By Sullivan Gardner, business development manager, Amarelle.
You’re an expert in your industry. You know how much things cost and more importantly who to trust. But, as is often the case with office fit-out projects, if you’re the internal key stakeholder you may not be well versed in office fit-out, after all, it isn’t your day job. 
So we’ve put together 11 (yes, it’s inspired by Spinal Tap) tips for a successful office fit-out.
- Pick a key stakeholder within your business. Elect an internal person – or small team – who can drive and manage the project from start to finish.
- Choose the right fit-out partner (we hope this will be Amarelle). Pick a partner with a vast knowledge of the whole process, who can guide you through the legalities (such as lease negotiation, licence to alterations, etc), inspire you creatively and suit the way you work. You’ll be joining into a deep and meaningful relationship, so choose wisely.
- Should you stay or should you go? Whether you’re looking to refurbish your existing space or move and start afresh, think carefully about your future plans and if that involves growth make sure you think ahead
- Plan, plan and plan again. Don’t lose track of time, plan for the whole journey and remember that you don’t have as much time as you think. Engaging with a principal designer (now a legal requirement) at an early stage is a smart move. Make sure your deadlines are realistic and don’t risk disrupting busy periods in your business calendar, especially when thinking about your business service providers as this element has the potential to delay your moving date in a big way!
- Set a budget. How much money is in the pot? Think about every detail. This is one of the most important questions you need to ask yourself so be realistic. Even if the budget is modest, it’s possible to make it work and achieve a fantastic end result.
- If it ain’t broke… Find out what works in your brand and keep hold of it. Make sure it’s not lost in the new design scheme. It’s great to start afresh, but that doesn’t mean forgetting who you are or where you came from.
- Get inspired. What have you seen that you like? Look online, offline, at competitors and at yourself as a brand. We live in an age where we’re exposed to so much, so take full advantage of it to get the most from this opportunity.
- Staff engagement. Who are the influencers in your team? Who will inspire the team and help them embrace change and accept their new space? Keep the key influencers involved during the key decision making processes, but also involve the employees that struggle with change and turn them into project champions. These people hold the key to helping you achieve and deliver a successful fit-out.
- Spring clean. Use this as an opportunity to shred (office pun, sorry) things that you no longer need. These can be physical things or intangible systems and processes that no longer have a place.
- Dilapidations. Commercial dilapidation clauses demand that you give your space back as you took it. Make sure your fit-out partner has this in hand as it’s something that’s often overlooked. If this sounds scary, don’t worry, we can talk you through it.
- Party! So, the final tip… Once it’s done, shout about it and have a party!
Sullivan Gardner is business development manager at Amarelle, the Bristol-based office design, fit-out and refurbishment company.
