Madeleine Ford, Editorial & Events Assistant

WORKTECH Panel: James Kendall, Director of Enterprise Engineering at SwiftConnect, and John Psyllos, Global Security Technology Lead at IBM discuss the future of mobile access control in the workplace. 

Providing seamless access for employees, customers and visitors while still maintaining robust security is a key priority in sustaining top employee experience according to both Kendall and Psyllos. Speaking on a panel at WORKTECH London about the partnership between SwiftConnect and IBM, they both reiterated the basic fact that, at the very least, workplaces must be buildings where people want to come and work. Creating ‘smart offices’ enables great cultures to be built within these spaces.

SwiftConnect, “a unified, software-first approach to permissions and credentials”, is an access network, centred around ‘smart office’ solutions offering employee experience enhancements, office space management and building operations. Services focus on improving the efficiency, flexibility and general experience of the workplace.

Kendall stated that the top reason that clients deploy the technology is for user experience. The aim is to allow people to have a similar experience of travelling through the tube in London, with a simple tap and go into the building using Apple or Google wallet credentials. This allows access in the same way a plastic card would, but with more security and less plastic. This point was reiterated by Psyllos who confirmed that the user experience was the main driving factor in the decision to deploy the technology at IBM’s New York office this past September, where they now have just under 2000 users.

This goes much further than just building access. SwiftConnect’s booking system means reserving desks, meeting rooms, and shared workspaces on demand through an app. This delivers a seamless experience and the insights show organisations which areas are overcrowded or underutilised. Data-driven insights which show how an office space is being used means companies can better configure workspaces to fit the needs of their employees. This leads to increased cost efficiency and resource optimisation. 

Practicality is at the core of SwiftConnect’s workplace solutions. In cities such as London and New York where it is common practise to tap throughout your day for the tube, to buy lunch, and to add your train ticket to your Apple wallet – life revolves around this convenience. John Psyllos is definitely accurate in stating that this practise is not only becoming familiar, but it is becoming increasingly expected and the best thing companies can do for employee experience is lean into it.

Safety, comfort and convenience have become three key factors in successful employee experience and are all something that mobile access and ‘smart offices’ can provide on a daily basis. Simplifying the way offices are managed and accessed allows for a seamless, touchless and practical experience day-to-day in the workplace, and enhanced employee satisfaction. 

Commercial design and build specialist, Design Tonic, has been appointed as the communal interiors fit-out partner for No.1 St. Michael’s, one of Manchester’s most prestigious new office developments.

Established in Yorkshire in 2018, Design Tonic specialises in creative interior design and project management for the hospitality, office, retail, and leisure sectors. The company is known for its straightforward approach to delivering design excellence.

The building is part of the £400m St. Michael’s mixed-use scheme, which is being delivered by Gary Neville’s Relentless Developments, and comprises offices, apartments, hotels, shops, a public square, and rooftop restaurant in the heart of Manchester.

Design Tonic will be responsible for creating multiple common spaces throughout the £150m, 200,000 sq ft office building, which is spread across nine-floors and aims to achieve world-leading standards in sustainability. Once compete, it is expected to be the first fully Net Zero Carbon commercial development in the city.

Office space at No.1 St. Michael’s has already been pre-let to several high-profile tenants including US financial firm, S&P Global; international law firms, Pinsent Masons and Hill Dickinson; media company, Channel 4; and global computing firm, Arm.

Anthony Kilbride, director of Relentless Developments, said: “No.1 St. Michael’s is attracting an extremely high calibre tenant, and we’re committed to providing the highest standards throughout all areas of the building. This extends to the design and fit out of all shared spaces to offer our occupiers an unrivalled experience in functionality and comfort.

“The team at Design Tonic impressed us with their extensive experience delivering outstanding office interiors. We’re thrilled to be partnering with them as we bring to life our vision for the communal areas of No.1 St. Michael’s.”

Design Tonic co-founder Amanda Cook said: “No.1 St Michael’s is a truly impressive project, and we are delighted to have been appointed on such a high-profile scheme. The team will be creating spaces that balance contemporary elegance with practicality and accessibility, to provide an environment for employees and visitors that is focused on productivity, wellbeing and the creation of a world class workplace.”

Madeleine Ford, events coordinator of Facilities and Estates Management Live on the growing importance of Biophilic Design.

As humans, we need a connection to nature, from time immemorial we have been connected to the earth, land, wind, rain, sun and sea but in our more recent history we have evolved to spending most of our lives inside. As a species, our current distance from our inherent connection to the world is miles away from where it once was and where it needs to be.

Oliver Heath, keynote speaker of the Biophilic Design Conference, encapsulated the topic with his opening question- “what is a healthy proportion of nature and how do we deliver it and create it in the spaces that matter most to us?”

