Partnership for improving workplaces

26 August 2009

Carillion Workplace Solutions (CWS) has announced an working partnership with workplace transition specialists, Advanced Workplace Associates (AWA) to help clients develop efficient and effective workplaces.

The current climate paints a challenging picture for UK businesses for the foreseeable future with an enhanced need to make best use of accommodation. AWA and Carillion provide an innovative and comprehensive workplace transition service, reducing client costs and increasing efficiency and productivity in the workplace by focussing on areas such as use of space, technologies and practices.

"There is a perception that workplace changes are difficult and expensive to implement," commented David Sterry, Director of CWS. "Our combined experience with AWA means we can bring about a smooth transition by gaining support at senior levels, helping staff get used to the change and by adapting existing policies, technologies and furniture. It doesn’t take a wholesale change."

The new working partnership with AWA will complement existing services offered by CWS (part of Carillion plc), combining Carillion’s strong design, project management and operational experience with AWA’s reputable ability to deliver programmes of research, analysis of client portfolios and execute change programmes that enable a smooth transition in the way people work. The move will enable CWS to offer a complete, integrated approach to customer needs when developing workplace strategies and managing them over the life of their operational contracts.

Andrew Mawson, AWA’s Managing Director said: "Advanced working and workplaces are the future. From being something which used to be a bit ‘unusual and novel’ we’re seeing it become an accepted next evolution in office efficiency, fuelled by ‘virtual’ IT, cost pressure, a global drive towards sustainability and the recognition that these practices have now been adopted on a grand scale very successfully within some very large organisations. Our recent projects alone have brought Advanced Working to many thousands of staff in some of the UK’s leading organisations, none of whom would now go back to the old world of work."

"Organisations need to be more efficient with their space but not at the expense of destroying professional productivity. The essence of applying Advanced Working is to take these people with you," Mawson continued. "That’s why we’re delighted to be working with Carillion; an organisation which has had the vision to see that they can bring the benefits of Advanced Working to its clients as part of a natural ‘business as usual’ evolution."

The Workplace Consultancy division of Carillion launched in May 2008 with the aim of addressing the issues many businesses face with creating the right space and maximising use of the workplace. Whether the aim is to drive organisational and cultural change, re-engineer an organisation, increase the efficiency of buildings or simply redesign or refurbish a work environment, CWS works with clients to create a dynamic workspace that will support business growth, flexibility and drive effective teams and cost efficiency. www.carillionworkplacesolutions.com

Advanced Workplace Associates: Advanced Workplace Associates is Europe's leading workplace transition consultancy. The firm advises the world's leading technology and financial services companies on Advanced Working solutions including workforce mobility, behavioural and organisational change, the efficient use of office space and the exploitation of cutting-edge IT and communications technologies. Its clients include Microsoft, Merrill Lynch, AXA and numerous companies in the Financial Services sector with large white collar worker populations. www.advanced-workplace.com