Industry experience

We work with global technology companies of all sizes, including social and collaboration platforms, artificial intelligence, software and networks. As trusted and established partners, for many years we have been supporting key organisations as they design of the future of work and the workplace. We understand the complexities of working with a highly skilled workforce, as well as the challenges of managing diverse, high performing teams in various configurations of engineering and non-engineering disciplines.

Industry challenges

Today, many companies are choosing a ‘remote first’ or hybrid model both as a platform for demonstrating and testing their own collaboration tools as well as a strategy in the war for talent. Because of this, the tech sector has been leading the way in developing new post-pandemic ways of working.

In the adoption of new ways of working, we have identified key challenges facing many organisations – and critically, many tech companies:

Cultural reinvention

Working hybrid means thinking about culture in a non-place-based way. Integrating culture into every aspect of the employee experience requires a deep understanding of where in the organisation culture lives, how to cultivate culture as a leadership and management skill and how to embed cultural markers into online collaboration tools, processes and training.

Leadership development

The tech sector offers complex products and solutions; likewise, managers must be equipped with the technical expertise, process tools and people skills to lead hybrid teams – and maintain and evolve new ways of working over time.

Widening skills gap

With rapid growth and automation there is often not enough talent in the market to effectively fill many roles. New hires come with a wide range of experiences, but there are often gaps in skill sets required by the employer. Filling those gaps is essential to managing a remote, flexible or hybrid workforce.

Sparking innovation and creativity

Innovation is critical to success, and creativity is an essential ingredient of innovation. For team members in both skilled scientific and creative roles, cross-functional collaboration and complex problem solving is key to successful innovation. These activities become more challenging in a hybrid model. Creating an environment that can support high levels of innovation and creativity requires intentionality around the design, development and implementation of how we work together in new ways and the purpose of the places we use.

Testimonials

“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. Along with data and insights they bring practical processes that involve everyone from grass root team members to the most senior executives, developing effective change to meet all parties’ goals. They have become trusted advisers around not only workplace matters but in behavioural change.”

Peter Haigh Chairman, Mintel

“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

“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. I have enjoyed working closely with them on this project. I have felt supported, they have always been available to discuss challenges and options and have always responded promptly, constructively and positively with solutions and alternative ideas for consideration.”

Tom Crame Head of Global Workplace, Amnesty International

“We have worked with AWA for more than five years and value the collaborative partnership we have with them. They have supported the ongoing evolution of our workplace, providing deep insights and extensive expertise. With their help, we’ve been able to create a transformational space which supports our hybrid working approach and transforms our culture and ways of working to become more agile and innovative. This helps us recruit and retain the best talent, which supports our core purpose of funding research to save lives. None of this would have been possible without the help of AWA.”

Kerry Smith Chief People Officer, British Heart Foundation

“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. Their insights also allowed us to create a blueprint of alternative space types that we’ve used to inform the repurposing of space across our nationwide estate.”

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