How Intelligent Workplace Solutions is redefining facilities management by putting people, planet, and partnerships first
With more than 25 years of experience in facility management (FM), Intelligent Workplace Solutions (Workplace) provides customized solutions to maintain clean, functional, and welcoming workspaces. However, Workplace goes beyond traditional FM standards, instead revolutionizing the industry by prioritizing people, partnerships, and the planet. As a certified B Corp business, robust sustainability and ethical practices are embedded into Workplace’s operations, which not only support its own employees, but also translate into uplifting work environments that place employees’ health and wellbeing at the forefront.
“My business partner and I established Workplace in 1999, initially as a soft services commercial cleaning company,” begins Stephen Guthrie, CEO. “Over the years, we’ve evolved to offer total facilities management (TFM) on a national basis across the UK, and we’re increasingly providing a one-stop solution for our clients by bringing services in-house, partly through acquisitions and partly by expanding our internal capabilities. We’re engaged in conversations with a mechanical engineering company, for instance, with an aim to bring those service in-house.”
Sustainability is key
Workplace’s services support buildings, facility managers, and clients, primarily in the corporate, education, and medical sectors. “Most of our customers tend to be national, multi-site clients with lots of business changes happening, so they need an agile, flexible partner with boots on the ground that enables them to work in a dynamic environment,” Stephen says. “We work in sectors where we can add value to clients or where risk is an important factor, such as medical environments, which are subject to extensive auditing. Our client portal is particularly valuable for medical clients, as customers can access schedules, KPIs, and staff training records, giving them complete transparency over service and maintenance.”
Workplace’s evolution represents a broader shift in the FM sector. Rather than prioritizing the cost of ser-vices over any other factors, clients are typically adopting a more circular approach, looking for FM providers that also emphasize sustainability and employee wellbeing. “FM is often grouped into procurement, and although cost is still important, most organizations have matured into looking at the total value of a provider,” Stephen confirms. “People appreciate working with like-minded people, and our ability to understand and adapt to varying client needs is now valued alongside factors like cost.”
Flexible solutions
Testament to this is Workplace’s B Corp certification, which the company achieved in 2024. “B Corp is the world’s leading benchmarking company known mostly for its environmental aspirations, but the process teaches you about best practices in all areas of business,” Stephen shares. “It challenges you to think be-yond policies and carbon reduction plans and instead about what you’re hoping to achieve and why those goals are important. Our mindset is now rooted in long-term ethical and social solutions, meaning we con-sider the consequences of our decisions across all areas of the business.”
However, achieving B Corp status doesn’t mean Workplace has stood still in terms of sustainability and social value. “We’re constantly exploring new ways to minimize our impact on both people and the planet,” Stephen states. “We’re currently installing sensors in some of our clients’ premises, for example, to analyze the air quality of their spaces. In recent years, we’ve completely transformed our cleaning methodology and shifted to using non-abrasive chemicals to reduce the allergens and microplastics in the air. We’ve
made lots of smaller improvements too, such as changing our employee uniforms to 100-percent cotton, which can then be collected and upcycled into insulation.”
A new horizon
Workplace’s circular approach extends to its company culture and employee engagement. Nowhere is this commitment better demonstrated than in the company’s new office in Manila, the Philippines. “I can al-most guarantee the new office is unlike any office you’ve ever seen before,” Stephen states. “The entire space has been designed with innovation and collaboration in mind, meaning most of the spaces are du-al-purpose, such as meeting rooms that can be used as sleeping rooms for any employees that need to stay overnight. Alongside breakout areas and tropical scenery, we’ve also added gym facilities to support physical wellbeing.
“To encourage collaboration and reflect new ways of working, such as video conferencing, we’ve created around 50 workstations and 26 meeting zones. People are increasingly meeting online, but most offices are not designed to cope with multiple people on different calls at the same time. We wanted our working environment to align with how our employees work both today and in the future.”
With the new office now operational, alongside extensive in-house services and a philosophy that prioritizes people, Workplace is truly transforming what it means to be a trusted FM partner. As our conversation closes, Stephen turns to what’s next for the business. “Last year brought various budget challenges and we’re continuing to navigate global uncertainty this year,” he says. “However, activity levels are high, and we have a strong pipeline for the year ahead. We’ve just won a new contract for another national client, and we’re on track to achieve ten percent growth for 2026.
“In the longer term, we’re keeping a keen eye on robotics and AI, as we’re keen to implement new technologies that assist our staff and make their work lives easier,” Stephen concludes. “We’re exploring the use of sensor technology, for instance, to provide us with data on facility usage and enable us to make da-ta-driven service improvements. There’s also plenty of opportunities to upskill our staff as we continue to grow, which not only benefits our employees but also provides better value for our clients.”