Finding the right office space is essential for fostering an environment of productivity and happiness. This varies among different companies, making it important that you take the necessary steps to consider what your ideal office space would be.
This blog will explore 4 steps to follow when searching for the best office space.
1. Set a budget
Setting a budget is a great way to ensure you choose an office space you can afford. While it can be tempting to choose a cheaper office to help you save money, it’s important that you choose somewhere that meets all of your requirements. Similarly, you don’t want to opt for a more expensive choice if you won’t use all of the space or facilities.
Creating a realistic budget that meets your businesses needs will help you find the right office for your company.
2. Prioritise the location
Location is an essential factor when looking for the best office space. Research by Clutch shows that 49% of employees say being near their home is an important factor in an office’s location. Choosing an office that’s near the majority of where your employees live or is close to a variety of transport links will make it easier for staff to get to work. A shorter commute to work also creates happier, healthier and more productive employees, helping create better quality work.
Choosing an office close to a variety of restaurants, cafes and bars is also great as it gives your staff the opportunity to socialise during lunch breaks or after work, helping to create better working relationships. In fact research shows that when employees leave their desk for lunch they tend to be happier about their work. This showcases that having an office in a location that gives staff the opportunity to have their lunch break away from their desk has significant impacts on both them and your company.
3. Think about comfortability and spaciousness
We all know that employees spend most of their time at work, so prioritising comfortability and spaciousness is essential. This can encourage an environment of productivity, creativity and overall well being. Opting for a space that comes with ergonomic furniture and well designed workspaces can significantly enhance staff productivity while saving you money. Managed office spaces that come with their own furniture and facilities could be a great way to find the best office space for your company that’s within your budget.
Having a spacious office not only provides ample space for staff to work efficiently but also helps to create collaborative areas and breakout spaces that promote teamwork and innovation.
4. Ask staff what matters to them
One of the most important steps to take when you’re looking for the best office space is to ask your staff what matters to them. Understanding what your employees value will give you the confidence that you’ve found the right office space.
According to a study by Forbes, 87% of workers want their employer to provide healthier work space benefits, such as:
- Wellness rooms.
- Fitness benefits.
- Sit-stand desks.
- Healthy lunch options.
- Ergonomic seating.
You can ask staff for their top priorities through 1-2-1s, meetings or by distributing online surveys. Getting your staff involved in the process of looking for a new office makes them feel valued and heard. It also gives you the opportunity to understand what their ideal workspace looks like and what factors you need to consider. These could include::
- How long it takes to commute to the office.
- The top desired features.
- What type of office or layout staff want the most.
Opting for an office space at Millennium Point
Here at Millennium Point we have a range of office spaces available that could be perfect for you. Our office spaces reside in our landmark building in the centre of Birmingham where a community of educators, innovators, creators and forward thinkers thrive.
Our office spaces offer:
- Flexible ownership options.
- Affordable long-term plans.
- Constant support throughout your lease.
As a result of us being in the centre of Birmingham, we’re placed near a variety of transport links, making it easy for staff and clients to commute to the office. We’re also near a range of restaurants, bars and cafes that allow your staff to socialise during lunch breaks or after work. This can also be beneficial for client lunches and meetings, helping you create better professional relationships.
If you’re looking for a new office space, explore our range of available offices to see if they’re right for you.
Your complete guide to serviced offices
Serviced office spaces offer greater flexibility, practicality and cost effectiveness, as they tend to be furnished and avoid the need to pay for electricity and water bills. They’re also growing in popularity, especially among startup and smaller businesses, as they tend to fit in better with their budget.
Their popularity is also rising due to the increase in flexible working, where as a result, in London alone there are over 1,200 serviced office spaces.
What are serviced office spaces?
Serviced office spaces allow you to move in and start working right away, giving you the opportunity to move in as soon as possible.
They can also be more cost effective than purchasing a building as you won’t need to pay for utility bills and they tend to come furnished, meaning you won’t need to buy any furniture for the office.
Monthly costs can be worked out in two different ways, such as:
- Paying per desk/workstation
- Paying a flat rate for the office space
The pricing option you choose is likely to be decided on the size of your company. For example, it might be more cost effective to pay per desk if you only have a small number of employees. Whereas if your company has a large number of employees you may be better off choosing a flat rate.
What’s the difference between a serviced and conventional office space?
Serviced and conventional office spaces are usually run differently. For example, serviced offices can be rented for as little as a couple of days to multiple years, offering greater flexibility than a conventional office.
Fixed rent prices also tend to be offered if you choose a serviced option, helping you budget your money better. In comparison conventional leases often tie you into a long term contract for a fixed amount of time, giving you little freedom to move around.
Serviced spaces also tend to be furnished, helping you save money on buying the essentials like desks and chairs. You may however need to provide laptops or computers for your staff.
Who are serviced offices aimed at?
Even though serviced offices are popular among smaller businesses, it doesn’t mean they’re only available to them. These types of spaces are also available for:
- Global businesses – Businesses with teams all over the world can benefit from using serviced office spaces as different location hubs.
