Demand for modern, flexible office space, with full, future-facing tech-capability is growing. Increasingly, start-ups, SMEs and even established businesses are turning to serviced offices in their search for office arrangements that can support their business models while also satisfy the tougher demands of their employees about what an office environment should be. Below Simon Eastlake, Developments Manager at Office Space in Town, a leading real estate group and serviced office provider, discusses how in providing flexible contractual arrangements, leading IT infrastructure and bespoke services, serviced offices are instrumental, and often a critical element, in supporting the success and growth of businesses.

Flexibility facilitates expansion and competition

Serviced offices can provide HQ facilities and on-site services without the long-term financial commitment attached to standard offices leases. By offering office arrangements which do not tie companies down to restrictive contracts and fixed letting agreements, serviced offices can support the operations of start-ups as well as established companies by allowing them to focus core resources on expanding and improving their competitiveness. Serviced offices are designed to reflect an increasing demand for flexibility from tenants, with adaptable office spaces to shrink and expand to meet businesses’ needs. In fact they can respond to different business sizes, preferred location and operational requirements, and in doing so allow companies to focus on their business growth.

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Serviced offices also provide businesses with the opportunity to have a global footprint quickly and affordably. Businesses looking to expand abroad can take advantage of the flexibility provided by serviced offices, which can cater for this expansion by allowing firms to take up as little office space as necessary and use it effectively.

Tech savvy offices improve productivity

Businesses are demanding more from the offices they occupy and serviced office providers are faced with the challenge to not only offer flexibility, but win tenants over with unique designs and high-spec facilities. Equipping serviced offices with the latest technological innovations is key to improving the productivity of businesses. Offering turnkey virtual office solutions and tailored office support such as personalised call answering, message management, mail forwarding and administration are important features, which can enable businesses to run highly productive offices at a lower costs, whilst maintaining a strong local and international presence.

Diverse designs are also key – offering quirky interior is seen to boost employees’ creativity. Office Space in Town’s serviced offices feature 1920 Great Gatsby themed decorations to Lewis Carroll inspired Alice in Wonderland spaces, where clients are provided with access to rooftop terrace cafes, bike rooms, beauty treatment rooms, and serviced bedrooms.

Bespoke amenities and customer service contribute to overall tenant satisfaction

We are all spending more time in our offices than virtually anywhere else, which is causing a greater convergence between our work and our private lives and increasingly the workplace needs to offer more facilities and services to reflect this. People working longer hours require that their offices provide more amenities, breakout spaces and proximity to restaurants and bars. Occupiers are also demanding better customer service, and while not wanting to overpay, they are expecting better amenities, technology and on-site customer service.

This is why increasingly serviced office providers are investing in training and equipping staff with the right skill set to allow them to cater for the different needs of tenants. Ensuring that staff have bespoke tech knowledge can allow them to respond quickly to any tenant queries and concerns promptly. Ultimately, in providing a wider range of amenities and customer service, serviced offices build an enjoyable and inspiring working culture that improves tenant satisfaction and hopefully the performance of their businesses.

Simon Eastlake is the developments director at Office Space in Town.