Location, environment and facilities are important, writes Simon O'Connor, Ernst & Young Auckland managing partner.
An office move is always a huge upheaval for a business but when the time comes, put some real thought into what your new premises will say to staff and clients. If your company is projecting itself as a sustainable business, your offices should also be sustainable. In some cases,
you can get involved with the conception and development of the building.
What should we be taking into account when looking for a new location for our business?
Professional services firms need to attract the best talent and the most highly skilled people to deliver the best service to clients and to be competitive in the market.
That means providing the right environment for people. It's about getting the right fit.
For example, our new building has a 5-star green rating so those who value sustainability, and most people do these days, can live their values at work.
Location is a top priority.
We are now in a low-rise building above the train station downtown with easy access to shops, buses and ferries as well. And we have an in-house gym with one of the best views in town. The surrounding area appealed. Britomart Precinct is not only steeped in history but it is also a revitalised and vibrant location that will continue to grow as a business hub in the CBD.
Is it necessarily more expensive to find new, better insulated offices?
Opting for a green star-rated efficient building is about investing in people and in their wellbeing and about long-term benefit for everyone.
It's about doing the right thing. But an energy-efficient building is commonly a trade-off between higher initial building costs and reduced operating costs through more efficient energy use.
Energy-efficient buildings don't have to be new. Refurbished buildings can be modified to create good working environments.
But for us, our move was a lot about the location and our ability to rebrand our business in the vibrant Britomart precinct.
How do we tell customers and suppliers about our new offices and the thinking behind them? What will they get out of our relocation?
We were in touch with clients and suppliers before the move to let them know about the new building and we are holding a number of functions at the new building and clients and suppliers will be invited.
Over time, clients benefit from the smarter working conditions that encourage collaboration across the firm.
The move gave us the opportunity to totally refresh our in-house IT infrastructure and one of the most important benefits of the move for us and for our clients is the new technology we have to play with.
We now have lots of clever stuff like LCD interactive smart board technology and new audiovisual technology.
What upside do the staff see?
Our people see the new sustainable building as a healthy choice for the firm and for them.
There is a sense of pride in this new environment. They love the easy access to transport and the building layout with open central staircases linking people without the need to take the lift.
The simple act of walking from floor to floor means that there is much better communication taking place.
People are feeling connected to all parts of the business. The fact that we now have an in-house gym and new club rooms with excellent kitchen facilities and comfortable lounge areas is a big upside to the move.
Simon O'Connor, Ernst & Young Auckland managing partner, has just moved his 360 staff to a new green-rated head office in the Britomart Precinct after 35 years in Shortland St.
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