CFAS Autumn 2021 Journal

THE
www.cfas.uk | AUTUMN 2021
Est. 1987
ISSUE 102
IMPARTIAL
YOUR KEY
OUR PASSION
The PD65W workstation power module for charging laptops
See page 17 for more information.
Tel: 0845 388 7973 • Email: enquiries@cfas.uk • www.cfas.uk
www.cfas.uk | 1

Industry News and Services
2 | www.cfas.uk

Industry News and Services
A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
WELCOME TO THE CFAS AUTUMN JOURNAL.
THE LAST QUARTER OF 2021, THE CLOCKS DUE TO BE TURNED BACK AN HOUR, CHRISTMAS
IS FAST APPROACHING AND ORGANISATIONS ARE PLANNING THEIR 2022 BUDGETS.
When speaking to our members, we are getting
mixed reactions, with some thinking this is the
quickest year ever, and others feeling that it has
been a long haul with a while to go yet. Some
of this could be due to the uncertainty we have
all lived with. Are we going back into the office
or not? Can we travel abroad yet or not? Will we
get booster jabs or not? What is certain though,
is that our industry has pulled through this
worldwide catastrophe and seems to be busy,
and full of energy.
There have been many industry functions over
the last few months, with CDW Unlocked,
Clerkenwell Open, Mixology Awards South,
London Design Festival, Clerkenwell Design
Week Trail, London Design (formerly 100%
Design) and Mixology Awards North still to
come. Ok, scaled back and not as populated
as previous years, but showing that the
manufacturers, product designers and everyone
within the industry sector have not stood still in
the last 18months, and our industry is scaling up
as ‘normal’ life resumes.
With that I encourage you to read some of the
great articles in our hybrid working feature, as
they provide some great insight into life today,
and advice about the workplace of the future.
Please do contact the team with any feedback
you have and as always, I wish you good luck,
health and happiness.
Kind regards,
Alan Boyle, CFAS
EDITORIALS
CONTENTS
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
The Connect Experience
TWaT’s
Hot Desking – Post Pandemic
Home Office Buyers Guide
A passing Fad?
Survey of 6000 Employees
Are you ‘technology’
4
16
Industry News and Services
Product News
The information in this journal is supplied in good faith but its accuracy is not guaranteed and no warranty or
representation is made in that regard. Inclusion in the CFAS journal does not necessarily represent a CFAS recommendation.
www.cfas.uk | 3

Industry News and Services
Hybrid Working
October 2021. Who would have thought that 18 months
down the line, there would still be such intensity about
returning to the workplace or WFH or hybrid working
from Company spokespersons, the media and published
research. To join in the fun, we have some great articles,
each from a different angle, but all similarly ending at the
same junction – work life has fundamentally changed,
and those organisations who want to thrive as well as
survive need to provide solutions for themselves and their
workforce.
Interesting to read about the experience of a CFAS
member working and commuting in London. It would
be interesting to note if this is a regional anomaly or if it is
mirrored throughout the UK in other large cities.
Upon collating the journal, the fuel station shortage has
been at its height, with snaking queues causing mayhem,
fighting on forecourts and the social media full of pleas
for information on which stations have fuel. One wonders
if this is having an effect on city commuting, or a reversal
of #ReturnToTheOffice. Time will tell. Meanwhile, enjoy
our feature and please do send in your comments as we
would love to hear from you.
UNIVERSAL BUSINESS
INSTALLATIONS Ltd (UBI)
Working with manufacturers and dealers, UBI Ltd receive and
collate orders at our service centres ready for onward deliveries
throughout the UK, Ireland and Europe, shipping directly from our
depots. Our warehouse personnel carry out rigorous quality
control checks, securely wrapping each order ready for shipping.
Services
• Commercial Furniture Installation
• Delivery & Installation (Fully Managed Homeworker Delivery Services)
• Furniture Logistics, European Forwarding and Warehousing
• Specialist Installations and Relocations Acoustic Pods / Mobile Racking
• Store wall Installation and Relocations
• Project Management / Pre-Installation Surveys
• Move Management and Relocation Services
• Ethical Recycling & Waste Management
• Furniture Service & Health Inspections / Repairs
www.ubiltd.co.uk
Warrington | Belfast | Bromsgrove
general@ubiltd.co.uk
Comment from a CFAS
member, based in the
Clerkenwell area.
Reading about TWaTs is really amusing, especially when travelling
on the TFL around London Monday to Friday. Even with large
corporates stating they will not entertain hybrid
working as a norm, and want employees to be flexible
every day of the week, riding on the underground on
a Monday and Friday tells you a totally different story.
If September is indicative to the ‘new world’ then I
will be able to spread out across seats on a Monday,
cross my fingers on a Tuesday for a seat, hopefully
get standing space on a Wednesday and pray that the
game of sardines isn’t too bad on a Thursday. Then
Friday comes along and I’m wondering if a fresh pandemic has hit
and no one has told me!
It has been insightful over the last few months how people adapt
to growing freedom and how this freedom gets taken for granted,
or even abused. Months ago, if anyone was without
a mask on TFL, they wore the ‘exclusion’ lanyard.
Today, on average there are 20-25% of people without
a face mask (and that’s even on sardine Thursdays).
And you know what, I have not seen an exemption
lanyard for at least 4months!
If I worked for a company who encouraged hybrid
working, I know for definite that I would not be
travelling on a Wednesday and Thursday. Obviously
some prefer ‘long weekends’ rather than extended travel time and the
stress of commuting crowds! What would that make me, a MTAF?
4 | www.cfas.uk

