Steelcase wins Nationwide’s Supplier Pride Award for Innovation

Nationwide has awarded Steelcase their Supplier Pride Award for Innovation 2005/2006.

The award recognises Steelcase’s inspiring approach to office design and the creative workspace solutions it has provided to over 800 employees throughout Nationwide House in Swindon over the past two years.

Tim Plummer from Nationwide said: “Steelcase helped our teams to break free from the idea that they must be tied to single workstations. By encouraging individuals to choose more flexible environments they have helped us reduce decision making cycles, increase communication and collaboration and facilitate better transfer of information and knowledge.” read more »

Steelcase selects Business Interiors as West Country dealer

Steelcase announced this week the appointment of Business Interiors as its accredited dealership for Bristol, Bath, Somerset and Gloucestershire.

We conducted an extensive search for new partners in the area before approaching Business Interiors, the largest office interior specialists in the South West.

James Heaven, Director, Business Interiors said: “This partnership was the perfect timing for us. We wanted our new regional office in Bristol to have a unique quality that would differentiate ourselves from the established competition. Working with the largest office furniture manufacturer in the world has given us just that, with access to an impressive product portfolio, a huge knowledge library and an existing key account base second to none.” read more »

Facilities Managers require a ‘business case’ for eco-friendly offices say IFMA members following Steelcase and Green-Works presentations

Steelcase reports on the recent International Facilities Management Association (IFMA) event at Steelcase.

One of the most interesting points to be made during the recent IFMA event on ‘Moving to zero landfill’ held at Steelcase was that office manufacturers must move on from trying to convince facilities managers of the benefits of their sustainable business practices and sustainable products and start helping them to make a strong ‘business case’ to their superiors for creating a sustainable office.

In the week that the Stern report was dominating headlines across the globe what certain members of the congregation were saying was that we need to be careful that the information we provide to facilities managers, dealers and potential customers is not ‘preaching to the converted’. Most people now fully accept the importance of minimising their impact on the environment in their personal and professional lives but they need help in getting colleagues on board when it comes to implementing particular schemes. read more »

AIT Innovation prize for B Free lounge

Steelcase’s popular B Free Lounge range was awarded the coveted AIT Innovation Prize for its high architectural design quality this month at the Orgatec 2006 Exhibition in Germany; the world's largest trade fair for office and office facilities.

The B Free range was selected as the winner from many products and conceptual solutions of office and facility furniture; lighting, flooring and accessories for its convincing design and technological skill. A member of the distinguished jury of the AIT Innovation Prize said: “This furniture is a perfect support for informal communication.”

Simon Wilkinson, partner at C10 design and co-designer of the B Free Lounge said: “We are delighted that the B Free Lounge has been acknowledged at one of the most respected trade fairs in the world.” read more »