In the fourth of our five part series 'Finding the perfect office space' we discuss the importance of finding the right location and office space to support the way you and your workforce like to work.
Part 4: Supporting the way you work.
Your new office should be capable not just of accommodating your team, but of actually improving the way you do business. The design, features and services that come with a great office space can all have a bearing on your way of working – from helping to keep productivity high, through to keeping your workforce engaged. Depending on your priorities, here are some of the office characteristics that often feature highly on an occupier's wish list.
Secure 24-hour access
Seldom is it the case that an entire workforce arrives at 9am and leaves at 5.30pm. A mobile, flexible workforce tends to require round-the-clock access. Will your staff feel safe using these particular premises out of hours?
IT Facilities
If it’s a serviced office, does it come with onsite support? In leased premises, you will need to look at the existing provision for power and data points, cabling, comms/server room capacity and telephony. If the existing provision needs tweaking to meet your desired specifications, you will need to be sure that it will be possible to make the changes you require without breaching any lease restrictions.
Layout
A leasehold offering can be rather like a blank canvas - flexible enough for you to put together a floor space layout that reflects your preferred way of working. Usually, this is achieved by erecting temporary partitions, requiring you to return the premises to its former state at the end of the lease. As with IT facilities, it’s important to check that the terms of the lease will allow you to make the alterations you require.
Staff facilities
Is the office likely to provide staff with a safe, comfortable and stimulating working environment? For one thing, there’s the basics to consider, adequate toilets, showering and kitchen facilities. As for stimulation and engagement, some of the best serviced offices lead the way in this area. You’ll find that many serviced spaces feature carefully designed breakout areas geared towards informal interaction – or simply taking time out.
Local amenities
Beyond the office door, what does the wider locality have to offer in terms of diversions and facilities? This is important for the wellbeing of your staff, and perhaps also in the context of client entertainment. It’s another reason to consider your lease portfolio carefully.
What's next?
Contact us for help finding your perfect office space and location. Our tenant representatives see your real estate portfolio as not just a list of tasks to be managed, but a business tool that can be strategically manoeuvred to increase your bottom-line. We service tenant and occupier organisations exclusively and are experts in navigating the challenges that often come with a landlord biased market.
