Moving into a new office is the perfect time to modernise and refresh. And it’s no secret that the environment you work in has a huge impact on productivity. That’s why choosing the right office fit out is so important. It can make a bold statement about your company’s culture and leave clients with a long-lasting impression. 

If you’re looking to elevate your new office with a fit out, you may be wondering what the difference is between Category A and Category B – and which one is right for your business. 

To help you decide, here’s an overview of Category A and Category B office fit out services provided by us here at Nexus Workspace.

When a new building has just been developed, it has, what’s called, the ‘shell and core’. But it’s not ready to be moved into just yet.

An office fit out is the next step in the renovating process. It’s when the space is transformed into something workable, enjoyable, or both! With the right office fit out, your space can feel bigger, better, and completely suited to your business needs.

There are three different types of office fit outs – Category A, Category A+ and Category B. Each one caters to a different budget and provides varying opportunities for personalisation. 

A Category A office fit out is the most basic option. It includes the installation of almost every functional thing a business needs to operate in a workspace. 

Category A fit outs usually include the installation of things like:

• Standard partition walls and ceilings
• Standard mezzanine flooring
• Basic kitchens and toilets
• Plumbing, heating and electrics
• Air conditioning

Functional is the keyword in Category A fit outs. It’s the cheapest solution that offers standard amenities with limited opportunities for personalisation. That’s why it’s usually the top choice for landlords, industrial companies or non-client facing businesses. It’s also ideal for companies that are on a budget and/or already have office furniture.

Every business has a different fit out requirement. Just because the outcome is basic, the service provided is far from it. With Category A fit outs, you’ll still have an interior designer help you maximise the space to suit your needs. 

Category A+ office fit outs are an elevated version of Category A, without a huge jump in the price tag. This fit out option is ideal for businesses that want a personal flair added to the space and upgraded amenities. It’s usually the best option for companies that are client-facing and have a slightly higher budget.

With Category A+, you can:

• Choose from improved mezzanine flooring designs
• Add more bespoke decorations, like feature lighting and wall graphics
• Upgrade your partitioning systems, like installing sleek, glass designs
• Upgrade your kitchen specifications
• Add new furniture

A Category B office fit out represents the highest standard of office fit out you can get. It’s bespoke, fully customised, and expert interior design is a top priority. With this type of fit out, you can add a personal stamp that makes a long-lasting impression on your staff and clients.

With a Category B fit out, you can:

• Add feature lighting
• Choose from advanced mezzanine flooring designs
• Install office furniture
• Add custom-made joinery
• Choose audio and visual amenities
• Personalise the décor and colour schemes

With Category B office fit outs, you can create a space that speaks to your brand. Your Nexus Workspace interior designer will complete full space planning and can even work with your marketing team to build something bold. 

The higher your budget, the more creative you can be with your Category B office fit out.

One of the most important factors when choosing an office fit out is deciding what you need the space for. Think about things like:

• Do you use hot or fixed desks?
• Will your staff be in the office all day or just a few hours?
• Where do staff eat their lunch? Are breakout areas important?
• Will you use the space for client or team meetings?

If your office is dedicated to staff (not clients) that drop in occasionally, you may not need things like breakout areas or meeting rooms. Your needs could be more on the functional side.

However, if your team frequently use the office for desk work, collaborative discussions and client meetings, you’ll need the facilities to match. Plus, the ‘look and feel’ may be more important if you need to impress clients and inspire staff.

Budget is an important topic when it comes to office fit outs. The higher the budget, the more you can customise. If your budget is on the smaller side, it’s good to be realistic about what you can achieve with your space. 

Category A+ is a great option for companies with an average budget that need something in the middle of functional and aesthetically pleasing. If investing in your space is a top priority for your staff, Category B may be the better option. 

Either way, Nexus Workspace can help you design a cost-effective solution that works.

It’s long since been recognised that a working environment has a huge impact on productivity. If you’re moving to a new office, this is the perfect time to think about what impact you want the space to have. 

Think about things like the culture you want to foster (collaborative or independent) and how you want people to feel when they walk in. The bigger the impact you want, the higher your budget needs to be.