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contents
Licensed copy from CIS: UNIWEST, University of Westminster, 15/06/2018, Uncontrolled Copy.
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background
Licensed copy from CIS: UNIWEST, University of Westminster, 15/06/2018, Uncontrolled Copy.
As part of the BSRIA Inspire programme, in the Ashleigh Bunker, aged 17, was the successful
summer of 2016, BSRIA continued its tradition of candidate, and was asked to research the
building and sharing knowledge by recruiting perspectives of younger people, particularly
a young paid summer intern to give them millennials, regarding their future workplaces.
experience in the professional workplace. Millennials are, after all, the next generation
Alongside workplace experience, the intern of potential engineers, and we will have to be
was given the opportunity to undertake a mindful of their aspirations in attracting top
project with the guidance and support of the talent from this generation to our industry in a
BSRIA staff, concluding with a report that BSRIA competitive environment.
would publish. This report, minimally edited by BSRIA for clarity,
is the culmination of Ashleigh’s project.
Many people don’t know what building services are. BSRIA says they are
the parts of the building that you don’t usually see but they are the parts
that make the building possible to use; things like heating, ventilation,
air-conditioning, lighting and many, many more. It’s a place where the
practical application of science reigns supreme and it attracts scientists,
engineers and technicians from all associated disciplines to work within its
laboratories and workshops.
BSRIA aims to “make buildings better” and without engineers of all sorts
this just wouldn’t be possible. But it’s not just us that need talented people
and it’s not just engineers. The construction industry turns over around
£90bn each year and that work goes through thousands of small and large
businesses. The opportunities for a great career in the industry are without
parallel and ready for you to explore.
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Executive Summary
The advancement of digital technologies is The purpose of this project is to identify the
changing the way we work. Collaboration expectations that the millennial generation
Licensed copy from CIS: UNIWEST, University of Westminster, 15/06/2018, Uncontrolled Copy.
technologies are ushering a next-generation and their successors, generation z, have for
their workplace environment and the potential
delivers meaningful cost saving to organisations implications of these expectations for BSRIA
members and other stakeholders.
future may not even need to be a workplace
in the accepted sense of the word. With new Along with the main purpose of this study I
and more advanced mobile devices, giving investigated some related points:
employees the freedom to work from anywhere,
these technologies will continue to reshape the • how the workplace environment will affect
the career choices of different generations
• how the needs of the different generations
BSRIA has the corporate vision of “making will need to be met in the transitioning years
buildings better”, but with the changing •
environment that meets the expectations of
future take, what will be the expectation of the millennial generation and beyond
the occupiers and what will be the impact for
designers, developers and those managing the
workplace environment?
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methodology
research methodology
Licensed copy from CIS: UNIWEST, University of Westminster, 15/06/2018, Uncontrolled Copy.
Define problem
and start
research
Articles
Literature
review
Find the Interview
knowledge gap
Observation
Data analysis
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The history of office layouts
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concerned that they were being constantly
ages where government letters were sorted watched, expressing the feeling of a ‘Big Brother’
effect. This caused a fall in worker’s happiness
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and productivity, as well as an increase in
Licensed copy from CIS: UNIWEST, University of Westminster, 15/06/2018, Uncontrolled Copy.
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worker’s anxiety.
have undergone continuous changes in order to In the 1950s, a German design group called
Quickborner tried to improve the typical large
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into more organic groupings with partitions to
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provide a degree of privacy and interaction on
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that the open plan design was not as positive as
long rows of desks. This was considered more expected. A BBC article written by
cost effective for businesses and the layout was ="
predicted to increase workers’ productivity and
creativity. However, it did not always have this problems: distracting noises or deadly silent
result. Some organisations took the idea as an
opportunity to pack more workers into smaller hyper-aware of the noises around them or lose
spaces. As the layout was open and rigid, staff their concentration.
a computer and a chair. Although intended and happier employees. They have done this by
to provide a degree of privacy it led to more providing quiet rooms and collaborative stations,
depression, and employees often found the
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space saving desk claustrophobic. comfortable. This helps satisfy the different wants
and needs, and is a better approach than the
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the technology phase; portable computers and
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into modern open plan, this being thought to
Images source:
Architectural Review
Technology has also evolved so much that more
alongside each other for many years. The 1950’s “employers are embracing technology as a way
to not hire as many people” says Joyce Gioia,
materials such as steel and glass. However, back Strategic Business Futurist, President and CEO of
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the Herman Group. An example of this is that
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we no longer need people in high vis jackets
' scouting the building area, but instead use a
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hearing the chatter of other workers, they had allows a bird’s eye view of the site as well as
to listen to the many ‘clicks’ and ‘dings’ of the progress reports of the build. Technology is only
typewriter. going to improve with new ideas. In the next
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Technology has enabled a quieter writing and there will be wireless everywhere. Designers of
working experience, but that is not the only thing
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consideration how this technology will work in the
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so that employees don’t have to organise a
time to talk or to edit documents. Nor do they Technology has also affected what millennials
have to scour the library for their documents, but are like as employees. Generally, they want
can use a search engine. However, that only instant results making them more action
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orientated. Where the previous ideology is more
technology businesses can become global. It “eventually you get your dues”, millennials want
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and for staff to not actually be physically as fast. This passion for instant results may make
together to make the business work. In addition, them seem impatient to older generations, but
the opportunity to rent space for a desk rather businesses will have to accommodate such
characteristics.
work globally more easily.
technology. There is a new movement towards
designing with the wellbeing of people in mind.