The purpose of biophilic design is to think about how people connect with nature in the built environment, particularly where we see intense amounts of stress and anxiety. In interior design Biophilia is often represented directly, for example by bringing plants in, encouraging natural light and fresh air, or by the mimicking of nature such as printed views, using colours from nature, sound scaping or improving acoustics. 

Each speaker at the conference upheld the same ethos regarding biophilic design, emphasising that it is so much more than just aesthetics, it is about creating meaningful and supportive environments for users – or more specifically – designing for community. Shared moments in nature can create deeper connections for spaces, places and the people within them, enhancing social and ecological communities. Forging a sense of community in a workspace is crucial to increase the value of social interactions and overall satisfaction levels.

Organisations with a stronger sense of community have lower employee turnover rates, higher economic returns and revenue, more passion and a sense of purpose among employees and increased collaboration. 

Furthermore, studies have found that the addition of natural features in the workspace can increase wellbeing by 15 per cent, productivity by 6 per cent, creativity by 15 per cent and improved performance in mental function and memory recall by 10 to 25 per cent. 

When it comes to biophilic design in an office space, simple measures such as the office layout can have a significant impact. For example, more organically planned desks instead of rows and ensuring all employees have a view of a window to ensure access to natural light which is imperative for hormone regulation and maintaining sleep patterns. 

Expanding on this, environmental psychologist Dr Nigel Oseland emphasised the preference for natural temperature and ventilation variations and the calming effects of natural sounds and social interactions. 

The mimicking of nature in different aspects of office life is key to encouraging these behaviours and improve stress, cognitive production, emotion and mood. As stated by speaker Paige Hodsman, Concept Development and Workplace Acoustic Specialist, “biophilia is taking the external environmental factors that aid our survival and reinterpreting them in the interior environments to optimise the functioning of the body and mind”. It entails going back to where we evolved, how we process the world around us and the importance of nature. When we prioritise our heath, both physically and mentally, it makes us more resilient, and we can create this balance between human health and the environment.

As further emphasised by Lori Pinkerton-Rolet, Director of Park Grove Design, “we can make the journey of life so much more meaningful by not separating ourselves as a species from the world at large just because we can.” 

The conference, organised by the Journal of Biophilic Design, made the importance of biophilia inherently clear, emphasising that if we embrace what is natural to us as humans, the benefits, whether mental or physical, are unmatched for individuals and organisations. 

Adil Sheikh, Managing Director at modular workspace provider, MuteBox.

London has some of the best corporate buildings in the world. The Shard, The Gherkin, The Cheesegrater and so on, all pierce London’s skyline to create an image that’s iconic and inspiring in equal measure.  

But how about London’s offices? Are they as well received as some of the buildings they’re found in? Well, apparently not. Some 50% of UK workers are positively uninspired by their working environments – which is problematic for several reasons.  

We will spend approximately 90,000 hours of our lives working, and supposing you come into the office 3 days a week on average, you could be in for 60,000 hours of working in an environment you don’t really like. Drab offices stifle creativity and happiness, which as you might expect does little to help with productivity. 

What’s more, for companies encouraging workers to return to the office, a working environment less inviting than one’s home office can make this a rather tough sell. Add to this picture Labour’s 2024 Employment Rights Bill, which grants employees greater flex with respect to WFH, and you can see why more needs to be done to incentivise higher footfall into company offices.  

In addition, landlords are also finding it hard to entice companies into renting their commercial buildings for office use. Post-pandemic, close to 10% of office space in London is unoccupied, a figure that sat at only 4% before the virus accelerated a shift towards hybrid working patterns and fully remote roles. The trouble here is that some companies are not that convinced that a dedicated office space is worth the investment with so many workers now choosing to WFH or come in once a week at most. Also, many may remain unconvinced following the uprated employer NI contributions outlined in the Autumn Statement, which has forced companies to think carefully about every penny spent, including those on office real estate.  

That being said, facilities managers and landlords can make commercial buildings more attractive to both employees and companies seeking office spaces and bolster the health and happiness of workers by embracing the Danish concept of Hygge (pronounced hoo-gah). For example, recent research has indicated a 33% increase in employee happiness following improvements to office design.  

At its core, Hygge is a cozy, contented vibe associated with warmth, wellbeing and happiness. Think sinking into an armchair, candlelit reading and a hot cup of cocoa. While sipping cocoa in an armchair probably isn’t part of your JD, there is much that can be done to bring that same cozy feel to the workplace – and boost office attendance as well as happiness and productivity as a result.  

