Thought leaders, industry experts, and values-driven suppliers came together at Edgbaston Stadium to explore how businesses can thrive in an evolving world at Eurest’s ‘Making Change: Facing the Future of the New Workplace Together’ event. We heard from inspiring speakers on workplace nutrition, coffee culture, biophilic design and employee well-being.

Sustainability took centre stage with demos from innovative brands like DASH Water, Notpla, and Flawsome! Drinks, alongside culinary showcases, highlighting creative approaches to reducing food waste. A testament to collaboration and innovation, the event provided actionable insights for shaping the workplace of tomorrow. Read on to discover some key takeaways from this exciting event.

Carol Rhead, Compass Group’s Marketing & Insights Director for Business & Industry, shared how socialisation is crucial for boosting employee wellbeing and productivity, with 75% of workers valuing the ability to connect at work. Carol shared that creating a culture of socialisation involves aligning activities with company goals, encouraging shared breaks and meals and designing spaces that promote both organic and organised interactions. Providing food and drink throughout the day and offering diverse options at social events – beyond alcohol – can foster stronger teams and a more engaged workforce.

At Eurest, we understand the power of food to bring people together. Our corporate catering solutions help businesses build thriving, connected workplaces where employees feel valued and motivated.

With an ageing workforce and extended career spans, maintaining employee health has become a top priority. We were joined by Rachel Gibson, senior lecturer in nutrition and dietetics at King’s College London, who shared insights into the importance of nutrition at work. With 60% of daily calories consumed in the workplace, it’s imperative that employees have access to healthy food choices. Rachel shared that employers must ensure access to healthy food and drinks 24/7, educate employees on how to make healthier choices and that employers and caterers need to work together to understand the needs of the workforce.

At Eurest, our nutrition-focused offerings make it easy for workplaces to support employee health and well-being, delivering tasty and balanced meals that fuel productivity.

Around 41% of employees have reported experiencing mental health symptoms caused or worsened by work in the past year, which has a knock-on impact on businesses through higher absenteeism, turnover rates, and reduced productivity. On the other hand, better employee well-being can lead to an estimated 36 additional days of productivity per year.

We heard from Marwan from Business in the Community on the ROI of prioritising employee well-being and how ignoring it comes at a significant cost. Marwan shared insights into how employers can create a culture of care, starting with offering resources like mental health support and promoting physical activity.

Eurest’s workplace catering solutions are also part of the equation, offering convenience and quality that align with a holistic approach to workplace well-being.

Biophilic design – integrating nature into built environments – has been shown to reduce stress, boost creativity, and enhance overall well-being. John Kay, from Linney Design Limited, shared how the Human Spaces 2.0 Report found that dwell time in biophilic hotel lobbies is 36% higher than in conventional lobbies and that hospital wards with views of nature experienced an 8.5% decrease in post-operative recovery times. 

From incorporating greenery into office spaces to using natural materials, biophilic design transforms workplaces into calming and inspiring environments. Eurest’s flexible food service solutions can fit seamlessly into these modern, nature-inspired spaces, enhancing the overall employee experience. 

Coffee plays a key role in the workplace, from providing a much-needed energy boost to offering a moment of social connection. We heard from Phil Smith, Head of Category and Insight at UCC Coffee UK & Ireland, that 46% of office workers leave their workplace to purchase coffee offsite. With this in mind, workplaces must compete with the high street by offering high-quality, diverse coffee options.

Phil shared insights into creating inviting coffee spaces that draw employees back to the office with fresh coffee, fresh, cold milk and top-quality coffee machines. With Eurest’s coffee and café services, workplaces can provide barista-quality drinks that energise teams and foster collaboration.

We were proud to welcome a range of pop-up stalls and suppliers to our Making Change event, including Notpla, the 2022 winner of The Earthshot Prize.

Where many conventional containers contain petrol-based coatings that don’t degrade, Notpla products use a 100% natural seaweed coating for an innovative and sustainable alternative to single-use plastic packaging. Once finished, the packaging is compostable and fully biodegradable.

Notpla manufactures a variety of innovative products, including food containers, cutlery and zero-waste paper. To date, Notpla have replaced over 3.5 million units of plastic food containers, and every minute this number continues to rise.