With rising demand and black holes in the nation’s finances, Smarter Working is more important than ever. It brings together people, processes and technology to enhance working practices and environments to unlock productivity, streamline processes and generate cost savings.
Whether you’re in the early stages of testing new approaches or looking to scale best practices, there’s always more to learn. The Concerto team were delighted to be invited to be part of the 2024 Smarter Working Conference and share expert insights on creating great places to work.
In this post, you’ll discover highlights from the event including insights from expert speakers and practical strategies to create smarter workspaces.
What is the Smarter Working Live Conference?
The Smarter Working Live Conference took place on the 17th and 18th of September, hosted by GovNews in partnership with The Government Property Agency. Now in its fourth year, the event has grown in popularity and is part of a long-term strategy until 2026. The event brought together thought leaders, industry experts, and public sector professionals to explore cutting-edge strategies and solutions for enhanced productivity, flexibility, and collaboration.
Concerto was proud to be a sponsor alongside others such as Bytes, IBM and JLL. Speakers included senior leaders from the Office of Government Property, SOCITM, the Local Government Association, and many more. Covering everything from thought-provoking keynotes to practical Innovation Zone workshops, delegates had plenty of insights and inspiration to take back to the office. The two-day conference ended on a celebratory note with the announcement of the Smarter Working Awards shortlist.
The 3 Minute Pitch: Making the Shift from Reactive to Proactive Maintenance and Asset Management
The Innovation Hour was a highlight of the in-person event. This fast-paced, high-energy segment asked innovators to distil their offer to the public sector into a three-minute pitch. Public Sector Specialist at Concerto Matt Hickley stepped up to the challenge. Watch a video replay of his spotlight session here.
“Concerto helps public sector organisations across the UK make the shift from reactive to proactive maintenance and asset management, saving time, reducing costs and improving services. So, if you’re looking to enhance your estate management with smarter, data-driven tools, Concerto is here to support you.”
Matt Hickley, Public Sector Specialist at Concerto
Creating a Great Place to Work that meet the evolving needs of employees
The online event included workshops on hot topics from digital inclusion to automation, artificial intelligence and machine learning. Matt Hickley was the co-host of the Improving Spaces: Creating Great Places to Work session along with Ann Carter-Grey, Head of Places (Locations, Estates, Sustainability) at the Cabinet Office.
The places where we work have a profound impact on experience. Yet the pressure to do more with less, meet compliance standards and tackle sustainability issues can be a balancing act. This interactive session explored how the public sector can leverage data-driven decision-making to improve space utilisation in alignment with strategic drivers.
Staff expectations are shifting. Since the pandemic, new trends are emerging in how people use space. Increasingly, staff want:
- The ability to book desks and workspaces with confidence.
- Individual quiet spaces for focused work.
- Booths for taking video calls in private.
- Spaces where they can come together in small groups.
There’s also growing awareness about how office design can create inclusive, accessible environments. Workspaces accommodating different requirements can benefit everyone, as well as being a particular consideration for neurodivergent people. For example, people with ADHD or autism might prefer a quiet space with dim lighting to avoid sensory overwhelm. Leaders need to consider how they can create the conditions for a productive environment that works for everyone.
Ann Carter-Grey shared examples of changes to the Cabinet Office regional offices that attracted positive feedback from staff. A designated quiet area provides a low stimulus environment while desk dividers and adjustable lighting offer increased choice and flexibility. The Cabinet Office has also installed height-adjustable desks and wheelchair-accessible telephone conference booths. The key is to engage with staff to understand their needs and continue to ask for feedback. This two-way dialogue creates truly great spaces to work. Watch the full video to find out more.
Establishing a Digital Maturity Baseline
Smart technology can help leaders understand how spaces are used and spot opportunities for improvement. Technology is advancing rapidly but organisations often struggle to keep up with the pace of development and leverage the full benefits of innovations like the Internet of Things and AI.
Without digital skills, confidence and capabilities, public sector organisations may experience bottlenecks when modernising their estate. The first step is to establish a digital maturity baseline. Matt Hickley shared five stages of digital maturity, from preliminary up to optimised.
Work Smarter with Concerto CAFM software
Concerto is the UK’s leading CAFM and estates management system. Built by FM geeks who loved playing with Lego as a kid, the software is modular, meaning you can pick the parts of the system that best match your needs.
Winner of two PFM awards for Experts in Partnership, Concerto is trusted by clients including NHS England, HMRC, the University of Oxford, the London Fire Brigade, and many more.
Get in touch with our public sector team to discover how we can help you.
