Skip to content
ADVERTISEMENT
News

Boiler Shop to host ‘living workplace’ event

Boiler Shop will be turned into a working environment where visitors can work, hold meetings, test products and attend talks and workshops.

3 min read
Share
Work beyond walls boiler shop 61
ADVERTISEMENT

Newcastle’s Boiler Shop will host a ‘living workplace’ event called Work Beyond Walls on 9th and 10th September.

Work Beyond Walls will bring together 300 people from business, design, HR, property, health, wellbeing and workplace performance.

The free two-day event was created by Paul Glaister, brand principal at workspace consultancy Workpattern.

Boiler Shop will be turned into a working environment where visitors can work, hold meetings, test products and attend talks and workshops.

Around 20 workplace brands will help build the temporary space, including MillerKnoll, EGGER, HAY and Deadgood.

ADVERTISEMENT

The programme will examine workplace design, culture, technology, wellbeing and performance.

It will also cover neuro-inclusive spaces, grief in the workplace, sustainable design and the role of relationships and belonging.

Glaister said: “The North East has always been creative and ambitious; we punch well above our weight in many ways. 

ADVERTISEMENT

“Why should we have to go to London to have a conversation about how to make work ‘work’ better for us? That’s why we created Work Beyond Walls – a space to hear the biggest ideas, meet national experts, and influence the future of our working lives. 

“The North East has the people, the ideas and the appetite to lead this conversation here.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Glaister added: “We’re running the event as a not-for-profit because the return we care about is a much bigger picture of workplace culture, performance and wellbeing for the whole region.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Philippa Lobb, design/A&D consultant at Workpattern, said: “As the idea for the event was emerging, we asked ourselves – what is the problem we need to solve for the community? We soon realised that this is a debate which needs to happen across sectors and with a range of different people. 

“The more that we learn, the more we have the opportunity to enhance wellbeing, productivity and prosperity for people and organisations.

“You can come for a talk, work from the space for a few hours, join a workshop or stay for the whole experience. It’s free, and we’d love people from right across the region to be part of it.”

Speakers will include Michelle Percy, chief executive at Develop North PLC; Phil Witcherley, director of economic growth and innovation at the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority; and John Mayock, founder of workplace performance consultancy EPIKOS.

ADVERTISEMENT

Bertie van Wyk, senior insight strategist at MillerKnoll, will open the main stage. 

Other speakers will include Dr Josh Jackman, Dr Joe Kupusarevic, Jayne Crampton, Joanna Knight, Jon Stinson, Dr Dave Warwick and Laura Barrett.

St Oswald’s Hospice is the event’s charity partner.

Glaister said: “Our research to date found that close to half of people surveyed say that they work flexibly between home and an employer; yet very few fall into the ‘balanced hybrid’ category, with many people remaining anchored to one main setting. 

“What’s clear is that we’re not doing enough to make working environments great, and that’s not a criticism of anyone, it’s about learning and moving things forward. 

ADVERTISEMENT

“We’re living through changing times, and work needs to keep pace, and recognise that the right workspaces go far beyond walls and empower people to do their best work.”

Related