Search Results for: flexible

Leadership teams are struggling to cope with the pace of change

Leadership teams are struggling to cope with the pace of change

Executive teams are failing to keep pace with the demands of a world defined by constant disruption, according to a new report.Executive teams are failing to keep pace with the demands of a world defined by constant disruption, according to a new report. The study, from  consultancy Waldencroft, claims that most senior teams remain fragmented and reactive, with only a small proportion taking a strategic, enterprise-wide view. The report, The Executive Readiness Gap, draws on insights from 20 in-depth interviews and 40 surveys with Chief People Officers across a range of complex and international organisations. It suggests that disruption has become a permanent fixture in the business environment, but many leadership teams continue to treat it as episodic—responding only when necessary before trying to return to a previous norm. (more…)

Average length of London flex office agreements reaches a new high

Average length of London flex office agreements reaches a new high

New research from CBRE has found that the average London flex office agreement now stands at 22 months, a record highNew research from CBRE has found that the average London flex office agreement now stands at 22 months, a record high since CBRE started tracking the data in 2020. In addition to longer commitments from occupiers, pricing in the capital has increased in recent years for best-in-class locations, with CBRE’s data showing H1 2025 rents in Mayfair & St James’s achieving an average of £315 per sq ft, and a top rate of £380 per sq ft, the highest in the UK. (more…)

Does your employee benefits package have a marketing problem?

Does your employee benefits package have a marketing problem?

Despite many businesses investing heavily in employee benefits, many of these perks fail to deliver their full potential. Here's what to do about itDespite many businesses investing heavily in employee benefits, many of these perks fail to deliver their full potential. According to the 2025 Drewberry Employee Benefits and Workplace Satisfaction Survey, just 12 percent of UK employees report being truly satisfied with their benefits package. This gap in satisfaction isn’t always about the benefits themselves, but is often a failure of communication. This latest research shows that while benefits may be in place, just 36 percent of employees fully understand what’s on offer. Even fewer regularly engage with these benefits. (more…)

Office utilisation reaches equilibrium, and demands a rethink of workplace strategy

Office utilisation reaches equilibrium, and demands a rethink of workplace strategy

The British Council for Offices (BCO) has published a new report which claims that while office utilisation rates have stabilised, there has been a fundamental shift in how offices are usedThe British Council for Offices (BCO) has published a new report which claims that while office utilisation rates have stabilised, there has been a fundamental shift in how offices are used, with major implications for developers, investors and occupiers. The report, authored by Nigel Oseland of Workplace Unlimited, shows that the long-standing benchmark of 80 percent office utilisation is no longer fit for purpose. Post-pandemic data suggests a more realistic, but nevertheless conservative, figure of 66 percent equating to an effective density of 15 sq. m per occupant, up from the previous 12.5 sq. m. This recalibration reflects a maturing flexible working model that empowers organisations to right-size their space, reduce waste and enhance employee experience. With high-profile organisations in financial services and the public sector under the spotlight for space misalignment, the report offers timely, evidence-based guidance for the sector. (more…)

Commercial property growth in regional cities driven by financial services firms

Commercial property growth in regional cities driven by financial services firms

Commercial property markets in regional UK cities are seeing significant growth as major financial institutions reconfigure their office strategiesCommercial property markets in regional UK cities are seeing significant growth as major financial institutions rethink their office strategies to focus on high-value client interactions in London while relocating support functions elsewhere. New research from JLL suggests that financial services firms have accounted for more than 440,000 square feet of inward investment in office space across Glasgow, Leeds, Bristol, Manchester, Edinburgh and Birmingham over the last decade. This is more than the space acquired by manufacturing (238,822 sq. ft) and service industries (224,813 sq. ft), though still behind technology, media and telecoms (TMT) and flexible workspace sectors. (more…)

Occupiers seek broader value from workplace strategies

Occupiers seek broader value from workplace strategies

A new report from Cushman & Wakefield, in partnership with CoreNet Global, claims to highlight how corporate occupiers are adjusting their real estate and workplace strategies in response to ongoing cost pressures and shifting organisational prioritiesA new report from Cushman & Wakefield, in partnership with CoreNet Global, claims to highlight how corporate occupiers are adjusting their real estate and workplace strategies in response to ongoing cost pressures and shifting organisational priorities. The What Occupiers Want 2025 survey is based on responses from over 230 senior real estate leaders across global markets. While cost remains the primary driver of decision-making, the findings suggest that occupiers are placing increased emphasis on performance, employee experience and long-term value. (more…)

