Workers consider idea generation crucial to their company’s performance, but feel unable to work creatively together in their offices, according to a study by office design company Overbury.

More than a third (36 per cent) find their office demotivating, while a quarter (25 per cent) describe it as ‘sedate and silent’. Almost one in ten (8 per cent) go as far as to call their workplace a ‘creative and cultural desert’.

Almost two thirds of office-based employees (59 per cent) state that the development of new ideas is vital to their organisation, and almost half (48 per cent) claim that sharing ideas would considerably improve their employer’s competitive position.

Almost three quarters (72 per cent) of UK office workers say that they get on well with their co-workers and almost two thirds (61 per cent) feel that their best ideas arise from impromptu conversations with colleagues.

Some 27 per cent of employees state that they are at their most creative when talking informally to people around the office.

Two fifths (40 per cent) believe that better quality common areas and social space would enhance collaboration and creativity. More than half (52 per cent) say that team spirit would also benefit.

Anthony Brown of Overbury comments, ‘It is great news for UK organisations that office workers are extremely positive about their working relationships.

‘However, staff are crying out for space in which to work creatively together and employers are failing to provide these high-quality common areas, frustrating the talents of their workforce.’

According to UK workers, the top five positive steps companies can take to boost creativity in their office are more social space (25 per cent), better heating/cooling (24 per cent), provision of food and drinks (22 per cent), better quality furnishings (21 per cent) and nicer coffee (18 per cent).

See also: 8 cool office spaces that we love