Workplace visits for charity are hot tickets

28 October 2010

A new addition to the Workplace Week line up next week is the BBC which will be hosting a 90 minute tour in aid of Children in Need.

WORKPLACE WEEK, to be held from 1–5 November 2010, is gaining momentum with a full programme of workplace visits across the country.
1st November Standard Life, Edinburgh, demonstrating how it is using the workplace to transform the business. (90 minutes)
1st November. Unilever’s London HQ , showing to how a listed building has been transformed into an advanced workplace. (60 minutes)
3rd November Soho, London. The workplace and the secret of sustainability. A debate that will be exposing new thinking, new research and the results of a fascinating experiment on the impact of 'in-office' Agile Working on CO2. For a small donation of £50 to Workplace Week/Children in Need you can attend the workshop session. Chaired by BIFM's CEO, Ian Fielder, speakers include Martin Hunt from from Forum for the Future, Christopher Hedley from IPD Occupiers, Pier Mucellieoffice, Andrew Mawson, Advanced Workplace Associates and Tim Yendell and RiikkaHouvala, Royal Bank of Scotland. The workshop explores the many different ways we can design, modify and manage the workplace to enhance working lives, increase efficiency AND drive down CO2 emmissions.
4th November. BBC will be hosting a visit to their 'workplace' at the BBC Television Centre, Wood Lane, London including a behind the scenes into the BBC newsroom and studios, and making your own bit of TV in the BBC's interactive studio. (90 minutes).
4th November RBS in Scotland and London showcasing what is probably the UK's largest implementation of Agile Working outside the technology sector. (90 minutea
Other organisatons also opeing their doors are Cisco and Rio Tinto in London, Microsoft in Reading and Nationwide Building Society in Swindon, have agreed to host visits to their workplaces during normal working hours to showcase innovative designs and practices. Each organisation has agreed to share their innovations, tell their stories and pass on the valuable lessons they learned along the way. To learn more about the Workplace Week visits and book your place click here, and you can also make a donation to the charity by clicking here
Workplace Week is run by leading workplace consultants Advanced Workplace Associates (AWA). “Whenever I see Children in Need on TV, I think we could do something to contribute,” says Andrew Mawson, AWA’s Managing Director. “This year we’ve got together with our team, friends and supporters to create what we hope will be a valuable and enjoyable week of workplace visits, to showcase the best in workplace design, technology and innovative practices.
To attend a 90-minute presentation and visit, led by senior leaders and experts from the host company, delegates book a place at AWA’s website, and make a minimum donation of £25 to Children in Need.
Supporting Workplace Week are: The British Council for Offices, The British Institute of Facilities Management, FM World, Premises and Facilities Management, i-FM, BCS The Chartered Institute for IT, Workplace TV, and facilities magazine, FMX. More organisations joining the initiative every week to offer their workplaces to the event.
Richard Kauntze CEO of the British Council Offices says:.” “We are delighted to support Workplace Week in aid of such a worthwhile cause. It’s great to see a number of projects that are past winners of BCO Awards opening their doors for visitors to view examples of excellence in office space.”
Ian Fielder, CEO of the British Institute of Facilities Management adds: “Here in the UK we have some of the world’s leaders in workplace innovation and it’s great to see Workplace Week’s mission to share the best of the best and make some money for a great cause.”
In another initiative within Workplace Week, AWA will be holding a morning seminar on “The Workplace and the secrets of Sustainability” which will be exploring the way in which workplace best practices can support dramatic reductions in CO2 and increase sustainability. Speakers will include Christopher Hedley, Director IPD Occupiers, Martin Hunt Director of Built Environment, Forum for the future, Tim Yendell and Riikka Houvala, Royal Bank of Scotland and Andrew Mawson, Managing Director, Advanced Workplace Associates.
All participants are giving their time for free and AWA hopes to raise more than £10,000 for the Children in Need charity.