Considering Downsizing Your Office? Here are 6 Tips from our Experts

As Covid-19 continues to shape our world of work, your office space requirements are likely to change. If you’re thinking about downsizing, here’s everything you need to know.

Amid social distancing requirements, concerns around cutting costs and a recognition that WFH will form part of our working lives, some businesses are thinking about scaling back the size of their offices.

In fact, according to Knight Frank’s Re-occupancy and Re-imagined Workplace Survey, 81% of UK businesses surveyed said they need to implement a new workplace strategy in light of Covid-19.

Likewise, according to a Knight Frank LinkedIn poll, 79% of 2,134 people want their working lives to involve a blend of WFH and the office.

So, while it’s crucial for businesses to provide a central hub for employees to collaborate in, team rotas and flexible working policies will allow businesses that are worried about their budgets to opt for smaller, more cost-effective workspaces.

To ensure your business’s real estate strategy aligns with your goals, here are six downsizing tips to set you on the right track.

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Bearing in mind that different roles will require different environments, check in with your employees to understand their preferences, how they plan to use the office and what’s best for their productivity.

6 tips for downsizing your office space

1. Understand what your teams need

Right now is the perfect time to engage with your teams to figure out what they want their working lives to look like.

Bearing in mind that different roles will require different environments, check in with your employees to understand their preferences, how they plan to use the office, what’s best for their productivity, how this varies from task to task, and to what extent the office and working from home impact their mental health.

2. Think about what you’ll use the space for

Will your office be a place to do desk work, collaborate face to face, enjoy a change of scenery, or all of the above? We’re speaking to media companies, for example, who want to re-imagine their offices to chiefly include breakout spaces and meeting rooms, rather than rows of desks. 

However, other businesses know their employees rejoice in having proper desk setups, with ergonomic furniture and large screens to carry out their day-to-day tasks. There’s no one-size-fits-all.

3. Will you spend your savings elsewhere?

In our new world of work, the office is becoming more of a choice than an obligation. The ‘office experience’ is crucial in incentivising employees to invest in their commutes (both financially and emotionally).

Often, businesses downsize to cut costs, but if budget isn’t your primary concern, would you rather use the money you’re saving on a smaller space for a higher-quality space, with more amenities for your teams to enjoy and look forward to?

4. Could you find a better location?

Deciding to downsize is also a great opportunity to relocate. You could look for an office closer to transport hubs so that employees can shorten their commute times and can continue to enjoy their newfound work-life balance.

In fact, 47% of UK businesses surveyed by Knight Frank are considering how their employees could work closer to home.

Likewise, you could choose an office that’s closer to cycleways if your teams are reluctant to use public transport, or if they want to embrace a more sustainable commute.

5. Remember that you can always upsize, too

One of the many benefits of downsizing to a flexible office space is that you can stay flexible with how much space you need. 

Even though you’re downsizing now, you might wish to take up more space in a year, or even in six months. And likewise, you may opt to further scale back your space in the coming months – this does, however, depend on your contract’s terms. But ultimately, flexible office providers will try to make it really easy for you.

6. Speak to an office expert

If you’re still confused about the right move for your business, you can always speak to a workplace consultant who can accurately assess what’s right for you and your teams. They’ll work with you to define how much space you need going forward, create a shortlist of options and negotiate the best deal.