Renting an office on a traditional, long-term lease can be expensive; there’s no doubt about it. Not only do you have the actual cost of the rent, furniture and utilities to cover, but you’ll also get hit with hefty exit fees if you need to terminate the contract early.
And in a time when businesses are downsizing their offices to stay afloat, it’s no wonder why so many C-level executives are considering flexible office space as an alternative.
But what exactly is flexible office space? Why are they more cost-effective? And where can I find one that’s near me? With so many flexible offices available in top UK cities such as London and Manchester, we’re here to narrow your search.
In this article, Hubble demystifies what flexible office space is, why they’re cost-effective and how to find one in Manchester that’s perfect for your team. Let’s go!
- What is flexible office space?
- What facilities are included?
- What are the cost benefits of serviced offices?
- Where can I find a serviced office near me?
- How can Hubble help?
What is flexible office space?
But first things first, let’s briefly explain what flexible office space is so we’re all on the same page.
Flexible office space is an umbrella term for several types of workspace, including serviced offices, coworking spaces and hot desks. Often serviced, flex space affords plenty of choice, flexibility and access to key locations, attracting businesses of all shapes, sizes and stages.
Serviced offices also offer shorter minimum terms, all-inclusive fees and top-quality facilities—making it an ideal solution for businesses who still want a physical HQ, but would like a lot more financial flexibility.
What facilities are included with serviced offices?
Serviced offices are workspaces that are set up and ready to go from the day you move in. All utilities, bills and day-to-day office management are taken care of by a separate company—the workspace provider—such as big brands like WeWork and boutique brands like Fora.
You get your own private office space with desks for your team, as well as broader access to the building’s facilities. While these will vary from place to place, the facilities will always include all your office essentials—such as speedy WiFi, security staff, furniture and cleaning services.
But here’s where things get interesting. Since there are many serviced offices available in Manchester (and beyond!), most workspaces tend to offer additional amenities that are highly competitive. This means the facilities are designed to ‘out-do’ nearby buildings to give the very best experience to businesses.
These include:
- Podcast studios
- Breakout space
- Bike storage
- Event space
- Meeting rooms
- Wellness areas and rooftop terraces
- Bars and restaurants
- Gym facilities
- Shower rooms
What are the cost benefits of serviced offices?
While businesses pay a slight premium on rent in exchange for greater flexibility, serviced office space does work out more cost-effective. Here’s how:
More control over cash flow
With serviced office space, you pay an all-inclusive fee each month. This means all your bills for utilities, rent and facilities are packaged into a single fee, allowing you to work out your budget forecast for the month with total ease.
Increased agility
Unlike traditional leases for office space, these workspaces’ contracts can start from as little as three months. And if you’re looking for the ultimate workplace flexibility, some serviced offices even offer monthly rolling contracts.
This means you can grow, downsize or ditch your office altogether with just one month’s notice rather than being locked in for 5-10 years.
You only pay for the space you need
When you rent a serviced office, you only need to pay for the desks you need. All communal facilities, such as meeting rooms, breakout spaces, kitchens and cafes, are managed by the workspace provider, and everyone can access them.
This is extremely helpful for businesses who’d like to decrease their office footprint. With flexible office space, there’s no need to fork out on a larger space with rarely used desks. But when you opt for a building with plenty of communal work areas, you won’t have to worry about what we call ‘empty desk syndrome‘.
Where can I find a serviced office near me?
Bruntwood – Manchester – Blackfriars
Bruntwood- Manchester- Blackfriars is the place for you if you’re looking to base your business on a vibrant community of like-minded professionals.
Bruntwood prides itself on creating flexible workspaces that offer plenty of opportunities to collaborate, share ideas and forge strong relationships. For example, their event space and podcast studio are constant hubs of activity—providing workshops, talks and occasions for creatives to network and learn.
When you secure a private office at Blackfriars, your team will be able to access an array of additional facilities, such as an on-site gym, cafe, rooftop terrace, phone booths, showers, trading addresses and more—all included under one monthly fee.
WeWork – Manchester – St Peter’s Square
Located in the heart of the city centre, this modern office space is packed with an entrepreneurial spirit. Not only is it renowned as Manchester’s booming business hub, but WeWork has purposefully designed it to spark productivity and creativity.
The workspace spans across three floors of a 14-storey building, so it’s got plenty of meeting rooms, breakout space and private offices to choose from. What’s great about this flexible workspace is that it also operates on a pet-friendly policy, so it’s perfect for all those dog-lovers out there.
Additional facilities include on-site bike storage, showers, lockers, fruit and snacks, beer and wine, mailing addresses, event space and more!
Clockwise – Manchester
Clockwise – Manchester offers beautifully designed and fully serviced offices for you to call home. With its array of professional workspaces and flexible monthly contracts, Clockwise is an ideal solution for established businesses that want to give their team a great office experience.
While they’ll have their own private office space to work from, they also have free rein to use the building’s meeting rooms, phone booths, breakout space and bike storage—so their workspace needs are always met.
What’s more, Clockwise – Manchester also has a cosy podcast room for you to make some noise.