One of the ideas is that we should be keeping
track of not only temperature and light but the
feelings of the employees. Virtual reality design
allows the designers to put actual employees in
well they respond to the design.
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Licensed copy from CIS: UNIWEST, University of Westminster, 15/06/2018, Uncontrolled Copy.
not only temperature and
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data collection & results
It has been taken as a fact that when working in can overall have an effect on your physical and
mental health.
Licensed copy from CIS: UNIWEST, University of Westminster, 15/06/2018, Uncontrolled Copy.
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I carried out a survey of BSRIA employees to look
co-workers personal call to the boiler repair man.
at the extent of these impacts.
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have many issues which can cause employees
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auiditory privacy satisfation
Licensed copy from CIS: UNIWEST, University of Westminster, 15/06/2018, Uncontrolled Copy.
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the next 10 years
Licensed copy from CIS: UNIWEST, University of Westminster, 15/06/2018, Uncontrolled Copy.
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you will be working in a virtual world with colleagues in other
countries and still be a in a functioning business. However, a
too laid back, some current co-working environments are even
offering beer for their employees on week days.
@
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of the future.“HR review” shows how there are four trends
affecting how workplaces will change for the better in the future:
ageless, mindful, intuitive and collaborative. These changes will
allow employees to work at the peak level of happiness and
effectiveness.
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week days!
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Licensed copy from CIS: UNIWEST, University of Westminster, 15/06/2018, Uncontrolled Copy.
ageless workplace To have an ageless workplace means that the business allows
older workers to remain in the workforce for longer or even to
return back to the office after a break. Millennials will be staying in
the work place longer than current generations as today’s
retirement age is extended. Many older people want to work for
longer, which suggests that they are energised and made happy
by their career, so accommodating to the longer career will
require an innovative and creative environment.
mindful workplace
A mindful workplace, this means that it would be a workplace that
nurtures mental health and encourages workers to recharge
mentally and help achieve a well-balanced social/work life and
connectivity due their busy “hyper-connected, digital lifestyles”.
This balance is a key feature as in the past the employees tended
to keep their social and work life completely separate, whereas
the millennials have the social aspect mixed in with all aspects of
their life.
smart workplace
Another way that the office will change is intuitiveness, this being
the use of data on employees to help improve their office
environment, mood, wants and needs. Creating an environment
which is intelligent and intuitive at the same time will be the way to
a successful office.
collaborative
workplace Finally, making the office as collaborative as possible. Where past
generations preferred singular tasks, this generation need special
collaborative spaces where they can bounce ideas off of each
other and help create ideas as a team. Although it follows the
traditional idea of open spaces and a flat structure, the difference
is only having this design in selected areas.
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site visit
A co-working environment is a place that image and pride in your workspace. With such
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a modern and creative design to our rooms it
payment. Within this particular business you get allows our customers to feel pride in their work
a few choices of rental. In the company we space and to want to let people know about it,
visited, if you are a member you can rent an whereas the older generation tended to keep
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their work life separate to their social lives.”
Licensed copy from CIS: UNIWEST, University of Westminster, 15/06/2018, Uncontrolled Copy.
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their current work.”
SM: “^
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reasonable
for start-up companies of the future, I see our The company we visited provide their customers
business as a stepping-stone for small businesses, with a modern environment but with the
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paying monthly so if the business is in trouble like. This choice also appeals to the older
and cannot continue the lost money paid for generation, which is why a co-working space
accommodation will not damage their overall is not limited to generation y or z. Overall this
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co-working environment is easily accessible to
big businesses wishing to set up in another area, all generations but it generally geared towards
for example we have a famous technology the millennials, depending on the particular
company renting with us at the moment, co-working business’s ideal market group. This
they are an American company wanting the
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areas for hard work, along with café open all
limitation.” working hours and informal meeting pods.
