Coworking for a large group means opening up to others
NielsenIQ is an American group specialising in monitoring and anticipating consumer purchasing behaviour. The company covers a wide range of activities, Iing innovation consulting. In 2022, they innovated in turn, choosing, like a growing number of large companies, to leave their traditional offices and move to a coworking space. They chose Silversquare.
A large group in a coworking space: why?
Céline Grena: The decision to move to coworking was made internationally and is being applied in other countries as well. We have about 100 employees in Belgium. After the confinement, we felt a certain resistance to return to the office in our teams.
In a company the size of NielsenIQ, these points are discussed with the social partners. We decided by mutual agreement to encourage our employees to return to the office without forcing them to do so. We have implemented a working from home policy that allows employees to work 2-3 days from home if the nature of their job and responsibilities allow it. We tested this for some time in our old premises, until our lease was about to expire.
This gave us a clearer idea of how many positions we needed (about 50).
We then had to choose from the range of coworking facilities in Brussels.
What made you choose Silversquare?
Silversquare seemed to us to be more dynamic than its competitors and unique as an environment: nice, modern and recent. We fell in love with SQ Delta.
I immediately felt a simplicity, fluidity and flexibility that I didn't find in other coworking spaces...
In addition to the area dedicated to our company, we can expand into the common areas. As a result, we interact with the rest of the community.
In the other coworking centres we visited, a group like ours found itself isolated.
The location, close to a network of motorways and public transport, is convenient. But the joy for the teams is also that there are shops and restaurants within easy walking distance: before we were "in the middle of nothing"!
After a few months of coworking, what are your impressions?
First of all, we have a higher rate of presence of our employees in the workplace than in our old offices.
Today, we have less space but we are close to each other: this generates interactions that we did not have in our traditional offices. Moving to coworking means opening up to others and socialising. You sit next to people you wouldn't have sat next to before.
Your impressions after a few months?
For some generations, going into coworking took them out of their comfort zone and we had to "sell" the idea. Everyone seems to be won over today!
Article written by Muriel Van Severen
