Magenta’s news round-up: 30th November

It’s the end of November, which means it’s less than a month until Christmas. But before Magenta puts up the decorations and the festive fun begins, we need to bring you the pick of this week’s news…

The difficulty in managing things that cannot easily be measured

Persuading leaders to examine soft factors requires determination, Andrew Hill writes in the Financial Times. We have a tendency to pay more attention to hard facts, targets and outcomes such as big data and financial predictions rather than soft factors like culture, workplace inclusivity and non-financial targets.

Read the FT article here.

Home comforts abound as Fora opens a third ‘pro-working’ space in Borough, south London

Co-working but for grownups. Fora uses the term ‘pro working’ for its new flexible workspaces, elevating the user experience to a more professional level. Its third location in Borough offers its “residents” a Scandinavian restaurant, a café open to the public, high-tech meeting rooms, phone booths, a roof terrace, a bathroom and shower facilities, and complimentary refreshments. If equipped with a smartwatch and an app, Fora residents can also contact the concierge, book meeting rooms and book their own personal training session in the gym. Fora really is a one-stop shop.

Read the Onoffice article here.

UK to appoint national head of architecture

In efforts to change the scope of architecture in the UK, especially when it comes to new housing schemes, the UK government is looking for someone to champion the importance of good design. The role is specifically for a qualified architect to advise on architectural policy and practice and to raise the design standards of new housing schemes.

Read the Dezeen article here.

Report analyses role of FM in sustainability and social value

Active Workplace Solutions has launched a new report exploring sustainability within the built environment titled ‘Sustainability in Facilities Management: A Holistic View’. The report analyses how the FM sector can impact wider environmental, social and economic goals, and build a holistic strategic picture of sustainability.

Read the FMJ article here.

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Ben Keeley