All Services
As Europe’s largest retail business, with over 11,500 locations, the Post Office is on a journey to transform its service offerings, supporting high street banks as they rationalise their branch networks.
With an upcoming lease break, the Post Office saw an opportunity to reassess its changing space requirements and bolster trust and transparency.
Amidst so much organisational change, we helped analyse and define the Post Office’s spatial needs and choose a new HQ building that would provide this 400-year-old icon with a platform for a new beginning.
The new footprint is designed to use space efficiently, ensuring staff have access to the tools and facilities they need, even during busy times. The light and airy open-plan office now sits across one floor (originally spread across three), enabling people to do their best work together.
One of the key priorities for this project was achieving balance – making sure a smaller space could handle sudden influxes of staff or visitors.
To define the new footprint and shape the design, we ran detailed engagement pieces with Workplace Champions and senior leadership. This data and sentiment guided the Post Office in selecting its new location, while also solidifying a clear vision to create a design that not only evoked a positive experience but magnetised people to come together.
It was important to create a frictionless employee experience too, which is why well-being, refreshment facilities, ergonomics and local amenities all influenced the building and design choices.
We introduced a booking app, linked to sensor technology, so people can easily plan their week, reserve facilities and synchronise their work patterns.
This technology helps employees to travel to work with confidence, knowing that the people and facilities they need access to are available. We also worked with the IT workstream, looking at strategies for WiFi and desktop hardware, so that wherever someone is sitting, they can connect.
Before the Post Office’s staff moved into their new hub, we organised open drop-in workshops, where they were invited to explore the design and engage in discussions about the change journey. Our team then developed a comprehensive user guide which helped prepare employees before visiting the new office. We also collaborated with the Post Office staff to create video guides that shared valuable information on local amenities and travel routes.
The end result was a transparent, open-plan hub that reduced the Post Office’s space by 65%.
The oval-shaped design reflects the Post Office logo and acts as the beating heart of the business. We also included a large AV feature with rolling content as a focal point to represent what the business delivers to the community, and created a dual-function social space and TV studio for ongoing meetings so people feel a sense of connection and engagement.
One of the most impressive parts of the project was the alignment and commitment from the client. By engaging with employees from all levels across the business, the whole process was an exemplar of collaboration.
“A workplace transformation is an exciting but sometimes stressful time. TSK was privileged to help the Post Office transform not only their office but their view of how that space can support growth and business success” – Dan Pilling, Workplace Strategy Director, TSK
“I’d like to thank you for all your hard work in landing Wood Street. TSK has been amazing in getting the job done” – Martin Roberts, Group Chief Retail Officer, Post Office