Seemingly impossibly, 2020 is just around the corner – but still there’s no sign of flying cars or hoverboards. At least we have robots.
They might not be as sophisticated as the bioengineered replicants in Blade Runner (officially set in the past as of last month) or the original Terminator (still from the future, until 2029) – but they look a lot happier than both judging by Heidi, the latest addition to the reception team at the recently opened One Hyde Park Hayes.
According to property manager Workman, she has been deployed in a key role at the new office building: “The inclusion of a robot receptionist seamlessly integrates people and tech, providing a fully connected customer experience. Heidi can manage the visitor entry system, signing guests in and out of the building, and communicating arrivals and departures to occupiers.”
Bonus features – which are not expected from the regular customer services team – include Heidi dancing a jig on command and entertaining guests by trying to guess their age. How long before the rise of the robot resources department, to handle complaints about such different treatment in the workplace?
With (giving up) great power…
We know all about the trappings of power, but less well discussed is the freedom that follows relinquishing it.
Ellandi’s Mark Robinson knows all about it, though. “Quite liberating no longer being Revo president,” he tweeted after the retail lobby group’s annual dinner. “Have been able to call an arse, an arse, for being an arse – which I wouldn’t have done 36 hours ago.”
Property’s Insta-influencers
Diary once went to the theatre with Nick Knowles. He didn’t know about it, but there we were, at the same show. A rare brush with fame, which only becomes more glamorous with the news that the DIY SOS star is the “property TV personality” earning the most on Instagram.
First surprise: you can earn money on Instagram. Second surprise: Nick Knowles earns money on Instagram. Third surprise: he makes an average of £1,122 per post! Diary is clearly in the wrong job, writing this nonsense in print. Trailing in Knowles’ wake is Kirstie Allsopp on £534 per post – but at least she is demolishing her regular co-host Phil Spencer, who banks a mere £94. TV’s own Restoration Man George Clarke nets £339, but we’re shocked to see Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud comes in considerably under budget at £71 per post.
The greatest gift of all?
Shared office provider Regus is doing its bit to prevent “nightmare before Christmas” travel chaos, by throwing open its doors to flexible workers.
It says that 5.7m Brits are “late to family festive fun” because of gridlocked roads and delayed trains, and that over a third don’t feel they get to spend long enough with their loved ones over the festive period. With more than 30m of us expected to be travelling over the break, Regus is giving people the chance to travel early and take advantage of its 330 flexible workspaces in the UK – for free.
It’s all part of a global offer of a week’s free trial at its 3,000 centres around the world between 16 December and 5 January. Mark Dixon, chief executive at Regus’ parent company IWG, said: “Despite the boom in flexible working, some businesses still expect their employees to work from a central office right up to the holidays. This creates a mad rush. We thought we’d try and help make it a little less hectic by letting people work from a co-working space for free.
“Of course, not everyone’s job permits them to work flexibly, but our hope is more people can avoid the rush and instead enjoy memorable moments with friends and family this holiday season.”
Office life at Christmas has come a long way since Scrooge’s day.
The 99p Christmas ad
So, you’re an independent retailer on the struggling high street, battling for attention against big name chains with multi-million marketing budgets. How do you compete with Excitable Edgar and Kevin the Carrot?
How about by buying your own Christmas ad for a mere 99p? In a bid to put smaller business back in the spotlight, creative and production agency, Hell Yeah! has filmed one and put it on eBay for less than a pound, and buyers can have it personalised with their logo. It says the offer is “all with the intention of encouraging people to support local businesses, rather than getting carried away by heavy, emotional marketing”.
Opening with a young boy gazing at a photo of his mum, it continues as the loveable lad pulls a gift from under his bed and struggles to wrap it. So far, so festive. But, when Christmas Day arrives… well, let’s just say this is no John Lewis ad. In a good way. Check it out here.