A continuing factor showing within We also got the opinion of Derek Clements-
research about the Millennial generation Croome from BCO on co-working spaces.
is the enjoyment of work and pride with
He felt very positively towards them in that
your workplace, so is a co-working
they are ‘very inspiring and allow the workers
environment better than a regular office?
to pick their space and design it however they
SM: “
wish. They help positivity and therefore make
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the employee want to work harder and more
older generation mostly see work as a must,
younger people see it as fun time to do well
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and be creative. This also connects to the work
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Summary
Research shows that Milllennials don’t want to preferences as the previous generations will
work for any company, they would prefer to earn lead the to a business’s employees lacking
less and work for a company with strong passions
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and morals. A survey shows that 46% would
like to have an impact on the world (millennial
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marketing). Another reason why millennials how change will be necessary to get the best
don’t want to work in a traditional way is the millennials into your workplace.
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restricting time schedule that they have stick This millennial generation have grown up to use
too. They dislike the timed 9 til 5 work life which technology and social media. Having always
Licensed copy from CIS: UNIWEST, University of Westminster, 15/06/2018, Uncontrolled Copy.
generally coincides with the location of the lived in such an environment they would expect
workplace. The millennials like to have the option their workplace environment to consider those.
of different workplaces to suit the task at hand or The next generation needs an environment,
easiest choice for them at that time. which allows them to be innovative and creative
but at the same time allow them to keep the
As previously stated all generations have
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different needs, wants and expectations. So
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millennials don’t want to
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with strong passions and
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HOW WILL DIFFERENT GENERATIONS
MEET IN TRANSITIONING YEARS?
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some of the things that could be changed within
Licensed copy from CIS: UNIWEST, University of Westminster, 15/06/2018, Uncontrolled Copy.
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bsria employee interviews
I conducted verbal interviews with a number of employees and two visiting engineers of different
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age into above 36 or below 36.
Licensed copy from CIS: UNIWEST, University of Westminster, 15/06/2018, Uncontrolled Copy.
Q1: Over 36
No paper in the office
Under 36
Skype/meeting rooms
how do you hope Longer hours but flexible Less face to face contact
technology will affect Remote working increase Ability to control comfort (heat, light,
your work live positively etc)
in the future? Virtual teams Less office based
Controllable thermal comfort Collaborative rooms
the same wants from future technology, with only pieces of paper. A common desire from both
a few subtle differences. It stands out that more groups were the tech savvy rooms made for
than one person over the age of 36 wanted a skype calls or virtual team meetings, as well as
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technology allowing more remote working and
that when computer became more accessible
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it was advertised that this meant the future
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bid to ‘save the trees’ but they want the hassle
already in place. So they bought ideas that they
thought would help improve their working expe- the break, allowing her fresh air and a chance to
rience. move about form her otherwise stationary pose.
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that they can work whenever suits their minds
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I also used a questionnaire sent out by BSRIA to the existing workplace.
the two employee categories (under 36 and over The questionnaire results show that the
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generation gap does not necessarily alter the
provided data that helped show different views
Licensed copy from CIS: UNIWEST, University of Westminster, 15/06/2018, Uncontrolled Copy.
The older generation tend to have basic
requirements like better air quality or thermal
comfort. The younger generation assume that
these will be in place, and think about their wider
millennials and generation Z (the under 36s) was wellbeing needs. Therefore, it would be in a
they all wanted opportunities to try new things for business’s best interest to help deliver those basic
example a sit-stand desk. Another difference was needs and to consider how they can meet the
that the under 36s wanted separate spaces for other well being expectations.
different tasks, e.g. a quiet room, a collaborative
room and hot desking room. The over 36s often
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next steps
generation have and what would be best to
accommodate them. At the same time, it’s not
We do not yet know how new technologies will +
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be received by different generations, but there it’s also important to design all work places
around being collaborative, innovative but still a
medical issues or in different age groups. K
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A recent study looked into wearable technology good, if there is not an inspiring environment the
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workers will not have pride in their workplace nor
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will they feel inspired to work”.
Reading, he stated his professional opinion on
This research shows that bridging the difference
employee to be more aware of their health in
many ways such as: heart rate, sleep, glucose for that can easily be achieved and although needs
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and expectations are slightly different, they
if there is an onsite doctor who can keep watch
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of your health then they will know when an may have to wait for the delivery of advanced
employee is too sick to work and get sent home technology to help deliver a controllable thermal
or to the doctors. This would overall help increase and lighting environment – the personalised but
the well standard and at the same reduce open plan desk – but everything else could be
sickness cost for the business.” delivered now.
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environment the workers will not
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references
Thank you to the following for your time:
Marilyn Williams – Psychologist Employees from the Co-Working facility we
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BSRIA Employees who completed the survey
Engineers from BSRIA
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BIBLIOGRAPHY:
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inspire: The story of...
Licensed copy from CIS: UNIWEST, University of Westminster, 15/06/2018, Uncontrolled Copy.
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Licensed copy from CIS: UNIWEST, University of Westminster, 15/06/2018, Uncontrolled Copy.
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Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 7AH
T: 01344 465 600 | E: bsria@bsria.co.uk
24 www.bsria.co.uk
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