Consultancy spearheads inclusive workplace transition in Birmingham

Engineering, design and consulting firm Arup has transitioned to one of the most diverse and inclusive workplaces in Birmingham.

The move was initiated by Alison Kilby (pictured), an associate director in Arup’s Birmingham-based building engineering team, who also helped orchestrate the organisation’s recent move back to the city centre at the new 68,000 sq. ft office at Paradise’s One Centenary Way.

As part of Arup’s dedication to embracing diversity, the organisation is proud to support Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2024 happening between 18 to 22 March.

An important part of Arup’s office move was to provide every impacted employee within the firm an opportunity to influence the new fit-out and ensure it accommodated their needs. This approach was framed around supporting neurodiversity, wellbeing, and inclusivity in the workplace.

Alison helped lead an internal group that worked with architecture specialist HOK to first involve individuals from all teams in the layout and designs of the new office across all aspects of the design fit out; from how they envisaged using the spaces, through to finishes, which were selected for low carbon footprints, the visual impact on work settings required for neurodiverse members of staff and conceptual alignment.

HOK also worked with Arup to model each area and simulated ‘Day in the Life Of’ scenarios which emulated different types of employees and the typical journey to work, use of the office during the day and the commute home again.

With a suite of 26 focus rooms across the office of different configurations, individuals and their teams can also work in a wide range of different circumstances; completing confidential calls, sensitive conversations or give colleagues a complete break from team noise without the need to work from home.   

Within the open plan areas there are several different workplace settings that allow hyper and hypo sensitive members to focus, collaborate and create and learn in environments that suit their needs. Lifestyle rooms provide an escape for members to take a break from work and enjoy active or social time with colleagues.

Alison said: “Our approach to Arup’s new Birmingham office has centred around empowering our people to have their say on how and where they work.

“Principles of collaboration expand beyond what Arup does internally, extending to the way we work with our clients as well as the wider community. We have listened and followed through on the principle of offering our colleagues a choice in how they work in our office”.

“We’ve listened to research and what works best for our employees in their home offices and created the kinds of spaces they will benefit from.

“When we first started putting the design vision of the new office together, we engaged with our internal change champions to understand exactly what was needed to create a more sustainable, and focused Arup workplace.

“What came through very clearly is that everyone wants to foster productivity and be enabled to do their best work.

“Most of all, Arup supports its neurodivergent workforce and we’re supporting the events and themes of Neurodiversity Celebration Week because we know that one size does not fit all. We value different needs and want to see a level playing field where everyone can succeed, both at Arup, and in the wider world.”