A project very close to home...

Steve discusses the challenges faced when moving offices...

A few weeks ago Fasset was faced with a challenge which focused directly on my area of the business when we embarked on a project to relocate the entire office based team in a short space of time.

Fasset has been in its current location (a bay of space of approx. 5,000 sq ft) for around 6 years and whilst the business has adapted to a changing market, the space has remained fairly static and as the old adage goes, a change is as good as a rest.

Culturally the space currently occupied feels quite insular. Teams are segregated by storage and high cupboards – themselves full of items that are not used in our day to day work.

With the business and technology park almost at full capacity and space to sell in short supply, an enquiry from a blue-chip organisation was too good an opportunity to miss.

Financially it made sense to try and accommodate this potential new tenant and the fact that it was an opportunity we had pursued for a while made it even more valuable. We also felt that culturally it was a fantastic opportunity to transform our business environment; and we set the wheels into motion.

We fully vacate our existing space over the weekend 21/22 July and will occupy our new offices from Monday 23 July…the countdown has begun!

Phase 1: Feasibility Study
With occupancy levels up around the 98.5% mark, the real question for the Fasset senior management team was whether it was realistic to keep all of the staff together; or should/could the various departments operate efficiently if they were fragmented across Langstone Technology Park?
The only way to stay together onsite, was to significantly downsize and in doing so initiate a cultural shift and a very different environment.

We chose the latter.

The project team were then heads down planning layout, technical support, furniture options, storage solutions etc. to finalise a configuration that would work on a longer term basis.

The Project Brief
• To transform 2,354 sq ft of office space into our new business location.
• To invest in new modern furniture to fit the space and meet the criteria of the business.
• Create an open space with low height furniture/storage solutions.
• To optimise the space available and accommodate everyone.
• To retain the individual offices and ensure there was a communal meeting room.
• To complete the project within the time frame and on budget.
• The total budget for the works is limited to £50k.

Phase 2: Cost model & Project specification
Before work could begin the project team were required to put work out to tender to ensure any contractors selected could deliver.
The in house expertise in technical and engineering really came into its own, as not only do we have a detailed knowledge of the actual nuts and bolts of the site from an operational perspective but being able to work and re-work plans quickly gave us the confidence that the timeframe challenge was actually achievable.

Contractors were selected and engaged.

Phase 3: Transforming the Office Space
This is the phase of the project we are involved in today.

We have 9 working days left and so far things are on target.

The contractors and in house teams are working together to maximise the output:
• Upgrade the lighting
• Upgrade the technical infrastructure – cabling, power etc.
• General refurbishment – decoration, partitioning, flooring etc.
• Modifications to air volume and air conditioning

**Please check my blog each day this week for an up-to-date picture of the office transformation.

The final phase of this project will commence over the weekend of 21/22 July when we move the entire contents of the office to the new space.
Our existing office location needs to be fully vacated by 23 July when a fully inventory will commence before the project for fitting it out for the new tenant commences.

As one project completes, another begins - but that is another story…

*** Pictures from week 2 of the office move can be seen on my latest blog - link below***