Purposeful office design: The frontline of the employee wellbeing crisis

One of the projects I’m most proud of is the work we did with Grant UK as they relocated their headquarters from Devizes to Swindon. Moving a business of that scale isn’t just a logistical challenge, it’s an emotional one. You’re not just shifting desks and systems, you’re asking people to step into a new chapter.

From day one, it was clear that this couldn’t just be a space that was functional, it had to feel like home. That meant looking at every aspect of the design through the lens of wellbeing.

We focused on creating a workplace that was calm, uplifting, and easy to navigate. Natural light became a big part of the story, flooding through open-plan areas to create a bright, energising atmosphere. We built in flexible breakout spaces and collaborative zones so teams could work together more fluidly, while still having moments of privacy when they needed them. Subtle branding touches and nods to their heritage made sure that while the location was new, the identity of the company still felt intact.

What stood out to us was how the energy shifted. You could feel it in the way they used the space – more connection, more pride, more ownership.

To me, that’s the power of workplace design done right. It’s not just about how a space looks, it’s about how it makes people feel. When you prioritise wellbeing at every stage of the design process, you create more than an office. You create a place people want to be.

Designing for wellbeing gives you a competitive edge

Wellbeing and commercial success aren’t mutually exclusive. When you invest in your people’s environment, you see the return. That might be in reduced absenteeism, stronger talent retention, or a team that genuinely wants to show up and do their best work.

Deloitte found that businesses with strong wellbeing cultures are twice as likely to outperform their peers financially. That’s not coincidence, it’s correlation. For those of us involved in office design and strategy, it’s a reminder that the space you build is part of your business model.

Four things business leaders can do right now:
• Listen first – Ask your teams what’s working and what’s not, then build from there.
• Focus on flexibility – Create spaces that allow people to work in different ways, not just one.
• Think beyond the visual – Wellbeing includes air quality, lighting, acoustics, layout. All the things that shape how people feel.
• Engage early – The best outcomes come when the design and build partner is brought in at the strategic stage, not just at the fit-out.

The office has to earn the commute

We’re not going back to the old way of working, but we can build something better. Offices can be spaces people gravitate towards, not because they’re told to, but because they want to – because they feel better there. More focused. More connected. More themselves.

At Kerr, we’re proud to be part of that shift, creating environments that put people first and proving that when you design with purpose, improved wellbeing is inevitable.

Alex Kerr is CEO at Kerr Office Group