Coastal’s flagship HQ now has staff ’s wellbeing at heart

QUIET zones and unassigned seating are some of the hallmarks of a Welsh social enterprise helping to transform how people work.

And one south Wales housing group, Coastal, says it’s revolutionised morale and wellbeing, and productivity, in the office...

Just six months ago, Coastal Housing Group’s flagship HQ in Swansea was buzzing with activity across the dynamic openplan floor system you’d find in many offices across the UK.

But it wasn’t working – and they say a makeover fit-out by a Welsh firm that specialises in creating better work spaces, has transformed operations.

More than 250 people work at Coastal’s Swansea site, part of the multi-million pound Urban Village regeneration scheme on the city’s High Street.

Caroline Belasco, director of HR and Organisational Development, said: “People were coming in and saying, ‘wow, this is a great space. But isn’t it noisy? “There was no wellbeing strategy.” Serena Jones, director of homes, communities and services, agrees: “Reflectors, who need time to work in focussed, intense periods, were unhappy.

“We were using the space in an inefficient way.”

Coastal contacted PS Properties and Interiors, a social enterprise and trading arm of mental health and wellbeing charity, Gofal.

The Cardiff-based enterprise specialises in fitting-out and refurbishing workspaces, from bars and cafes to industrial units and offices.

PS’s relationship with Gofal also means that all profits from PS are reinvested into Gofal’s charitable objectives of “sustainable wellbeing for all.”

Dave Plummer, operations director at PS, has 17 years’ experience in the building and interiors sectors.

He said: “We think the spaces we live, work and play in should be supportive to our health and wellbeing.

“Our emphasis is on spaces that improve how everyone within that workplace feels.

“People planning a refit or redesign also like to know they’re directly contributing towards helping people with mental health issues.”

Coastal asked its staff what they wanted from a redesign and the results surprised them.

Staff loved the open-plan design – but they were being overwhelmed by it.

“And we had all this stuff that looked quirky and fun, but some of it was style over substance,” says facilities manager Rod Gregory.

“We initially thought we didn’t have enough space. There were never enough desks for people.

“But when we consulted, and really sat down with PS, we realised we had too many.”