Digital agency Mando are delighted to announce plans to create the most advanced workplace in the sector for their flagship headquarters in Liverpool.

The plans have received the thumbs up from St Helens Chamber who have awarded a Merseyside Jobs and Growth Fund grant in support of the ambitious office move and interior fit-out.

Funded through the Regional Growth Fund, grants of up to £75,000 are available to support capital projects in the region, including purchasing new premises, expanding current premises and capital expenditure on equipment, where projects will lead to the creation of new employment opportunities.

Mando have revealed tantalising snippets of their inspirational new workplace experience, a dynamic expression of the Company’s brand values of Curious; Collaborative; Momentum Makers. They’re all about driving cultural change within organisations and every aspect of the design is a display of momentum making in motion.

First impressions count and guests arriving at the new offices will be treated to an audio visual sensation in the reception area with dimmed lighting and a floor to ceiling projection wall. The Curious room, a Sherlock Holmes inspired 1920s style lounge with antiques and artefacts, is designed to pique one’s natural curiosity. This meeting space promises to be perfect for mind-palace exploration of technology solutions.

The design concept goes beyond aesthetics, also shaping the company’s working culture. A team approach to work life is enhanced by an open plan kitchen and dining area central to the whole design, with an informal breakout space and a complete white-board wall for capturing the flow of ideas. A key cultural change increasing staff collaboration is the introduction of flexible work stations. Staff will have the freedom to move desks and join the team or project they are contributing to. Hot desking, standardised workstations, lockers and the provision of standing desks make collaborative working easier than ever. For a super-clean look and in line with Mando’s environmental policy, paper storage will be at a minimum with documents viewed and stored digitally.

The new offices promise to be an engaging and creative environment with digitally-advanced features throughout. Mando’s award-winning innovation, the ‘Timesheet Fridge’, which opens on Friday afternoons after all timesheets are submitted treating staff to a free beverage, will be given an upgrade of an artificial intelligence driven chat bot enabling staff to ask questions such as, ‘Am I a beer blocker?’ or ‘What’s in the fridge today?’

Staff will be treated to the holy grail of office comfort – office temperature mapping. Mando will embrace the internet of things philosophy with thermometers strategically placed around the offices linked to a heat-map screen, allowing staff to find their perfect working location. Other office zones offer green-screen technology for video pod-casting and an open-air dining experience with Wi-Fi on the adjoining roof terrace.

During its nine years at current base Liverpool Science Park, Mando has grown to a staff of 50 and now needs larger premises to accommodate the expanding team.

Speaking reminiscently of the company’s development, Ian Finch, MD of Mando said:

“We’ve had some great times and wonderful memories at the Liverpool Science Park and have massively appreciated their support throughout Mando’s teenage years! (we’re 20 next year).  It’s exciting to have now grown the business to a size where we need more space and are ready to take things to the next level.”

The new premises, on the 4th floor at No.5 St Paul’s Square, will be ready by the end of October. Designs are currently being finalised with leading fit-out specialists Tétris-bluu, whose clients also include Karmarama, Spotify, Dreamworks and Buzzfeed.

Geoff Bates, Regional Growth Fund Programme Manager at St Helens Chamber, says:

“Mando are a leading digital agency and their innovative plans for the new office are very exciting. We are delighted to offer them grant funding towards both their expansion and the creation of what is set to be the most advanced workplace in the sector.”

Ian Finch, speaking of the grant approval said:

“We’re delighted to have been given the funding support to achieve our workplace vision: digital and physical. Work can now commence, with us in our new home by the end of October – watch out for the launch invite!”