The Benefits of Office Relocation

Since the pandemic, the conversation around office moves and the benefits that businesses want to gain from an office relocation has shifted. While it used to all be about bigger and better spaces, businesses are now moving to offices that support more flexible working methods, helping them attract and retain the best talent and provide an environment that’s worth the commute.

Whatever type of upgrade you’re looking for, office moves can be stressful. That said, as long as you carefully consider your office space requirements and plan the move properly, the benefits are well worth it. From facilitating new ways of working to making your workplace more attractive to new hires, here are some of the many advantages of an office relocation.

1. New Ways of Working

Modern working methods such as hybrid, collaborative and agile working can be at odds with a stuffy, traditional office. Rather than trying to rejig what you have, creating open working spaces, collaborative areas, private booths and implementing hot desking can be easier and more cost-effective if you start from scratch.

When you have a blank space to work with, you can implement your own style and create a space that complements your brand, your employees and the way you all prefer to work. As well as helping to attract new hires, working in fresh, new surroundings can give your existing employees a boost, making them happier and more productive.

2. Lower Costs

While most businesses aren’t ditching the office altogether, the rise of hybrid and remote working means many want to downsize. The most obvious benefit of smaller offices is the reduced costs, but you don’t need to sacrifice space for your bottom line.

Look at downsizing your office space to accommodate the fewer number of employees at any given time. The lighting, heating, air conditioning and energy requirements to power computers, servers and data centres are also reduced. And given the cost of energy at the moment, that can only be a good thing.

Or, look for flexible office solutions for your team, which offers everything you need on a daily basis — and then some. Using a flexible workspace means you’re never paying for space you don’t use, while still being able to scale your desk space in line with your business needs. If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of flexible working, get in touch with our team who can help you find your next space.

3. Better Employee Experience

In the current climate, this is another benefit that’s motivating businesses to relocate offices. The high costs associated with recruitment and the difficulty many firms are having retaining their best employees have made creating a space where people actually want to work a priority.

Some businesses are choosing to relocate to areas with better transport links to reduce their employees’ commutes. Office space near the Elizabeth Line is now in high demand exactly for that reason. Walkability and wellness are also priorities for employees, with many workers wanting easy access to green spaces, cafes, bars and restaurants, retail spaces, and arts and cultural highlights.

Being easily accessible isn’t only important for your employees. Customers, clients and peers can also bring competitive advantages for you, only if they can quickly get to you.

Some businesses are also moving away from sprawling central headquarters in favour of smaller satellite offices for functional groups. These local hubs can be easier to travel to, provide more of the support that specific workers need and enable employees to be more productive than they may be at home.

4. Business Growth

Office moves can also contribute to business growth. Your office might be bursting at the seams, which can make it difficult for employees to work efficiently and productively. Alternatively, you may want to implement the aforementioned new and, in some cases, more effective working methods, in which case an office relocation can help you create a space that’s better suited.

However, it’s not just more space that employers are looking for. With unemployment at record lows, the best workers are in demand, and they want to work for businesses with offices in convenient, appealing and prestigious locations. A short commute and proximity to local amenities are what employees look for. That’s why relocating to a more desirable location could give you a valuable edge when it comes to recruiting new talent and employee retention.

5. Implement New Office Layouts

No longer does the office have to be seen as the place where work is done and attendance is expected. Instead, you can create spaces that help fulfil a specific need. For example, create a coworking space where employees go to collaborate with their own and other teams in the business. Alternatively, create social spaces or hot desking areas where desks and areas can be either pre-booked or assigned on a first-come-first-served basis.

One thing’s for sure — office layouts with endless rows of desks and identical meeting rooms have long been forgotten. In their place, businesses are creating spaces for one-on-one conversations and blurring the lines between work and play with social areas like cafés, bars and breakout areas to help people reconnect and spark conversations.

If you feel like this layout aligns with your business values, but you’re not sure how to implement it in your own space, look for flexible, serviced office spaces that naturally have these amenities ready to go.

Are You Ready to Make the Move?

Given the many advantages of relocating a business and the great office space deals that are available at the moment, it’s worth considering how an office relocation could benefit you and your team.

At Knight Frank, we can help you make the move. Just tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll use our unrivalled market knowledge to find the perfect office space for you. We’ll even arrange your viewings, accompany you to appointments and negotiate on your behalf to make sure you get the best deal. And best of all, our service is completely free.

As the world of work evolves, how can you stay competitive?

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