Commercial and retail property owners may be thinking ‘what next’?’ for their space. We’re in somewhat of a limbo land, with the strictest of lockdowns over and the furlough scheme wound up, yet a pervading reluctance for people to go back to the office.
On one hand, workers are delighted to have the opportunity to operate autonomously but as a This Is Money article from September highlighted, the novelty of working from home has well and truly worn off for many. The need for a change of scenery, a more productive setting and human company has crept up on professionals, and although they’re happy to ditch a really long commute, they do want access to a proper workplace.
Step forward the co-working space. Regional pay-as-you-go offices and rent-a-desk set ups are coming into their own, with brands such as WorkClub and Fruitworks all reporting an explosion in user numbers. Even the leader-in-its-field, WeWork, has responded to demand by launching an offering called WeWork on Demand, with space bookable by the day (or by the hour for a meeting).
If your business is morphing in line with current trends and working patterns – and you find yourself with a vacant floor or an entire building that’s empty – fitting it out for co-working represents a great opportunity to utilise redundant space and create a new income stream.
We did just this for Yoooeserv, who called in MPL Interiors to divide up the ground floor at the prestigious Dakota Building in Weybridge. The result was a variety of smaller co-working offices, meeting rooms and break-out areas suitable for long-term tenants and short-term hot deskers.
Why not follow Yoooserv’s lead? Talk to MPL about creating a co-working space today.
