The British car industry has grabbed numerous headlines since the Brexit referendum due declining car sales and the uncertainty of its economic and regulatory prospects. In spite of these mounting concerns, the industry continues to invest in the design of its workplaces, not only by creating inviting and engaging places to work, but also by integrating automotive approaches to design and construction into the work environment. As a result, these workplaces don’t just help car companies to stay competitive; they also provide new ideas for all sectors eager to build smarter and more efficient places to work.
On a basic level, car companies around the UK are making workplace design decisions that echo those of other industries tasked with attracting the best designers and engineers. Favouring attributes like environment responsibility, brand and collaboration, car companies around the UK are ensuring their workplaces promote physical and digital connectivity, integrate branded elements and product updates in engaging ways, and feature “catalyst projects” like innovation hubs, tech lounges and employee cafeterias that promote wellness, social interaction, and convenience.
Although these workplace features are of vital importance to today’s young and productive workforce, they aren’t unique to automotive industry. The true differentiators—and the ways in which the industry is driving workplace design forward—come in the form of technological innovations and construction methods. Car companies are accustomed to inventing and refining their own processes around tech and manufacturing, and as a result, they seek smart buildings that reflect their values and needs. This desire is further driven by the need recruit an entirely new set of skilled workers with technology and digital skills necessary to support car manufacturing’s expansion into these fields.