Colony – Jactin House
Situated in the heart of Ancoats, Jactin House is steeped in cultural heritage. The newly-renovated workspace was built in 1881 for local mill workers, so it has plenty of character to impress your clients and make your team proud to work there.
With an array of serviced offices and social spaces to choose from, Jactin House is ideal for businesses looking for an alternative approach to renting office space, while also enjoying an abundance of facilities.
Not only does the workspace offer a roof terrace and social bar, but it’s also equipped with breakout space, meeting rooms and event space for maximum productivity and creativity. Additional facilities also include mailing addresses, 24hr access, kitchens and much more.
Orega – Manchester – Balloon Street
Orega – Manchester – Balloon Street offers an array of spacious, flexible workspaces designed to appeal to teams of all sizes. There are substantial collaboration and meeting spaces at your disposal, including meeting rooms, phone booths and breakout space.
The workspace also offers additional facilities to ensure your team feels supported throughout their working day, such as barista-style coffee, changing facilities, secure bike storage and a dedicated reception team to attend to all your workplace needs. What’s not to like?
WorkLife – Manchester
This flexible office space is slap bang in the middle of North, just a stone’s throw away from Northern Quarter and The Arndale, meaning you’re incredibly close to some of the tastiest lunch spots Manchester has to offer.
Set over two floors and B Corp Certified, WorkLife – Manchester bursts with natural light and boasts a quirky, modern design. Not only will this boost your professional image, but it’ll also help entice potential talent into joining your team—all thanks to its breakout space, event space, meeting rooms and beer and wine on tap!
Colony – The Astley
If you’re looking for a more intimate and tranquil space to base your business, The Astley is a great choice. Split across two levels; this flexible office space has a vibrant and soulful design and bucks the trend for larger corporate developments.
Its calming vibe is infectious for teams who want to get their creative juices flowing. With floor-to-ceiling windows throughout and multiple collaborative zones, this workspace will undoubtedly inspire your team’s best work.
Serendipity Labs Exchange Quay
Serendipity Labs Exchange Quay provides professional, modern workspaces where teams can thrive. The building features five floors of private office space, meeting rooms and event space to suit all your workspace needs—whether it’s a team strategy session or an event bringing the community together.
The facilities at the Exchange Quay campus are hard to resist, with 94 bicycle storage spaces, a drying room and showers and on-site nursery facilities. If that wasn’t enough, there’s also a post office, convenience store, cafe, restaurant and bar at your fingertips. Oh, and did we mention the on-site gym?
Hana by Industrious – St Peter’s Square
Located in the middle of Manchester’s renowned business district, Hana by Industrious creates flexible workspaces for professionals, teams and companies looking to make their mark in Central Manchester.
Supercharge your working day and spark your team’s creativity with this workspace’s unique facilities—such as electric car charging stations, bicycle storage and an eye-catching lobby.
Once you’ve wrapped up for the day, your team can take a 5-minute stroll to Spinningfields, where they’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to entertainment options, shops and cocktail bars.
Let Ready – Manchester – Jackson House
Let Ready’s Jackson House is a great place to base your Manchester business.
This flexible workspace offers everything you need to get the most out of your working day. Its newly-refurbished ground floor cafe and coworking space are perfect for business lunches, team breakout sessions, or even hosting your own event. What more could you want?
Ah, yes. With top-quality meeting rooms, a fitness studio, kitchen facilities and secure bike storage, you really do have everything you need—all under one roof and one monthly fee!
Bruntwood – Manchester – Centurion House
Looking to base your business in a location with a top postcode? Bruntwood’s Centurion House may be the option for you.
This flexible workspace in Manchester is at the heart of the business district, and it comes with various workspace options to suit your needs.
With contemporary meeting rooms and state-of-the-art technology, a business lounge and plenty of vibrant breakout spaces, Centurion House provides fantastic amenities to ensure you have everything you need.
How can Hubble help?
Rent by the month with Hubble HQ
With Hubble HQ, you can search for and rent full-time HQ and satellite offices with total ease. Not only is it completely free for you to find your flexible office with us, but you’ll also be spoilt for choice.
With 5000+ offices in London alone, Hubble has every flexible office space on our platform—with live availability. You’ll also:
- Secure the best rates
Our unrivalled market data and relationships with the top workspace providers worldwide mean you’ll get the very best rates on your next office space.
- Get your own dedicated advisor
Our team of property experts will do all the heavy-lifting. They’ll manage your entire search, help book viewings and negotiate on your behalf.
Rent by the day/hour with the Hubble Pass
Keen for even more workspace flexibility? With the Hubble Pass, you can book on-demand workspaces by the day or hour.
Our easy-to-use platform allows you and your team to access coworking spaces, private day offices, hourly meeting rooms and event space across 1000+ worldwide (and counting!) You can also:
- Manage all your global workplace in one platform
Manage your distributed team by inviting colleagues, setting guidelines and accessing key data such as usage and costs—in just one place.
- Enjoy a super flexible workplace solution
With the Hubble Pass, there are zero commitments, no limitations and absolutely no wastage. You only pay for what you use.
