Workspace Design
MOVING FORWARD Why Morrisons Solicitors have invested in a new headquarters…
Studies show that companies who invest in providing a comfortable and positive workspace receive a significant boost in creativity, morale, motivation, and teamwork, as well as having a positive impact on the wellbeing of the team.
Paul Harvey
These gains can have a significant impact on the company’s ability to attract and retain talent, as well as having a huge knock on effect on the service they provide to clients In the summer of 2016, Morrisons Solicitors commenced a project to find a new space for their head office in Redhill that reflected the firm that they had become – a modern, forward thinking law firm.
Ross Wilkinson
Morrisons chose to move into a brand new, state of the art building in Redhill called Prospero, and they engaged with a leading office design and build business to create the office. PBM caught up with Paul Harvey, Morrisons’ Managing Partner, and Ross Wilkinson, WorkPlace Creations’ Managing Director, at Prospero. How would you describe the move to Prospero?
both in terms of our strategy and vision for the future, and also our personality.
Paul Harvey (PH): I think it’s a real statement about the type of firm that we are. Our clients confirm that we provide an outstanding service and high quality advice to them, but the presentation may have been slightly lagging behind and this move enables us to bring these elements into alignment.
I’ve always held the belief that delivering excellent service begins internally. If you have a happy, engaged and committed team, those
What was the most important consideration when a choosing a new home? PH: Firstly, and perhaps most obviously, location. We have had our HQ in Redhill and Reigate for almost 300 years and we remain committed to the businesses and residents in the area. Secondly, we recognised that we needed a space that allows us to service the needs of our clients but also reflects who we are as a firm,
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SURREY CHAMBERS
qualities will be projected outwards naturally – both through the quality of the work we do, and the way in which we deliver that work. Teamwork is a really big part of our culture, it’s integral to everything do. Moving from an office spread over 3 floors to being on one floor will improve collaboration on a day to day basis.
What features are included in the new office? PH: Firstly, for our clients and visitors, we wanted to be agile in the way in which we can engage and communicate with them – whether that’s face to face in our office, or virtually by video conference. So in addition to a suite of state-of-the-
art meeting rooms, we have created quiet working pods, and a more relaxed area where both our teams and our clients can continue to work, have less formal meetings, take a call, or just to get a change of scenery. People spend a significant portion of their lives at work so it was really important to create an environment that makes that time as comfortable, enjoyable and as productive as possible. I strongly believe that the space we have created will inspire and motivate our team to be even better – and that attitude will be reflected externally in the way we deliver our services to our clients.
What was the design brief? Ross Wilkinson (RW): When I first met with Paul, it was clear he wanted to create a modern and agile working environment, and to break down some of the barriers between departments, teams, and clients – a space where everyone can collaborate and share facilities.