Planning Your Return To The Office

June has been given as a date for normality to - albeit tentatively - recommence and a large part of ‘normal’ resuming will be a return to work and to the office! If your business has been operating remotely for the past 12 months and you’re ready to plan your highly anticipated return, here’s our key factors to consider, to aid a smooth transition from WFH to office:

Team Size: 

First things first, we’d advise starting a dialogue with the team regarding your return. Once you have a firm idea of the team size who will be utilising the office frequently, you can begin your workspace search! If you’re heading down the route of a wfh/office split, there’s scope to create a Satellite Office that can be used sporadically by staff. This would support flexi-working; allowing the team to strike a balance between heading into the office and working remotely - perfect for easing them back in.

Term Length:

Flexibility is rooted in the future of work, and the need for varying terms is something to remember when hunting for your next workspace. At Avenue HQ, we offer terms starting from monthly rolling, to provide tenants with absolute autonomy. To help future proof your workspace, we would advise opting for an office provider with term lengths that suit your individual needs.

Office Lease Type:

For your business to thrive, it’s not enough to just pick the right environment. You need the correct lease type to work cohesively alongside your office. Commercial office leases can be confusing, so here’s the options that hold most relevance (in this instance):

• Serviced: Tenants are responsible for a fixed monthly rent amount and close to nothing else. The provider (eg Avenue HQ) holds responsibility for property taxes, property insurance, maintenance costs and utilities. Offices come fully-furnished and ‘move-in ready’, meaning they’re a great option for businesses who just want to get to work! Serviced offices additionally offer inbuilt facilities such as reception services, meeting rooms, printing and more, and you can scale-up or down with ease.

• Leased: A more traditional option; leased spaces are usually arranged directly between a landlord and tenant.The premises will require the tenant to front all set up costs (IT installation, internet, kitchen areas and so on). Monthly costs to consider include: stamp duty, service charge, business rates and rent. Leased spaces are usually taken on a longer term basis due to the initial upfront expenditure. 
  
  
• Managed: Similar to a serviced office, a managed space is operated by a separate party. However, the key difference is that managed offices are usually a blank canvas and require more of an input from the occupant in terms of fit out specifications. This level of customisation is usually reflected in the term length.

• Coworking: Highly collaborative environments; coworking spaces are designed with user experience in mind. Users pay for their membership on a per-desk basis, which provides access to the shared amenities and coworking space. Highly popular with startups and small businesses, this option suits those who are not quite ready to make a commitment to an office space, or larger businesses who are expanding to new locations tentatively. 

At Avenue HQ, we offer move-in-ready, professional spaces so you can focus on work instead of managing an office. With options ranging from single hot desking memberships to fully furnished 20 person offices, businesses of any size can find a space to fit their changing needs. If you’re ready to say goodbye to the uncertainty of the last 12 months and make the next step in finding your future workspace, please get in touch with Avenue HQ's Sales Manager, who's ready to assist in finding the perfect option for your business.

Nixon Williams has been providing specialist accountancy services to contractors, freelancers, consultants, and interim professionals throughout the UK since 1995.

Recently featuring Avenue HQ as one of the most optimal shared office spaces to work in the UK, Nixon Williams also states that the costs of renting an office are allowable as a business expense and so renting shared office space could cost you less than you think. It can also provide that much-needed setting to focus on your business or meet clients, away from your home.

“Starting out on your own as a freelancer can be lonely. A shared office space can help to recreate the office environment that so many miss when going solo but without the office politics! You will also benefit from tax relief on the cost of renting an office.”

Quotes by: Joanne Harris, Technical Commercial Manager at Nixon Williams.

Find out more on shared office space benefits where we are featured here