The new interior of RecruitNow
In RecruitNow's vision, it should be possible for everyone to find the job that makes you happy. To achieve this, the company facilitates a software platform to staffing agencies, secondment agencies and recruitment & selection agencies. To keep the focus entirely on its core business, RecruitNow has been renting office furniture from Alvero for five years. When the headquarters are in need of renovation, a wonderful project with a ditto result emerges.
Hybrid working in gear
Operations Director Rob van Arnhem tells of the occasion. "We are a people-oriented organization with an open and relaxed atmosphere in which everyone should be able to perform to the maximum. Because we are in HR ourselves and want to be an attractive employer, we facilitate all different ways of working. With us, people now work remotely 60 percent of the time: at home, at clients' premises, abroad or on location. Moreover, we have noticed that preferences change within the team.
Programmers in the office want to be able to work in a focused way, while sales people are more into dynamics and meeting each other. We want to facilitate all that, with a future focus on working with Hangouts or Teams. In addition, we want a professional solution for conference rooms, a simple webcam is no longer enough."
Rob van Arnhem, Operations Director"As a company, we want to invest in our core business. Interior is supportive, which is why we choose not to have furniture on the balance sheet."
products deployed at RecruitNow
The birth of a project
After six years in the current building, the time was ripe for renewal. Rob: "The needs of the organization had changed, for example more sit/stand desks were needed. Our challenge was an interior that suits us, also budget-wise, and that suits the new way of working. Can we meet everyone's needs with a team of about 60 people? From brainstorming sessions with the various teams came three themes that are important to us: relax, meet and work with concentration.
The demand kept evolving. "Initially it was about replacing a few desks. Slowly but surely it became apparent that our interior also needed a different layout and atmosphere: more human and homely. Then Reinier Nederhoed of Alvero put us in touch with interior designer Suzan Vromans, who designed a completely new interior.
The triangle
Where Alvero mainly thinks along and relieves the client, Suzan Vromans provided added value with regard to the design. Suzan: "RecruitNow had a clear vision of where they are now and where they want to go. This included adjustments regarding the design of their office. Alvero also has a clear role in that: in what way can we easily achieve that? My addition is that I have other insights and thoughts. We considered a number of different layouts and then I developed a concept related to that. Where do you do what, what is the look and feel? I always think a few steps ahead and it can never be too crazy as far as I'm concerned."
Relax, meet and concentrate
Suzan continues: "I was given the freedom to choose colors and materials. You can create your own look because there are no restrictions. I make an overall picture down to the curtains and plants and pots, because they are also important for the whole. Part of it was existing furniture. The nice thing about that is that you can put a different top on a desk, for example. And acoustic screens between the workstations that also give a different feel in color."
Suzan Vromans, interior designer"For RecruitNow, we even specially designed pendant lights. That's also my contribution: sometimes a project goes beyond Alvero's product range."
"There are a lot of open spaces here. You want to make those cozy and cozy, but also acoustically it is important that you experience it that way. Even if Alvero does not have something in the range, if certain items are important for the interior design, it can still be provided. The project at RecruitNow includes additions such as carpets, curtains, and lighting. "
A carpet that adapts
In an existing office such as RecruitNow's, not everything can be changed when redecorating. For Suzan, that is precisely where the challenge lies. "How can you connect to an existing environment? Moreover, six months from now the desire may be different, how do you move with that? One of my solutions is carpets consisting of carpet tiles. When you make a different arrangement, you can add or take away tiles. On the first floor, we ended up choosing larger workstations. The rug we had thought of was too small and could be adjusted by adding a few tiles against it."
No depreciation costs or disinvestments
Renting has the advantage of no depreciation costs or disinvestments. Rob: "Moreover, with rental furniture we can easily scale up and down or change interiors after a number of years. In doing so, we partly use furniture that is already there, which is a nice sustainable bonus. Buying is more traditional and more and more concepts are moving to pay per use. Also in interior design land."
Rob van Arnhem, Operations Director"We are used to thinking in terms of flexibility, so we do the same in choosing our layout with the furniture."
The final touches
Even in the final phase of the project you encounter surprises. Rob: "Then you get to know each other and it is nice if you can solve things together. Alvero exudes that trust. Just like the Brabant atmosphere and the personal way of working together. In the last week before delivery, my smile grew by the day. I couldn't wait to welcome colleagues on their first working day in the renovated office."
Learn more about RecruitNow's case
Please feel free to ask for additional information and ask your questions. Sandra will be happy to tell you all the ins and outs of this case.
