"We help people achieve a better later life” is the purpose that drives Just Group. Just is a specialist UK financial services group, focusing on the UK retirement income market. It has a distinctive brand and ethos, meaning the company wanted a physical home that embodied its identity and values in a space where its employees could work flexibly and comfortably by adding diverse working and social spaces. This is where Peldon Rose came in.
Following three years in a serviced office, Just Group moved to the striking new Waterside Levels at 1 Angel Lane, London. Partnering with Peldon Rose to reimagine the new office design, the end result is a forward-thinking workspace that perfectly mirrors the company’s reputation for doing things differently.
Delivering flexible work solutions
Just are committed to doing the right thing the right way. Driven by the knowledge that collaborating and valuing differences are key to building a successful team where everyone feels included, their ethos is reflected in Just’s new home. The 17,000 sq ft floorplate, places employee collaboration areas at the heart of the workspace, that enjoys beautiful, south-facing views of the Thames and an abundance of natural light.
Innately dynamic, Just Group is embracing the changes in future ways of working. Rather than setting a defined path for its team, a diverse environment encourages people to discover how they work best. Giving teams the choice to work how they want meant promoting flexibility and creating a variety of spaces – each optimised for the task at hand. The largest of these is the main boardroom, which can accommodate various gatherings of different sizes.
Other rooms have been optimised for client-facing meetings in a welcoming setting that puts the client experience front and centre at Angel Lane. At the other end of the spectrum, smaller focus rooms allow employees to work independently on focused tasks.
Georgia Nogas, Senior Project Designer at Peldon Rose said: “As a client team – Paul and Tom were fantastic to work with. They were knowledgeable about the process of undergoing an office fit out – but trusted us with the design and to lead the programme. Coming from a serviced office space they were enthusiastic about how we were able to translate their company’s branding, tone and personality into a bright, sophisticated workspace. It was great to have their buy-in and support, having Peldon Rose involved in every aspect of the interior design all the way through to dressing the space with playful coral cushions, plants and a couple of quirky ornaments!”
Building a new physical identity
Moving into its new headquarters, Just Group were keen to make an impression and establish a physical identity as strong as its brand. To complement the company’s colour palette, soft natural tones are incorporated throughout the workplace, with an embossed logo on the wall providing immediate brand impact. Visitors to the space are greeted by a warm and welcoming reception area equipped with a coffee bar and soft banquette seating, putting client experience front of mind from the get-go.
The brand identity continues to be subtly woven into furniture, fixtures, and equipment, especially within the new dedicated social spaces, which provide a place to relax with a coffee or lunch, and a comfortable option for a casual meeting with colleagues or clients.
Furniture choices add a playful touch, with plush cushions complementing Just Group’s colour palette.
Ultimately, the team has created a professional, yet domestic ambience - in keeping with the company’s culture. By blending commercial and residential styles, the design escapes the typical rigidity of a financial environment, providing a fresher perspective whilst helping increase employee engagement, and prioritising space for relaxation and socialisation.
Designing a workspace for the future
During initial design stages, the desire to embrace the shift to hybrid working and build proactively for this new reality was clear. Compact focus and Zoom rooms were designed to allow people to take important calls or find space to concentrate. Providing for meetings in this way removes the need for individuals to take up larger meeting spaces or disturb colleagues by taking calls at their desks – helping to boost productivity across the board. Peldon Rose focused carefully on the acoustic finishes of these meeting spaces, ensuring complete privacy and that no sound spills into the surrounding areas.
Combining hot desking and defined working areas, each team has a dedicated ‘neighbourhood’, allowing choice of where to sit, while retaining proximity to colleagues. Locker spaces adjacent to these neighbourhoods help create a sense of separation between zones. Outside of these areas, a universal hot desking space is opened to visiting employees from the company’s other offices. Just Group wanted all colleagues to feel part of something bigger and having a dedicated space in the London office helps give them a sense of belonging. Unique circular workstations were created to break up the work areas with a dynamic shape, allowing flow and functionality for all teams.
Paul Mills, Head of Environment & Property at Just Group commented: “With Peldon Rose’s expertise and guidance, we have fulfilled our design aspirations and are absolutely delighted with the end result: a dynamic, modern, sustainable and flexible working space for our colleagues, which reflects our strong purpose, brand and identity.”
Making sure Just Group’s identity was reflected in this office space was a key element in this project, one which Peldon Rose has achieved through a considered design and creativity into how the space can be maximised and work harder for its end-users. Employees and clients now have a space of their own, within a beautiful central London location.
