From mindful wellbeing workshops to big bold conversations on the future of office design, this month’s Watercooler and The Office 2025 event at London’s ExCeL delivered a full day of ideas, insight and inspiration. Bringing together workplace strategists, designers, HR professionals and wellbeing experts, the event served up plenty of food for thought about how the workplace of the future needs to function.
Here’s a roundup of some of the standout themes and takeaways from the sessions I attended.
Food, health and the role of the employer
The day began with a keynote from Dr Dolly van Tulleken, visiting scientist at the MRC Epidemiology Unit and Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), on the links between ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and public health. With UPFs now accounting for over half of the UK’s dietary intake, and even higher among children and young adults, she raised serious concerns around long-term health, from obesity and type 2 diabetes to heart disease.
While many public health policies have been introduced in recent years, Dr van Tulleken didn’t shy away from highlighting the challenges around delayed implementation and political contradictions. For employers, she emphasised that there’s still real opportunity to lead from the front: offering healthier food in staff restaurants and vending machines, supporting employee education around diet and nutrition, and advocating for better access to healthy food.
Rethinking productivity in a human-centric office
A particularly insightful session came from the fireside chat featuring Ana Stanojevic, principal and practice group manager – workplace at Arcadis, Caroline Pontifex, director and head of workplace & design at Savills, and Chris Moriaty, co-founder of workplace data consultancy Audiem.
The trio challenged traditional views of productivity (or the “P word”, as Chris put it), arguing that it can no longer be measured purely by time or output. Instead, modern workplaces, particularly those in knowledge industries, must focus on collaboration, innovation and culture. Increasingly, organisations are embracing purpose, place and planet as core performance indicators. This ESG-aligned approach reflects a more holistic strategy, not just in design but in operational thinking too.
A strong thread throughout the session was the importance of cross-functional collaboration, with workplace strategists now acting as facilitators between HR, IT, FM and procurement to ensure the space reflects human needs. One line that stuck with me was, “What is the benefit of being together?” It’s a question more organisations are asking as they reimagine the role of the office in a hybrid world.
Feeding wellbeing: Why food is more than a perk
Later in the day, I joined a session led by Spencer Walker, global director at Deliveroo for Work, and Marina Moschoviti, performance management programme manager, also at Deliveroo for Work. They explored how food is evolving as a powerful driver of engagement and workplace culture. While they were there to advertise and sell their product, they did present an interesting point of view of how food plays into the wider wellbeing of employees from the view of an employer perk or benefit. Their new report was launched during the session which offers further insight into the topic with some thoughtful statistics and research.
With Gen Z poised to make up a quarter of the global workforce by the end of 2025, younger employees are raising the bar on what they expect from their employers. In fact, 50% of employees would consider leaving their job for better benefits, while 81% of employers are already adapting their packages in response.
Food, it turns out, is no small player. Seventy-one per cent of employees in a recent survey said food helps them take a moment to pause during the workday, reinforcing its value as more than just fuel. It’s increasingly central to wellbeing, connection and even return-to-office strategies.
Designing for neurodiversity
A session that stayed with me following the event was ‘Designing Neuroinclusive Workplaces’, featuring speakers from the Royal College of Art, the International WELL Building Institute, Cushman & Wakefield, Arup and HOK.
The session spotlighted the ways in which workspaces can be designed to better support neurodivergent individuals, from regulating sensory inputs to accommodating different communication and work styles. Inclusive design is no longer seen as a niche ambition; it’s becoming a commercial imperative. As the conversation around diversity, equity and inclusion has been thrown into such turbulence, it is important to remember its film value to people and their business. Thankfully, neurodiversity is firmly on the workplace agenda.
The bigger picture: A more integrated future
Throughout the day, one theme echoed across nearly every session: the workplace is no longer the domain of a single department. Whether it’s food, design or hybrid policy, decisions are now being made through a multi-disciplinary lens, uniting HR, property, technology and wellbeing functions.
Shorter sessions and exhibitor showcases brought fresh ideas to the fore, from AI-powered space planning tools to neuroadaptive lighting systems and sustainability-first refits. No matter the innovation, one message stood out: future-focused workplaces must balance people, purpose and performance in equal measure.
Final Thoughts
The Watercooler and The Office 2025 provided a timely and valuable opportunity to reflect on the changing nature of work, and the role of the workplace in supporting it. From nutrition and neurodiversity to cross-functional strategy and generational expectations, the event showed just how broad – and how exciting – the remit of workplace professionals has become.
Above all, I left feeling energised by the bold ideas and the brilliant people shaping what comes next. The future of work isn’t just about where we work. It’s about how we support people to thrive, wherever they are.
We regularly attend events throughout the workplace industry, so read up on the sector news section of our website for more event recaps, and if you’re attending, let us know! We’re always happy to chat.
