Staff at Leicester law firm Howes Percival have returned to the office after a three-month makeover designed to reflect modern working practices and create a welcoming space for clients and contacts.
Howes Percival opened its first Leicester office in July 1997 with just six people, moved to its current Osiers Business Centre base in 2013, and with the team now numbering over 70, it has extended the lease for a further 15 years.
With that commitment and the help of the landlord, the firm began talking to staff about creating a workspace fit for the future. A working group of staff from all levels and departments was established to gather feedback and suggestions on what people wanted to see in the new office and to review the plans for the refit.
The result is that the entire office has been reconfigured. Downstairs, the reception area has been completely redesigned to provide a comfortable waiting area for clients, who are also welcome to use the meeting booths, grab a coffee, and hang around to work or charge their devices or their electric cars.
There is also a new breakout space on the ground floor with a kitchen and dining area, television, pool table and comfortable seating area. Day to day, the space has been designed for Howes Percival’s people to relax and socialise, but it will also be used to host client events.
The workspace has been entirely moved to the first floor, with a new open plan layout featuring ‘focus pods’ for individuals to work in when needed and other private workspaces where people can take sensitive client calls.
Howes Percival’s Chairperson, Geraint Davies, commented,
I’m absolutely delighted with the new office; I think it will be transformational in terms of how we feel about the place and how we work. We wanted to improve the space to enhance our offering to clients and support our people and modern ways of working. Our people are integral to our business, and we wanted to provide them with a space that they feel really positive about. The new office better supports the way we work day-to-day, while the communal spaces have been designed to encourage people to take a break and enjoy socialising with colleagues.
A key part of our identity is to be a place where people enjoy working and this was one of the main drivers for improving the space. We want to support people’s preferred ways of working by providing them with a multi-functional space that encourages a sense of community and collaboration. The initial feedback has been very positive, and we’ve all felt excited to come to work in the new office.
Our recent brand refresh helped to inform what we do with the space both in terms of style and function. Our brand is completely oriented around our clients, and we wanted to make sure that our offices reflected that. The client areas have been designed to facilitate, not only business meetings, but also more informal discussions which help to build stronger connections with our clients, a better understanding of their business and ultimately help us provide a more meaningful service.