Why Managed Office Spaces will excel in a post-COVID world

Since March 2020, the global economy has encountered unprecedented upheaval, the fallout of which will continue for months and years to come. However, if there are positives to be sought from this experience, it has been in the shift change of attitude of business owners and larger corporate organisations into the realm of flexible working arrangements.

Prevalent across industry articles and opinion pieces is the view that Managed Office spaces will become an even more attractive proposition than ever before. For a variety of reasons outlined below, this more flexible solution to office accommodation will see an inevitable increase in popularity.

The alternative to the high-rise

Are large-scale and high-rise office blocks condemned to history? The general feeling amongst industry professionals is that a return to these packed premises is not on the agenda in the short-term for the majority of companies, if ever. The appeal of busy offices, shared lifts and busy communal areas has been lost and many companies have been forced to address the issue of how to keep a collaborative environment for their staff whilst providing safe working conditions.

Whilst the ‘working from home’ model has worked as an interim solution across many industries, this approach lacks the social interaction which can be of such vital importance, especially in creative enterprises. Whilst some employees have blossomed through lack of commuting and a more flexible working environment, many have acknowledged their mental health as having suffered through the absence of ‘proper’ contact with work colleagues.

The approach of some large corporations may be to adopt a hybrid model, incorporating a combination of working from home with the addition of smaller scale, regional ‘hubs’ in which colleagues can come together several days per week, perhaps on a rota basis, in order to reinstate the ‘company’ feel. In these instances, a managed workspace environment provides the ideal solution, where staff can literally plug in laptops and work effectively from the outset.

No fit-out projects required

High on the list of advantages cited by many industry professionals of a Managed Workspace solution is the lack of large-scale fit-out requirements with this approach. There are many industry reports which suggest that managed workspaces are an area of the market that will continue to grow in the medium to long-term.

Amongst the top advantages they explore is the fact no large-scale investment is required in getting a property ready for occupation. Aside from the obvious financial advantages comes the ease of set up and the lack of headaches over construction/refurbishment projects, especially in an era when tradespeople are in such high demand and come with longer lead-times and extra pound signs than before!

A Lower Risk solution for start-ups

Whilst the COVID-19 pandemic has been catastrophic for some businesses, the flip-side is that this new perspective and shift in global opinion has spurred many people to pursue business ventures that were once only pipe dreams. Whether through financial requirement or a wish to take a complete change in career direction, many business ideas have been brought to life in bedrooms, kitchens and garages across the globe.

When it comes to taking the next step for a business, however, the hangover from the pandemic may cause greater caution when considering taking on premises to facilitate company growth. Many entrepreneurs will be reluctant to sign long term leases and work schedules may make the prospect of sorting heating, lighting, water and internet access a daunting one.

The attraction with a Managed Office is in its instantaneous availability for a streamlined shift into new premises – with utilities all managed centrally and turn-key office accommodation readily available. With shorter term leases and flexibility over movement into larger office units as a business grows, the Dean Swift Building has proven to be a very sound business decision for many seedling and well established businesses, some of whom have taken on additional and/or larger office space several times. Some examples of business who have moved into larger spaces and/or taken on additional spaces include Homecare NI, Envirogreen, MPA Recruitment and more recently Kempton Law and Philip White Tyres.

Hygiene

Top of the agenda across homes, schools and business throughout the pandemic has been a determined effort to improve hygiene standards. Personal cleanliness is of concern to each individual, but when running a business, the health & safety and general wellbeing of employees is an additional consideration. A Managed Workspace environment means that every occupant gets to enjoy the same standards of hygiene as part of the package price. At Dean Swift, this includes a daily cleaning service, sanitising stations at each entrance/exit and throughout all communal areas and enhanced hygiene standards in toilets and shower areas. This ensures that we can be confident that each staff member across all companies has access to the same high standards of hygiene, thus alleviating any fears regarding standards of cleanliness when it comes to returning to an office environment.

For more of the benefits of a Shared Workspace environment, visit our Top 10 Advantages blog here, or to find out more about whether the Dean Swift Building could be the right choice for your business, click here.