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How to design a disability-friendly office

An all-inclusive, disability-friendly office design creates a safer, more comfortable and welcoming work environment for all, including disabled employees and visitors to your business.

By law, all businesses should provide an all-inclusive workspace that facilitates a safe and comfortable work environment for all employees, including disabled individuals.

As well as looking after employees by helping them to feel more valued and comfortable, a disability-friendly office design attracts a more diverse workforce and a wider pool of candidates, helping your business to attract more top talent.

Whilst some disabled employees may require specialist equipment, most disabled employees’ requirements can be met by simply taking accessibility into consideration when designing your office.

Here are some key features of inclusive, disability-friendly office design.

Accessible sockets
Adjustable desks
Cable management
Low lever door handles
Low flat panel light switches
Wide doorways and hallways
Task lighting
Quiet workspaces
Computer monitor arms
Large-print equipment controls
Use of ramps instead of stairs where suitable
Climate control

Whilst these design features are all disability-friendly, many of them will make your office a safer and more comfortable workspace for everyone.

Space should be a key consideration when designing a disability-friendly workspace, ensuring that there is always enough room for a wheelchair to manoeuvre.

All trip hazards and obstructions should be removed and tidied away, especially trailing wires and cables. Cable management systems are effective for keeping cables neat and safe.

Inclusive office design by Millennium Storage

Here at Millennium Storage and Interiors we provide office refurbishments and new builds to businesses of all different shapes and sizes. We design practical and inspiring office spaces that find the perfect balance between aesthetics and functionality.

Our designs are practical for all employees, with accessibility and inclusivity always a key consideration in our design process.

For help or advice with designing a disability-friendly office, or to book a free consultation with our team, give us a call on 01942 603 344.

Designing an environmentally friendly office interior

January 25, 2020 / admin / 0 Comments

Look after our planet by incorporating these eco-friendly design features into your office interior.

As the effects of climate change become more obvious, businesses of all shapes and sizes are becoming more conscientious about the impact that they have on the environment.

If you’re looking for ways to make your office more sustainable and energy-efficient, why not give it an eco-friendly refurbishment. Here are four basic elements of an environmentally-friendly office design.

Energy-efficient lighting

Keeping the lights on in your office can use a lot of energy, which is not only detrimental to our planet, but to your business’ budget too. Reduce your office’s energy bill by designing an interior that lets in as much natural light as possible to minimise the need for artificial light. Using energy efficient LED lighting can also reduce the amount of energy you use to light your office by 50% or more!

Sustainable furniture

Make environmentally friendly decisions when it comes to office furniture by only buying high quality, long-lasting furniture made from sustainable materials and preferably sourced locally too. Where possible, try to upcycle, repurpose or reuse existing furniture rather than buying new.

Sustainable flooring

Your office’s flooring should not only be made from a sustainable material, it should be energy efficient too to lower your office’s heating bills and keep employees feeling warm and comfortable. Reclaimed wood flooring and eco-friendly carpet made from recyclable materials are both popular options. More unusual eco-friendly flooring materials include cork, bamboo and concrete.

Recycling bins

Encourage employees to get involved and start thinking about the effects that their actions at work have on the environment. Install central recycling and waste management zones that require employees to separate out recyclables and promote less wasteful ways of working.

For more help designing an environmentally friendly office interior, speak to our team of experts here at Millennium Storage and Interiors about our office refurbishment services by giving our team a call on 01942 603 344.

Office design trends for 2020

January 15, 2020 / admin / 0 Comments

The dawn of the new decade is a good time to give your outdated office interior a makeover.

Here at Millennium Storage and Interiors we expect 2020 to see the rise of eco-friendly, multi-functional office interiors.

Offices are no longer sterile white environments, instead, businesses are seeking sustainable and environmentally-conscious designs that prioritise employee wellbeing as well as productivity.

Here are our top four office design trend predictions for 2020.

Environmentally friendly

Businesses are becoming more conscious about the environmental impact of the materials and products used in their office interiors. In 2020, we expect to see a surge in businesses requesting office interiors that incorporate recyclable and natural materials and practical and cost-effective energy-efficient products and designs.

