Co-working spaces bring a whole range of benefits for employees and communities

Co-working spaces bring a whole range of benefits for employees and communities

by • Comment, Flexible working, Property, Workplace design

Today’s co-working spaces have evolved into something more powerful – particularly in a world still reshuffling office work practices in the wake of the COVID pandemic.When you think of co-working spaces – where workers from different industries come together to share a convenient workplace – you might picture a group of young freelancers hunched over laptops. But today’s co-working spaces have evolved into something more powerful – particularly in a world still reshuffling office work practices in the wake of the COVID pandemic. As workplaces adapt to new ways of operating, from hybrid to “digital nomadism”, co-working spaces can do more than simply offer flexibility. They can support workers’ wellbeing and work–life balance by enhancing a sense of community, building trust and new friendships, and encouraging continuous learning. (more…)

Prime office rents around the world continue to rise

Prime office rents around the world continue to rise

by • News, Property

ental growth for prime office space around the world accelerated in the first quarter of 2025, increasing on average by 0.6 percent, following a 0.3 percent increase in Q4 2024Rental growth for prime office space around the world accelerated in the first quarter of 2025, increasing on average by 0.6 percent, following a 0.3 percent increase in Q4 2024, says Savills. Fit out costs also rose by 0.7 percent in the first quarter, following a 0.2 percent increase in Q4, as demand for top quality office space continues unabated. According to Savills Q1 2025 Prime Office Costs report, in the first quarter average ‘all-in’ net effective costs (rent plus fit-out costs) rose by 0.5 percent, with 21 of the 40 locations monitored recording an increase, continuing a moderate upwards trend of 3.3 percent over the last year. (more…)

Regional BCO Awards show how London’s best offices are redefining the way we work

Regional BCO Awards show how London’s best offices are redefining the way we work

by • News, Property, Workplace design

The awards recognise excellence in the design, fit-out, operation and environmental responsibility of London's best offices.In a city where tradition meets the cutting edge, London’s office spaces are undergoing a quiet revolution. At the British Council for Offices (BCO) Regional Awards, held today at the London Hilton on Park Lane, seven projects were celebrated—not just for their architectural merit, but for what they reveal about the evolving needs of workers, employers, and communities alike. This year’s winners, chosen from across the capital, signal what the BCO claim is a new era of workplace thinking—where sustainability, community engagement, and human experience carry as much weight as style and status. The awards recognise excellence in the design, fit-out, operation and environmental responsibility of London’s best offices. The 2025 cohort offers more than inspiration; it sets a bold new benchmark for the offices of tomorrow. (more…)

Office fit out costs rise as firms adapt to new ways of working

Office fit out costs rise as firms adapt to new ways of working

by • Environment, News, Property

A renewed focus on office space comes at a price, with businesses facing rising office fit out and design costsAccording to a new report from JLL, the office sector is again taking ‘centre stage’ in commercial real estate as companies worldwide adapt hybrid work policies to encourage greater in-office attendance. However, this renewed focus on office spaces comes at a cost, with businesses facing rising expenses to design and fit out their work environments. According to JLL’s newly released Global Office Fit-Out Costs Guide 2025, 59 percent of organisations globally plan to increase investment in office space design and fit-outs over the next five years. The report, which analyses data from 68 cities across 40 countries, highlights significant cost variations, key cost drivers, and the growing demand for sustainable office spaces. (more…)

Traditional incentives don’t encourage people back to the office. Here’s what might

Traditional incentives don’t encourage people back to the office. Here’s what might

by • Flexible working, News, Property

A new report from Colliers claims to highlight the major challenge businesses experience in attracting people back to the office when attendance remains stubbornly lowA new report from Colliers claims to highlight the major challenges businesses experience in attracting people back to the office when attendance remains stubbornly low. With average peak occupancy below 40 percent across Europe, the Middle East, Africa (EMEA) and North America, and workplaces lacking ‘vibrancy’ 83 percent of the time, many organisations are struggling to foster collaboration and engagement. (more…)

Flexible workspace, cognitive dissonance and lessons learnt from The Shining

Flexible workspace, cognitive dissonance and lessons learnt from The Shining

by • Comment, Flexible working, Property

If you were to take LinkedIn posts as a barometer of market confidence you would get the sense that flexible workspace / coworking is powering ahead. But this initial impression is simply not backed up by the statsAt the start of the Shining, the seminal horror film of the 1970s, the fantastically unsettling orchestral score provides the clue that this happy family of the opening scene is going to end very, very badly. But the key element of the film is the casting of Jack Nicholson in a kind, smiling role as a writer and loving parent – from the minute the camera settles on that jarring smile, it is obvious that something is off. And this is cognitive dissonance – Jack is being portrayed as a loving husband to Shelley Duvall with your nerves jangling and telling you that he is everything but that…… (more…)