- Large businesses – Serviced spaces can help businesses avoid paying for big overheads.
- Home businesses – Serviced offices offer a great opportunity for business expansion or providing a place to hold meetings and pitches.
- For those who need a temporary workspace – If you need to increase or decrease your workforce depending on season demand, or you need to relocate, a serviced office space could be the perfect option.
What are the benefits of choosing a serviced office space?
This type of office space can benefit your company in various ways, such as decreasing financial risk through reducing or completely removing costly overheads. Other benefits include:
- Short-term lease agreements – These agreements allow you to move around flexibly if the office space no longer works for you, helping reduce the need for large commitments to one space.
- Cost effective – Serviced office spaces reduce the need to purchase furniture, WIFI and pay for electricity and water bills.
- Great location – Being in a great location can do wonders for your brand reputation, as well as encouraging staff members to come into the office more often.
- Flexibility – You can commit to a serviced office space for as little or long as you want, giving you the ultimate freedom to decide what’s best for your company.
- Networking opportunities – Being in a serviced space often means you’ll be surrounded by other businesses, giving you the opportunity to network.
What amenities are offered in a serviced office?
Serviced offices can come with a variety of amenities such as:
- Onsite staff – These can help out with maintenance, cleaning, security and answering any questions you may have.
- Up to date equipment – This can include the latest kitchenware and high-tech security software.
- Communication – Serviced offices often have staff members that communicate with you regularly through in person events or emails. The building can also improve your communications through installing high-speed WIFI.
- Catering – On site catering may be offered depending on the property.
- Efficient administration – Your agreement should cover rent and any services and facilities you use, making it easier for you to cover administration tasks.
- Leisure and fitness facilities – Some spaces offer amenities like gym and shower facilities.
- Breakout and event space – These can be offered in some properties and are a great way to promote productivity and accommodate different staff members working preferences and needs.
Networking events – Some spaces hold networking events to help those in the building meet and build new connections.
Finding the perfect commercial office space is crucial for the success of any business, as it promotes productivity and increases the wellbeing of staff members. It can also play a huge role in highlighting the image you want your company to represent, whether that’s showing that you’re friendly, welcoming or successful.
As a result, this blog will explore the steps you can take to find the perfect commercial office space for you.
These steps include:
Step 1: Define your budget and what you’re looking for
When it comes to looking for an office space, or any new property in fact, it’s important to figure out exactly what you’re looking for and what your budget is. Factors you should consider, include:
- The size of your team and how big of an office you’ll need
- Location
- Does the property need to be furnished before you move in or can you furnish it yourself? What’s your budget?
- How close do you want to be to transport links?
- Does your budget allow you to purchase a space or do you want to rent one?
Establishing a budget will allow you to properly organise your money and reduce the risk of financial strain.
You can also ask your staff what matters to them to give you a better idea of what the perfect space would look like for you and your employees. For example, Forbes found that 87% of workers want their employer to offer healthier workplace benefits, such as:
- Wellness rooms
- Company fitness benefits
- Healthy lunch options
Step 2: Research what’s available on the market
Conducting market research on the commercial office spaces available will give you a good idea of what’s out there and whether the properties in your budget meets your business’ needs.
You can use online real estate platforms, ask your network if there is anywhere they recommend or know is available and research local offices in the location you want to move to. While doing this research you can also make note of any common terms in lease agreements and any incentives that may benefit you when you make a purchase.
Step 3: Visit spaces
It’s essential when looking for an office space to view the property before paying. This gives you the opportunity to get a feel for the space and whether it would be the right environment for your business.
When viewing an office space you should also take note of:
- The layout
- Whether it has natural lighting
- Any repairs that need to be made before you move in?
Step 4: Think about where you want to be located
A key thing to consider is where you want to be located. Ultimately, it’s wise to aim to be located near employees, customers and clients, as well as transport links to make the office easily accessible. This will encourage people to come into the office more, helping you make the most of the space you’re paying for.
Step 5: Review the lease terms
Reviewing a building’s lease terms is an important step when looking for the perfect space as there may be policies that you don’t agree with. When looking at the agreement you should watch out for things like:
- Rent duration
- Rent escalations
- Maintenance responsibilities
- Additional fees and charges
To learn more about what to look out for when leasing a commercial property, read our blog.
Step 6: Consider whether you can grow within the office space
Another important step is to consider whether you need an office that will allow you and your business to grow. However, it’s important that you don’t lose sight of what needs you want the space to fulfil right away.
When trying to figure out whether a commercial office has room for growth you should ask yourself questions like:
- How much floor space is there?
- Is there any flexibility to modify the space?
- Is there an opportunity to expand the space, such as renting our building an extension or other office space?
Commercial office spaces at Millennium Point
Here at Millennium Point we have a variety of office spaces available to lease that could be perfect for you.
They also benefit from flexible ownership and having our friendly team on site to support you with any queries you may have.
If you’re looking for short-term office leases we have three properties, including:
If you’re looking for a long-term lease, Curzon view is available.
To discover more about how these properties could work for you, get in touch with us today.