At home down under: hybrid working has become a way of life in Australia

At home down under: hybrid working has become a way of life in Australia

The majority of Australian employees work from home at least part of the week, with hybrid working now embedded in organisational cultureThe majority of Australian employees now work from home at least part of the week, with hybrid working becoming embedded in organisational culture, according to a new report from the University of Melbourne and Western Sydney University. The study, Navigating the Future of Working from Home in Australia, is based on survey data collected in late 2023 and charts how working patterns have changed in the years following the pandemic. It suggests that while fully remote work remains uncommon, most employees now work from home one to three days per week and expect that flexibility to continue. (more…)

AgileAcoustics Unveils hilo.work- the World’s first electric height-adjustable office privacy screen

AgileAcoustics Unveils hilo.work- the World’s first electric height-adjustable office privacy screen

AgileAcoustics has announced the launch of hilo.work, the world’s first electric height?adjustable office privacy screen system, which debuted to great acclaim at the recent Clerkenwell Design Week 2025 in LondonAgileAcoustics has announced the launch of hilo.work, the world’s first electric height-adjustable office privacy screen system, which debuted to great acclaim at the recent Clerkenwell Design Week 2025 in London. Crafted and manufactured in West Yorkshire, hilo.work empowers users to adjust screen height to suit focus, privacy, or collaboration, seamlessly adapting acoustic environments in real time. Whether raising screens to reduce noise and distractions or lowering them to foster openness, the intuitive electric system gives individuals control over their workspace. (more…)

Turns out that hybrid working is indeed the new normal. For a minority of people

Turns out that hybrid working is indeed the new normal. For a minority of people

A new analysis from the Office for National Statistics confirms that hybrid working is now the dominant form of flexible work for many people in Great Britain.A new analysis from the Office for National Statistics confirms that hybrid working is now the dominant form of flexible work for many people in Great Britain. The figures, which cover the period from January to March 2025, show that 28 percent of working adults now combine home and on-site work on a regular basis – the highest proportion recorded since the ONS began monitoring hybrid working patterns. This compares with just 9 percent who work exclusively from home and around 55 percent who are permanently based at a single workplace. The remaining proportion are made up of those with no fixed place of work or whose work locations vary, such as mobile or site-based roles.
(more…)

The enduring allure of workplace bullshit

The enduring allure of workplace bullshit

The sleep of reason and workplace bullshitAlthough the legend of Faust is one of the Germanic world’s foundational narratives, its archetypes and themes were already established by the time Goethe codified them in his 1808 play. They have since become universal. The idea that somebody would sell their soul to the Devil to gain something or rid themselves of unhappiness is as resonant now as it was in Renaissance Europe. It has inspired books films and artists to such an extent that its derivatives now have their own Wikipedia page.

(more…)

How BPO enables business flexibility in rapidly changing global markets

How BPO enables business flexibility in rapidly changing global markets

What was once viewed as a cost-cutting tool, BPO has evolved into a strategic advantage, providing businesses with the flexibility they require to remain competitive and resilient during volatile periods.Global markets are changing at an unprecedented rate due to economic uncertainty, shifting consumer behavior, and technological breakthroughs. Businesses must be agile and able to adapt to market changes. This is where Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) comes in. What was once viewed as a cost-cutting tool has evolved into a strategic advantage, providing businesses with the flexibility they require to remain competitive and resilient during volatile periods. (more…)

The amenity trap: why more isn’t always better

The amenity trap: why more isn’t always better

In a competitive market with a growing focus on employee experience, landlords are under pressure to differentiate their buildings, and amenity is often the tool of choice. But more isn’t always better.Over the past decade, amenity has evolved from a ‘nice to have’ to a key part of any office building strategy. In a competitive market with a growing focus on employee experience, landlords are under pressure to differentiate their buildings, and amenity is often the tool of choice. But more isn’t always better. The most successful amenity strategies aren’t defined by volume, novelty, or trend. They’re defined by relevance: to the building, the occupier, and the wider market context. When poorly thought through, amenity can become a sunk cost. When well-executed, it can drive rental growth, increase tenant satisfaction, and support leasing velocity. (more…)