Privacy

Open plan offices have had their day, and in 2020 we’re expecting to see more businesses embracing office interiors that offer employees quiet and private spaces to work in. Over recent years, numerous studies have found that open plan offices can have a negative effect on both employee productivity and wellbeing as they tend to create a lot of noise and can be very distracting and stressful. Office partitioning, pods, and booths are all expected to make a comeback this year.

Collaborative spaces

Whilst employees often perform better and feel more relaxed when given their own private space to work in, collaborative workspaces that encourage communication and idea sharing are also very important in the workplace. Formal meeting rooms, cosy huddle rooms, and trendy break-out spaces all allow employees the space they need to share ideas, inspire each other, and interact socially when they need it.

Bold colours

In 2020 we’re expecting to see more businesses opting for bold and clashing colours to create daring and contemporary interiors.

For help or advice regarding your office design, speak to our team of experts here at Millennium Storage and Interiors about our office refurbishment services by giving our team a call on 01942 603 344.

What are the benefits of pallet shuttle racking?

December 11, 2019 / admin / 0 Comments

Could a pallet shuttle racking system help your warehouse to save money and become more efficient?

The type of racking system installed in your warehouse has a significant impact on its overall performance. Your racking will affect both the volume of stock that you are able to store and how efficiently your warehouse operates.

Busy warehouses that experience a high turnover and are stocking and retrieving pallets very frequently may find that pallet shuttle racking can greatly increase their efficiency and productivity levels.

What is pallet shuttle racking?

Pallet shuttle racking systems use remotely controlled semi-automated shuttles to stock and retrieve pallets instead of forklift trucks.

The system can be operated as either FIFO or LIFO and will generally place the picked load in the first available free space.

Pallet shuttle racking is also suitable for use in extreme temperatures including freezer chambers of up to -30 degrees Celsius.

Benefits of pallet shuttle racking

Reduces the risk of accidents – Replacing forklifts with remotely controlled shuttles reduces the risk of collisions and accidents occurring in the warehouse.
Reduces operation costs – Using automated pallet shuttles can dramatically reduce operation costs by eliminating the need for multiple forklift trucks and operators.
Reduces repairs and maintenance costs – Improved handling and a reduced risk of accidents means less expensive damage to racking, pallets and goods.
Maximises storage space – Pallet shuttle racking helps to maximise the space available to you. The system requires less space than those that use forklift trucks, allowing for higher density storage.
Increases efficiency – Pallets can be stocked and retrieved quicker and more efficiently, saving your business both time and money.

To find out more about our pallet shuttle racking and whether it is suitable for your warehouse, give our team here at Millennium Storage and Interiors a call on 01942 603 344.

5 signs it’s time for an office refurbishment

November 15, 2019 / admin / 0 Comments

A tired or outdated office could be having more of an impact on your business’ success than you realise.

Your office’s appearance can have a big effect on employee mood and wellbeing, directly impacting productivity, retention rates and even your business’ profit margin.

Look out for these 5 signs that your business could benefit from and office refurbishment.

The interior is tired, dark or drab

Does your office’s interior communicate the right message to employees and visitors? Faded curtains, stained carpets, and outdated decor can give the impression of a business that isn’t doing very well or doesn’t have high standards. Revitalising your office to create a space you are proud of and enjoy spending time in can also help to inspire and motivate employees and win the trust of clients.

Your business has re-branded

If your business has rebranded or your company culture has evolved, then refurbishing your office can help to reflect these changes and ensure continuity in your branding.

It’s feeling cramped or cluttered

A cluttered, cramped or untidy workspace can be distracting and demotivating for employees. If you’ve run out of room, or your office is beginning to feel claustrophobic, a refurbishment can help you to gain more space.

Employee morale is very low

Employees working in uninspiring or neglected spaces can feel undervalued and demotivated by their work environment. If morale is low, then productivity often suffers too, ultimately having a negative effect on your business’ reputation and bottom line.

Health and safety are being compromised

As well as creating an unpleasant work environment, an old and tired office can also pose a significant health and safety risk. Trailing wires, faulty electrical items, overloaded plug sockets, broken chairs and tables, and blocked fire exits are just some of the common health and safety issues that can easily be rectified with an office refurb.