Industry News and Services
ANDREWS OFFICE
FURNITURE
Tel: 0800 559 3917
sales@andrewsofficefurniture.com
www.andrewsofficefurniture.com
BOF
Tel: 01656 661 061
sales@bof.co.uk
www.bof.co.uk
FREM
Tel: 01604 756 567
www.fremgroup.co.uk
Andrews Office Furniture have seven
showrooms around London and
Northampton, they also have a busy
website. They always install your
furniture free of charge, and can deliver
throughout the UK.
They have a huge selection of furniture -
all available for next day delivery.
Interested in introducing Biophilic
Design to your workplace?
Bof can help you create a space that
inspires. Their team of experts can
incorporate Biophilic Interior Design into
your project by implementing elements
like plants, natural light and sustainable
products focusing on productivity
and a visual connection with nature -
improving well-being and health.
Frem Group specialise in workspace
solutions, providing standard ranges,
custom built configurations, and totally
bespoke furniture.
Whether you need a ‘wow’ reception
desk or a prestigious boardroom table,
their Design team can turn your vision
into a design, then their craftsmen turn
the dream into a reality.
ALCHEMY
Tel: 01424 839 100
sales@alchemyfurniture.co.uk
PLEDGE
Tel: 01525 376 181
sales@pledgechairs.co.uk
www.pledgechairs.co.uk
SUTTONS
Tel: 01458 252 492
sales@suttonupholsterers.co.uk
www.suttonupholsterers.co.uk
Astia planters divide space, define
circulation routes and introduce biophilia
to create an enriched environment.
Astia can be fixed or mobile, deliver
connectivity to adjacent furniture and
support work surfaces.
The simple planter just got more
intelligent.
The 2021 Specification Guide from
Pledge Office Chairs features a selection
of new products. These including Poise,
an exciting new mesh task chair, Matt
and Win, four-leg chairs with distinctive
plastic colour options, a unique rocking
stool called Buck and finally a soft
seating addition Target, with comfortable
upholstery and distinctive metal leg.
The Covid-19 pandemic is focusing
attention to the importance of infection
control and the need to ensure furniture
is covered in anti-microbial materials
which inhibit the growth of bacteria and
viruses.
Suttons provide cost-effective
renovation services for office seating
and medical furniture and are endorsed
by the NHS.
Contact Suttons for a FREE estimate
and advice.
www.cfas.uk | 5

Industry News and Services
Hot desking
in the post-pandemic workplace
From open workspaces to closed offices and
everything in between, there are dozens of office
designs in vogue in today’s workspaces. But as
companies explore new workplace strategies as
they weigh up how best to bring employees back
to the office after Covid-19, many are exploring
reconfiguring their workspaces to meet changing
employee demands.
As businesses adjust to a post-lockdown world,
many are contending with what the implications
of continuing remote policies will be on office
occupancy rates, in addition to employee needs in
the workplace. Recent surveys have shown that
employees want to go back to the office for three
main reasons: to collaborate with colleagues, to
attend in-person meetings and to have a quiet
place for individual work.
for a person and workers are free to work at any
open seat, desk, table or workstation, which offers
the flexibility and autonomy to select a dedicated
workspace based on the work they’re doing.
Hot desking offers companies one way to
reconfigure their workspaces with a focus on
collaborative spaces while offering unassigned
individual workstations. Businesses can also invest
in designing a variety of unique workspaces that
range from private rooms to open workstations,
social spaces and meeting areas. So an employee
who needs a place for focused, individual work
can choose to work in a private room or at a desk.
Conversely, an employee who needs to collaborate
with colleagues can use a meeting room or
communal area.
This has led to some companies taking a fresh
look at hot desking, which is a popular workplace
practice among co-working providers and serviced
offices, for their own dedicated and private offices.
Hot desking explained
Hot desking is a workplace strategy that started
in the 1990s that does away with assigned seating
for employees and instead offers them the ability
to choose where, and how, they work within a
given office environment. There’s no ‘fixed seat’
6 | www.cfas.uk

