Why the future of work is so important to the future of the built environment

I feel we are starting to reach a tipping point.  This year I have started to witness those across different ages, and different disciplines take an active interest in the change that is impacting our sector. Whether it be urbanisation, generational change, rise of technology and automation key drivers are changing demand for space.

It's not just going to change the way we work but also what space we need to function well and thrive.  Change is all around us - and we all need to be able to be agile and adapt to be successful. 

I don't subscribe to the view that we should fear robots(like "pepper" pictured with me above) but technology will change significantly the way we work. This study from the Oxford Martin school is well worth a read. - but I do feel that we are going through a period where the newer more creative and complex jobs(and the capacity for new skills needed) are taking longer to emerge than those they displace leading to a period of disruption. Professional bodies like RICS have an important role to play here.  

Indeed many RICS members especially those with major technology and financial sector clients are seeing rising attention to design, productivity and activity based working models shaping work space of the future.  I have joined our professionals recently at  CBRE(Singapore) and Cumming Corporation (USA) to visit some of these new workplaces. They are really at the cutting edge. Below is a visit to Facebook's HQ in Menlo Park and their huge rooftop garden.

My view on the things to watch: 

-Workplace Productivity - This is arising an area where our work on standards like IPMS will be really important. As will our new partnership with IFMA to progress these areas. I recently joined an event with members in Qatar with recent research from RICS on this topic.

- Agility and Lifelong learning: Tech is changing everything so we all have to keep learning new things and then acting on them faster than ever before.   

- Work culture Younger generations would like to be their own boss so old style corporate culture won't survive. It's not surprising some employers are co-investing in new ventures. Co-working spaces are thriving and expect more on crowdsourcing for skills to be a potential driver for a future "gig" economy.  

- Well being Ageing matters so we can expect health and well being to rise up the agenda. From the new Well certification to Google's "Calico" health is starting to matter.  

- Skills We need to get better at creating and helping skill up people for the jobs of the future otherwise we risk greater instability especially among the young trying to enter the workforce and among people in traditional roles that are under threat from digitisation and wider change.

- Inclusion We need to make sure social inclusion has a greater focus for the built and natural environment. Everyone needs to share in economic benefits and our sector  has a part to play as managers or advisers of use of 70% of the world's wealth.        

These last two issues figured prominently at this year's World Cities Summit in Singapore that I attended last week with RICS President Amanda Clack.   

Recently I have spoken at three events on these topics:  

Corenet UK One Big Day 2016

ISS Breakfast event

Wedlake Bell's Tomorrow's Cities series  

Discussions at all events showed participants were acutely aware that perhaps the workplaces, the buildings that house them and the cities that they are located in are not  keeping pace with the change that is in the air. Increasingly flexibility and adaptability is needed within design to ensure workplaces are fit for the future.

If you have an interest in the Future of Work there are a few amazing people whom I have had the pleasure of meeting through my work on our #RICSFutures programme.  

Dr Marie Puyburaud who is a truly inspirational speaker on this topic

Inma Martinez recently looked at these issues in a great article 

Su Lim based in Singapore who has looked at the issue of workplace productivity 

Mark Gilbreath CEO of Liquidspace who raised at ULI Europe's annual conference the concept of "Peak office" and his view it will be reached by 2020

Finally, my colleagues Dan Hughes and Step Bentley share their views from a recent CBI event on this topic looking at how digital is changing workplace. This is going to be a continuous theme that shapes how our profession will deliver for society. Get ready for an exciting time ahead !

If you wish to contribute to our #RICSFutures thought leadership or events or have thoughts please email [email protected]