Space programme
Ensuring the most efficient use of office space can sometimes be a tricky job, especially in departments where a large proportion of staff regularly works offsite. Another issue that can lead to problems is when a department is project-driven, leading to variations in staff numbers depending on the size and complexity of the projects being undertaken at the given time.
It is for these reasons that Cancer Research UK is piloting a new flexible working scheme within the IS department of its London headquarters. With 140 desks available, the department was finding that its office space was "vastly underutilised", despite staff numbers sometimes flexing up to 200 during large projects. It has opted for the desk booking module of the Condeco software suite from RNM Systems. "Previously it was the job of the poor PA to play scrabble for the desks, "explains Jane Swindle, IS business change manager at CRUK.”Condeco has the potential to allow us to raise office utilisation, reduce our energy bill, reduce our carbon footprint and, in the process, make real estate savings.
The programme requires employees to declare when they will be out at meetings, holidays or conferences, with desks on the computerised booking pool then flashing green to alert other staff that they are free. As desk allocations constantly changing, the office no longer has personal drawers under the desks; instead, personal lockers for belongings have been installed in various locations around each floor to avoid queues at lunchtime.
The system is hosted in-house, on CRUK’s own servers, but can be accessed remotely by staff.