Traditional office lighting can be harsh, clinical and less than relaxing. Opting for softer, warmer lighting can go a long way in bringing a calming atmosphere to desks and meeting rooms and help create a sense of homeliness in the workplace. Another simple way to encourage contentment within the workplace is to incorporate more biophilic elements, including plants and natural materials like wooden desks and woollen throws.  

Open plan offices, which have become increasingly popular, can sometimes come with challenges in concentration, especially as a cacophony of calls can very easily descend upon workers post-pandemic. Indeed, Zoom reported asubstantial increase in business customers following the imposition of Covid restrictions, rising from about 80,000 in 2019 to 470,00 in 2020 – and since then numerous, sometimes simultaneous, Zoom, Teams, and Slack calls punctuate (and occasionally interfere with) our working day. As such, introducing quiet areas or quiet meeting pods for focused work and calls can mute distracting noises, reduce stress and is another sure-fire way to add a dash of Hygge into your office.  

Finally, welcoming personal touches such as artwork, books, handcrafted stationary and even minimalist clocks can transform a sterile working environment into something that feels more curated, mindful and productive. The inclusion of these small but intentional additions helps foster a sense of ownership and personality in the workplace, contributing to a more engaging and enjoyable daily working environment.  

Our ways of working have changed dramatically in the last few years.  Although more employees are heading back into the office, more still needs to be done to create workspaces that compete with the luxuries afforded to them when working from home. But by injecting a large dose of Hygge into their offices and commercial buildings, facilities managers and landlords can respectively go a long way in making this happen. 

As Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Moneypenny, the leading outsourced communications company, Pete Hanlon believes we are reaching a pivotal milestone, especially with Artificial Intelligence (AI). Here’s his take on the next year, highlighting the obvious shifts and deeper changes that could redefine how we work in every sector- from facilities management to professional services.

Open Source Is Coming for the Crown

The most exciting battle in AI isn’t unfolding in corporate labs; it’s happening in the open-source community. By mid-2025, we’ll see open-source models going head-to-head with industry leaders such as GPT-4o and Claud-Sonnet-3.5. This isn’t just about matching performance metrics. It’s about making AI accessible to sectors that have been held back by data privacy concerns, opening doors for industries that have struggled to leverage this technology. The result? A new era where AI is democratised, accessible to all, and no longer controlled by closed-source businesses.

Forget AI Replacing Workers – Think AI as Your Digital Colleague

Remember when everyone thought AI would replace us all overnight? That’s not how it’s playing out. Instead, we’re witnessing the emergence of hybrid teams where AI takes on the repetitive tasks, leaving people free to handle more complex challenges. It’s less about replacing jobs and more about using AI to superpower people and using data to enable smarter decision-making. Moneypenny, for example, delivers outsourced communication solutions that blend the efficiency of AI with the personal touch of real people.

Integration: The Real Challenge Nobody’s Talking About

The next phase isn’t about building brand new AI systems, it’s about weaving them seamlessly into existing business processes and infrastructure. Picture Customer Relation Management (CRM) systems that can predict what customers need, knowledge bases that update themselves, conversations that flow naturally between voice and text, and customer support that breaks language barriers. Our clients can effortlessly embed our customer service systems powered by AI directly into their back office with minimal effort and maximum impact.

Industry-Specific Models: Tailored AI for Specialized Needs
We’re entering an era of industry-specific Large Language Models (LLMs) tailored for fields like finance, healthcare, and law. These models will come pre-loaded with domain-specific knowledge, enabling businesses to deploy AI that understands their unique requirements, language, and regulatory needs. In finance, LLMs could support compliance and offer investment insights. In healthcare, they could assist clinicians with patient histories and treatment guidelines. In law, they could streamline contract review and case law analysis. These specialised models will allow companies to quickly implement AI that’s relevant, compliant, and impactful in their field.

The Reality Check Is Coming

Some companies may soon realise they’ve taken on more than they can handle with AI adoption, facing a range of unexpected challenges. Many will struggle with complex integration issues as they attempt to launch AI initiatives within existing systems. Additionally, there may be difficulties in managing the high expectations around AI’s capabilities, as reality often falls short of the hype surrounding its potential.

Regulation: The Elephant in the Room

Companies should prepare for the growing impact of AI regulations, particularly in customer-facing applications. Forward-thinking organisations are already taking steps to build transparency into their AI systems, overhauling data governance practices to ensure accountability. They are creating detailed audit trails to track AI decision-making and making sure that their systems are both fair and accessible. These proactive measures not only help them stay compliant but also foster trust with their customers.

What This Means for You

The next year won’t just be about AI getting better – it’ll be about AI getting smarter about how it fits into our existing world. Success won’t come from blindly adopting every new AI tool. It’ll come from carefully choosing where AI can genuinely improve how we work.

