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Returning to the workplace post-pandemic offered Totaljobs the chance to rethink its real estate blueprint. Appointing Peldon Rose’s Workplace Strategy team to unlock the opportunity led to the start of an exciting journey across the country.
Totaljobs realised its Havant office, on England’s south coast, was no longer fulfilling business needs. General changes to ways of working and employee preferences following the pandemic meant that the space was outdated, and its potential was not being fully reached.
Initially, Peldon Rose embarked on a discovery process to unearth key challenges from across the business. Interviews, workshops, and observational studies revealed specific talking points relating to technology, acoustics, wellness, and catering within the workplace. These talking points became challenges to resolve. Peldon Rose’s Workplace Strategy team conveyed their findings to Totaljobs, and the change management process and hunt for a new workplace began.
A short journey from Havant, Totaljobs’ took the team to a destination in Portsmouth within a spectacular setting. Using insights gathered from a series of test-fit studies from Peldon Rose, Totaljobs decided to make the spectacular Lakeside North Harbour its new home. Set amongst 130 acres of landscaped grounds, it’s a destination that overlooks a vast lake surrounded by pockets of rugged woodland and wildlife. It’s perfect for Totaljobs’ employees to enjoy, thanks to the 2.3m high glass walls that flank the entire west side of the workplace.
Peldon Rose’s interior and technical design teams set out to interpret the Strategy team’s feasibility study findings. Taking a data-backed insight into design ensures all strategic learnings are reflected in the office fit out. For instance, employees in Portsmouth are part of JobSite, a member of the wider Totaljobs Group, StepStone. The Strategy team’s feasibility study showed that a sense of belonging to the wider workforce, while retaining a semblance of brand identity, was important to employees. As a result, the new workplace interior should reflect an environment where all sub-brands feel they belong.
The colour palette moves away from the respective brand tones and is inspired by the organic surroundings with earthy greens, soft blues and pops of burnt orange. Large screens and media walls offer the opportunity to celebrate the company vision and salient campaigns, without a constant clash of logos or contrasting brand identities.
It was imperative the space further reflected the wider landscape. On entry, colleagues and visitors are immediately met by a large tree surrounded by banquette seating. This focal point provides a natural place for people to gather just as they would outdoors.
Elsewhere, box planting separates zones for working, and biophilia is peppered throughout breakout areas and tea points. Thanks to the external setting, the introduction of greenery into the space feels hugely authentic and helps to boost wellbeing at work.
Totaljobs’ Portsmouth office houses the sales department as well as a team of web development specialists and software engineers. One of the major findings from the feasibility study highlighted the need for sound acoustics to support the needs of each team, while allowing them to co-exist in harmony.
Considering the office layout, the design team set to marrying zones of similar anticipated energies and noise levels, placing these next to each other. This is well illustrated, for instance, by the sales team sitting adjacent to the tea point; both these activities are naturally busier and louder, and neither hinder the other.
The open plan layout is broken up with collaboration furniture like focus booths with robust acoustic panelling, as well as bookcases and box planting that mitigate noise travel. Engineers sit apart from breakout areas in the zones that remain quiet, and conducive to focused work.
For those looking for something in-between, a range of working environments offer an abundance of choice. Rather than fitting each workstation with a sit-stand desk, movement around the space is encouraged. High tables sit alongside armchairs and banquette seating, offering an agile way of working. Furniture choices also mirror many of the domestic pieces that you’d find in the home, creating a warm and comfortable atmosphere to work in.
Before introducing the team to its new workplace, Totaljobs spent a considerable amount of time inducting semployees into their new office. Peldon Rose’s strategy and design teams proposed a landing event within the space to create excitement and to introduce the company to their new home.
A full induction process covering workplace technology, working habits and design features took place. Colleagues journeyed around the space in groups, receiving best practice advice, while opening the discussion for flexible use of each work setting. This collaborative approach has enabled the team to adopt the working environment with ease and paves the way for success in their new home.
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