Historical context: The account below describes the period shown in the original publication date. References to market conditions, transactions and available premises are historical, not a statement of today’s market.
Is your company opening a new office or relocating? Before you start searching for upmarket commercial offices, or planning an expensive office refurbishment, it pays to do your research to understand your employees’ needs first. You may be surprised to find that a simpler design approach, and focus on sustainability, is more likely to attract and retain staff.
Confirm that the proposed office use is lawful and that any planned works have the necessary permissions before committing to a refurbishment.
What employees want
Ask employees directly about comfort, travel, lighting, temperature, noise and connectivity. Use the responses to prioritise improvements for the people who will actually use the space.
– Comfort of work area
– Length of commute to work
– Cleanliness
– Cost of commute to work
– Lighting
– Temperature
– Noise level
– Air quality
– Quality of Wi-Fi technology
Keeping these factors in mind can give you a couple of important benefits:
1. Save money on refurbishment of commercial office
Prioritise the features employees identify as useful. Compare the benefits of improved access, comfort and building services with the cost of cosmetic changes before choosing a refurbishment programme.
2. Create an environmentally friendly work space
Cleanliness, lighting, temperature and air quality are all key factors for an ideal workplace. So it’s a good chance to create an eco friendly office using carbon neutral and renewable materials. The environment is a hot topic and can be used as a selling point to showcase your company’s commitment and responsible attitude to sustainability.
Summary
Office trends are increasingly driven by employees, who are the most expensive and important part of a business. Therefore it’s important that companies understand their employees’ needs when they start searching for commercial offices to lease.
Doing your own survey to discover what’s important to your employees can be a worthwhile exercise. Involving them in the fit-out process, can also lead to better retention rates, especially with millennials who tend to switch jobs more often than other generations.
At the end of the day, if you can provide a clean, well-lit office in a good location, install sustainable heating and cooling, and cut down on travel costs, you’ll be ticking most of the boxes for an ideal workplace.
Putting this advice into practice
Start with the property and the decision you need to make. Gather the relevant documents, identify the costs and questions that remain, and agree who will check each point before you commit.
For property-specific support, explore our professional services or commercial valuations and advice. You can also browse current properties.
Read the relevant GOV.UK guidance alongside advice for your circumstances.
Need help with your next step? Speak to the PSS Commercial team about your property, timescale and requirements.