What we do

We work with leaders to implement multi-disciplinary programmes designed to help their organisation flourish in a hybrid working world.

In a nutshell we…

  • Agree C-suite vision and guiding principles
  • Assess what’s currently happening
  • Develop cross-disciplinary hybrid working strategies 
  • Develop and support your people managers
  • Monitor, review and modify your hybrid working policy

We are trusted by industry leaders

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Our research shows staff often work more effectively in a hybrid working model

The expectations of employees have changed and hybrid working is a pre-requisite for many. Offering staff the opportunity to work at home and the office is an essential part of providing a modern employee proposition.

Increased productivity

9.5 days

Extra days employers gain from hybrid working

Gain a competitive edge

42%

The proportion of organisations yet to introduce some form of hybrid working policy

Trusted by leading companies

“The diligence with which AWA explore our practices and provide us with insightful feedback is impressive, which is why we come back to them time and again. I have no hesitation in recommending AWA to any organisation, no matter how big, as they have demonstrated to us that they have the capability to meet any challenge.”

Neil Jones, BGUK Director of Property, Bupa

“The diligence with which AWA explore our practices and provide us with insightful feedback is impressive, which is why we come back to them time and again. I have no hesitation in recommending AWA to any organisation, no matter how big, as they have demonstrated to us that they have the capability to meet any challenge.”

"We were looking for a partner with a demonstrable global track record, deep understanding of workplace strategy and change with a community of real experts globally.”

Mel Parkes, Global Head of Workplace Transformation, BP

“With AWA’s help, we've been able to create a transformational space which supports our hybrid working approach and transforms our culture.”

Kerry Smith, Chief People Officer, BHF

“With AWA’s help, we've been able to create a transformational space which supports our hybrid working approach and transforms our culture.”

"AWA has been a great resource of global data and research for us regarding agile, hybrid and the world of working. They are responsive, willing to question assumptions, and work as a partner to help us make good decisions."

Neil Austin, VP Real Estate Portfolio Management and Transaction Services, Omnicom Group

"Mintel has worked successfully with AWA for over a decade on several major projects. We chose them for their expertise and experience at the cutting edge of understanding workplaces. They lead the industry with well-crafted research to understand the dynamic workplace landscape and help solve the real-world issues of operating successfully in a changing world."

Peter Haigh, Chairman, Mintel

“Leading a major change management project in complex international organisation is challenging undertaking. I knew it would involve multiple stakeholders, take wide-ranging collaboration and that we would need some expert, confident experience to help steer and deliver it. AWA has provided that, not by steaming in and dictating how things should be based on their ideals, but by listening to us, learning, understanding and advising."

Tom Crame, Head of Global Workplace, Amnesty International

“Leading a major change management project in complex international organisation is challenging undertaking. I knew it would involve multiple stakeholders, take wide-ranging collaboration and that we would need some expert, confident experience to help steer and deliver it. AWA has provided that, not by steaming in and dictating how things should be based on their ideals, but by listening to us, learning, understanding and advising.

"We were really keen to understand how the learnings and behaviours of Covid enforced home working would affect the post-pandemic return of staff and in particular to our Sheffield campus as we have plans to restack and refurbish the office space. AWA’s detailed and in-depth engagement process allowed us to reach out to all levels of occupants and really understand staff perception on what will be needed to create a new working environment that would align with business requirements and where changes in behaviour, management style and space might be appropriate."

Steve Chapman, Interim Head of Estates ICF Security, Estates and Information Directorate, Home Office

BESPOKE STRATEGY

We provide a bespoke, scientifically-backed hybrid working strategy

We provide a tailored, scientifically-backed hybrid working strategy that answers the fundamental questions you are grappling with:

  1. How can company culture be maintained in a hybrid workplace?
  2. How do we find the right balance between working from home and the office?
  3. How can we use hybrid working to enhance productivity and employee wellbeing?
  4. How should we develop our leaders to manage hybrid teams?
  5. How do we maintain our community, trust and relationships?
“AWA have become our trusted advisors in helping us understand our workplace.” Kerry Smith, Chief People Officer, BHF

ENGAGE EMPLOYEES

We engage and supportyour employees

We engage with employees across your organisation to ensure our approach is inclusive and holistic, and we’ll support you every step of the way to make certain your tailored hybrid working policies stand the test of time.

Gain expertise

We upskill leaders

Managing hybrid teams requires new ‘transformational’ leadership understandings and practices. We design development programmes based on our scientific research and our three decades of experience.


