On this page
- 01Key takeaways
- 02Why give admin teams growth projects?
- 03Which projects suit office teams?
- 04How do you make the change?
- 05When should admin roles stay mostly routine?
- 06What does this look like in practice?
- 07Office team project checklist
- 08Next step
- 09Sources and further reading
- 10Frequently asked questions
Key takeaways
Office and admin teams know how the business really works: customers, suppliers, systems and the gaps between them. When routine processing is outsourced, that knowledge can drive growth projects such as supplier reviews, customer onboarding improvements, systems clean-up and process fixes that customers notice. Give each person a project with a goal.
- Admin teams hold detailed knowledge of customers and suppliers.
- Outsource processing; keep coordination and judgement.
- Give each person one growth or improvement project.
- Measure by outcomes such as savings, speed or customer feedback.
Want project ideas for your office team? Message us on WhatsApp.
Chat on WhatsApp →Why give admin teams growth projects?
Admin teams see where the business loses time, money and customers, because problems land on their desks. They know which suppliers are unreliable, which customers struggle to onboard and which systems do not talk to each other. Freed from processing, they can fix those problems, which supports growth directly.
Which projects suit office teams?
- Supplier review and renegotiation.
- Customer onboarding improvements.
- Systems and data clean-up.
- Process improvements customers notice, such as faster responses.
- Coordinating the outsourced team and its quality.
How do you make the change?
Consult people about the change, agree each person's project, provide training if needed and keep some coordination duties so they stay connected to daily operations. Acas advises consulting employees early on changes to their work.
When should admin roles stay mostly routine?
When the routine work cannot be outsourced, for example because it needs physical presence, or when people prefer stable routine work. Not every admin role needs to change.
What does this look like in practice?
A pattern we see: a facilities company outsources job sheet processing and asks its two administrators to review subcontractor performance. They identify three unreliable subcontractors and negotiate better terms with two others within a quarter.
Office team project checklist
- Ask the team which problems they see most.
- Choose one project per person.
- Set a goal and a deadline.
- Keep some coordination duties.
- Review outcomes quarterly.
Next step
Ask your office team: if you had a day a week back, what would you fix first?
Message us on WhatsApp for office team project ideas, or book a 30-minute consultation.
Chat on WhatsApp →Sources and further reading
- Consulting employees and their representatives · Acas
- What are the Management Standards for work-related stress? · Health and Safety Executive
Frequently asked questions
What can admin staff do after outsourcing?
Supplier reviews, customer onboarding improvements, data clean-up, process improvements and coordinating the outsourced team are common options. Their detailed knowledge of customers, suppliers and systems makes them well placed for projects that remove friction and support growth. Start with one well-documented bundle of work, check the first month closely and widen the scope once quality is steady.
Do admin staff lose their jobs when work is outsourced?
Not necessarily. Many firms keep their admin staff and redirect them to coordination and improvement work. Be clear with staff about your intentions early; if roles are genuinely at risk, follow the consultation and redundancy rules that apply in the UK.
How do you choose projects for office staff?
Ask them which problems cost the business most time, money or customer goodwill, then pick projects with a clear goal and an outcome you can measure. Projects that use their existing knowledge build confidence faster than unfamiliar ones. Agree a deadline and a short monthly check-in so projects do not drift.
Written by
Global Bridge Labs (GBL) is a UK–Sri Lanka partner for social media, websites and BPO. Everything here comes from client delivery, not theory.
