Design and fit-out firm celebrates best-ever year with an eye on the future

Rob Day is looking forward after a stellar 18 months

Businesses emerging from the coronavirus pandemic will have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to revolutionise how their staff work, according to one East Midlands company owner.

Rob Day, chairman and founder of Blueprint Interiors, has said that the dispersal of staff away from the traditional office, has meant that collaboration is key.

“This situation has forced companies into home-working and flexible working, something that Blueprint already advocates,” said Day.

He added: “What we would like to see after this pandemic is businesses buying into the benefits of enabling their employees to work like this on a more permanent basis. However it is important to remember that home working can be a lonely world, therefore providing the equipment and technology to work collaboratively with colleagues is vital.”

The chaos caused by the coronavirus crisis has come at a time when Blueprint would normally be celebrating its most successful year to date. Over the remainder of 2020, the firm will be working with TheBusinessDesk.com on a thought leadership and events programme as it looks towards the future.

Blueprint, which is based at its ‘WorkLife Central’ headquarters in Ashby-de-la Zouch, also had a flying start to 2020.

Day said: “Due to the development and growth of Blueprint Interiors over the past 18 months our client base has evolved dramatically. If COVID-19 hadn’t occurred we would be toasting our success for 2019 with a glass of champagne. Unfortunately this will have to happen via video link!

“The most important thing right now is that our clients know we are there to support them every step of the way and if that means projects are put back or delayed at this time then that’s okay because they can see we are doing everything possible to be in a position to get started just as soon as possible.”

Looking to the future, Day added: “We also have an eye on future projects that will take place when life and work activities return. Because our business is all about bespoke designs and environments that meet the needs of individual businesses we have been able to carry on with workplace consultancy projects.

“This involves a workplace needs analysis and a full design process including all technical elements through to furnishings and fabric choices, etc. All this has to be completed before any delivery can happen on site which takes time and dialogue – both of which we have lots of at the moment.

“So, whilst we are in a pause phase onsite, we have been able to take a proactive approach to get a head start on aspects of our process that can be achieved such as design and planning. We have found that clients are happy with this approach, because in doing so, they can see that we will be prepared and ready to move their projects forward on site as soon as is possible.”

Day thinks that office space will be just as vital after the current crisis is over, but it will be used in a different way.

“Having an effective office space will not be just as important, he said.

He added: “As part of our workplace consultancy offering we have already been challenging businesses to look at their space and advising them how to introduce agile working and embracing cultures that allow employees more flexibility and empowerment to manage their time and workload.”

Going forward, Day business owners will take the plus points of home working and will put laptops to good use by adopting a nomadic, more agile approach within their offices too.

He said: “Rows of desks will be reduced and areas where people can engage and collaborate will be welcomed and become part of everyone’s work space.

“Businesses will increasingly begin to value team engagement and want a property to reflect their new or developed culture. This could mean a property change to meet their new ideas and space requirements which could mean more properties become available. Property owners will then face the need to carry out development and dilapidation works in order to meet these new cultural requirements.”

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