In conversation with – Bex Moorhouse

In conversation with – Bex Moorhouse

It was a pleasure to chat with Bex Moorhouse, Bex is here with tonnes of exposure from holding top leadership roles in the corporate world

including Regus and Nike.

Now the founder of Invigorate Spaces Bex is working with an impressive portfolio including JLL, Barclays, Westfield Health as a consultant to breathe life into the corporate world, through careful curation of workplace culture, environment and experiences.

Hi everyone, and a very warm welcome! Today, I’m super excited to chat with Bex Morehouse, founder of Invigorate Spaces. 

So, Bex, how did you get to where you are today with such an amazing career?

Oh my goodness, it’s been quite the journey! I honestly didn’t know what career I wanted at first, but I always knew I wanted to help people. I’ve always loved sports and fitness, and I started in serviced offices, delivering exceptional services. That led me to Nike, where I ran their real estate in the UK and Ireland, even designing their new London headquarters a few years ago. Then I set up Invigorate Spaces, growing in confidence and capability over time.

That’s amazing! So what does Invigorate Spaces stand for? What’s your vision?

I’ve worked with massive corporates and global organizations, and I felt it was always about the people. Unfortunately, the bigger the company, the more you become just a number. Everyone has unique superpowers, and I wanted to remind corporates of that. Invigorate Spaces aims to breathe life into the corporate world, focusing on wellbeing, experiences, and culture to ensure people enjoy their work.

That’s fantastic. Helping people flourish and become their best selves is so enriching. Do you still work with companies like Nike?

Yes, I do! I run workshops and help them with holistic fitness and how they can be the best versions of themselves for their customers. I also work with various companies on adopting hybrid working models and improving productivity while reducing stress.

You mentioned culture earlier, one of my favorite topics. Do you help companies define their “why”?

Absolutely. Sometimes companies think they have a clear mission, but it doesn’t reflect in their workspace. I believe you should feel a company’s essence as soon as you enter their space. It’s about the feeling and the way people interact within the space, not just logos.

Do you do workspace design?

Not directly. I support companies in thinking about how they’ll use their space to achieve good design. It’s about engaging with people to understand their needs and ensuring the space flows naturally without being cumbersome. Sustainability and efficiency are key in this process.

If I were to write a brief for office spaces, it would involve a comprehensive list of requirements, including meeting room sizes, collaboration points, and technology integration. Often, I find these elements are planned in isolation. I strive to connect technology with furniture to ensure everything works seamlessly together. For example, you might have a beautiful big table in a meeting room, but if it can’t be dismantled or the technology doesn’t work with it, it becomes a problem. It’s about taking an operational angle to ensure everything functions well together.

One of the biggest issues in offices is technology. With the rise of activity-based working, employees are supposed to just plug in and go, but often nothing works. Companies tend to blame employees for messing with the equipment, but as an independent consultant, I see it’s usually because the technology itself isn’t working. Offices often have great technology like digital whiteboards, but employees aren’t onboarded properly, so they don’t know how to use them. Proper onboarding and quick ways to report faults are crucial.

I believe handover day is just the beginning of the journey for the staff. After a design project is completed, it’s important to have a period where employees can drop in and get familiar with the space before fully moving in. Additionally, allowing a fixed period where no changes are made helps employees adapt to the new space. It’s about giving them time to get used to it and then possibly revisiting to see if further changes are needed.

I think a workspace should be a place where you reconnect with your company’s culture and values. It should feel like a member’s club where you recharge and feel part of something bigger. It’s not just about doing emails; it’s about engaging with colleagues and feeling the brand. Offices should reflect the company’s vision and values, providing a space that goes beyond just desks and chairs.

At Nike, I managed a variety of spaces, including corporate offices, Nike Town London, Converse offices, and even warehousing spaces. It was a busy job, but a lot of fun, ensuring everything from basic PPE to health and safety was in place.

Thanks for sharing, Bex! It’s been great chatting and learning about your journey and vision with Invigorate Spaces.

It’s inspiring to hear how you’ve built a significant, diverse company. If you want to hear the full conversation click the link below to listen on Spotify. 

Listen to the full conversation on Space by Stansons – A conversation with Bex Moorhouse

• Spotify

• YouTube