2020 has been a year of uncertainty and as we head into 2021, one thing is clear: anything could happen. Preparing for a future of unknowns is difficult at the best of times, but by ensuring you have a team in place ready to anticipate unusual workplace challenges and discover digital opportunities within the most unlikely of places, it’s not impossible.
Aura is built on evolution and innovation. We promote adaptability, ensuring our own company and the businesses we work with are flexible enough to overcome both anticipated and unexpected industry changes. By planning and executing digital roadmaps, focusing on collaboration, and embracing workplace technology, growth can be achieved.
We must not underestimate the power of physical workspaces
To ensure that flexibility, we must not underestimate the power of physical workspaces. When everything around us is changing, we must look to adapt what is in front of us. By welcoming Workspace Transformation Lead, Mark Ferguson on board, Aura can help you achieve just that.
Mark says, “For a long time, I have believed that without recognising the importance of the workspace in the overall strategic picture of an organisation, it can hold organisations back.” These values resonate highly with our leadership team and together we will reimagine future workspaces, today.
Workspace technology allows us to work from anywhere
Mark continues; “With the advent of COVID-19, the workspace has never been so high profile. There is now a real opportunity (and imperative) for organisations to review their workspace strategy and build a connected set of workspaces. A workspace can be anywhere, and organisations have now recognised that having everyone in the HQ 5 days a week is a model that we might well be moving away from.
“There will still be a need for central workspaces, but they will be different and supplemented by alternative spaces, whether that be regional hubs or your home. To make this new hybrid working model work though, we need to be able to give people a seamless experience across all those settings and digital workspace transformation sits at the heart of enabling this.”
Growing our workspace consultancy offering
Having Mark work with Aura as a Workspace Transformation Lead will allow us to grow our workspace transformation offering. Part of the relationship will be focused on ensuring Aura’s offering is relevant in the short, medium, and long term for those organisations whom we are supporting. Building a high-performing team that can engage with clients across the breadth of workspace transformation considerations, will be key to growing the consulting offering.
While workspace solutions are our priority, a successful business also relies on passionate people and the promotion of a healthy work-life balance. We sat down with Mark to find out a bit more about his interests and what makes him tick outside of workspace consultancy.
What keeps you busy when you’re not at work?
My family! I have three lovely children, all under 10, so my weekends are pretty much about moving from one sporting event or dance class to another and if we’re not doing that, being out in the fresh air so that by the time evening comes around everyone gets a good sleep. If I do get a bit of spare time to myself then I like to go for a long run to clear the head or if I’m feeling particularly energetic a game of 5-a-side football
If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I’m lucky to have travelled to a lot of places in the world already. I’ve never been to South America though and I’d love to visit Machu Pichu one day.
What’s your biggest claim to fame?
Helena Bonham-Carter and Tim Burton used to be my next-door neighbours when I lived in London – for a relatively brief period of time I lived in Belsize Park, which is choc-a-bloc with actors.
Tell us about the achievement you’re most proud of?
About 10 years ago I took time off to have a sabbatical. As part of that whole time off I wanted to conquer my fear of deep water (never should have watched Jaws as a seven-year-old!). I learnt to kitesurf and scuba dive during that time – so conquered the on top of and underwater experiences all at the same time and also found two new sports which I loved.
Go Back