You’ve probably heard the term workspace strategy. But what does it actually mean, and how is it different from workplace strategy?
Here, Hubble discusses what sets them apart, what a workspace strategy involves, and how you build one.
- What is a workspace strategy?
- Workspace strategy examples
- The core components of workspace strategy
- How to build a workspace strategy
- What is a workplace strategy?
- How Hubble can help
What is a workspace strategy?
Simply put, a company’s ‘workspace strategy’ refers to how decision-makers arrange, manage and utilise the physical work environment(s).
These workspaces might include:
- The company HQ, such as a spacious office in London
- Employees’ homes
- Flexible spaces like day offices, coworking areas, or hourly meeting rooms
Each plays a different role depending on the workspace strategy you choose.
Examples of workspace strategies:
There’s no one-size-fits-all workspace strategy. Businesses can choose a model that fits their team, goals, and ways of working:
Fully Remote Workspace Strategies
Employees work from anywhere, not tied to one office. This could mean home, a coworking space, or a private day office booked on demand.
Preference-Based Hybrid Working
Employees choose where to work based on their personal needs — whether in an office, at home, or in another location that suits them best at the moment.
Time-Based Hybrid Working
Staff are expected to work from the office a set number of days per week, but they choose which days, offering flexibility within the structure.
Set-Day Hybrid Working
Employees follow a fixed office schedule, such as being in the office every Tuesday and Thursday. The company sets the days.
Fully Office-Based Workspace Strategies
Employees work from a central office full-time, typically five days a week during standard business hours.
What are the core components of workspace strategy?
Creating an effective workspace strategy means making a few key decisions to support how and where your team works. These typically include:
Location
This refers to where your team will work.
Will they primarily work from the HQ or remotely? What about on-demand workspaces where employees choose whatever location is convenient to them?
The number of desks
A workspace strategy should always account for the number of desks.
This not only helps determine how much space you actually need, but also provides a clear estimate of office space costs.
Amentities
What amenities are must-haves for your team? What would incentivise them to commute to your chosen workspace?
This is important to determine, as your workspace setup will depend on your team’s needs and how frequently they plan to use the space.
Think gyms, childcare facilities, or even rooftop terraces…basically anything that adds a little colour to your workspace strategy!
How to build an effective workspace strategy
Building a workspace strategy doesn’t have to be complicated. Here’s a simple four-step framework to help you design a setup that fits your team’s needs:
Step 1: Decide how often you want your team in the office
Ask yourself: How ‘office-based’ will your business be? This is the primary location where teams will collaborate and work under the same roof.
For example:
- I’d like employees to work remotely from various locations, such as flexible workspaces, instead of a central HQ. They can access these spaces anytime, anywhere.
- I’d like employees to split their time between the office and remote work. Schedules can be self-determined, set by managers, or mandated.
- I’d like employees to work on-site five days a week during regular business hours.
Step 2: Understand your team’s geographic spread
Ask yourself: Where are employees located? Where do you hire from? This refers to the geographical makeup of your current and future business. For example:
- I have employees across multiple locations within the same country, offering diverse perspectives.
- Most of my employees are based in one location, such as London, forming a centralised talent hub.
Step 3: Define your cost sensitivity
Ask yourself: How much will ‘costs’ influence your decision? This refers to your approach to office-related expenses and how much you balance cost with quality:
- Cost matters, but it’s not a major concern. I’ll invest confidently in a workspace strategy that aligns with my vision.
- I’m cost-conscious, but the office space takes priority—even if it means some empty desks or less flexibility.
- I prioritise cutting costs, even if it means a workspace strategy that compromises on quality, amenities, or location.
Step 4: Plan for flexibility
Ask yourself: How confident are you in predicting the future? This refers to the level of flexibility and agility you need for your future business plans. For example:
- I’m confident about our future and have a clear vision for employees’ preferences, so flexibility is less important to our workspace strategy.
- I have a fairly clear view of the future, but I value flexibility in our workspace strategy as a safety net.
- Our future is uncertain, so flexibility is key to a workspace strategy that supports evolving needs and work styles.
Building a strong workspace strategy: case study
A good workspace strategy matches how your team actually works — whether that’s fully remote, hybrid, or office-based.
Take Nurole, for example. After lockdown, they trialled set office days from Monday to Thursday, with flexible Fridays.
But the space often went unused, especially at the end of the week, and the cost of keeping a full-time office didn’t make sense anymore.
They needed a setup that gave the team somewhere to collaborate, but only on the days they’d actually use it.
The only solution was having one workspace big enough for all of us for just the three days a week we wanted to use it. When we explained what we were looking for, Hubble found a suitable office immediately. It could hardly have been easier or had a better outcome.”
Lee Bartmanis, Head of Operations at Nurole
That’s when they switched to a Part-Time Office: a private office rented just a few days a week. It fit their working pattern perfectly and cut down wasted space.
The impact? Nurole slashed their office costs by 55%—saving £162,000 a year—while still giving the team a consistent, productive space to come together.
What is a workplace strategy?
A workplace strategy is a company’s plan to create a productive, engaging environment for employees, whether in the office or online.
It covers everything from company culture and flexible working policies to employee benefits and the physical workspace.
Without a clear strategy, it’s challenging to maintain employee motivation, alignment, and long-term commitment.
How Hubble can help
At Hubble, we help businesses give their teams great places to work.
Whether it’s a longer-term office or on-demand access to workspace, our flexible workspace platform offers solutions that flex with your workspace needs, helping you to reduce wasted office spend and keep employees happy and productive:
Hubble simplifies finding the perfect home for your team. With 5000+ office spaces in London alone, we offer an expansive selection of flexible office space on our platform, with live availability.
A dedicated property advisor will assist you in your search and negotiate the best possible rate on your behalf.
Plus, it’s absolutely free for you to use Hubble, so you can save money while finding your ideal office space!
Part-Time Offices
For those looking to significantly save on office rent, Hubble offers Part-Time Offices — your very own office to bring the team together for in-person work, 2-3 days per week.
Our flexible workspace platform holds 100% coverage of part-time offices from London’s most premium workspace providers, so you can find something to fit your budget.
While our expert team will help guide you through your entire search, you can expect to save up to 85% on the cost of a full-time office, helping you cut costs and invest in what matters most.
Hubble On-Demand
If you’re looking for even more workplace flexibility, Hubble On-Demand lets you and your team book flexible workspaces by the day or hour.
With it, you can bring the team together to connect, collaborate, and build team culture across 1,000 locations worldwide, helping your team thrive in workspaces convenient for them.
