Inside VMA: Office Working, Whiteboards, Coffee & Cake

Our MD David Middleton discusses the VMA approach to office culture.

In the current environment where working from home has become the norm for a lot of people, I am delighted that the team at VMA choose to continue to work from the office. It is a very divisive subject and there are strong merits for each side and the type of work you do of course impacts who can and can’t work from home.

At VMA Systems if staff need to work remote for any reason they can, taking days as needed to work around events in their private lives. We have tools that enable us to communicate from almost anywhere in the world and systems for collaboration, but for me personally, you still can’t beat face to face and the fact our employees consistently want to work from the office shows that.

Working in software development, most people would think this is prime for remote working and many tech companies do this but here are some of the advantages of us getting together in the office.

• Collaboration – In-person interactions allow for spontaneous brainstorming sessions, quick problem-solving, and the ability to bounce ideas off each other in real-time. Our whiteboards are the most used tool we have and we often gather round them to hash out projects, ideas and problems.
• Relationships – Working side by side helps build stronger relationships among team members. The informal conversations that happen in the office—whether over coffee or during lunch breaks—create bonds that are harder to form virtually.
• Improved communication – Nonverbal communication plays a significant role in how we understand each other. In the office, body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice are more easily interpreted, reducing misunderstandings and fostering clearer communication.
• Learning – being in the office provides invaluable opportunities for mentorship and learning. Observing experienced colleagues, receiving immediate feedback, and participating in impromptu training sessions are all easier in a physical workspace.
• Mental health – The social aspect of coming into the office can significantly boost morale and mental health. Human beings are inherently social creatures, and the isolation of remote work can sometimes lead to feelings of loneliness
• Company Culture – The office environment is a tangible representation of a company’s culture. It’s where values are lived out daily and where the company’s mission is reinforced.
• Productivity – While remote work can be productive, the office environment minimizes distractions and provides a structured setting that can enhance focus and efficiency – this is a fiercely debated point, some people can be more distracted by colleagues so this may not be the same for everyone.

Create a Positive Environment

I have always tried to keep the general culture as laid back as possible so the office is somewhere people do enjoy coming into. In the next few months we will be moving to new office space which will be another upgrade to our environment with a more modern design and facilities.

I think more businesses, when trying to reintroduce a return to the office should concentrate on creating a positive space for staff. A more social work environment that better reflects how we all want to live, the days of old office design should be well and truly over.

Coffee & Cake

We all love Fridays! So to finish off the week we all get together for an off-site review, chat, coffee and slice of cake – the perfect way to start the weekend.