Business Info - issue 147

businessinfomag.uk magazine 06 BULLETIN FLEXIBLEWORKING FIRST SCOTTISH FRANCHISE FOR IWG IWG, the world’s largest flexible workspace provider and owner of the Regus and Spaces brands, has announced its first franchise agreement in Scotland, following a 20-25% rise in enquiries about its centres from callers in Scottish suburban areas. The agreement will see the opening of three centres in North and South Lanarkshire over the next three years, giving residents of towns and suburbs in the Central Belt the chance to work closer to home rather than commuting into Glasgow or Edinburgh. iwgplc.com HEALTH & SAFETY DIRTY BUSINESS Professional cleaning materials brand Chicopee has identified the dirtiest touchpoints in UK offices where you will find the greatest concentrations of aerobic bacteria, yeast and mould. 1. Computer mouse (580 combined colony forming units) 2. Kettle (336.6 combined colony forming units) 3. Fridge (295 combined colony forming units) 4. Laptop (264.8 combined colony forming units) 5. Bathroom lock (188 combined colony forming units) 6. Hand sanitiser bottle (175.5 combined colony forming units) 7. Printer (100.5 combined colony forming units) 8. Light switch (99 combined colony forming units) 9. Desk phone (96.5 combined colony forming units) 10. Kitchen cupboard (67.9 combined colony forming units) High touchpoints with suprisingly low levels of colony forming units include toilet seats and desks. whatsonthesurface.chicopee.com HEALTH & SAFETY WORKSITE APP TRACKS COMPLIANCE Martin Grant Homes is aiming to improve health and safety standards on its building sites and reduce project costs by deploying a worksite health and safety solution from proptech company Forsite. The housebuilder will initially trial Forsite’s solution at its Albany Park development in Church Crookham, Hampshire, before rolling it out across all construction sites by the end of the year. Key features include: n a digitised induction process, including information on health and safety requirements, that Martin Grant construction workers can complete via a mobile phone app, with tests to prove compliance; n an emergency button that can be used to notify everyone on site of any incidents; n automatic recording of employee arrival and exit times via geofencing and sensors, removing the need for central sign-in points and improving capture of workers for site sign-in; and n a management portal giving site managers visibility of site compliance in real-time. IanWand, Health and Safety Manager at Martin Grant Homes, said: “We are excited to be the first housebuilder to adopt such technology in the UK, which will improve health and safety standards across our sites, alongside saving thousands of hours of time. Safety is absolutely paramount for us, and Forsite has a system in place to ensure processes are completed correctly, which gives us the confidence to roll this out across our sites.” www.getforsite.com OFFICE DESIGN PLUG & PLAY OFFICE SPACE GIVES SLOUGH BUSINESSES A THIRD OPTION ‘Plug & play’ office space on the second floor of a new 100,000 sq ft office development by AshbyCapital and U+I in Slough gives businesses an alternative to traditional office space and to short-term flexible workspaces. Offering a fully furnished and fitted office space of 6,900 sq ft, with immediate availability, The FutureWorks Instant (FWI) workspace includes client-facing and internal meeting rooms, breakout areas, dedicated phone booths and a café-style tea point. Tenants benefit from access to a 3,100 sq ft communal roof terrace with views of Windsor Castle;Wi-Fi connectivity; a ground-floor café; secure basement parking with electric car charging spaces; and extensive facilities for cyclists and runners include bicycle parking, changing rooms (with towel service), a drying room and smart vending machine. In addition, FutureWorks’ Smart Spaces technology platform provides intelligent features like contactless access via smartphone from reception to office floor, energy monitoring and occupancy sensors, and a reception area display showing live building sustainability information. The FutureWorks has a BREEAM environmental and sustainability rating of ‘Excellent’, the UK’s first Platinum AirScore rating for its indoor air quality, and is WiredCertified Platinum for its connectivity and digital infrastructure. Tom Smithers, Property Director at AshbyCapital, said: “The pandemic has accelerated underlying trends towards flexibility and caused occupiers to reassess their property needs. This plug & play space offers a turnkey solution for businesses wanting space that meets the demands of a modern workforce. The fully kitted- out office offers a workspace that suits everyone, with innovative floor and desk plans that can grow with your company.” The FutureWorks is the first phase of a three-stage, £200 million investment in Slough that will ultimately create 360,000 sq ft of new office accommodation in the city. uandiplc.com BULLETIN