Only Filipinos spend less time each week in an office than British workers

Only Filipinos spend less time each week in an office than British workers

by • Flexible working, News, Property

British workers spend less time in the office than almost any other nation, with only Filipinos averaging fewer days at their deskBritish workers spend less time in the office than almost any other nation, with only employees in the Philippines averaging fewer days at their desks, according to a new poll. The global survey conducted by property consultancy JLL suggests that UK workers are in the office for just two days a week on average, while their preference is for even fewer—just 1.5 days per week. The report claims that its findings highlight the ongoing reluctance among British employees to return to pre-pandemic office routines, despite increasing pressure from employers. By contrast, workers in Kuwait spend the most time in the office, averaging 4.2 days per week, followed closely by China at 4.1 days. Greece was the only country in the study where employee preferences aligned with employer expectations, with workers spending 3.5 days per week in the office. (more…)

UK Government grants Crown Estate new investment powers to drive growth

UK Government grants Crown Estate new investment powers to drive growth

by • News, Property, Technology

New powers enable the Crown Estate to invest up to £1.5 billion over the next 15 years in sectors such as clean energy, infrastructure, and digital technologiesThe UK government has introduced a new bill to update the Crown Estate Act of 1961 which will grant the Crown Estate new investment powers. Officials claim this will stimulate economic growth and increase returns for taxpayers. According to the government, these new powers enable the Crown Estate to invest up to £1.5 billion over the next 15 years in sectors such as clean energy, infrastructure, and digital technologies. (more…)

Global real estate markets grow (very cautiously) optimistic

Global real estate markets grow (very cautiously) optimistic

by • News, Property

The global real estate sector thinks it is close to ending a three-year journey to recovery, with a widely held view that 2025 may breakthrough to a ‘reset point’ or commence a new cycle. Even so, real estate leaders globally are braced for another challenging year of uncertaintyThe global real estate sector thinks it is close to ending a three-year journey to recovery, with a widely held view that 2025 may breakthrough to a ‘reset point’ or commence a new cycle. Even so, real estate leaders globally are braced for another challenging year of uncertainty, with lingering inflation, largely driven by factors including geopolitical instability, and persistently higher interest rates in some regions, potentially delaying a hoped-for recovery in capital markets and occupancy metrics. This is according to the Emerging Trends in Real Estate Global Outlook 2025 from PwC and the Urban Land Institute (ULI), which provides an important gauge of global sentiment for investment and development prospects, amalgamating and updating three regional reports which canvassed thousands of real estate leaders across Europe, the United States and Asia Pacific. (more…)

Hybrid working businesses say they are more optimistic about their future profitability

Hybrid working businesses say they are more optimistic about their future profitability

by • Flexible working, News, Property

A new poll from flexible office provider International Workplace Group (IWG) claims that businesses operating with a hybrid working model are significantly more optimistic about growthA new poll from flexible office provider International Workplace Group (IWG) claims that businesses operating with a hybrid working model are significantly more optimistic about growth in the year ahead than those which do not offer employees flexibility about where they work. This follows a spate of so-called return-to-office-mandates from major corporates including Amazon and WPP. A study of more than 500 CEOs and senior business leaders by  found that 69 percent of businesses offering hybrid working had a positive outlook for 2025 compared to 44 percent of non-hybrid companies. (more…)

Demand for high quality office space continues to grow worldwide, and so do its costs

Demand for high quality office space continues to grow worldwide, and so do its costs

by • News, Property, Workplace design

Rents for prime office space across the globe rose by 0.3 percent and fit out costs by 0.2 percent in the final quarter of 2024, says SavillsRents for prime office space across the globe rose by 0.3 percent and fit out costs by 0.2 percent in the final quarter of 2024, says Savills, as demand for top quality office space continues to grow in many markets around the world. According to Savills in its latest quarterly Prime Office Costs report, in the fourth quarter of last year, average net effective costs rose slightly, by 0.1 percent, continuing a moderate upwards trend of 1.9 percent over 2024. London (West End), Hong Kong, and New York (Midtown) remain the top three locations in terms of costs of the 35 markets Savills examines. (more…)

Take up of flexible office space hits highest levels since 2019

Take up of flexible office space hits highest levels since 2019

by • News, Property

Research from Savills and its specialist firm Workthere claims that take-up of flexible office space from operators across the UK reached just over 1.06 million sq ft in 2024, which is the highest level since 2019Research from Savills and its specialist firm Workthere claims that take-up of flexible office space from operators across the UK reached just over 1.06 million sq ft in 2024, which is the highest level since 2019 and 12 percent above the total reached in 2023. In line with this growth, Workthere suggests that transaction levels were also up 35 percent, despite a moderate drop in enquiries by 12 percent from a 2023 peak (based on a 2022 index).  There were also positive signs in the make up of demand with Workthere reporting a 7 percent increase in the number of businesses entering a new market and a 33 percent increase from businesses outgoing their current space. (more…)

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