What does a business need to function effectively?

Think about it carefully, without overlooking the obvious.

A business needs staff, management, it needs premises, and it needs customers. Those are the obvious things, but what about the logistical and manual things? We’re talking about computers, technology, software, telephones, desks, chairs, office storage, and other machinery which makes day to day work possible.

Without even just one of these things, either the business doesn’t work at all, or it is made much harder for a productive day to take place.

One of the things we just mentioned is much more vital than you might even think. We’re talking about storage space.

Yes, you need your computer and your telephone, and you can’t do your work without the specific software that your business uses, but how are you supposed to work effectively and securely if you don’t have space to store things away? We could be talking about large items, or we could be talking about sensitive information. There are laws which prohibit the lacksidaical storage of sensitive material, and if a business is found to be lacking in this area, very severe penalties can be imposed.

Put simply, when thinking about office interior design, it is vital to consider storage. This is a massive consideration for businesses, and to have a working environment which runs smoothly and effectively, storage has to be a consideration.

If you’re working within an open plan office, e.g. an environment which encourages collaboration and idea sharing, you might not be aware of how important storage and filing solutions can be. You don’t need huge cabinets separating work areas, because that cuts down on collaborative opportunities. In this case, other ideas need to be considered, such as a storage wall, for instance. Maintaining a sense of personal space, without interrupting a free flowing working environment, can be as easy as ensuring your storage and filing doesn’t cause an issue.

Utilising Space

Planning out your office space carefully and effectively at the start can cut down on big issues later down the line. If you don’t have a huge amount of room, you will need to know how to fit your staff inside comfortably, as well as the storage space that you need. Of course, your staff’s personal comfort comes first, so in this case you need to maximise any free areas for storage.

When we talk about storage, we’re not just talking abut filing cabinets and office related equipment, we’re also talking about personal storage space for your staff. For instance, where are your staff going to keep their bags? You can’t expect them to just leave them by their feet, as this isn’t very secure at all, so you need to put lockers in place, or something else which is going to suit their needs. How about a lockable desk drawer? You’ll find many office furniture in London options which can answer your questions on this issue.

Many businesses are choosing to work upwards rather than across when it comes to storage. So, we mentioned storage walls before, and this is a way to utilise height rather than width. Of course, you need to consider how high this is, and health and safety, which is something we’re going to move onto next.

The Importance of Heath and Safety in the Workplace

Any type of storage needs to incorporate heath and safety. If you don’t do this, you’re placing yourself in a huge risk category. If a member of staff falls or hurts themselves whilst attempting to reach for files which are too high up, or are poorly stored, then they can log a claim against you. You are also going against the Health and Safety at Work Act, which brings many severe penalties.

For this reason, storage needs to be:

• Secure – lockable and fire proof
• Of a height which can be reached easily and safely
• Ergonomically designed
• Easily accessible
• Only accessed by those who need it for their job

The whole point of storage is to ensure that staff can reach the documents and equipment they need in a safe and secure manner. There should be an easy to use filing system for paper-based items, e.g. alphabetically or number ordered, to ensure that time is not wasted on a poorly organised system.

Of course, from another health and safety point of view, storage solutions such as cabinets, should not be placed in the way of any escape routes, e.g. fire doors. When you are planning out your office space and layout, it is vital to ensure that nothing is blocking any walkways. Just one trip can cause a huge problem for the person who has fallen, and for you as an employer. Finding the best storage solution for your available space is therefore vital. This doesn’t have to be filing cabinets, and there are many options which can actually utilise the little room you have, and be dual function too. For instance, a large storage cabinet of a low height could be used as a brainstorming surface in a collaborative open plan office.

Thinking creatively is the best way to utilise space, and save money at the same time. Options are cost effective, and will actually keep cash in your pocket over the long term.

So, if you were previously unsure whether you needed to put much thought into storage and filing solutions then this chat will hopefully have changed your mind. Ensuring that you keep all items that need to be stored away safe and secure is one consideration, and a very important one at that, but ensuring that you utilise space is another too.

Go with the modern way and edge away from cold and hard filing cabinets, which are actually difficult to use and take up a lot of space. Instead, look towards more innovative ways to store your items, and look forward to a more productive workspace instead.