A move towards greater flexibility and convenience has significantly altered the office occupier landscape in London. Mobile and cloud computing has allowed workers to change how and where they work.

The flexible working phenomenon – giving employees and entrepreneurs the opportunity to carry out their work as they see fit – has been accelerated by a rise in new serviced office providers. But landlords of traditional office space are adapting too.  

The shift towards convenience is giving way to a growing demand from occupiers to find offices that allow them to plug in and play. This is available in serviced offices but what happens when a small business still wants their own address and front door? 

The occupier market is ready for a new type of office that cuts out the hassle of lease negotiation periods for small businesses, avoids businesses being tied into long leases and provides fully fitted-out, well designed accommodation that is ready to go.

'Your Space' at Chiswick Park from Blackstone is a concept for occupiers designed specifically to offer hassle-free flexibility for small businesses. The fully wired and furnished offices of 60 to 122 desks can be used as a single office of 13,864 sq ft or divided into two fully independent work spaces of approximately 6,000 and 8,000 sq ft. Data, cabling, furnishing and build out, including a range of formal and informal meeting spaces, sound-proof booths and break-out areas, is overseen by Blackstone. This allows occupiers ‘speed to service’ whereby they can turn up and plug in, avoiding the long delays and complications that can be associated when negotiating a property lease.

The popularity of such space is highlighted by the latest letting to Gazelle Global Consulting which has signed for a new 8,000 sq ft European HQ at B7 Chiswick Park within four months of the offer being launched.

We must remember that not all small businesses have the expertise and resources to design and procure their office fit out, nor do they have the inclination or budget. Agreeing a new office can be expensive and time consuming for small businesses. ‘Your Space’ strives to remove the hassle.

Turn-key solutions are a requirement we expect more small businesses will be looking for in the future and there is an opportunity for landlords to adapt in order to cater for this demand. Whether landlords provide furnishings, data, oversee space configuration, manage ways to minimise dilapidations, offer index-linked rent reviews that aren’t open market and/or short-term leases, the options are endless but one theme rings true – the future is hassle free and flexible.

Further information

Read more: West End Office: Market Watch

Search for a commercial property