Industry News and Services
PROS OF HOT DESKS
Hot desking enables employees to choose where
and how they work across the office, granting them
a level of flexibility and autonomy that doesn’t exist
in traditional office settings. It prioritises employee
choice whilst at the same time enables companies
to make more efficient use of their space offering
enough workstations to meet average demand in
the office and shed excess working spaces, if the
need arises.
The role of the office needs to evolve to favour
teamwork over individual work, and hot desking
can increase collaboration and productivity. By
its very nature, hot desking forces employees to
walk around the office to find a workplace, and
often ensures they interact with people they
might not otherwise connect with. It encourages a
creative environment where people get to interact,
collaborate and socialise with other teams.
left behind, ready for the next working day.
In addition to enhancing workplace security,
lockers can also be used around pillars and posts
in workplaces to help create zones in the office
environment, by using the locker units as a dividing
wall and a visual barrier between departments and
working groups, perfect for the modern, hot desking
workplace. And why not add a counter top to the
standing height units for a casual standing meeting
area, or even add an over-sized planter on to the
top filled with greenery to complete the biophilic,
natural workplace look.
Furthermore, companies adopting the hot desking
model should also implement a number of healthrelated
measures to ensure workplace safety. These
include increased cleaning schedules, social distancing
signage, hand sanitising stations, limited capacity in
meeting rooms and place mats that indicate what
workspaces are clean and available to use.
CONS OF HOT DESKS
Hot desking works on a first-come, first-served
basis which means if you like a particular space
then you have to come early to take that seat,
or else it might not be available. If improperly
implemented, it can lead to employees spending
too much time looking for a workspace instead
of actually working. Employees could therefore
be likely to face difficulties in working well with
one another. If the workspaces offered aren’t well
designed, lack of privacy can also then become
an issue as people don’t get their personal space
with lots of activity around them which causes
unnecessary distractions and hampers productivity.
Security, or lack thereof, is another challenge
businesses encounter with hot desking. Due
to the transient design of hot desking, poor
implementations can make it hard for individual
employees to securely store their personal
belongings. But in the age of Covid-19, security
goes beyond personal belongings and private
workspaces. It also extends to health. Under a
hot desking model, employees can choose where
they sit, and swap desks as needed. This inherently
causes health-related complications and social
distancing issues in the coronavirus pandemic.
STAY SAFE AND SECURE
Lockers are the perfect storage solution for hot
desking spaces to keep business premises not only
functional but also clutter free.
With employees not having a fixed desk, this can
actually lead to a cleaner, more organised, and
professional-looking workspace that can help
inspire productivity, focus, and engagement.
Workers can finish their tasks for the day, leave the
work area with their laptop and phone, collect their
personal belongings from a locker and no clutter is
PLAN FOR THE FUTURE
The work environment is changing – both in design
and purpose. Employees are re-evaluating how they
would like to work – at home, in a coffee shop, in
the office, hot desking, or a hybrid working model.
In return, many businesses are considering what the
impact will be of continued remote-work policies
on office occupancy rates. More simply, as people
continue to spend at least part of the week working
remotely, many companies will suddenly find
themselves with excess or unused office space.
Hot desking is emerging as a practical solution that
provides employees with flexibility and agility in the
office and helps companies save money by making
more efficient use of their office space. Like any
new concept tested within a business, there are
pros and cons inherent to this workplace strategy.
But if it’s properly implemented, hot desking can
also improve company culture by encouraging
people from different teams to interact and
breaking down barriers across the business.
Simon Howorth – Marketing and Design Manager -
Dams
www.cfas.uk | 7

Industry News and Services
HOME OFFICE BUYERS GUIDE
everything you need to know
There has been a dramatic rise
in the number of people working
from home since the start of the
pandemic in March 2020, having
been forced to adapt very quickly,
companies and individuals are
better equipped to support more
flexible working arrangements
going forward, and have
experienced the advantages that
flexible working brings to both the
employer and the employee.
The summer of 2021 has seen
UK social distancing restrictions
being lifted and government
guidance updated to encourage
workers to go back to the office,
however many employers and
employees are expressing their
desire to continue remote working
arrangements for the foreseeable
future, whether it be full time,
part time or just occasionally.
As home working arrangements
become more permanent, the
employer has a legal obligation
to comply with Display Screen
Equipment (DSE) Health Safety
2003 Regulations, and ensure
that their workers are using an
adequate workstation in the
home as they would be in the
office.
FIRA’s Ergonomics team have
produced a truly independent, free
to access guide to help individuals
and companies select fit for
purpose furniture and accessories
to kit out the home office. The
home office buyers guide has
been produced to help:
Individuals and
companies know
what to look for when
selecting products for
home workstations.
Manufacturers when
designing for the
domestic market.
All users understand
key ergonomic
considerations to ensure
the most suitable
equipment is selected.
8 | www.cfas.uk