Need some advice and help with refurbishing your office? Get in touch with our team here at Millennium Storage and Interiors to discuss your requirements and find out more about our office refurb services.

How to choose the right racking for your warehouse

November 6, 2019 / admin / 0 Comments

The right racking system can have a significant impact on how efficiently your warehouse operates.

Your warehouse’s storage system is at the heart of its operation. Choosing a storage system that is ideal for your space, the items you are storing, and your picking process, will help your operation to run more efficiently and your team to be more productive.

Factors to consider when choosing warehouse racking

When deciding which type of racking is most suitable for your warehouse you should ask yourself the following questions:

What type of items do I need to store?
How much space do I have? (vertical as well as ground space)
What is the maximum load weight the racking will be required to support?
Is forklift access required?
What are my warehouse layout and product flow requirements?

Popular types of warehouse racking

There are plenty of different racking and shelving options available to choose from, some of the commonest types include:

Drive in/through racking – Maximises storage space in your warehouse by reducing the size of the forklift aisles. Choose from drive in racking with one point of access to each aisle, or drive through racking which has both an entrance and an exit, meaning the first load in is the first one out.
Cantilever racking – Ideal for storing large and bulky items of varying shapes and sizes, particularly very long loads like beams and tubes. Cantilever racking is very strong and can be adapted to your requirements.
Adjustable pallet racking – Pallet racking can be used to store a wide range of products of varying sizes and weights and are the ideal solution for picking. Pallets are lifted onto the racking by forklifts.

At Millennium Storage and Interiors, we stock a wide range of racking and shelving solutions for warehouses. If you require help choosing an option suitable for your requirements, get in touch with our team by calling 0942 603 344.

Common warehouse hazards and how to avoid them

October 15, 2019 / admin / 0 Comments

Safety tips for overcoming common warehouse hazards.

The average warehouse can be littered with potential hazards, including heavy loads, dangerous equipment and machinery.

Use the tips in this blog to help you to identify and minimise hazards to create a safer work environment.

Falls, slips and trips

Failure to keep a warehouse organised, tidy and clean can lead to dangerous slips, trips and falls.

Proper storage and organisation of products, machinery and equipment should always be adhered to.
Debris should be cleared up immediately and never left on the ground.
Any spills should be cleaned up immediately.
Aisles and passageways should always be kept unobstructed.

Falling objects

Objects falling from racking or machinery can cause significant damage and injury.

Items should be stacked carefully and evenly with maximum loads always being adhered to.
Heavier loads should be stacked lower down, with lighter loads stacked on higher shelves.
Racking and shelves should be inspected regularly to ensure they are in good condition.

Strain injuries

Warehouse employees are at risk of suffering injury if they are frequently lifting and carrying heavy or bulky items or performing repetitive actions.

Employees should all receive adequate training in how to correctly lift and carry heavy items to avoid injury.
Employees should be provided with machinery and equipment to relieve the strain of repetitive or strenuous tasks.

Forklift injuries

Employees tasked with operating or working with forklifts are at risk of being pinned by a forklift or hit by falling items if they do not adhere to proper health and safety procedures.

Warning signs should be clearly displayed to warn people of potential danger zones.
Only employees that have completed the relevant training should access and operate forklifts.
Forklift equipment should be regularly inspected for signs of damage.

Hazardous materials

If your warehouse uses or stores hazardous chemicals, strict health and safety procedures should be adhered to to reduce employee exposure and prevent accidents occurring.

Only employees who have complete appropriate chemical handling training should work with hazardous materials.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should always be worn when handling hazardous substances.

Arrange a warehouse safety inspection from our team of qualified personnel by giving us a call on 01942 603 344.

What is warehouse slotting?

October 3, 2019 / admin / 0 Comments

If your employees are wasting a lot of time searching for products in your warehouse, then your business could benefit from better warehouse slotting.

Warehouse slotting is the process of deciding how to organise the inventory in your warehouse for maximum efficiency.

What is slotting?

Slotting creates a strategy behind how you organise your warehouse, aiming to save employees time spent walking up and down aisles when picking orders and replenishing stock.

