Accommodating more employees in the office
A key driver of change
Those businesses planning a space change in the next 12-18 months revealed that the main drivers are to make their offices more accommodating for an expanding workforce attending the office, and to facilitate hybrid working which has impacted the use and volume of office space required.
At 30%, the need to create more collaborative space was highest on the list of drivers. This space can take many forms and how it works will depend on the business needs of the occupier, but what is clear is this is a driver for requiring additional space. Other common reasons include making the office more convenient for staff, to accommodate more employees in the office and different working patterns and to create a more inclusive workplace.
It appears that while we have advanced in the ways we work and new working practices have bedded in, the office has not yet kept pace and now needs to adapt to support hybrid working, with the majority of companies achieving this through investment in their current office rather than moving to a new space. Whether this is reflective of businesses seeing this as a short-term low-cost solution is yet to be seen.
Other important considerations are to improve ESG credentials, to reflect their brand and to be more convenient or closer for clients.
At 30%, the need to create more collaborative space was highest on the list of drivers. This space can take many forms and how it works will depend on the business needs of the occupier, but what is clear is this is a driver for requiring additional space. Other common reasons include making the office more convenient for staff, to accommodate more employees in the office and different working patterns and to create a more inclusive workplace.
It appears that while we have advanced in the ways we work and new working practices have bedded in, the office has not yet kept pace and now needs to adapt to support hybrid working, with the majority of companies achieving this through investment in their current office rather than moving to a new space. Whether this is reflective of businesses seeing this as a short-term low-cost solution is yet to be seen.
Other important considerations are to improve ESG credentials, to reflect their brand and to be more convenient or closer for clients.
Less than 8% of businesses said they were accommodating fewer employees. Most are intent on ensuring greater numbers of their workforce are regularly back in an office that is suitable for their needs and one they are happy to be working in.
What, if anything, are the main drivers for changing your office space requirements? (Select up to 3)