What is Flexible Office Space?

There has been much speculation about what the working landscape will look like post-Covid. Most sources point to a hybrid way of working, with many businesses looking to ditch traditional offices and instead opt for flexible offices, but what exactly does that mean?

Traditional Offices 

Historically, businesses would find an appropriate office space and either buy it or – more likely – rent it. Employees would be expected to be in the office Monday to Friday and attain normal working hours – anywhere between 8am and 6pm.

The hallmarks of traditional offices include:

• Unfurnished space
• Long-term leases
• Fixed workstations per employee
• One company per unit
• Separate utilities

Working from home was not considered standard, but following the Coronavirus pandemic, a growing number of employees have realised they are both more productive and happier working from home, whilst retaining the option of going into the office as and when is needed. The fixed workstations and long-term leases proved unsustainable during the forced Covid-19 shutdown for a number of businesses hardest hit, and the working landscape has seemingly changed for the foreseeable future in favour of flexible offices.

That being said, there is still a need for managed office spaces for a lot of businesses. If you’re looking to move into a new managed office space in London, get in touch with us by emailing info@futuresquared.co.uk.

Flexible Offices

Flexible offices afford businesses considerably more freedom than traditional ones. Increasing numbers of companies are allowing their employees to work in staggered patterns, with working times moving away from the rigidity of the Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm pattern. A large majority of companies have realised that they don’t need permanent office space – rather they just need space for weekly, bi-weekly or monthly meetings.

Commonly, flexible offices include:

• Furnished space
• Short-term leases, often rolling month to month
• No fixed workstations per employee
• Multiple companies per unit
• Inclusive utilities and bills

For businesses that have the capacity to work remotely, flexible office spaces offer the best solution. You can customise a serviced office by applying for additional services like mail/post support, front of house reception staff and access to private meeting rooms. There are many more benefits for flexible working spaces, including fast move-in times for a fuss-free office move.

Co-working spaces are slightly different from serviced/flexible offices. They are best suited to freelancers and smaller teams. You can rent out just one desk with its own phone line and internet access. The benefit of co-working spaces for freelancers and SME’s is that you can move in and start working on the same day you sign. They offer ultimate flexibility to rent out a private space or increase your contract should you wish. Co-working spaces are fully furnished and allow you to use a shared breakout area with similar minded people. To find out more about co-working spaces, please call us on 020 3950 0797.

Who Do Flexible Offices Work For?

There is the assumption that every company needs their own space to work effectively, but the Covid-19 pandemic has shown that this is not the case. The majority of office-based businesses can operate effectively from a serviced office. With integrated phone line lines and internet, as well as the option to easily extend the lease and move to a new space as and when is needed, flexible offices are particularly useful for start-up companies and those who expect to grow in the foreseeable future.

If you require a more permanent office solution, we can help. To find out more about our managed office spaces, please contact us.

How to Rent a Flexible Office

Renting flexible office space is easy with Working Space London. We have a wide range of fully serviced offices available to rent in iconic London locations. Our wide portfolio means there is a solution that will suit your business and your budget, whether you’re looking for a fully serviced office or a semi-serviced office space.

You can take a look at some of the properties we have to offer online, or you can contact us to talk more in-depth about your requirements and one of our friendly team will be able to help you find a suitable solution.

We will book any viewings for you and we will negotiate directly with the property landlord to get you the best deal. There’s no hassle or fuss on your part, and you won’t be charged for using our service.

Get in Touch

Whether you’re looking for a managed office space or a flexible solution in London, please don’t hesitate to contact us.