Industry News and Services
The guide is broken up into a
number of sections covering
the following:
Employer’s legal responsibility
to home working employees
- This section details relevant
guidance from the Health and
Safety Executive (HSE) on what
employers should be doing to
support their home working
employees.
What equipment is necessary
based on how much time is
spent working at home - People
working from home full time or
for multiple days per week should
be using a fully DSE compliant
workstation whereas for those
who are working from home just
for a day or two a week, or on
a more ad hoc basis, there are
compromises that are deemed
to be acceptable. Recommended
minimum requirements for each
scenario is outlined in this section
of the guide.
Specific product guidance -
Relevant British and European
standards, specific requirements
from the HSE’s guidance to the
DSE regulations and key ergonomic
considerations are clearly detailed
for desks, chairs, display screens,
keyboards, mice, foot supports,
wrist supports and document
holders.
The guide also recognises that
there is no one size fits all solution
when it comes to buying home
office products and tries to arm
the reader with key information
that will help them make informed
buying decisions regardless of how
much space they have available.
FIRA’s Ergonomics team have an
in-depth knowledge of the DSE
regulations, they also specialise
in evaluating furniture and other
related products to relevant
dimensional and ergonomics
standards that help to ensure that
minimum requirements are met.
This knowledge and experience
mean they are perfectly placed
to create this comprehensive
home office buying guide, FIRA
are also not affiliated with any
manufacturers or suppliers
meaning the guide is completely
independent.
The home office buyers guide can
be found at
www.fira.co.uk/homeoffice.
A complimentary resource,
the Ergonomic home working
employee guide which provides
additional guidance on how to
set up and use an ergonomic
workstation at home can be found
at www.fira.co.uk/homeworking.
For further information or
guidance please contact the FIRA
ergonomics team at
ergonomics@fira.co.uk.
www.aaron-desking.com
www.abl-uk.com
www.acs365.co.uk
www.alchemyfurniture.co.uk
www.andrewsofficefurniture.com
www.bof.co.uk
www.claremont-centre.com
www.cmd-ltd.com
www.cobal.co.uk
www.conset.org.uk
www.deraat.com
www.eurofitsystems.com
www.fellowes.com
www.flokk.com
www.freewall.co.uk
www.frem.co.uk
www.glazpart.co.uk
www.gooffice.co.uk
www.imperialfurniture.co.uk
www.james-tobias.com
www.kieurope.com
www.leeandplumpton.co.uk
www.linak.co.uk
www.maine.co.uk
Part of the REDBOX Group
www.nomique.com
www.oeelectrics.co.uk
www.panelplan.co.uk
www.pledgechairs.co.uk
www.redbox.co.uk
www.smaartbox.co.uk
www.solutions-4.co.uk
www.southernofficefurniture.co.uk
www.staverton.co.uk
www.stebul.co.uk
www.suttonupholsterers.co.uk
www.ecodesk360.co.uk
www.teknikoffice.co.uk www.ubiltd.co.uk www.unique-group.co.uk www.viasit.com/en/home www.wagstaffgroup.co.uk
www.cfas.uk | 9

Industry News and Services
A passing fad?
GOING
The office workplace sector is a substantial contributor to
the climate crisis. Fitout is responsible for 40% of energy
in a building and 300 tonnes of fitout goes to landfill every
day. Furniture manufactured from virgin resources, which
is currently the majority, contributes to 30% of the carbon
footprint of a commercial building over its entire life.
Even back in 2017, the Furniture Industry Research
Association reported that in excess of 600 tonnes of furniture
and mattresses are sent to landfill every year, with an estimated
£760 million of recyclable and reusable resources from all
waste materials being lost to UK landfills annually.
Having worked in the furniture sector for over 30 years
including reuse and recycling back in the early 2000s, I have
been cheered by the fact that the contract furniture sector
is waking up to the importance of greater environmental
responsibility. Traditionally, the office and contract furniture
market has been highly ‘linear’ with a ‘take-make-use-dispose’
culture. With the arrival of carbon reduction targets together
with a consumer drive for a ‘greener’ society, this approach
simply cannot continue.
For decades, companies have embraced the opportunity to
furnish their offices to reflect corporate culture and facilitate
more productive working practices. Regular replacement
has had numerous drivers - design trends; opportunities to
maximise space utilisation; new ‘ways of working’; corporate
restructuring …. This appetite for change does, however, have a
significant negative impact on the environment.
‘Sustainability’ is the current buzz word. Many believe that it
is simply about ‘going green’ and reducing carbon emissions.
Sustainability is ultimately about balancing three key factors –
the environment; society; and the economy.
Organisations are encouraged to develop and strengthen their
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy to
establish a more sustainable future for their business – as well
as the planet!
In relation to the workplace sector, this can be seen through
greater focus on people and wellbeing. The workplace has
evolved with little or no understanding for people. Led by
efficiency and cost savings, space planners, for example, have
squeezed people into a smaller and smaller footprint. Partially
fuelled by emotions following the Covid-19 pandemic, this is
now changing. Wellbeing and sustainability standards – which
are closely aligned - are helping to shift the focus.
Good practice starts with a thorough examination of ‘in house’
systems – rather than focussing on what others are doing!
An Environmental Management System (EMS) provides a
company with a framework through which its environmental
performance can be monitored, improved and controlled.
10 | www.cfas.uk

Industry News and Services
GREEN
Many members of the furniture industry have already
achieved the international standard ISO EN 14001, but this
is just a starting point. Working on the basis that ‘what gets
measured gets managed’, a system is based around continuous
improvement and a mechanism to set targets and goals. Carbon
footprint is now an important component – understanding
Green House Gas (GHG) emissions – within the company
itself and its supply chain (upstream and downstream).
Product design is part of the overall approach. Even back in
2011, FIRA’s ‘Healthy workstations’ report acknowledged that
in the majority of furniture ranges examined, the embedded
carbon contained within the materials and processes used for
the manufacture of the product were the highest contributors
to the product’s carbon footprint, rather than company factors
such as utilities or transportation. Thus reducing the materials
used in a product, or opting for lower impact materials can
considerably reduce a product’s carbon footprint.
The Government’s Waste Prevention consultation paper
earlier this year also tells us that “an estimated 80-90% of the
environmental impacts in the life cycle of furniture items is
linked to the design and components of the products.”
Some manufacturers are focussed on the sustainability of the
materials used within existing designs. This approach doesn’t
consider full lifecycle – what happens when the product is no
longer required? Too much furniture still ends up in landfill or
waste incinerators. Many feel appeased by Energy From Waste
but the emissions still contribute to climate change.
‘Design for disassembly’ - designed intentionally for material
recovery, value retention, and meaningful next use - is a major
step forward and a start down the road to circularity.
Some industry players are still in denial – it’s too difficult,
too expensive or perhaps ‘just a fad’! Whilst these thoughts
are understandable given the financial impact of numerous
lockdowns, companies need to accept that change is here.
Commercial pressures are starting to impact. Specifiers and
occupiers now have the tools to ask the right questions relating
to sustainability. Success will come to those with a real focus
and are introducing new practices, materials and traceability.
Joanna Knight
With over 30 years’ experience in the office & contract
furniture sector, Joanna is a marketing consultant,
Sustainability & Circular Economy Manager at Women in
Office Design (WOD) and regular contributor to Workplace
Insight.
www.cfas.uk | 11

