Do You Need Flexible Workspace?
Flexible workspace has increased in popularity in many towns and cities across the country. But what are the benefits to the workers and businesses that occupy such space?
Increasing flexible workspace
An increase in the provision of flexible workspace is driven by a demand from workers who want to work remotely and by companies that want to reduce the cost of providing offices. Workers enjoy working closer to home, shortening the daily commute and reducing the stress of sitting in traffic. Businesses like the fact that employees are happier and that the flexible work model is less costly to manage. There are also benefits for smaller towns as the number of people working locally increases, as does their everyday spending power. The shift to more flexible working arrangements is a trend that will continue as it provides workers and employers with what they each want. It also supports a climate change agenda aimed at reducing the negative impact of business on the planet.
Flexible workspace usually consists of offices that can be leased for varying lengths of time and where the space taken and time committed to is changeable at short notice without any charges or penalties. Such arrangements are made on short-term leases and particularly useful to early stage or start-up businesses as they reduce the upfront risk of investment. Large cities have traditionally provided flexible workspace but the current trend is spreading to smaller towns and locations, as increasing numbers of small businesses play a key role in the digital economy. Technology also enables the spread of such flexibility as people work from different locations without the need to be in one place. New types of work practices drive the trend too, as freelance and remote workers prefer to work near home in a more relaxed setting.
A growing trend
Regional towns are increasingly encouraging the use of flexible workspace to attract investment, which otherwise remains bounded in city centre locations. But the environment plays its part too, as workers and businesses are aware of the need to reduce their individual and collective carbon footprint. Similarly, younger employees are choosing to live a more balanced life as a way to stay healthy and live for longer. And of course there is an economic benefit for any town that develops such infrastructure, as it attracts people and businesses that otherwise would not come to the area. Local communities benefit too, as the provision of flexible workspace attracts a diverse and skilled population, which in turn attracts other businesses. In the future, the need to address climate change will also increase as businesses commit to minimising damage to the planet.
So, flexible workspace will continue to grow in popularity as workers, businesses and the climate change agenda merge to help save the planet.
