How Our New London Office Ticks All Our Sustainability Boxes

Workspace has 76 core properties in London and the South East, with a mission of providing “inspiring, flexible work spaces with superfast technology in dynamic locations”. The Metal Box Factory (very literally named; this used to be a factory that produced tin boxes) has everything we need: a bright, welcoming office space complete with meeting rooms, breakout areas and a café. It’s centrally located for Tube travel and has its own bike racks – all ideal for encouraging sustainable commuting. (Plus, it’s just around the corner from Borough Market, which is a big draw for a company of food-lovers!)

Why having our own office is important

We have a global team and place a very high value on the ways in which remote work has broadened our horizons (both literally and figuratively). However, we also recognise that having a place to call home is important.

In many ways, being a completely office-free organisation makes for an uneven playing field. Some of our team members are happier working from home, but others thrive in a more social, interactive environment – and not everyone is lucky enough to have dedicated working space at home, either. An accessible, welcoming office that is available to our whole staff – whenever they want to use it – is an egalitarian move and a way in which we can ensure we’re meeting the needs of the entire team.

This gives us a space where we can meet, collaborate, chat through projects, vent when needed and have a bit of a laugh as often as possible. It also provides a focal point and a ‘home base’ for our international team members when they come to visit London from Ireland, France, Hong Kong and Vietnam.

With all of that in mind, we spent a good chunk of this year hunting for a new office space that would not only meet our needs in practical terms, but also felt like the right fit for our ethos and identity. When we came across Workspace, we knew we were home.

How Workspace matches our values at The SRA

Because we’re all about driving a more sustainable, environmentally restorative hospitality sector, it’s important for us to consider our own supply chains and business practices to make sure we’re practicing what we preach.

Workspace is actively working towards a goal of net zero carbon by 2030, as well as minimising waste, enhancing biodiversity on site and delivering a green travel infrastructure. Just within the last year, they reduced fossil fuel consumption across their historic portfolio by 27%; carried out energy efficiency upgrade works across 500,000 square feet of space; and hit their highest ever recycling rate at 79%.

It's a core tenet of our Food Made Good Framework that sustainability needs to mean more than the obvious metrics around carbon, waste, energy and water use, but should also encompass social impact. Workspace is clear about their commitment to the social aspects of their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) agenda.

“As a long-term owner of historic properties across the city, we play a key role in the employment-led regeneration of areas all over London. We take seriously our responsibility to positively impact local communities, while reducing our impact on the environment.”

They invest in their communities, providing local employment and creating a positive impact through fundraising and volunteering. They’re also conscientious about how they treat their staff, facilitating professional development, offering a diverse and inclusive place of work, guaranteeing fair pay and encouraging a culture of ownership and accountability – all of which sits comfortably with the approach we take within our own organisation and when we’re working with restaurants to guide them in their sustainable practices.

You can read more about Workspace’s ongoing sustainability work at their website, or click here to find out more about why social sustainability is one of the three pillars of the Food Made Good Standard.