Industry News and Services
Satisfaction in the workspace linked to increased
productivity, survey of 6,000 employees finds
Survey conducted finds that UK employees who are satisfied with their workspace
benefit from up to 50% increased productivity
A Leading office solutions supplier, has
published the results of its survey of
over 6,000 employees across Europe,
1,000 of which are from the UK,
revealing 9 in 10 (91%) of all European
employees and 89% of UK employees
say satisfaction is important to them in
their workspace, regardless of whether
working location is at the corporate
office or the home office. Moreover,
88% of UK employees say satisfaction
improves their productivity by more
than 25%.
By helping to uncover attitudes of
European and British employees
towards workspace satisfaction and
productivity, the survey findings help
inform employers how best to navigate
the new ‘hybrid’ model of working,
where a portion of time is spent
working within the corporate office, and
a portion working from a home office.
The survey results highlight the
importance of workspace satisfaction
and are supported by additional social
media sentiment analysis, which found
that there were 1.9 million mentions
of workspace satisfaction in the
past 12-months, up from 1.5 million
mentions in the previous 12-month
period.
Following a period where many Britons
spent a year working almost exclusively
from home, the survey reveals that
36% of UK employees who work from
home say they feel more productive in
the office, and 29% say they feel more
productive when working in the new
‘hybrid’ working environment.
In addition to uncovering British
attitudes about the modern workspace,
the survey also revealed interesting
commonalities between employees
across Europe — in France, Germany,
the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain, as
well as the UK.
In comparing results from all of the
European countries, the data painted
a picture of four ‘core elements’ that
make up workspace satisfaction.
12 | www.cfas.uk

Industry News and Services
As identified by the survey results, the Four Core Elements of Workspace
Satisfaction are:
Clean Environment Healthy Workspace Secure Environment Tidiness & Organisation
Here’s what European and UK employees have to say about each of the four core elements:
Clean Environment
• 77% of UK employees say it is
important for an employer to invest
in clean, healthy air (e.g., using air
purifiers) to facilitate productivity in
their workspace.
• 54% of all European employees
surveyed said that a well-ventilated
space is the top ‘smell’ that
gives them satisfaction in their
workspace.
• A third (33%) of UK employees say
they find breathing cleaner, healthier
air satisfying at work.
Healthy Workspace
• 83% of all European employees
(and 81% of UK employees)
say having a good ergonomic
environment, including a suitable
desk, chair, and monitor at eye level
is important to their productivity.
• 80% of UK employees say it is
important to their productivity
that their employer invests in
ergonomics.
Secure Environment
• Two thirds (66%) of all European
employees agree that being able to
dispose of confidential or sensitive
documents securely gives them
satisfaction.
• 74% of UK employees say it is
important that an employer invests
in equipment to shred sensitive
documents.
Tidiness & Organisation
• 81% of UK employees say having
a clean, healthy workspace is
important to their productivity.
• 77% of UK employees say it
is important that an employer
invests in effective storage and
organisation solutions they need to
be productive at the office.
• 79% of UK employees say having
access to the equipment they need,
such as an extra monitor to view
large documents, is important to
their productivity.
• 73% of UK employees and 69%
of all European employees say
it is important that an employer
invests in equipment to produce
high quality presentations and
documents, including laminators
and binders, they need to be
productive at the office.
A theme running throughout the four
core elements also points to the need
for employers ensuring the correct
equipment in the hybrid workspace:
• 50% of all European employees
said that it positively impacts their
productivity when satisfied with
their working set-up.
• More than 8 in 10 (83%) of all
European employees say that
having an excellent ergonomic
environment, including a suitable
desk, chair, monitor at eye level, is
essential to their productivity.
• 36% of all European employees
prefer to have a hybrid working
option; versus 24% who prefer to
work solely from home.
Productivity expert Martin Geiger,
who has authored Fellowes Brands’
whitepaper on the results of the survey,
supports the findings through his own
work, commenting:
The future of work is hybrid. No longer is
working solely relegated to the company
office; the modern workspace now
involves employees splitting a portion
of their time working from within the
corporate office, and a portion working
from the home office.
Throughout my career working with
some of the world’s biggest companies,
one thing I’ve come to notice is that the
most productive people all seem to have
one commonality: satisfaction.
To successfully transition to this exciting
hybrid working future, employers must
implement practical strategies that allow
their employees to be satisfied with
the setup within the corporate office,
as well as within their home working
environment.
Employees who are well equipped
and thus satisfied with their working
conditions in both locations will lead to
outcomes of higher productivity.
In concert with the findings linking
employee satisfaction with increased
productivity, Fellowes Brands offers
solutions designed to aid employers in
optimising their hybrid strategy, while
satisfying employees in their hybrid
workspaces.
Fellowes Brands UK Marketing
Manager, Jeremy Cooper, comments:
The modern workspace is rapidly
evolving, and with that comes a change
in the tools that employees need to be
successful and productive in their work.
As employers begin to design new
hybrid ways of working, ensuring that
employers outfit their employees for
both corporate and home office working
will be key.
Employers must ensure that their
employees’ workstations are optimised
for each of the Four Core Elements
of Workspace Satisfaction. Doing so
will keep employees safe, satisfied,
and productive. At Fellowes Brands,
we understand that hybrid working is
the future and have built our hybrid
workspace tools to meet the demands
of this future, ensuring productivity for
the long-term.
The full survey results and their
analysis can be found in Fellowes
Brands’ new whitepaper, entitled
‘The Importance of Workspace
Satisfaction’, authored by productivity
expert, Martin Geiger, which can be
downloaded at
fellowes.com/fellowes-satisfaction.
www.cfas.uk | 13

