Is your business making the move to a new office in 2024?
Firstly, hooray!
In Design Tonic world, few things are more exciting than a shiny new space brimming with beautifully clean design promise and productive potential.
Secondly, if it’s all feeling like it might be a bit overwhelming, don’t worry.
We’ve got years of experience in helping businesses move smoothly from space to space and while yes, it is officially a *big deal*, much of the stress can be squeezed out of the process with some careful forethought and good planning.
So we thought we’d share some of our best tips to help you seek out the perfect space and eliminate the hassle of transitioning into it.
And remember, our move management team is here to lend an expert hand if you prefer to share the load!
Speak to the team today
Give your business the space it deserves
While it’s true that interiors can be moulded to fit your businesses’ day-to-day needs, before you start your search take a little time to define your objectives - and the needs of your workforce.
Perhaps you're moving to accommodate a growing team, and/or attract the best possible candidates.
You might be looking to enhance collaboration, and/or facilitate a more hybrid working model that now sees staff split their time between office and home.
Or you could be repositioning your business strategically, moving closer to suppliers, clients, sourcing or key infrastructure - not to mention making commuting easier, smoother or cheaper for your staff.
Whatever the reason, by clearly outlining why you’re moving, you’ll be able to make better decisions about everything - from location to size; budgets to amenities.
Pin down your budget
With a good idea of the type and location of the space you’ll be looking at, you should have an idea of your ongoing finances for the office itself, but you also need to factor in all the costs of moving and fit out to set a realistic overall budget.
Now’s the time to assess your existing lease terms, including any get-out clause costs and repairs or making good you might be liable for.
It’s also time to call in quotes from all the various contractors you’ll need to help deal with the move, from legal help to IT and comms specialists; design and fit out to removals companies.
Design Tonic X White Rose Education
Early design chats are a wise investment…
And now is also the ideal time to partner with a great commercial interior design firm (hello :)
Why? Because engaging early with your chosen designers is the best way to ensure that the space you choose is the best one for your business aims and future plans.
We’re able to put our years of experience to good use, bringing fresh perspective that’s well versed in the day-to-day of move management and space transformation and asking the potentially pivotal questions that might not even have crossed your minds.
And, after all, bringing your vision to life is what we do!
At White Rose Education, we were thrilled to be brought in early to help their brilliant team realise their office dreams, crafting a homely yet inspirational space that incorporates all they thought their business needed - and more.
Dive deeper into the Design Tonic X White Rose Education project
Give ownership to your workforce
It’s so important to keep your employees informed and engaged throughout the process - from considering their needs and preferences to giving them accountability for parts of the process.
Open communication fosters a positive transition experience and creates a sense of ownership among the team that will make the whole experience feel far more seamless and ultimately rewarding for everyone.
Design Tonic X The Alternative Board (TAB)
Create an Office Move timeline
What’s the one thing you’ll turn to time and time again?
We can’t emphasise enough how helpful a comprehensive timeline for your office move will be to ensuring everything goes smoothly and efficiently.
While nothing needs to be set in stone, having a structure in place serves as a kind of roadmap - guiding you through your critical milestones and helping you get organised with precision and foresight.
What should your timeline include?
As well as key completion dates and deadlines, it should break the move down into manageable phases, prioritising all the necessary tasks and allowing contingency time to allow for challenges.
This strategic planning means you can rest safe in the knowledge that tasks have been identified and prioritised, allowing you to allocate your resources as efficiently as possible.
Spreading duties and completion dates fairly fosters a collaborative approach to the move that keeps everyone on the same page, helps you problem-solve proactively and instils a sense of involvement and accountability throughout the team.
And best of all, a well-planned timeline can help you minimise the risk of oversights or delays, optimising your budgets and turning the complex task of relocating into something streamlined, synchronised and stress-free.
Design Tonic X Claritas Solutions
Out with the old?
Whether you’re planning your new space yourselves (you’ll need our “easy vs DIY checklist” - check out our Smooth Moves blog) or are working with commercial interiors specialists like our talented team, you’ll want to take stock of all your existing furniture and equipment as you plan your gorgeous new space.
Today, we’re all striving to be more sustainable, so it’s important to think about what you can keep, reuse and repurpose before you address what needs upgrading and replacing.
Creating a comprehensive inventory early on in the process is a great tool both for you and for your designers, so make sure to build it into your timeline to help guide the fit-out process and prevent oversights.
And don’t forget to take another inventory when you’ve moved, just to make sure everything you did want to bring is where it should be.
Looking for a practical checklist for the move itself? We’ve got your back! Click here
Design Tonic X Aspire Property Group
When the (metaphorical) dust settles…
May we make a post-move suggestion?
We love to revisit all our designs - from relocations to reinvigorations - afterwards to make sure they’re hitting the mark, and we strongly advise you to do the same.
A post-move evaluation that melds your own observations with invaluable feedback from employees and other key stakeholders is so important to help you assess the day-to-day reality of your new space against your initial objectives.
This introspective process allows you to address any true concerns or challenges at an early stage, and by actively seeking and considering this input, you’re also reinforcing the importance that your business places on collaboration, inclusivity and employee satisfaction - all crucial elements in keeping your business brand strong and your staff happy and productive!
Think of it less as a retrospective exercise and more as a proactive tool for fine tuning your shiny new workplace to align with your ever-evolving business needs, creating a dynamic and responsive office environment that contributes positively to your long-term success.
Still got office move overwhelm?
If the entire process still feels overwhelming, Design Tonic is here to help.
Once we deliver your design and fit out project on time and on budget, our efficiency doesn’t have to end there!
Thanks to our full turnkey service, we can also manage your move for you, effortlessly setting you up for business as usual from your thrillingly unusual, gloriously out-of-this-world new workspace.
