Working In the UK

Like the rest of the world, the UK suffered from the devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on wide-ranging, diverse levels. Travel to and from the UK was restricted during 2020 with many locations placed on an ever-changing ‘Hot List’ meaning that travellers entering the UK from certain locations would need to quarantine for a certain period of time.

Moving forward, whilst the UK has a developing vaccination program, there are many countries around the world that are still creating measures to contain the spread of the virus. For this reason, there is still a list of countries for which travel from ensures that certain measures have to be adhered to on entry into the UK.

Working in the UK Advice

Other Effects of the Pandemic

Other effects of the global pandemic have meant added confusion and delays in the tying up of trade deals and other arrangements between Britain and the rest of the world, in the aftermath of Brexit. The confusion over the effects of Brexit, combined with the pandemic have created ambiguity, delays and frustration for individuals and businesses deciding whether to move out of the UK or, indeed, to move into the UK so as to work or operate with the country.

The EU and Brexit

Like the entry into the EU many decades ago, the process will be long and fluid, added to this will be the ongoing effects of Covid-19. Both Brexit and the pandemic were ‘Black Swans’ – the former, we had some warning of, the latter, we did not. One thing that they both have taught us all is that the only thing that is certain is uncertainty, and this is a lesson that has had rippling effects across the world’s population on countless levels.

Learn More about Brexit here

Other Effects On the Business World

It has affected the business world, too. During lockdown, many companies had their whole workforces working from home, and were thankful for cloud-based technologies and video-conferencing platforms such as Zoom and Teams. Many found that they could survive with a work-from-home workforce and many are reported to be carrying on experimenting with implementing homeworking more fully, longer term to see if they can also thrive using the same methods.

Renting Offices Impact

Many companies found they were feeling the pinch during lockdowns as office rent carried on rolling out of the bank account along with other commercial property overheads whilst their offices lay empty. For this reason, many companies of all sizes are now reformulating their commercial real estate strategies and are now increasingly looking at flexible workspace solutions so as to reduce their exposure to longer term office leases.

Flexible office contracts mean that companies are not tied into onerous leases and can also upsize or downsize their office space footprint in line with changing business conditions.

Other advantages are that the contracts are all-inclusive meaning that the fees paid cover all office overheads which makes facilities and property management a lot more efficient for the occupier, and therefore more attractive.

Flexible workspace providers were amongst the first to react to the global pandemic and quickly adapted their spaces to make them safe for their occupiers.

To learn more about Office spaces that are available to rent in the UK and around the world, please review the official resource below:

The Office Providers

Other Workplace Changes

Increased spacing between desks was implemented, sanitation stations were installed, partitions and screens were erected in co-working areas, restrictions were placed on the number of passengers able to travel in lifts at any one time, air conditioning fan coil units were disinfected, more frequent cleaning and fogging protocols were commissioned, and much more in the process of making their workspaces safe so as to increase confidence levels in occupiers returning to the workplace.

These actions, along with the bottom-line advantages have made flexible workspaces in the form of serviced and managed offices more and more attractive to companies of all sizes from all sectors.

For this reason, many who are looking to work in the UK in an office-based company will find themselves more and more likely to be working within a flex space environment.

Many have heard of WeWork, Regus and Servcorp so will have an idea of what this kind of business accommodation looks and feel like, indeed as these office providers have international operations, many may well have worked in one of their spaces before in their home or other country.

Workplace Overview for the UK

The UK, actually, has over 500 flex space providers – some providing space nationally and some focusedon specific towns or cities. A commonality of the types of space provided by them is the sense of community provided by a multi-occupied workplace. Whilst many centres provide private office rooms, suites and floors in which a company will operate from, many also have communal areas such as coworking lounges, coffee shops, gyms and a full schedule of community activities ranging from meditation classes to networking events. .

Overview of Flex Office Space

Another advantage to this type of space is the positioning of them. Whilst the amenities and facilities within these business centres does vary from property to property, they are always located in close proximity to excellent transport links and local amenities such as shops, restaurants and bars, to name a few.

So, a positive effect of the two major events of 2020 may be that when you come to work in the UK, there is good chance that you will be working within a workspace that is occupied by a wide variety of interesting local and international people and companies, in a convenient location, and is run by a forward-thinking flex space provider.

Office Space Planning Resource