Industry News and Services
Are you ‘technology’
There’s a lot of conversations and predictions in the media about what the new workspace should look
Will everyone will be #BackToTheOffice or #WorkingFromHome or a hybrid mix, or even working
This leads to “grey” area’s such
as:
How much to invest in?
• What new office technology,
what furnishing, what format,
if at all.
What is expected by employees?
• How many need or want to
return
How much office space will be
utilised as a result?
• How quickly will this be known
Currently, for most companies, all
these questions and more remain
unquantifiable!
QUESTIONS: What should a
company do?…
1. Watch and wait,
2. Follow the lead of others
3. Be proactive about
welcoming back their
employees
ANSWER: all of the above!
A BBC commissioned survey
reported 43 out of 50 UK top
companies said they will embrace
the hybrid model, which arguably
demonstrates the positive
sentiment towards hybrid
working.
Yet there is clearly a common
challenge in organisations
that is clouding judgement
of what the hybrid space is,
with IT – Procurement – HR -
Facilities all pulling in different
directions with different complex
challenges. Decisions are tending
to be slow, non-committal and
undecided, which is where 3rd
party consultation can unlock the
failure to move forward.
Perhaps a simple over-arching
question should be asked; can
the company work more cost
effectively, more competitively
and more efficiently with remote
workers based on current
experience?
If the answer is yes then a
hybrid strategy is required, if the
answer is no then a more simpler
working practice is need,
BUT to stand still by continuing
as before is not an option as
your competitors, partners,
suppliers and employees
will be considering flexible
advancement and you don’t want
to be left behind.
What research* has uncovered so
far is that companies are finding
that administrative tasks are
best produced at home in quiet,
undisturbed settings and that
creative tasks are best produced
collaboratively in high energy
creative communal locations.
Depending on the role, arguably
most of us have an element of
both tasks in our day-to-day
work activities and therefore this
quantifies perhaps the 43/50
UK top companies favouring the
hybrid option.
Hybrid working provides the
flexibility for employees to work
where they want, sometimes,
when they want. The work-life
benefits of which are clear for
the wellbeing of the employee
and often as a result the
productivity is increased and
costs such as overheads are
lowered. However, it does come
with challenges for the employer.
Careful management with a
fresh, flexible and quantified
programme that suits both the
employee and the employer, for
the wellbeing of both.
Centralised ‘creative’
collaboration space needs to be
equipped with:
• soft furnishings
• video conference
collaboration technology for
creative sessions
• interactive experience
centre presentation spaces
14 | www.cfas.uk

Industry News and Services
hybrid ready?
like - understandably not supported by firm conviction or long-term user experience.
from a 3 rd space?
for marketing and sales
promotion
• interactive areas for
democratized learning and
knowledge sharing
• meeting pods for quiet video
conference meetings
• the remote worker also
having the flexibility to
join collaborative sessions
seamlessly from anywhere,
via video conferencing (using
Zoom/Teams or Webex
etc)
Second phased investment for
the remote worker is occurring,
now that hybrid working
appears to be here to stay, with
organisations investing in better
task furniture and technology.
So, with the organisation
positively answering the hybrid
working question, this is where
the next challenging question
surfaces - which hardware/
software do they need today and
for the future. With a plethora of
suppliers available, independent
research investigating and
comparing their options
becomes the next highest
priority.
Only when suitable technology
is in place, will an organisation
be able to organically adapt
and enjoy the benefits of the
workspaces of tomorrow.
Author:
Rob Bosher, Director, Frem Group
Technology
Part of the Frem Group of
companies, who specialise in
providing solutions for the
workplace, education, hospitality
and public sectors
*Research includes Leesman
Index, Workplace Forecast – Data
Debrief
THE GOLDEN TAKE-AWAY:
It is essential that a company invests in a centralised management
platform that controls and reports on the outcome of hybrid
working. The “glue” that empowers employees to book spaces,
check-in check-out of desks and spaces, and provides employers
with reports to monitor and analyse behaviour and productivity
trends.
This insight provides a better understanding of space utilization,
staff wellbeing, cost savings and efficiencies for forward
investment and space optimisation longer term.
It does not have to be expensive. Larger organisations may opt
for systems that monitor space utilisation and optimisation
across the estate including remote employees, and those that
are unsure there are simple measures through audio or camera
techniques for example to quantify investment.
www.cfas.uk | 15

