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NAVIGATING YOUR BUSINESS
THROUGH THE FIT OUT MAZE

STRAIGHTFORWARD, INDEPENDENT ADVICE

Fit Out Expert provides straightforward, independent advice and guidance to occupiers seeking support with their relocation or refurbishment.

As trouble shooters, we harness years of experience gained within the design and build industry to navigate your business through the maze of technical jargon and complexity that adds cost without creating value.

Our service to you is predicated on clarity, expertise, authenticity and strength.

 

“I worked with Jenny to help manage an office fit-out and consolidation for a large PLC in central London. Jenny did a fantastic job all round but her real value add is the ability to engage with multiple senior business stakeholders to design and deliver a complex move. Her can-do attitude got the job done and her attention to detail made sure the client was very happy with the outcome. I look forward to working with Jenny again in the future.”

Chris Gibson, Managing Director, PEN Partnership

OUR APPROACH

Clarity

Simple, straightforward advice. Cutting through complexity with clarity and transparency. Enabling you to make more informed decisions.

Expertise

Focus that can only come from an independent perspective based on over 35 years top level experience in the fit out and surveying industries. Helping you mitigate risk and avoid disruption.

Authenticity

No sales pitch – just sound advice and guidance. Protecting your profits against programme and budget creep. Making you and your business look amazing.

Strength

Bespoke strategies tailored specifically for your business with your interests at heart. Based on your individual circumstances and requirements. No vested interests – only yours.

WHAT WE DO

  • Ability to work within the Client office and integrate with the team.
  • Organise Workplace Appraisals to understand Client culture and working practices.
  • Review how the current office environment impacts on staff well-being.
  • Define space requirements.
  • Source a property advisor to locate office space based on the initial findings.
  • Suggest a shortlist of fit out contractors to suit the Client ethos and type of project.
  • Structure a tender process and manage the build experience.
  • Communicate with staff so that they are ready to move.
  • Manage the relocation to ensure business continuity.
  • Help staff settle in to the new office – a soft landing.
  • Minimise the environmental impact.
  • Ongoing support for the staff and facilities team.

 

“The refurbishment of our offices in Leeds was a complex and difficult project, involving close to 1000 people. Many of the staff had to remain in situ whilst the works were underway and therefore the programming of the build work and move management process were critical to the success of the project. Jenny did a great job for us - she managed our internal IT resources, organised the move management programme and oversaw the project management and construction teams, which allowed us to focus our resources on our own business. We always felt very confident that that Jenny would deliver the project on time and to budget – and she did.”

Nicola Frampton, William Hill Director of Retail UK

“Jenny was recommended to us by a company who were quoting for a design and refurbishment of our building and it was the best recommendation they could make. As a charity who had a very old, tired building that needed everything doing to it to make it fit for purpose, it was great to have someone to walk with us to ensure that we got the best value for money and to help us navigate the intricacies of what we needed. Jenny made a very complicated process much more manageable and her knowledge and expertise was invaluable. She was able to explain things clearly and give us options to help us in our decision making process. We have ended up with a building that is an absolute joy to work in and we are extremely grateful. I can’t recommend her highly enough and would not hesitate to work with her again in the future.”

Jade George, Office Manager, The Leprosy Mission International

“Can I just reiterate what a pleasure it has been working with people who actually know what they are doing especially you Jenny, you have all been straight with us all through the project and with that teamwork it has really made a difference.”

Russell Proctor, Managing Director of JPR

  • Early assessment of relocation requirements and risk management.
  • Agree desk allocation and team adjacencies based on business directives.
  • Storage survey and analysis.
  • Coordination with Facility Management teams and office managers.
  • Collaborate with internal IT team.
  • Capability to work in house for full liaison with key teams such as Facility Management, IT and People.
  • Draft internal communications to staff to inform about moves.
  • Full time attendance during the move process.
  • Recommendation and appointment of removal team.
  • Welcome pack suggestions and soft landing support.

 

“I worked with Jenny and Lara over a 12 month period to deliver a complex refurbishment project in Leeds. The move management part of the project was particularly challenging, as it involved staff across multiple sites with specific IT requirements and potentially serious risk to the business. As a team they managed every detail personally to ensure that each and every move was successful. They communicated with all levels of staff, giving the business confidence that they were in safe hands. Where necessary they developed Plan B scenarios to minimise risk to the business. It was a pleasure working with Jenny and Lara, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them and I hope to work with them again very soon.”

Callum Mayor, Partner, PEN Partnership

Measuring and reporting on the environmental integrity of a fit out including:

  • RICS SKA- Assessment of the sustainability of individual fit outs based on bronze, silver and gold standards.
  • BREEAM – Global sustainability assessment method for infrastructure and buildings, from new construction to in-use and refurbishment.
  • LEED - Global sustainability assessment method for new build, fit out and refurbishment.
  • Fitwel – System to measure health of the workplace
  • WELL Building – System to measure health of the workplace

 

“Lara makes it her business to understand the complexities of your business and provide honest, accurate and practical recommendations to progress key actions. Lara’s knowledge and experience within the property sector allow her to adapt to the specific needs of your business. Our business is complex and has a lot of competing areas for attention. Lara has guided The Office Group in navigating the business strategy through a sustainability lens. Lara considers the needs of a broader universe of stakeholders to establish a clear social purpose for businesses, supporting successful growth.”

Abbe Banks, The Office Group

  • Inform on Well Being standards and impact on staff productivity.
  • Incorporating Well Being standards into a new or existing workplace
  • Measure and demonstrate staff productivity linked to health of environment
  • Advice and installation of cutting edge technology to measure and control office environment
  • Full report of results and recommendations

The cutting edge sensor system provided by our digital platform partner can offer the following benefits:

  • Occupancy and capacity management
  • Indoor air quality monitoring
  • Wellness and productivity measurement
  • Workspace utilisation studies and solutions
  • Estate Rationalisation
  • Compliance
  • Smart FM solutions
  • Asset monitoring for remote maintenance
  • AirRatedTM - Indoor air quality certification

PEOPLE

  • JENNY LANCASTER

    Managing Director

    A Chartered Surveyor with 29 years’ experience in the commercial fit out industry, Jenny offers an insider’s view to the market and works closely with Clients to ensure that they have the best possible strategy for their refurbishment or relocation. Jenny has been a Member of the RICS for over 30 years.

    Jenny works in partnership with Lara in the move consultancy service, together delivering extensive experience and first class problem solving ability.

  • LARA CONAWAY

    Director

    A sustainability and well-being professional, Lara has spent over 20 years in the commercial fit out industry and advises Clients at a strategic and project level. A key player in the move consultancy service with wide-ranging experience operating in challenging working environments. Lara also provides our highly personal project management service with focus on integration of clients ESG requirements.

    Lara is a RICS SKA Assessor and a Fitwel Ambassador.

READ OUR LATEST CASE STUDY

  • Imperial Brands

    Imperial Brands wanted to create a new London hub for teams and executives coming into the UK from across the globe where they could work, collaborate and connect in a top quality, high performing environment.

Recent Clients