Good salary and hours can attract recruits – but a quirky office may prove the clincher
Companies that want to attract the very best talent can no longer rely on generous pay packets and pension contributions. Today’s millennial workforce wants more from an employer: free breakfasts, unlimited holiday, flexible working and fun workspaces that provide a place in which to wind down between meetings or during the lunch break.
An attractive workspace can boost employee happiness and increase productivity, so the theory goes.
Tech giants such as Google, Microsoft and Deliveroo have been pioneers of cool and quirky offices in the hope it gives them a competitive edge when attracting young and skilled employees who are in high demand. If rivals offer similar salaries and hours, a fun office space can be the clincher. But are they as effective a tool for recruitment as firms think?
A survey conducted by the Oxford Open Learning Trust found that, while money is still the biggest motivator behind moving jobs with two thirds of 2,000 respondents citing it as the most important factor followed by hours and location, 37pc of job seekers consider working environments.
Ben Whitter, author of Employee
Experience, says news of cool workspaces and innovative workplace design spreads fast.
“The most desired brands on the planet have a tendency to leverage their unique offices as a talent magnet,” he says.
Call centre Moneypenny spent £15m on revamping its 91,000 sq ft headquarters in Wrexham after receiving funding from the Welsh government. There is a treehouse meeting room above a village pub, a sun terrace and seven acres of landscaped grounds. Timpson also opened a treehouse meeting room at its HQ in Manchester last year.
Meanwhile online retailer Ao.com’s head office in Bolton has a spa where hairdressers and therapists pamper staff with subsidised treatments. Vic Rodgers, chief people officer, says if staff are happy, “they’re best equipped to make our customers happy. We encourage that all treatments take place within working hours, to get Aoers up and away from their desks, which helps them switch off from stress and has the added bonus of not eating into their free time,” she adds.
The offices of comparison site Money.co.uk, in Cirencester, Glos, are in a 10,000 sq ft Victorian castle, with a Star Wars-themed cinema and popcorn machine, Rolling Stonesthemed bathroom, plus meeting rooms modelled on ice caves and ski lodges. There is a library with a secret door and an on-site gym. Chris Morling, its founder, reportedly spent £3m on renovations. He says: “I wanted to create a motivating, uplifting environment, which gave them flexibility and encouraged collaboration.” Thom Newton, chief executive of Conran Design Group, says: “Design can encourage more dynamic collaboration, increase productivity and help create an environment in which challenges feel more manageable.”
But he warns against quick fixes such as “prosecco taps, bean bags, a great coffee machine and free biscuits” and says firms must think more deeply and interrogate the workplace needs of their employees.
Emilie Colker, of design company Ideo, agrees: “Keeping your team engaged is an ongoing responsibility, and one that demands flexibility, creativity and empathy as a leader.”
However, there are a few design elements proven to be a success, says Tania Adir, of Uncommon workspaces.
“High ceilings give people a sense of intimidation and insignificance, provoking a sense of vulnerability … lower ceilings or exposed details such as hanging lighting, ornaments and beams create a sense of security and importance, thus productivity levels rise.
“There is a basic human preference for natural lighting over artificial, and, as humans we have a deep-rooted desire to connect with nature, so incorporating biophilic design in the office can enhance performance by promoting calm and relaxation.”
The Daily Telegraph wants to celebrate and reward those companies that are going the extra mile for their staff, with the launch of its Happiest Places to Work Awards. Enter via the free survey at engaging.works/happiness-survey
‘The most desired brands on the planet have a tendency to leverage their unique offices as a talent magnet’