The office is changing, and Quickly
Not so long ago, flexible workspace was mostly something start-ups and freelancers turned to. These days, 55% of global corporations use flexible workspace, according to research from Cushman & Wakefield, which says quite a lot about how differently we’re all thinking about the office.
That research suggests companies are looking for good quality space that flexes around how their business and their people actually work, rather than the other way round. So it’s worth asking how your own team spends the week. Is everyone really at the same desk, five days out of five? For a lot of businesses, that’s just not how things go any more, and flexible workspace has grown up around that exact shift.
Why more businesses are choosing flexible workspace
When you look at the reasons, a few themes come up again and again. The first is flexibility itself, with shorter contracts and space that can grow or shrink as you do, so you’re not tied to a plan you made before hybrid working was even a thing.
Then there’s cost, because flexible workspace usually takes away the fit-out, the furniture and the surprise maintenance bills that come with a traditional lease. And then there’s your people, which is probably the most important reason of all, because teams tend to do their best work somewhere they actually want to be, with room to focus, room to work things out together and a bit of life about the place.
There’s also the question of growth. Businesses that are expanding or still finding their shape don’t always want to commit to a fixed amount of space for years at a time, and flexible workspace lets them grow into something bigger, or scale back, without the upheaval.
What the numbers say
We pulled together some stats from across the industry, and together they paint a pretty interesting picture of where flexible workspace is heading.
55% of global corporations are using flexible workspace.
67% of flexible office users report higher productivity, which suggests the right space really can help people do their best work.
65% of businesses say flexible workspace reduces their costs, mostly because they’re not paying for lots of separate things, or for space they’re not using.
69% of flexspace users say they collaborate more, which makes sense when you’re surrounded by other businesses, ideas and perspectives.
59% of expanding businesses are choosing flexspace, which shows just how closely flexible workspace is tied to growth.
We’ll take each of those in turn, because every one of them has its own story to tell about why flexible workspace works.
So, could flexible workspace work for you?
Only you can really say, but a few questions might help. Is your lease coming up for renewal? Are you growing, or perhaps not quite sure what next year looks like? Would a permanent space suit your team best, or would something a bit more part-time make more sense?
If any of those sound familiar, it could be worth having a proper look at what flexible workspace could offer your business.
FAQs
What is flexible workspace?
Flexible workspace is office space you can take on shorter, more flexible terms, usually with things like Wi-Fi, meeting rooms and maintenance already looked after, so you can get on with the actual work.
How many businesses use flexible workspace?
According to Cushman & Wakefield, 55% of global corporations now use flexible workspace.
Why are businesses choosing flexible workspace?
Mostly for flexible contracts, included amenities, space that can grow with them, lower costs, and an office that works around how their people really work.
