Attracting and Retaining Talent in 2025

As we move through 2025, the role of the office has never been more important in shaping workplace culture and ensuring new starters feel truly part of a team. A well-designed workspace not only enhances productivity but also helps businesses attract, welcome, and retain top talent from day one.

1. A Space for Connection

First impressions matter, especially for new starters. An inviting, well-designed office helps new team members feel at home from their first day. Unlike remote onboarding, where relationships take longer to build, an in-person environment allows for organic introductions, quick problem-solving, and a true sense of belonging within the team.

2. Wellbeing-Centred Design for a Confident Start

Starting a new job can be overwhelming, so ensuring a comfortable, well-thought-out office space makes a difference. Offices prioritising wellbeing through ergonomic features, breakout and wellbeing areas, and good air quality help new employees settle in faster, boosting confidence and productivity. When people feel good in their environment, they perform at their best.

3. A Responsible Workplace That Attracts the Best Talent

Sustainability isn’t just about reducing carbon footprints, it’s about creating an office environment that reflects a company’s values. More than ever, job seekers want to work for businesses that act responsibly and show commitment to environmental and social impact. Offices designed with sustainable materials, energy-efficient systems, and biophilic elements, such as natural light and greenery, reduce environmental impact and demonstrate to new team members that they are joining a forward-thinking, responsible business.

Designing workspaces that attract, inspire and excite new team members in 2022

Are you one of the millions of people who swapped the office desk for full-time remote working during the pandemic?

If so, you’ll know that it’s been challenging at times. But spare a thought for new team members.

Memorising everyone’s cuppa, finding the best lunchtime sandwich spots, learning to laugh at your boss’ jokes — joining a new organisation has many office culture rites of passage that new starters have all missed out on. Then, of course, there’s the more serious stuff: forming personal and professional relationships. 

So, is your workspace working as hard as possible to welcome newbies? Let’s discuss the importance of the workspace for welcoming new team members in 2022 and explore some top tips for ensuring yours stands out.

It’s not business as usual.

As a nation, we are currently reassessing our priorities. Two years into a pandemic, work-life balance has taken the front seat.

With some feeling undervalued and overworked, the resignation rate amongst UK workers is at its highest since 2009, with a remarkable one in four planning to say ‘New Year, new job’. What’s more, those searching for their next role have more choice than ever — UK vacancies are currently standing at a record high of 1.25 million.

Not for quite a long time has it been so challenging to retain (and recruit) staff. So, if you’re a business or commercial space owner, how do you respond to ‘The Great Resignation’?

As we emerge into a ‘new normal’ of hybrid working, part of the answer is an engaging, inspiring and uplifting office.

We’ve missed the office.

Oh, boy — have we.

Most of us probably have new team members who we’ve only met a handful of times, if at all. The impact on company culture scarcely needs to be spelt out.

We all know that Zoom calls don’t necessarily lend themselves well to collaboration and creativity, either — a study of 60,000 Microsoft workers found that remote working caused collaboration to become ‘more static and siloed’.

The impact on professional development is just as important, too. 69% of senior business decision-makers say that young people who work from home ‘will struggle more to progress in their career than those going into the office’. New staff want those chances to progress, too — three-quarters of Generation Z workers want more opportunities to collaborate face to face.

So, strike that work-life balance. Place the office at the heart of your business plan for 2022; make sure it’s an amazing place to be for your new team members.