Join us for a breakfast event looking at workplaces in London past and present.

Work is central to our lives yet the workplace is rarely discussed in public. Work spaces in London have evolved through 17th century coffee houses to the 'offices as factories' of the 19th, and to spaces that merge work and play in the late 20th. Information and communication technology now allows many people to work from anywhere: ‘the city is the office’ with new workspaces springing up around the London for mobile working.

But while work has left the office many companies are still sticking to the nine to five routine, and employees still perceive there to be real benefits in workplaces. Meanwhile a new generation of ‘digital natives’ familiar with social networks, sophisticated consumer technology and multi-tasking is entering the office.

How has London past and present dealt with such developments? What are the new areas of work we need to support? In the age of networking, how well is real collaboration actually supported? And what are the significant changes and innovations in the workplace we should expect in London and elsewhere?

The speakers are: 

* Philip Tidd, managing director, DEGW UK

* Volker Buscher Director of Consulting, Arup

* Jonathan Robinson, co-founder, The Hub.

The discussion will be chaired by Frank Duffy, author of Work and The City.