Workplace design and build specialist ODCreate has reimagined 7,000 sq ft of office space in central London delivering a category A+ project. The offices, at 101 St Martin’s Lane, have been refurbished for landlord KGAL, an independent German Investment and Asset Manager.  The reimagining of the existing space has been undertaken with sustainability and adaptive […]

According to global real estate advisor CBRE, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is poised to transform the landscape of Facilities Management. This technology will enhance efficiency, reduce operational costs and improve the overall occupant experience.

One key use of the technology, uncovered by CBRE, who will be exhibiting at Facilities & Estates Management Live is data analysis. AI can streamline workflows and reduce errors, leading to higher quality outcomes and better overall performance- ultimately delivering greater value to clients and occupants and provide valuable insights that can help in decision-making and strategic planning for FM.

AI gives a simultaneous and holistic view of a building or estate’s performance by linking datasets from many different sources such as asset optimisation, risk and energy performance. Looking at many datasets at the same time, it enables FMs to improve service across a range of indicators such as optimising performance, reducing cost or reducing carbon emissions. 

Additionally, AI has the power to transform the workload of FMs by undertaking repetitive tasks, such as reviewing occupancy data for workplace comfort and adjusting building maintenance systems. Taking advantage of administrative efficiencies could speed-up many processes and deliver faster resolutions for clients, this allows employees to focus on more complex, creative and business-critical tasks, therefore enhancing job satisfaction and productivity.

With the approach of net zero deadlines, there is even more of a focus on what AI can do to accelerate progress. Smart systems that use AI can study patterns in a building’s energy usage and suggest tactics for decreasing consumption; by optimising lighting schedules, heating, ventilation and air conditioning according to occupancy and other external factors, machine learning algorithms can result in substantial energy savings.

Jennet Siebrits, Head of UK Research at CBRE, said, “AI is at the forefront of technological innovation, driving advancements in sustainability and data. Those who can bridge the theoretical knowledge with practical implementation, while managing ongoing risks, will be able to most significantly capitalise on the benefits of AI”.

Furthermore, Ben Taylor, Global Digital & Technology Lead at CBRE Local, stated, “it is not often that a technology arrives with such transformative potential. At CBRE, we will ensure that every space we manage is smarter, more sustainable, and tailored to the evolving needs of the people who use them.” 

NEW RAIN GARDENS IN CENTRAL LONDON TO IMPROVE TRANSPORT NETWORK AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE 

The new Marylebone Flyover rain gardens are the largest sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) in central London. Equivalent to the size of 10 New Routemaster buses and with more than 3,500 square metres of water collection area, this project will boost biodiversity, improve surface drainage, and make the network more resilient to climate change and flooding. Mete Coban, Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy said, “addressing the important issue of surface water flooding is one of many ways we are working with partners like TfL to make London more climate resilient, creating a fairer, greener city for all”.

The planted gardens can be seen on three corners of the road within the Marylebone Flyover underpass and are about 300 square metres when combined. They have been planted with 11 trees, 95 shrubs, more than 1,100 perennial plants and almost 2,300 bulbs in total. All have been chosen to support pollinating insects and can thrive in local climate and soil conditions so require minimal maintenance.

Londoners can spot flowering species like pink geraniums, orange-coloured Kniphofia and blue wood-aster in full bloom, adding colour and life to the urban streets. 

Porous rain gardens such as this are vital when significant storms occur by helping to prevent flooding on busy roads. The Marylebone rain garden scheme is a collaboration between TfL, the Greater London Authority (GLA) and Thames Water, with the Marble Arch London BID committed to fund and run the maintenance work on the gardens. It was part funded by Thames Water and the GLA under the Green Infrastructure Fund programme where £1 million was allocated for greening projects on the TfL Road Network. TfL’s most recent Business Plan sets out their plans to invest £6 million, between now and 2027/8, to improve its understanding of the impacts of climate change, as well as help supplement existing projects to add additional green infrastructure and SuDS. 

TfL’s highways-based SuDS will not only reduce flooding risks but also support biodiversity and improve water quality in London’s rivers, supporting the Mayor’s ambition to achieve swimmable rivers in the capital by 2034. More sustainable drainage is a key part of TfL’s plans to make the capital more resilient and biodiverse, and the completed Marylebone Flyover rain gardens have enabled TfL to reach more than 70 per cent of its current annual target.

Craig Boorman, Principal Environmental Engineer at Thames Water stated, “this unique regeneration project shows how sustainable drainage can help our capital city to adapt to the impacts of more intense rainfall, while also being beautiful and enhancing for local communities- the solution is to turn our landscape from grey to green.”