How COVID made businesses more resilient
But in a similar vein, it’s hard to exaggerate the resilience of this industry and others. We’ve seen bricks-and-mortar shops around us in central London move online, local food and drink outlets now offering takeaway and delivery options, events as famous as London Fashion Week going virtual and much much more.
Home-working to co-working
The biggest upheaval to every industry able to do so is the move to employees working from home. The adaptations made by both companies and their staff in order to make this a success have had largely positive impacts on productivity and personal wellbeing, and many organisations are likely to keep this structure in place in the long term.
So what does that mean for offices and workspaces? Yet again, another clever solution! With so many large companies now planning to stagger their workforce’s physical presence in the office, co-working spaces are popping up all over the country, meaning organisations can do away with expensive office rentals and even the need to be in a particular part of their town or city, giving employees access to fully-equipped, serviced working spaces that are covid-secure, creative and collaborative.
Just like many other business looking to adapt to the changes that the pandemic has brought with it, we’re currently looking to improve the products and services at 116 Pall Mall in order to better suit the requirements of IoD members and the public going forwards. Alongside our established Business Centre, we’re working hard on the development of our building and one of these changes is a new co-working space. We are in the early phases of this project but keep your eyes peeled for any updates on this exciting news and get in touch if this is something you’d be interested in!
The Cyber Solution
Our sister organisation, the Institute of Directors, used the challenge of the pandemic to pivot to virtual learning, shifting their whole training offering online – everything from short CPD sessions to three day long courses – without sacrificing the quality of their coaching (or the number of people taking it!)
And they’re not alone, with thousands of companies offering everything from coffee to qualifications and pastries to parties online to combat the challenges of local and national lockdowns and restrictions. Social media platforms have exploded with profiles from companies who had previously relied on footfall and word-of-mouth for business but have changed their strategy in order to expand their reach and try new things in the face of adversity, so expect even more creativity from these brands – and 116 Pall Mall – as we all cement these learnings and our resilience in the coming months as we explore the ‘new normal!’
A new virtual reality
A year ago it would take a very brave person to buy a house, book a wedding, plan a party or start a new job without experiencing it in person first. But thanks to technology and advances in virtual capabilities, you can now take a virtual tour of a new home or an events venue, and you can even go through the entire process of applying for, being interviewed and accepting a new job all via Zoom without ever seeing the office or your colleagues in person. At 116 Pall Mall we’re very proud of our virtual tour of the building, which takes you around all of our spaces, including the bar and ballrooms, to give you a feel of the beauty and personality of our home before you can see it for yourself.
The good news is that face-to-face tours are now permitted once again and we’re so thrilled to be able to meet with you all in person, but if you weren’t quite ready to come into our building yet, our virtual tour is still a great solution and will remain live on the website for good!
To discover more ways our industry – and others – have shown resilience and courage through the pandemic, explore our news and blogs here, covering innovation, adaptation and unexpected pivots in the last twelve months!
Other articles you might be interested in…
How teaming up with competitors is the recipe for success
Event profs guide - what we can learn from coronavirus
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EVENT SPACE FOR HIRE AT 116 PALL MALL
116 Pall Mall, a historic, Grade-1 listed Georgian masterpiece in the heart of London can be hired as a venue for any kind of event, from weddings to conferences, launch parties to fashion shows.
For more information on how 116 Pall Mall is tackling the coronavirus outbreak, or for more information on our party packages for the rest of the year, make an enquiry