Workplace Savings to Boost Your Bottom Line (Without Firing Anyone!)

Added: (Mon Oct 26 2009)

Pressbox (Press Release) - There is just so much information flooding on to our desks these days concerning the best ways of saving money for our businesses that we’re all suffering from `paralysis by analysis’. (Meaning that nothing ever gets done!) From the latest `green’ issues such as `Carbon Footprint Reduction’ and `Sustainability’ to the questionable cost of incorporating these `improvements’ into our workplaces whilst at the same time getting a reasonable return on investment?

Alan Whitehead – MD at specialist office refurbishment & fit out consultants Whitehead Francis Associates had this to say: “As with everything else in life, it’s a question of balance. For example, there’s absolutely no point at all in spending a small fortune on replacing an old, knackered heating system, putting in all new `triple-glazed’ windows as well as insulating walls, roof, et-al, if at the end of it all it’s going to take you 100 years or more to make back the money you’ve spent installing such `energy saving’ solutions”

So how can a balance be found?

Whitehead continues: “An obvious place to start if you’re really keen to contribute towards saving the planet is to contemplate moving your business into a newly constructed modern building complete with an Energy Rating Certificate. (Commercial buildings are increasingly being rated on their energy saving efficiency - from A to G just like your domestic refrigerator - the higher the rating (A) the more energy efficient the building should be.”

“Well” says Alan, “that’s the theory at least. However, this initial advantage can be easily undone if the occupants of such an `energy efficient’ building neglect to carefully monitor on a regular basis their actual energy usage - as well as other utilities such as water – which may well negate the original intention of the developers of such `green’ buildings at a stroke!

The same caveat could also apply to the office refurbishment or fit out to install these `energy efficiencies’. Certain elements, such as air source heat recovery systems, insulated wall claddings, suspended ceilings, energy saving lighting, etc. can easily be incorporated into fairly modest refurbishment or fit out schemes at the same time for little additional cost.

However, Whitehead issues a word of warning here. “If you are contemplating an office refurbishment or a new fit-out on any scale it should always be arranged and overseen by specialist professionals in the field. A substantial amount of money is often wasted at the outset of such projects by the insistence of the project originators (the business owners/managers) that, in order to keep project costs to a minimum, they will be managing the project themselves using their own `in-house’ resources.“

Whitehead, now warming to his theme, further warns; “No matter how skilled these managers may be at running their own businesses the process of organising and managing the multiple elements needed - sometimes running into several hundreds or even thousands dependant on the size of the organisation - for the successful and timely completion of an office refurbishment, fit-out or relocation project is crucial.
An office refurbishment or fit out can be a frightening, overwhelming prospect at the best of times, even more so if you're managing the process by yourself! And you're still expected to do your regular `day job’ as well!

Some of the questions you will need answers to – and fast – might include:-
• How do I go about creating an accurate project budget?
• What are the critical deadlines and how will I meet them?
• How do I plan, budget and implement the project?
• Do I know all of the mistakes to avoid?
• If relocating, which building will be best suited to our company's needs?
• How will I know how much money should be spent on the fit out?
• Can I be sure I'm not overpaying when all the quotes look the same?
• Who will help me to decipher the `jargon’ used by my suppliers?
• How can I avoid employing cowboys?
• How will I find the time to do all this?”

All businesses are, or should be, looking to increase cost-effectiveness and cut out any financial slack. If this means re-fitting your existing premises to make it `leaner and greener’ or relocating the business altogether to offer a more efficient operation, following Alan Whitehead’s advice will see businesses move from suffering to success. With the result that your well planned and implemented cost savings will impact directly to the bottom line without having to either fire anyone or increase your sales or margins.