PRODUCT NEWS
ONE TOUCH
Power at the touch of your fingertips with the One Touch’s LED
touch sensors that activate the German-engineered motor and
rotate the unit to reveal the power outlets. Turn your boardroom
to a state-of the-art meeting place with the sleek One Touch!
16 | www.cfas.uk
BROADPOWER
Telephone 01258 841001
www.broadpower.co.uk

PRODUCT NEWS
AARON
Tel: 01489 892 111
sales@aaron-desking.com
www.aaron-desking.com
CMD
Tel: 01709 829 511
sales@cmd-ltd.com
www.cmd-ltd.com
Aaron have had a very busy summer period. The current trend
seems to be mixing contrasting finishes.
This has been seen with receptions, modesty panels and desk
tops, drawer and door fronts and also carcasses. With 12
finishes in stock, why not try different colour combinations at no
extra cost.
See our GREET desk image here!
Capsule Plus is CMD’s new and enhanced workstation power
module, with a maximum PD65W for charging for laptops and
other devices.
Offering 2x UK sockets with individual neon switches, resettable
3A circuit breakers, a dual port Type A/C adaptive fast charger
and desk fixing c-clamp as standard.
CMD-LTD.COM/CAPSULE
CENTURY
Tel: 0800 0929301
sales@century-office.co.uk
www.century-office.co.uk
DAMS
Tel: 0151 548 7111
socialspaces@dams.com
www.socialspacesfurniture.com
ESSENTIAL
WORKPLACES
sales@essentialworkspaces.co.uk
www.essentialworkspaces.co.uk
Leaders in affordable electric height
adjustable sit/stand desks
Century Office are a leading UK supplier
of ergonomic office furniture, with over
40 years’ experience in the industry.
They provide smart and versatile
workplace solutions and offer a tailored
approach for dealers, architects, interior
designers and facility managers for
small offices to large corporations as
well as educational facilities.
Privacy can be difficult to find in a
modern, open plan office. From the
smallest hub, which is like a telephone
booth and adequate for one person, to
the largest which can accommodate
groups, the Dam’s Silen acoustic hubs
can be adapted and customised to fit
your own office requirements, creating
multiple working zones in one place.
Fellowes next-generation sit-stand
workstations add movement to your
day to help you work and feel better
effortlessly. Counterbalance technology
and ergonomic handles make height
adjustment easy and worry-free while
accommodating multiple users and
work styles.
With over 18 varying height adjustments
and flush-to-desktop down position,
you will experience stability at every
setting.
www.cfas.uk | 17

PRODUCT NEWS
An award for excellence in British design
Are you a British Designer?
Be awarded for excellence in British Design
by applying for a Design Guild Mark.
Now accepting applications for:
• Furniture
• 2D Design: Textiles/Wall Coverings/Surfaces/
Carpets and Floor Coverings
• Lighting
Submission deadlines:
Early Bird: 26 th November 2021
Final: 21 st January 2022
Excellence starts here:
designguildmark.org.uk/apply-now
Simple Shade 05
Designed by Naomi Rochowski
DGM 260
Tallo & Tallo Modular
Monitor Arms
Our most sophisticated range of monitor arms,
expertly crafted to perform effortlessly.
www.fellowes.com
18 | www.cfas.uk

PRODUCT NEWS
TV Lifts since 2005
Electric tables and frames since 2000
RF control
(Optional IR)
Adjustable Stroke
Safety stop
A world of choices
www.conset.org.uk
All published prices
are suggested retail
ex VAT
Model
Stroke/capacity
Min install height
TS700C&A
700mm/65kg
650mm
TS1000C&A
1000mm/65kg
750mm
ConSet design and
manufacture all their
own electric
mechanisms and
frames
501-11 Heavy Duty
Heavy duty, standard
duty, shallow tops,
deep tops, 120
degree, L shape,
back2back, very
large, very small and
even mobile via a
battery pack.
Black, silver, white
and chrome options
UK trade distributors:
Furniture manufacturing
Hafele.co.uk 0800 171 2909
AV manufacturing
Screenlifts.co.uk (Loxit) 01625 365184
TS700 and TS1000 have a high lifting
capacity of 65kg upright or 29kg if used
upside down. Both A and C versions
have a setting option for collision safety
on the downward stroke and type C
also has this on the upward stroke.
Type C has an additional electronic
stroke adjustment. Type A has just a
mechanical adjustment.
Type C has the possibility to sync
multiple lifts as one or to create a
double extension with 2000mm stroke.
TS1000C twin
1000mm/65kg
750mm
Testing: a multitude
of testing exists
throughout the
product range
ConSet electric
frames with or
without table tops are
sold throughout the
UK and Ireland via
ConSet retail dealers
and furniture
manufacturers
501-37 Versatile
501-33 Great Value
Denmark to the UK
every week and the
average frame stock
status through
2019/20/21
exceeded 90%
501-25 Basic and Very Tough
Lightweight compact lift.
Designed specifically for small TVs
Maximum capacity 12kg.
Adjustable stroke.
Optional lid lifter and VESA bracket set.
TS600B can be used upside up or upside
down or laid flat to open a drawer on
runners. RF control or optional IR.
TS600B
600m/12kg
500mm
Direct trade supply
with online
ordering and direct
stock access for all
approved dealers
and manufacturers
ConSet A/S
is a Danish company
run and owned by its
founders.
The products are
sold worldwide
These photos show a very small selection of the
vast range, ConSet desk frames have been sold
in the UK since 2003.
VenSet and ConSet are founded by the same
owners, both brands have an extensive global
presence of dealers, distributors and sales
offices. Known all over the world with a well
established and proven product history.
UK +44 (0)1245 477922 venset@interlineuk.com - venset.com conset@interlineuk.com - conset.org.uk
www.cfas.uk | 19