To create an efficient slotting strategy, you will need to carefully examine and analyse your inventory and sales data.

It often increases warehouse efficiency to group all your most popular products together and products that are commonly ordered together side-by-side.

Popular products should be located towards the front of your warehouse, and less popular items further back.

Benefits of warehouse slotting

Optimising your warehouse layout using slotting has many benefits including:

Increased employee productivity.
Better utilisation of space.
More accurate and organised inventory data.
Faster replenishment of products.
Faster order picking.
Improved workplace ergonomics.
Improved product visibility.
Improved order picking accuracy.
Less picking errors and happier customers.

To keep your slotting current, you will need to accept that it is an ongoing work in progress. You are likely to need to keep moving things around in response to factors like seasonality and market trends to keep things operating as efficiently as possible.

Using the right warehouse storage can also help to streamline processes in the warehouse. Here at Millennium Storage and Interiors, we provide warehouses with live carton storage systems ideal for improving organisation in your warehouse and reducing order preparation time.

For help and advice with improving your warehouse storage solutions, get in touch with our team of experts here at Millennium Storage and Interiors by calling us on 01942 603 344.

4 tips for optimising your warehouse order picking process

September 4, 2019 / admin / 0 Comments

Optimise your warehouse order picking process to improve the speed and accuracy with which orders are picked and reduce costs.

As well as benefiting your business’ bottom line, optimising your order picking process will also improve your customer service. Sending out orders quickly and error-free will improve customer satisfaction, helping your business to grow.

Implement these four simple tips to begin optimising your warehouse’s order picking process:

Use slotting to optimise warehouse layout

Slotting refers to the process of carefully organising inventory within a warehouse. Group similar or popular items together to reduce the amount of time that is wasted walking backwards and forwards between products when picking orders.

Keep an accurate and organised inventory

Ensure that all inventory is clearly labelled and easy to locate. Implement a system to ensure that you can always access accurate inventory data and know when items are out of stock. Discovering that items are out of stock at the point of picking creates a lot of unnecessary admin and wasted time to resolve the issue.

Use a live carton storage system

Invest in convenient and organised racking and shelving that is designed to save time when order picking. A live carton storage system provides high density storage, excellent product visibility and availability, saves space, and improves stock turnover control.

Automate

Automate as much of the order picking and preparation process as possible to improve accuracy and reduce the risk of human error occurring. Just some of the technologies that can improve order picking efficiency and accuracy include barcode scanners, conveyor belts and inventory systems and software.

For help and advice with improving your warehouse storage solutions, get in touch with our team of experts here at Millennium Storage and Interiors by calling us on 01942 603 344.

Is the colour of your office affecting employee productivity?

August 20, 2019 / admin / 0 Comments

Colours can affect our emotions and influence our actions, so you should select the colour scheme for your office carefully.

Have you considered that the colour of your workplace could be influencing the mood, wellbeing, and subsequently, your employees’ performance?

Your office’s colour palette sets the tone for the mood within your office. A bright and colourful environment can stimulate and energise the mind, inspiring creativity. Whilst cool and muted colours can create a calm and peaceful environment.

Research into the psychology of colours has shown that different colours can elicit particular emotions and behaviours within us.

Consult our guide to the psychology of colours below to discover how your office is making employees feel and which colour you should paint the walls next.

Blue– When used in moderation within a professional environment, blue is said to be a stable and calming colour that encourages productivity.

Red– If you want to motivate and energise employees then red is an excellent colour to add to your interior’s palette. Red is said to create a dynamic atmosphere and can help employees to work more efficiently.

Green– Green is a calming colour that we associate with nature.

Yellow– Yellow is an uplifting and positive colour that can encourage creativity.

Purple– If you want to create a calm and thoughtful zone, then purple and violet can be excellent colours for encouraging spirituality and creativity.

Rather than going overboard with any of these colours, its best to introduce them to the office in muted tones or splashes of colour.

Why not use colours that reflect the different actions and behaviours you want employees to show in different zones within your workplace.

Need help designing an office interior that will motivate employees? Speak to our team of experts here at Millennium Storage and Interiors by giving us a call on 01942 603 344.