Four Tips for Branding Your Office

Branding your business is an important and effective way to create a corporate identity and to stand out from the competition, to both customers and staff alike. Branding your workspace will allow you to take this one step further, improving the perception of your organisation and driving home your company’s ethos and personality. In 2014, a study by The British Council for Offices' (BCO) found that over half of the 2,000 individuals questioned felt that the corporate culture in their workplace was not conducive to their wellbeing. Therefore, even if clients are never going to see the inside of your workplace, branding an office will still make a huge difference to the biggest brand ambassadors your company will ever have - your staff. Find out what your employees want Since the welfare of your employees is paramount when considering how to brand your office, the best place to start will be with them. As well as considering how colours and furniture will affect the overall look and feel of your workplace and reflect your company’s ethos, it is important to talk to your workforce to find out which improvements will help you get the best from them and support their working habits and general needs. Not only will a collaborative approach help you to create the most suitable and productive environment for your employees, but it will also boost their sense of inclusion and worth at the very same time. Think about your business It is all very well looking at the most common and popular office design trends to gain inspiration when renovating and rebranding, but be sure not to overlook what makes your business unique. If there is a story behind your business or your products have a very distinctive design, try to incorporate these into your office branding in some way. You may be tempted to go for the most sleek and modern design possible, but if your business specialises in vintage products or you have a business steeped in tradition, then your office design and branding will need to be very different from that of a company like Google. Keep some space free for relaxation They say that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, and if Jack feels dull, he is unlikely to be the best brand ambassador for your business and also less likely to produce his finest work. If space allows it, try to put an area aside for staff to unwind in. Again, consider your company’s personality when deciding what to put in these break out spaces. Whether they are used for staff to play games in or whether they offer a comfortable and informal space for individuals to hold impromtul meetings or simply socialise, an area removed from the glare of a computer screen is likely to offer many benefits. Refine the way you work Asking yourself questions about the personality and values of your business will allow you to see what sort of environment is most suitable for your employees, but it may also allow you to refine the way they work too. For example, if collaboration is key to your business, then creative spaces that are designed to aid the way in which your employees work together will both improve workflow and say a great deal about who you are as a company.