PRODUCT NEWS
One column. Multiple options
A fully ergonomic solution, that simply fits in where needed
A single leg lifting column system is the ideal solution when space is at a
premium and simplicity and functionality are your ergonomic design goals.
Thanks to its minimum use of space, it is ideal for creating desks for both home
offices and other space-conscious working environments.
A clean design – easy to assemble
By using a column with integrated controller, you can create a compact desk
solution with an extremely clean and uncluttered design. Simply add a desk
panel directly to the column and plug in the external power supply, and you are
good to go.
We’ve got your back
With LINAK as your partner, you will get world-class support and industryleading
quality; with 30 local sales offices we are always close to you and your
market and ready to share expertise based on global experience to keep your
company competitive.
Single column designs Sit-stand desk
Example: The DL18 IC PLUS lifting column includes invisible
gliding pads and plane edges for an extra clean design.
Attach the Kick & Click top base to the column for easy
mounting of the tabletop. Choose between our wide range
of Desk Panels for intuitive height adjustment and select the
external SMPS power supply (230V or 120V).
Add your own feet, stand, or wall mount, choose the
table-top you prefer, and you have a complete package that
is ready to go.
Designed for small spaces
For more information, please contact LINAK UK Ltd
Find further inspiration on LINAK.CO.UK
20 | www.cfas.uk

PRODUCT NEWS
65W
HIGH-POWER
USB CHARGING
WHERE
QF15 TUF HP USB POWER MODULE
YOU
QIKFIT PACE MODULAR DESKTOP POWER UNIT
WANT
QIKFRAME FOR FURNITURE INTEGRATION
IT
QIKFIT GENIE HIDDEN DESKTOP POWER
scan for more info
VISIT US AT
workspace
design show
4th-5th November 2021
Business Design Centre, London
QIKFIT PARTNER FOLD-AWAY DESKTOP POWER
www.oeelectrics.co.uk/qikfit-2
www.cfas.uk | 21

PRODUCT NEWS
TRELLIS AND CANOPY
MAKES NOVUS EVEN
BIGGER AND BETTER
• Elegant Trellis screening providing an extension to the
Novus base structure
• Acoustic ceiling Canopy bridging the Novus structure
to create functional working areas
• Curtain closures affording users privacy and focus
Available in a variety of sizes and colours,
bringing versatility to the workplace
frem.co.uk
22 | www.cfas.uk

PRODUCT NEWS
FELLOWES
Tel: 07894 608 280
www.fellowes.com/gb
GO OFFICE FURNITURE LTD
Tel: 0800 195 9030
sales@gooffice.co.uk
www.gooffice.co.uk
VIASIT
london@viasit.com
When aesthetics and functionality are
perfectly blended. When the product
looks good and feels good. When it
performs like a dream and helps people
to achieve their objectives. That’s
workspace satisfaction.
As a market-leading brand for
workspace solutions, including monitor
arms, height-adjustable desking and
ergonomic accessories, Fellowes’
products are made to give you
satisfaction.
The Go Office Steel Janitor Cupboard
and Janitor Locker are ideal for organising
and storing a variety of Sanitising
Cleaning Products and PPE Equipment
which can be locked away securely and
safely.
With businesses returning to work
employees, customers and visitors want
reassurances the workplace is clean and
ready for use.
Viasit’s new Toleo task chair has been
shortlisted for the 2021 FX design
awards in the “Public, Leisure or Office
Furniture” category. Toleo has a unique
torsional movement dimension that
is a new chapter in the topic of 3D
seating and creates relaxed movement
dynamics in any position.
Contact Viasit at: london@viasit.com
FURNITURE
COMPONENTS
For more information visit: glazpart.com or
call 01295 264533 to speak with one of the team
www.cfas.uk | 23

Corsivo Sit-Stand Workstation
Transform your sedentary desk or dining room table into a dynamic sit-stand workstation
and add movement to your working day to stay active and healthy whilst working from home.
• Easily transition from sitting to standing
with gas spring height adjustment
• Two-tiered larger work surface can
accommodate flexible setup options, holding
two monitors or a monitor and a laptop
• Keep your phone or other accessories within
easy reach with the convenient device channel
• Easy set up – simply attach the optional
keyboard tray and you're ready to go
Find out more, contact Essential Workspaces
www.essentialworkspaces.co.uk
sales@essentialworkspaces.co.uk
24 | www.cfas.uk