Briefing and workplace planning for occupiers
Ramidus is highly experienced in briefing – preparing business cases, defining needs and preparing workplace strategies for public and private sector organisations. We are focused on the business context of real estate decision-making and we offer practical advice, based on experience.
We work with our clients to prepare accommodation strategies that support wider operational objectives, and we help them achieve improvements in business performance through more efficient (lower cost) and effective (higher productivity) use of their workplace. Our aim is to help clients align their accommodation with their operational strategy.
A selection of workplace planning clients...
Addison Lee; Adur & Worthing Borough Council; Bedfordshire Police Authority; Buckinghamshire County Council; City of London Corporation; City of Westminster; Domestic & General Insurance; Elmbridge Borough Council; Energis; Government Property Unit; Hampshire Police Authority; Jones Lang LaSalle; Lambert Smith Hampton; London Borough of Islington; London Borough of Lambeth; Orange Business Services; Royal College of General Practitioners; Really Useful Group; Royal Mail Group; Thames Valley Police Authority; Thames Water and West Yorkshire Police Authority.
Recent Projects
The following is a brief review of some recent work undertaken by Ramidus for our growing client base.
Much of our work contains market/business sensitivities, and we are therefore only able to show a small cross section of work.
Office of Government Commerce
Working alongside IPD on the Property Benchmarking Service, we undertook a project, the Voice of the User Programme, to examine how data is being used to achieve High Performing Property objectives.
Energis
Ramidus was asked by Energis to examine their occupancy of three buildings accommodating nearly 2,000 people, and to make recommendations for efficiency savings. We undertook internal and external benchmarking of facilities costs and occupancy standards. Ramidus examined the layouts and use of space, carried out a utilisation study of the clients’ buildings and made radical proposals for efficiency savings of up to 20%.
National Audit Office
As part of a team led by Concerto Consulting, we undertook a project to advise the NAO on the potential to secure major space efficiencies in Government occupation of central London offices. The project involved identifying and presenting best practice is space use through case studies; data analysis of current Government occupation, and radical proposals for alternative styles of occupancy.
Office of Government Commerce (OGC)
We recently supported IPD on a major project to provide the research evidence and persuasive arguments to allow the OGC to begin working with Government Departments to introduce workplace standards targets.
London Borough of Lambeth
Undertook a review of the administrative estate, housing 3,900 staff in nine buildings. Work took account of a changing council structure and service delivery model to provide a statement of requirement for an estate based on reduced headcount, flexible working and changing priorities.
Elmbridge Borough Council
A review of the office accommodation to determine how well it is being used and to define space needs in the medium-term. Our study recommended workplace standards and policies; identified cultural change issues and new ways of working opportunities, and provided a cost-benefit analysis.
Thames Valley Police
As part of a team led by Lambert Smith Hampton, we reviewed the TVP estate to provide advice on its efficiency and effectiveness, and to advise on the potential for introducing flexible working styles. The work involved interviews with senior management, building surveys and utilisation surveys.
City of Westminster
Ramidus worked with the Community Protection department at the City of Westminster to prepare a brief for their relocation to City Hall in Victoria Street, SW1. Ramidus prepared a detailed statement of need for the 320 staff, based on interviews with business unit heads, which addressed pressing business imperatives and at the same time introduced a flexible working agenda.
Thames Valley Police
As part of a team led by Lambert Smith Hampton, we reviewed the TVP estate to provide advice on its efficiency and effectiveness, and to advise on the potential for introducing flexible working styles. The work involved interviews with senior management, building surveys and utilisation surveys.
City of Westminster
Ramidus worked with the Community Protection department at the City of Westminster to prepare a brief for their relocation to City Hall in Victoria Street, SW1. Ramidus prepared a detailed statement of need for the 320 staff, based on interviews with business unit heads, which addressed pressing business imperatives and at the same time introduced a flexible working agenda.
London Borough of Islington
Ramidus worked with Islington to provide a high level overview of its administrative estate comprising c25,000 sq m and accommodating 1,850 staff. The work involved interviews with senior officers and members to develop a “business-driven” approach to defining its future needs. The work looked at innovative occupancy solutions and the potential to make major cost savings.
City of London
Prepared an assessment of the use of six HQ buildings. The work involved workplace studies, a financial appraisal and preparation of costed options for a consolidation strategy. The recommendations entailed a reconfiguration of space use and significant efficiency savings (up to 25%), as well as a strategy for higher utilisation, a new approach to meeting room provision and a strategy for sharing space with other organisations.
Really Useful Group
Ramidus undertook helped this media business define a strategy for dealing with its two main central London office buildings, totalling 3,500 sq m. The total amount of space was far in excess of need and Ramidus defined a process for consolidation into one building and disposal of the other.
Adur & Worthing Council
Prepared an accommodation strategy for Worthing Borough Council and neighbouring Adur District Council focusing on maximising the efficiency of space use and improving the effectiveness of the occupied estate. The project involved proposals to make 30% savings in space alongside a series of costed options. The recommendations also included a re-stack of the accommodation to optimise adjacencies and operational effectiveness.
Hampshire Police Authority
Alongside LSH, undertook a review of the Force’s estate strategy. Work involved a review of HPA information and data sources, including the operational context and the Force’s changing priorities. Prepared scenarios for the future provision of a fit-for-purpose estate. The scenarios ranged from relatively modest change, to quite radical proposals. Each outlined a statement of requirements, and we applied financial appraisals to each in order to identify their likely costs and benefits.
Orange Business Services
We undertake space planning and move planning for an estate accommodating over 2,000 people in six buildings. Work has involved taking briefs from divisional heads and preparing statements of need. Recently we planned the consolidation of over 700 people from three buildings into one.