince pies.

Where to go for a drink

Nestled inside the neighbourhood staple that is Dinerama, Dick’s Magic T-bar has been transformed into a cosy escape from the hustle and bustle of Christmas shoppers and the weather that can be oh so frightful – yes there is a fire that is so delightful. Delicious tipples including a frozen toffee vodka. If you’re looking for something themed but not so Christmassy, the Queen of Hoxton rooftop is sure to blow your mind away, all the way to Paris as this year’s theme is Moulin Rouge, otherwise known as Lady Celeste’s Parisian Rooftop Bar. There’s an absinthe bar to make a visit to the green fairy and of course wine and cheese to really set the scene – you’re visiting Paris after all.

Everything else

Just outside our serviced office space, Shoreditch offers an abundance of things to do from mini golf to ping pong. The London Shuffle Club, however, is all about the festive season, and has been transformed into a cosy winter retreat – fire pit and roasted marshmallows included. Another fun activity to partake in, that is a bit out of the ordinary, is a social game of darts. There’s no better place for this then at the Flight Club in Shoreditch, where you can order fizz  — and like magic have it waiting for you upon your arrival. The Flight Club also hosts a fizz hour every day from 5 pm – 7 pm, where a bottle of prosecco is just £25, so bring on the bubble!

Festive season or not, Shoreditch is the ideal place to work with great things going on all year round and not to mention delicious food and drink. Make sure to keep checking our blog for the best in recommendations.