Office refurbishments boost profits for Preston joinery firm

The trend towards hybrid working has provided a boost in sales for a Preston-based joinery manufacturer as businesses look to reimagine their workspaces.

According to the Office of National Statistics, 40 per cent of UK adults now work from home at least once a week, as opposed to just 12 per cent in 2019.

As employers looks to re-establish the office as an exciting and inviting environment, JSJ UK has undertaken a third more office refurbishments this year than the same period in 2022.

The company has reported an influx of enquiries and instructions from organisations seeking to reconfigure and reinvigorate workspaces, especially those looking to tempt workers back into the office.

Jack Smith, managing director at JSJ UK, says: “Hybrid working is here to stay, and so the role of the office has changed. In 2023, workspaces must facilitate collaboration like never before, fostering a sense of community among colleagues who may see each other just a handful of times a month. We’re taking on briefs from clients who need spaces that cultivate strong relationships and effective partnerships.

"Offices in 2023 also need to shape-shift, allowing for the arrival of different people on different days of the week. We’re working on open-plan spaces that are interactive, with meeting rooms, social spaces, dining areas, and games areas. We are forging break-out and meeting spaces in all kinds of usable areas – from underneath staircases to separate booths and kitchen islands.

“Conversely, there is also huge value in quiet areas – spaces for people to escape the hustle and bustle of office life when it gets too much, particularly if they’ve become accustomed to home working.

“What’s more, dull just won’t do. When working from home is an option, offices must be inviting, creative, and exciting spaces. This is where our craftsmanship has really come into play. Offices can be beautiful, considered, tactile, and inspiring.

"This is a real period of change, and it’s exciting for us to be on the ground, reinventing what work looks like in 2023 and beyond. And as the world of work grows and evolves, so too has JSJ UK. Our team and our profits have both been boosted by this new wave of hybrid working, and we’re looking forward to more to come.”

Alongside its office refurbishment arm, JSJ UK has grown its presence in the hospitality sector. 2023 has seen it tackle 33 per cent more jobs in leisure than during the same period in 2022.