Employees, customers & suppliers

Supporting our employees, customers and suppliers has been a key priority during these uncertain times. From ensuring our centres remained Covid-safe, to offering a 50% rent reduction to all customers for three months at the start of the pandemic, and hosting wellbeing webinars for employees and customers, we have worked hard to look after our people over the last year.

Areas of focus

• Employee and customer wellbeing initiatives
• 30% of space in our centres typically dedicated to communal facilities and activity
• Centre-based customer environmental groups
• Quarterly employee recognition scheme: Workspace Winners
• Equity, diversity and inclusion training for all staff
• London living wage accredited
• ESG compliance for all suppliers

Listening to our employes

In May 2020, in the midst of the first national lockdown, an employee survey was sent out to help us understand how employees were feeling and the challenges they were facing. The results informed management on how to best support employees during the lockdown and beyond that, when restrictions were eased.

In addition to the survey, employees were offered the opportunity to ask the CEO and other members of the Executive Team any questions they had at virtual town hall meetings held each quarter. These meetings covered a number of different themes, including updating employees on our financial results, how we were supporting customers through the pandemic and our new brand proposition. Employees were also encouraged to attend the regular employee engagement breakfast sessions with Stephen Hubbard, our Chairman.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

Workspace recognises the value of a diverse workforce. We have reviewed our recruitment processes and training to drive improvements. We are an inclusive organisation where everyone is treated with respect and dignity. Diversity is embraced and celebrated and there are equal opportunities for all employees. We value our diverse workforce, bringing a welcome mix of skills, experience and knowledge. This enriches our business and contributes to our long-term success.

This year, we partnered with Tectre to provide advice on how we can continue to ensure that Workspace is an inclusive business. The Executive Committee and 78 managers completed a compulsory full-day training session by Tectre on Unconscious Bias with Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. This training is now being rolled out to all employees.

Health and wellbeing

To support our employees and customers during the pandemic, we hosted a series of virtual wellbeing related events and festivals. We partnered with two experts in this field, Shine and Bodyshot, both Workspace customers. Over the year, Shine hosted 26 sessions with over 1,000 attendees, and Bodyshot delivered five lunchtime workshops for our employees, providing practical tools, tips and resources around mental and physical health.

Customer support over the pandemic

During the periods of national lockdown, our business centres remained open with a number of key worker customers still in occupation and other customers visiting on an essential needs basis. Given the impact that the first lockdown had on our customers and their cash flow, we took the immediate decision to offer all our business centre customers an absolute rent reduction of 50% for the three months to the end of June 2020. On a case-by-case basis, we agreed rent deferral plans and, in the second half of the year, we offered short-term lease incentives for new customers joining who would not be using their office until Government restrictions were eased.

Supplier engagement and living wage

Workspace already pays its direct employees London Living Wage and we are committing to bring all third-party contractors onto the Living Wage by April 2022.