  1. 84%

    Proportion of staff at Amnesty International who feel productive or very productive since working with us to implement hybrid working

OUR IMPACT

How enhanced working practices at the BHF led to increased staff satisfaction

We supported the British Heart Foundation to redesign the workplace and turn it into somewhere employees want to be. Social cohesion and communication across teams increased as a result.

“AWA have become our trusted advisors in helping us understand our workplace.” Kerry Smith, Chief People Officer, BHF

OUR IMPACT

Creating a new workplace design that reflected Bupa’s priorities

As part of a long-term collaboration, we supported the business as it moved to hybrid working. We consolidated three buildings into one new facility in Manchester and completed the right-sizing of regional offices across the country.

"I have no hesitation in recommending AWA to any organisation, no matter how big." Neil Jones, BGUK Director of Property, Bupa

OUR IMPACT

How we equipped a leadership community to manage in the hybrid era

We supported Amnesty International as it developed a set of hybrid principles informed by hard evidence and aligned with the management team’s objectives.

"AWA has always responded promptly, constructively and positively with solutions and alternative ideas for consideration." Tom Crame, Head of Global Workplace, Amnesty International

01

Develop the future workplace vision 

Hybrid working draws diverse opinions in the boardroom, so we work to debunk myths, contribute expert knowledge and facilitate the creation of a consensus. We support leaders to develop a shared vision of where they want their organisation to be in two years’ time.

Assess what’s happening

02

Assess what’s happening

We discover how your company operates. We weave your DNA of work by establishing the facts on the ground by conducting workshops, holding one-to-one interviews, running staff surveys and carrying out desk utilisation studies. This enables us to gain a comprehensive understanding of your organisation’s workplace and infrastructure constraints, employee attitudes towards hybrid working, and a true reflection of office attendance.

Train your leaders to become hybrid working leaders

03

Train your leaders to become hybrid working leaders

Using gamified techniques underpinned by the latest science on managing virtual teams, we upskill leaders so they understand the nuances and practices for leading hybrid teams and provide training for managers to discuss the implementation of a hybrid work modelling. It’s a fun, highly collaborative process in which we rethink teamwork and team dynamics.

By sharing data-based insights we evolve leadership thinking and craft new policies and practices to develop the ideal approach to hybrid working for your business.

Facilitate Working Together Agreements (WTAs)

04

Facilitate Working Together Agreements (WTAs)

We equip leaders to facilitate deep discussion to enhance team performance, while seeking to accommodate the life needs of staff members. In conjunction with the six factors, they establish how your teams should work together when they’re not together. They cover a range of topics including:

  • Location of work
  • Collaboration
  • Time together
  • Mental workload management
  • Staff induction process
  • How to build trust

Monitoring, learning and evolving

05

Monitoring, learning and evolving

Business requirements change so hybrid working policies must be able to adapt. We work with you to develop a scalable framework and produce company-specific playbooks to embed the changes long-term. While everything looks good on paper, we know that implementing change requires skill and patience. We can work with you to deliver customised change management programmes.

The end result

06

The end result

Our target is to enable your business and your people to flourish, having established hybrid work as a core part of your organisation’s culture.

We’ll ensure your business successfully adopts a tailored approach to hybrid working that meets your requirements. You’ll have a set of guidelines to turn to and a way to replicate the results across your organisation globally.

Develop the future workplace vision 

Get in touch to find out how we can help your company adopt hybrid working 

Schedule a call today

WHY WORK WITH US?

At AWA, we’ve been helping organisations navigate a path to agile models of working for more than 30 years.

Our research


Our scientific research and understanding of neuroscience underpin all of our work

Our tailored approach


We understand the challenges your business faces, but don’t arrive with pre-conceived solutions

We’re global, yet local


We have a community of expert consultants across the world who can be relied upon to deliver industry-leading advice that incorporates local sensitivities

We’re fiercely independent


Our solutions and advice are objective and evidence-backed. We're on your side and uninfluenced by commercial drivers

Our experience


Since 1992 we've been at the forefront in supporting some of the world’s leading organisations to implement new models of work

OUR SUCCESS STORIES

We’ve helped our clients save millionsby adopting hybrid working

Our Impact

How we helped WTW save $100m per year and successfully merge two companies

When Willis and Towers Watson merged we established a new sense of community and helped the business save $100m per year through reductions in its property portfolio

Our Impact

How we implemented a robust hybrid work strategy for the RPS

We developed a highly integrated, step-by-step roadmap to ensure the Royal Pharmaceutical Society adopted hybrid working for the long term - without missing a beat.