The Industries That Use Flexible Offices The Most, And Why

The Industries That Use Flexible Offices The Most, And Why

At UBC we’ve been helping businesses transition to a more flexible way of working for decades. Companies from virtually every industry imaginable use our flexible offices, from traditional firms like HR and legal services, to creatives, event managers, security firms, luxury hamper suppliers, and more.

Flexible office space can accommodate any business with a workspace requirement, whether for a full-time team, or for remote workers who only need a desk for a few hours per month. With a flexible approach, entrepreneurs can choose the level of commitment and access they need, which means there is far less financial waste. In other words, the office works around their business - not the other way around.

Who Uses Flexible Office Space?

We have been digging into our data to better understand which types of companies use flexible office space the most. Why? Because this will help us understand the reasons why more companies are switching to flexible workspace and how we can better accommodate their needs.

We analysed the results of our annual Customer Experience Survey, which was distributed to all our office clients in March this year.

Amongst the industries that use our serviced office space the most, 4 sectors make up 65% of the survey results:

  • 21%: IT/Software
  • 16%: Property/Construction/Surveying
  • 16%: Accounting/Finance/Legal and Professional
  • 12%: Recruitment

Speaking with our clients from these industries, there are a variety of reasons why they use flexible office space:

  • Space for private work and conversations: Having a private workspace is essential for business owners who work directly with clients, such as independent accountants or solicitors. A company that can provide a private meeting room or office in which to meet and discuss potentially sensitive information - such as personal finances or a legal situation - instils confidence in their clients.

  • A place to focus: While working from home has become the ‘norm’ for many companies, it can often be distracting, especially for those with family or pets (school holidays are especially challenging!). Professionals who require periods of intense focus - such as those in software development, property surveying, accounting, or legal services - require a place that’s private and safe from interruptions.

  • Ease of access: While some companies choose an office in a market cluster, others prefer a more accessible location with less congestion and plenty of parking. Nearly all of UBC’s offices are located in business parks on the edge of urban centres, which promotes ease of access both for office users as well as visiting clients. This has become especially important for our clients since the pandemic, as fewer people feel comfortable going into highly populated areas or using busy public transport systems.

  • Work/life separation: We’ve all become accustomed to the delicate line between work time and personal time. This is one of the downsides to working from home, and why many companies - even those who enable their employees to work from home - continue to use a serviced office. Many of our clients now operate an office share agreement, in which employees use the space on different days or at different times. This way, everybody has the chance to build more work/life separation into their daily routine, which helps to improve personal wellbeing and mental health.

  • Fewer barriers to productivity: A serviced office is a business-focused environment that’s designed for productivity. It’s furnished, connected, and has everything people need to simply turn up and get to work. Our clients recognise this and regularly spend part or full days in the office in order to work productively without the worry of unstable WiFi, background noise, uncomfortable furniture, or other obstacles.

  • Staff who can step in when needed: Having an ‘invisible’ support network is incredibly beneficial. Every UBC centre has at least two full-time customer service staff who keep everything running smoothly - they greet visitors, set up meeting rooms, answer calls on behalf of clients, and much more. Companies that spend a lot of time on the phone or in meetings - such as recruitment firms - frequently rely on our front desk team to receive calls and help arrange meetings. For entrepreneurs in any industry, it’s reassuring to know support is there should they need it.

At UBC we are continuing to see shifts in the way individuals and teams work. Following the onset of the pandemic, 36% of our survey respondents said that the pandemic has affected the way they use their office, with many reporting increased work from home, the introduction of hybrid work, and flexible working patterns.

Far from reducing the need for office space, the impact of the pandemic is strengthening demand for flexible workspace. So much so, that UBC is expanding and added a new business centre location earlier this year.

Business leaders are much less confident in traditional fixed, long-term leases, and are utilising serviced offices to help their companies adjust to the ever-changing business landscape and create a more robust platform for future growth.

As always, the UBC team is keeping a close eye on these shifts and adapting our services to ensure we can accommodate the needs of our current and future clients as closely as possible.

Interested in learning more about flexible workspace? We offer the full range of flexibility, including virtual offices for remote entrepreneurs, coworking, day passes, serviced offices for hybrid teams, and managed offices for established businesses. Chat with our friendly team and pop in for a tour. Our door is always open!