Welcome to Irwin Mitchell’s 2025 Office Occupiers’ Report
The political and business landscape has changed since we last surveyed office-based businesses in 2022. We have a new Labour government in power, uncertainty around trade policies prompted by the new US president, and conflict continuing across the globe.
We are seeing rising energy prices and inflation together with increased employment costs and regulation – all bringing new challenges around the overall cost of doing business. And working patterns have been evolving since the days of Covid, something employers have increasingly needed to get to grips with– and are perhaps now taking a greater stand.
All this has impacted businesses’ relationship with their office space. The office is now perceived as more than merely a location for work. It has become a place to encourage people to come together to collaborate, and by so doing improve productivity, to highlight a business’s ESG credentials or brand. There’s also a greater emphasis on supporting internal stakeholders, be they employees, clients or customers by making sure the office works for all.
And in a period of economic uncertainty, businesses want their offices to fulfil their changing needs, but to do so in the most cost-effective way possible. As they look forward, the question businesses continue asking is whether existing office space can be adapted to meet future needs, or do they need to move to do so?
We have teamed up with Markettiers to survey more than 500 UK senior decision makers to gauge their thoughts on future office requirements, areas of opportunity and areas of concern.
We’ve also spoken to Zoe Ellis-Moore, founder and CEO of Spaces to Places, Tim Crane from The TSK Group Limited, and Irwin Mitchell colleagues including Kate Fergusson, our Director of Responsible Business and Sustainability. We wanted their insights on the trends we’re seeing, and the decisions businesses are making.
Lastly, we’d like to thank Victoria Shreeves and Ben Reed from JLL and Will Richardson from Green Element for helping us to shape this survey and adding their insights to the results.
I hope you find this report useful. Please do get in touch if you would like to further discuss any of the issues raised.
