A Dundee company has spent £850,000 on upgrades to encourage staff back to the office.
Learning and development company Insights has around 200 staff across two buildings at the city’s Technology Park.
Staff made the move to working from home when the pandemic hit.
But now Insights has made the substantial investment to create a “world-class” working environment as staff return to the office.
Chief executive Fiona Logan said: “Our staff were brilliant at a time of need in turning to virtual working. It was absolutely seamless.
“As the business has recovered we have invested back into staff and the working environment.
“This what an innovative working space looks like. This is the new world of work.
“Unashamedly part of the reason for the investment is to encourage people back to the office.”
What are the Dundee offices upgrades?
The refurbishment, carried out by Space Solutions, has taken a year from conception to completion.
The result is a working environment with lots of break-out spaces, the latest tech for hot desking and enhancements such as new canteen areas.
Around the offices neon signs on the wall spell out the company’s values – delivering results, enabling success, working together, making a difference and enjoying the journey.
Meeting rooms now have names such as entrepreneur, innovator, warrior and rebel.
Fiona said: “The idea is that people will bring those qualities into the room.
“We are playing with colour, playing with spaces where break-out spaces are next to work spaces and then we’ve got quiet spaces.
“It was time to invest in the offices and we hope staff will choose to be here as it’s a really creative, innovative, collaborative space.”
What are the benefits of the office?
Fiona describes herself as a “role model for 3:2″ – a flexible working week usually with three days in the office and two days working from home.
She feels certain elements of business are better in person rather than virtually.
“More strategic or creative work tends to be easier to do in a more creative space,” she said.
“I think dealing with tough issues is also better done in person. Body language can be missed in the virtual environment.
“The feedback from staff about the new offices has been amazingly positive.”
Insights going from strength to strength
More than six million people worldwide have used the company’s flagship Insights Discovery personality evaluator tool.
It uses a four-colour psychological model to help team members develop human skills.
The global business boasts clients such as the NHS, AstraZeneca and Google as its customers.
Fiona said the company had its best ever month in March and she is confident of recording its largest profit this year.
“The learning and development sector is performing well and it’s all credit to our staff for our success,” she adds.
Conversation