In partnership with B Corp consultancy, A Beautiful Green, we carried out an in-depth assessment of our performance in five key areas - governance, workers, community, environment and customers - to establish a baseline, and therefore a foundation for measuring, managing and improving the company's social and environmental impact.

The path to B Corp certification was a rigorous one, requiring two years of sustained effort to ensure that Agilité - a Parella company's long-term vision and values were well aligned with its external actions, a process that involved changes at both micro and macro levels.

In December 2023, Agilité - a Parella company proudly achieved its B Corp certification, marking an important milestone in its journey towards responsible business practices. But the work doesn't stop there. In fact, we're already starting to think about our recertification in 2026. 

The knowledge gained during the certification process has enabled us to implement responsible practices in everything we do. Since certification, I've taken on the role of Director of Operational Excellence, and it's my responsibility to ensure that our goal remains front and center as we continue to grow. I am building a team in the key areas of sustainability, quality, health and safety, operations, IT, governance and communications, to ensure that we continue to "walk the talk".

We work hard to surround ourselves with like-minded partners, and Agilité - a Parella company's commitment to sustainability extends beyond its projects to its entire supply chain. Our Responsible Purchasing program seeks out partners who share our long-term guiding principles and, thanks to data-driven decision-making tools like Airtable, we are able to track regulatory compliance, performance and sustainability scores to ensure we are working with the right people.

With an exciting pipeline of projects in new geographies and collaborations with innovative customers, supply chain engagement is a real priority. Last year we introduced supplier forums in the UK, and we aim to extend these to all our sites by 2025. It's very important that our partners support us in this, and that's precisely the theme of this year's B Corp month, "Generation B".

In the longer term, we are aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050 and are working with Neutral Carbon Zone (NCZ) to monitor, report and reduce emissions across our value chain. Currently a gold-certified member of the NCZ certification program, Agilité - a Parella company is aiming for platinum certification.

I truly believe that by continually raising its standards and adopting innovative practices, Agility - a Parella company remains, as it always has been, dedicated to creating a better future for people, the environment and the global community.

Much was made of this for the opening ceremonies, but I found it particularly well done on site access, removing the usual barriers around disability.

As the Versailles site required a long walk, electric shuttles were made available for anyone with walking difficulties, with a visible or invisible disability, or just elderly, pregnant... there was no need to show any card or pass to benefit.

Tools developed to assist one type of disability can be used by all if they are designed with this in mind. For example, for each event, the Games' dedicated application provided access to an audio description. While this was intended for the visually impaired, it was also educational, and very useful for children or non-expert audiences.

In the design of spaces, inclusive design aims to take into account the physical and physiological needs specific to each person by translating them into spaces that are useful to all. A height-adjustable desk, for example, will be indispensable for an employee in a wheelchair, but will also be much appreciated by someone suffering from occasional lumbago.

Taking inclusion into account must also be reflected in communication, like this delicate attention to "Stand up, if you can, for the hymns."

Shile project teams generally arrive exhausted at the end of the marathon that a relocation project represents, for the employees, this is where it all begins: appropriating the premises, discovering new ways of working, setting up new rituals ...

To get the ball rolling, we feel it is necessary to bring new players into the game, second-half "finishers of the second half as Fabien Galthié in rugby.

They will be in charge instilling this energy and promoting these new usesby making the spaces and services spaces and services by the design team.

It's to support this implementation that we like to return to our projects after the move-in, to experience feedback which are much more than just an assessment, they are a plan of action for the future.

Lease deadlines are not always adapted to your company's strategic stages.
To limit constraints and be able to move without delay, it is possible to negotiate one or more exit options in your lease, in addition to the usual deadlines (3, 6 and 9 years).

Depending on the geographical area and the balance of power between lessor and lessee, a severance payment is usually requested. It is generally calculated in proportion to the support measures obtained at the start of the lease. It is therefore essential to negotiate them well.
You can also think in terms of flex ready, i.e. right from the start of your construction phase, design layouts to facilitate the implementation of a flex office organization, which can be deployed during the life of the lease without any additional work. In the current context, our customers are increasingly demanding this type of support.

Thomas works step by step, hand in hand with his customer.

The first step is to fully understand the customer's needs, and in particular the object's use. Then comes the sourcing of the material and its possibilities, durability and quality.

Other practical aspects, such as lead times or technical standardization constraints, may also influence the design.

The project is conceived in co-construction with the customer, from sourcing of raw materials to production.

Well-being at work is not just about stress reduction or flexible working hours. It's a global commitment to providing our employees with an environment where they feel good, listened to and valued. A caring environment reduces absenteeism and prevents burnout. Fulfilled employees are naturally more involved and committed. This translates into communicative energy, better quality of work and greater capacity for innovation. A climate of trust and respect fosters harmonious working relationships and fluid collaboration, essential for moving forward together.

Commercial leases are intended for companies engaged in commercial, industrial or craft activities. It is governed by strict rules that protect both lessee and lessor. This type of contract is concluded for a minimum term of nine years, enabling the company to secure its location for the long term. This stability is a major asset for businesses needing a fixed location to attract and retain customers. Despite this relatively long term, tenants have the option of terminating their lease every three years, giving them a degree of flexibility while maintaining a structured framework.

One of the main advantages of a commercial lease is the right to renewal, guaranteeing the tenant the possibility of extending the contract on expiry, except in certain exceptional cases. It also allows for sub-letting or assignment under certain conditions, giving businesses additional room for maneuver. Rent is generally reviewed every three years, based on a specific index, to ensure that it reflects market realities, although this review can sometimes lead to significant increases, particularly during periods of inflation.