Why improve the outside space at your business?

Why improve the outside space at your business?

Whether it’s a garden, courtyard, terrace or balcony, any outdoor space you have at your business is likely to be hugely popular with staff, clients and visitors. And, for any workplace, there are numerous advantages to having an on-site al fresco area, with benefits including:

• The chance to access fresh air and daylight on a daily basis during the working day can have an immeasurable impact on worker wellbeing, not least in winter, when other opportunities to be outdoors may be limited.
  
• Taking brief but regular breaks from computer screens and the general hubbub of office life can also prove invaluable, and reduce the risks of burn-out.
  
• Teams will love having somewhere in the open air to socialise and relax (and maybe eat lunch) away from their desks. Or why not hold discussions with clients, suppliers or others under the sky?
  
• At the same time, it doesn’t have to be all play and no work! You could consider introducing a policy on allowing staff members to take a laptop outside in the warmer months, for example on Friday afternoons. Equally, the policy could encompass your stance on outdoor meetings.

Working outside can bring a new energy and dynamic to people’s efforts, sparking fresh ideas and thinking.

So, as the reverberations of the pandemic continue to be felt and employers increasingly prioritise the mental health and wellbeing of their staff, access to workplace al fresco areas has been cited as a key and growing trend by Work Design Magazine.

Maintaining your outside space at work

However, if you’re providing somewhere outside for your workforce to gather and get some fresh air, you’ll need to focus on keeping this space looking its best at all times. And now could be a good time to rethink what you have, before the winter sets in.

One thing you’ll need to consider is having adequate garden furniture so people can sit and chat or focus – with enough seating and tables, you provide sufficient space for those who want to work to do so comfortably.

So, clearly, you need the right number of chairs. But don’t forget tables so teams can work or rest mugs, glass and plates; otherwise the area could just feel unfurnished.

Teak garden tables are ideal given their ability to handle all the rigours of the great British weather, from hail, rain and snow to extreme heat. They’re incredibly robust, always smart-looking and highly versatile in terms of seating varied numbers. Take your pick from the classic appeal of an extending or fixed table, or go for something which looks rather more modern. Elegant teak tables can be ethically sourced from certified plantations, and paired with matching chairs and parasols as you wish, for a whole new look outside your workplace.