Just as in private sector industries, the post-pandemic reality of hybrid working has highlighted and enabled space efficiencies within the NHS. After careful consideration of the possibilities, NHS Hampshire Hospital’s Trust identified a time critical need to redesign the workspace for their Finance department, streamline it for increased flexible occupancy and relocate staff in and out, whilst the project happened.
Modernising our Hospitals and Health Services (MOHHS) is part of the government’s New Hospital initiative – the biggest building programme in a generation and is backed by an initial £3.7 billion of investment to provide better care for patients, an improved working environment for staff and to help the NHS reach its net zero carbon ambition.
MOHHS were looking for a supplier that could firstly fit into very tight timescales and more importantly keep to high standards of sustainability when delivering the project. “Active have an ethos of sustainability and their extensive use of recycle/reuse was a perfect match for own green agenda.” States Faustyna Borowska, Project Manager at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The aim of the project was to leverage the cost savings available through the adoption of new working practices, remove any unused furniture and reduce any excessively large workspaces – a complete reconfiguration of the space.
Active undertook pre-move site surveys, project planning and crate management whilst liaising closely with the project team within the NHS. At each stage, furniture was carefully identified for re-use or recycling in order to minimise waste during the move – particularly excess desks, pedestals, and bookshelves. Forty staff members were moved out from the Finance area before the space was reconfigured and 60 staff were accommodated into the reconfigured and streamlined office design from two alternative areas of the building.
“Active gave us a single point of contact and they went above and beyond to be responsive” continued Borowska. “They turned up when they said they would, did exactly what they said they would and made the whole project run as smoothly as possible.”
“There was hardly any waste from this project”, states Adrian Powell, co-owner, and director of Active Workplace Solutions, “What we couldn’t reuse was recycled and if absolutely unavoidable, disposed of ethically and safely. Sustainability is an increasingly important issue for our clients, and we have been proactive in our green policies since the introduction of the Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations in 2013, stepping it up a notch every year.
Our aim is to minimise the amount of waste that goes to landfill. We are proud to say that we manage to resell, reuse, or recycle 94% of all cleared furniture and make every effort to re-sell or rehome second hand furniture through our “Waste not Want not” scheme.”
