Working in an office

Page contents

Libraries - we are piloting the use of some of our library sites providing a mixture of desks and meeting spaces bookable. Some of the facilities available on site will differ from those at main hub buildings but all will have access to printing, a kitchen including a fridge and toilet.
- Woking, 9 desks, 1 meeting room (up to 6 people), printer
- Guildford, 7 desks, 1 meeting room, printer
- Oxted, 3 desks, printer
- Epsom, 10 desks, 2 meeting rooms (Meeting room one: up to 2 people; Meeting room two: up to 8 people), printing, café next to library
- Redhill, 2 desks, 1 small meeting room (book direct with library, not via Manhattan), printer
- Dorking, 12 desks, 2 meeting rooms (up to 8 people), printer

Book a desk.
Remember your SCC pass and wear it when you've moving around the building.
Check your travel route (useful tip: Oyster and contactless cards can be used at Redhill station).
Read our useful one pagers of key information on Consort House, Dakota, Fairmount House , Quadrant Court and Woodhatch Place.
Check out our office videos for Quadrant Court, Woodhatch Place and Dakota to give you an idea of what to expect if it's your first visit.
Join the Teams group for the office you will be visiting, to keep up to date with what's going on.
Don't forget your laptop and headphones!
Remember to bring coffee, tea, milk.

Car park booking is currently suspended.
Please sit at the desk that you booked
If it's a new office for you:
- Familiarise yourself with all safety precautions – sitting in a desk that does not have a Covid sign on, fire alarm process, fire exits
- Get your bearings – find the kitchen, printer, loo

Think about what Agile working means for you and your team - what work is completed more effectively working in an office location? You may want to use the workplace for networking and collaboration.
Think about how everyone in the team knows where people are working, the Transitioning out of lockdown guide can help with this.
When working in an office, you will need to locate and book a desk and may also want to book a meeting room.
Visit our location services page for detailed information on each of our main SCC buildings, including the locations of meeting rooms and desks.
In addition to your 'admin base' there are various locations across Surrey that staff will be able to work from – a full list will be available soon
With agile working, there is a likelihood that you'll be involved in hybrid meetings – training is available to support this
Consider your journey to the workplace in advance – travel tips are available and if you previously worked at County Hall you may be entitled to a workplace relocation grant

Depending on your role, to support working in an agile way, you will be provided with an SCC laptop, hybrid or iPhone if required.
Agile working is about focussing on outcomes rather than hours or locations which means that colleagues have greater flexibility in when they work and where they work – whether that be at home, in a workspace or a 'third space'.
If you have specific requirements that need to be considered when working in an office you should discuss this with your line manager and complete a risk assessment. Advice and support is available and you can self refer to Occupational Health if necessary.
Across SCC buildings there is conferencing technology that supports agile working – it's worth familiarising yourself with how this works and accessing some of the training support that is available on the Digital Skills Our Surrey page

Ensure that you consider your wellbeing when working in the office – taking regular breaks, building a walk into your day and ensuring that you maintain a healthy work/life balance are all ways to do this.

Working in an open plan office means that you need to be aware of your surroundings when working with personal data – ensuring that you protect sensitive or confidential information from others working around you.
Consider what you discuss in an open plan office, think about the information that you have on your screen and make sure that you lock your computer if you leave it.
Consider the etiquette of working in an open plan office – consider using headphones when on a Teams call and think about where best to locate yourself for meetings or collaborative activity.