Why flexible workplaces are here to stay

People’s need for flexibility at work is now an accepted reality. Over the past few years, more and more businesses have switched their traditional office leases for flexible workplaces – offering more agile ways of working and easy access to desk space when employee numbers grow.

As organisations now look to the future – unsure of the role remote working will play – these workspaces are becoming a smarter and more cost-effective choice than any fixed or long-term lease. They support both hybrid working and the breakthrough hub and club approach, where employees can split their time between a central office and other smaller flexible office sites closer to home.

A change in attitude towards flexible space

Office space will always be a necessity for businesses. But as the way businesses use offices continues to change, our recent Future of Flex global report has revealed four reasons why businesses are taking up flexible workspace:

• Greater control over costs and expenses
  

Every business can see revenue go up and down, which makes arranging leases a complicated process. Flexible offices give you a more on-demand arrangement, offering move-in ready spaces that are easier to use when business is good, but also easy to adjust if desk space is no longer needed.

• Meet short-term workspace needs
  

If your business outgrows an office, it can be hard to forecast if this means long-term changes to your workforce and business strategy. Flexible space can help buy your organisation time to launch new initiatives and consider future growth projections before investing in any longer-term workspaces.

•   Foster a flexible collaboration culture

While many businesses continue to support more than one way of working, it’s essential to still provide employees with ways to interact face-to-face. Having access to flexible space supports hybrid working by giving your people inspiring places to work from when they need it, helping everyone collaborate effectively and make efficient decisions.

•  Flexible models attract the best talent
  

With every business competing over hiring the next best employee, flexible workspaces can help you stand out from the crowd with inspiring offices and better-connected locations. Flexible spaces also have fewer start-up costs and commitments, making it quick and easy to relocate to a new area that already has a talent pool you’re looking to attract.

It, therefore, seems likely that businesses of all sizes will continue to view flexible space as valuable in helping to address business challenges and responding to evolving employee needs.