Oktra creates workplaces designed to get the most out of people, whether through improving productivity, enhancing collaboration or fostering a sense of community and belonging. This involves everything from workplace consultancy through to office design, fit-out and furniture sourcing—everything is housed under one roof.
We’re industry and size-agnostic, and work with everyone from creative agencies to professional services. Some of the most notable include Adidas, Deliveroo, Trainline and YouTube, among many others.
The company has been in business for over 30 years with offices in London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Guildford. We also recently became B Corp Certified, which was a huge milestone for the business.
What was the catalyst for joining Oktra?
The primary reason is its reputation. Ultimately, when you talk about world-class workspaces, you’re talking about Oktra. It’s a very well-respected brand in the industry, with a reputation for a high-quality product. This has attracted the biggest brands in the world, who trust Oktra due to its excellent track record.
Oktra has developed the kind of culture where people tend to want to stay. I already knew a bunch of people who worked here before joining, and based on their testimonies, a job here naturally appealed to me.
How has the business evolved over the years?
Oktra’s evolution has coincided with the changes that the design and build industry has undergone over the last few years. Back in the early days, projects would involve design firms drawing up concepts before handing everything over to construction companies to create the space. The ‘B’ in D&B was much more pronounced than the ‘D’.
‘The industry has undergone a huge shift since then. It’s now a lot more focused on the design aspect of the business, which attracts the best clients and achieves recognition. Whereas before the builders and space planners would lead the industry, it’s now the designers, technical experts, consultants and architects. The quality of design is now exceptional.
As this transition occurred, we’ve evolved our offering into a ‘one-stop-shop’ to serve all clients’ workspace design needs. At Oktra, everything is now being done under one roof: the designers sit next to the project managers, who sit next to the programmers, who sit next to the finance people. It’s a lot simpler for clients.
We’ve done all of this while also expanding our reach across the UK, initially launching in London but now with offices in Guildford, Birmingham and Manchester.
Tell us about the working culture at Oktra?
At Oktra, we empower our teams by giving them the trust and autonomy to do their jobs properly. We believe in hiring the best people and allowing them the freedom to express their creativity and expertise without micromanagement.
This approach not only fosters a culture of accountability but also drives the outstanding results we’re known for. When people feel supported and valued, they thrive, and that’s exactly the environment we cultivate.
What has been your biggest challenge so far and how have you overcome this?
As managing director, the biggest challenge for me is motivating the people around me to improve every time a project pitch, for example, doesn’t go our way.
We’re operating in a very competitive industry, where the margin between success and failure is extremely thin, especially at the pointy end where we exist. We can’t always win. But, we have created a culture where our team is able to be creative and express themselves without fear of failure. But like in a football match, you’ve got to get back up and go again if you concede a goal. The companies that do this well are the companies that reach the top and stay there.
How does Oktra answer an unmet need?
The D&B industry was fragmented before. Customers had to go to various different places to get what they needed, and it was led by construction firms that didn’t value the design aspect of office workspaces in the same way that customers now do. That’s where it got this stereotype of bland, white-light office spaces from.
‘Oktra offers an alternative: one where customers can come to a single place for all their workspace design needs – even the furniture, which we source in-house. Unlike in the past, the design process is front-and-centre for us because, ultimately, that’s the only way to create working environments that actually improve engagement and performance.
On another note, D&B firms haven’t typically invested that much time or thought into the sustainability of their operations in the past. This is a really big deal for us at Oktra, which is proud to be a certified B Corp. As this also becomes a bigger issue for the kind of customers we work with, it’s becoming a bigger focal point of the business.
What’s in store for the future?
As I mentioned, there’s been this massive shift in the D&B industry towards design-focused consultancies, like Oktra, that offer all of their clients’ needs under one roof. As a result of that shift, we’re able to pull off much bigger, more complex technical projects, which I think will become more common in the future.
We are continuing to see design and build companies taking greater market share from the traditional contractor market. Clients who in the past might have used an Architect and builder are now using D&B firms as it’s a simpler, faster and cheaper procurement route.
And finally, a more personal question! What’s your daily routine and the rules you’re living by at the moment?
My day starts early - I’m at my desk by 7:30 am, fueled by two coffees and ready to go. I like to work methodically through my emails, using them as a guide for both individual and team actions. I always try to leave room in my schedule for client meetings and project work, balancing early-stage consultancy with live projects that are on-site or nearing completion.
‘As for the principles I live by, they’re pretty simple: bring positive energy every day, treat people with respect, and create an environment where people can thrive. Honesty is key; especially when working with clients. If something isn’t right, we’ll say so, because that’s how we build trust and deliver the best results!’
Paul Sherwin is Managing Director at Oktra.
