Something for the weekend: Creating a fun and engaging workplace is one method of ensuring employees stay engaged and motivated at work, often having a knock-on effect on employees’ productivity. Software organisation EKM has sought to create an enjoyable working environment for staff at its brand new office facility, which includes a slide that reaches over three stories.
The new £3.5 million Lancashire-based office, which took four years to design, plan, and build, has been custom-built to include state-of-the-art office technology, an expansive kitchen, a training and presentation auditorium, and a rest and relaxation area. The new development will also soon feature a gym.
EKM’s new head office currently houses its 85 employees, who have relocated from smaller offices across Leyland and Darwen. The building has the capacity for over 250 employees in anticipation of future growth.
To launch the new office, EKM held a family fun day, which was attended by approximately 150 people including employees and their family members. Staff members and their families were able to enjoy a barbeque and a tour of the facilities, while children and young-at-heart adults could take advantage of a bouncy castle, miniature golf, and face painting.
Antony Chesworth, founder at EKM, said: “These are world-class facilities for our world-class team. We’ve taken inspiration from Google and Facebook, because we want people to think of us in those terms.
“Business doesn’t have to be boring. We’ve got a huge slide, because you can’t go down it without a big smile on your face. If your team love what they do, they’ll keep doing it and get really good at it.”
Sharon Snape, director and owner at Altitude Interiors, which worked on the interior design of the new office, added: “The brief was to make this the coolest workplace in Lancashire, and I think we’ve achieved that.
“At EKM there’s a woodland theme downstairs and a more industrial look with exposed lighting and trunking upstairs. The common theme is bringing people together, so there’s lots of open spaces and glass partitians.
“A nice workplace improves productivity, it makes people want to be here. This building was designed with EKM’s team in mind, it’s all for them.”
Here at Employee Benefits, we would love to have a go whizzing down EKM’s slide. Considering our office has five stories, we are thinking of dropping some hints at the next staff meeting; it would certainly beat taking the stairs…