When the Finance Now team in Invercargill moved into their new office space, they didn’t just get new desks. They got stand-up desks – and bigger ones at that, at a time when desk sizes everywhere else seem to be shrinking. And that, says CFO Jo Osborne, made everyone very happy.
“Everyone was very excited about that,” Jo says.
The new office, located in central Invercargill, is a big change from the team’s previous space. The old building had one large window at the front and a deep floor plan that left much of the office relying on artificial light. A high concrete-block wall that ran through the space had a habit of echoing coldness through winter.
The new fit-out is a different story. Natural light fills the space from multiple windows. Modern air conditioning and a fresh lighting plan have made a noticeable difference to everyday comfort. And there are pops of brand colour throughout, with blue, apple green, and linen-coloured dividers adding warmth alongside grey carpet and colourful accents at door entrances.
The team worked closely with an architect and project manager on the full fit-out, from ceiling tiles and carpet through to sound-absorbing panels and decorative glass finishes. Noise control was a priority, given that the contact centre team, along with much of the wider group, spend a good part of their day on the phone.
“One of the things people noticed straight away was how quiet it is,” says GM Lending Tania Dickie. “That was one of our key desires, to absorb the noise, and it’s worked really well.”
The layout has changed too. Where the old office had long rows of high-walled cubicles, the new space is set up in pods of four with lower dividers between desks. There’s still room for personal touches, but the overall feel is clean and open.
The meeting rooms carry te reo Māori names for places across the region: Waihōpai for Invercargill, Rakiura for Stewart Island, and Murihiku for Southland. Two boardrooms carry a different kind of tribute: Evans and Ellison, named after Finance Now founders Wayne Evans and Phil Ellison.
In the Waihōpai room, a piece of Finance Now history has found a new home. An original logo sign from the old reception desk, slightly off brand by today’s standards but kept as a nod to where it all began.
“Everyone seems to comment on it,” Tania says.
Improved meeting room technology has made a real difference for the teams who join meetings with colleagues in Auckland. Built-in cameras and better screens mean online meetings work properly now. And a redesigned kitchen with a central island layout means the lunch rush runs a lot more smoothly.
Being closer to the centre of town has been a practical bonus. With the mall just a block away, the team can pop out on their lunch break without losing half of it to the walk.
One detail Jo is particularly proud of is how the team handled the move itself. Rather than sending old office furniture to the tip, nearly everything was sold, donated, or given away. Old cubicle desks and couches went to local organisations, including Southland Help.
“Not a single one of those cubicles went to the tip,” Jo says. “I’m pretty proud of that to be honest.”
For Tania, the shift goes beyond the physical space. She’s noticed people taking a bit more pride in how they present themselves and their environment since settling into the new office.
“People feel prouder of this space,” she says. “It’s a nice environment to come to work in every day.”
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