In light of recent events, businesses around the world are increasingly seeing the benefits of remote working, and are now exploring ways of integrating it into their future company practices.
Nevertheless, the vast majority of businesses will still need an office of some sort. After all, office space is much more than simply a “place to work”. Technology has made it easy for many of us to work remotely for a while now—but still, the office has occupied an important role in our working lives. Humans are social beings, and in-person connections are hard to fully replace.
As such, whilst many businesses will need office space less often or for fewer people, it will still remain an integral aspect of the world of work. To address this, workspace providers are working hard to adapt their offerings to meet the needs of businesses in a post-coronavirus world. And one option that is becoming increasingly popular is part-time office space.
What are the benefits of using part-time office space?
The main benefit of part-time office space is the way in which it allows businesses to have both a physical office environment and a flexible working policy, without wasting money on office space that sits empty for significant periods of time.
Activities better suited to “real-life”—client meetings or collaborative exercises, for example—can still take place in a professional environment that belongs to your business, but for a fraction of the cost.
Having designated “office days” can also introduce routine into a new flexible working structure, making it easier for businesses to transition away from having everyone in the office all the time, without too much of a culture shock.
Maintaining an office presence, even if only part-time, can also show employees that you still value team culture and bonding. Office time can help kindle the feeling of belonging that may suffer in a fully-remote team, whilst also giving employees access to the flexibility that remote working offers.
Is it possible to timeshare an office?
Office timesharing allows businesses to take an office on a “part-time” basis—by sharing ownership, costs, and usage with other companies.
The companies share the usage of the office on a schedule that suits them and split the cost accordingly. This is ideal if you’re looking for a private office but don’t want to use (and consequently pay for) it every day/week of the year.
For example, one business may occupy the space every Monday to Wednesday, whilst the other uses it on Thursdays and Fridays. Other businesses may wish to use the office on alternate weeks—it all depends on how you and the businesses with which you’re sharing want to structure your time.
However, office timesharing is not always the easiest or most cost-effective way to use office space. This is because it can be difficult to find other companies to coordinate with, and if you approach a workspace provider without one, your rent won’t always be prorated for the number of days you want to use the space—as the provider will then have to find a tenant to use the space when you’re not there.
Not only will this make office timesharing often a more expensive option, but you’ll also be tied into a contract without having full ownership of your own office. But don’t fret—there are plenty of other more straightforward and cost-effective ways to take part-time office space.
Other ways to access part-time office space:
Book meeting rooms or private offices for your team
Booking a meeting room or private office, either on an ad hoc or regular basis, is a great way to take part-time office space. This is because it’s pretty flexible; the workspace provider won’t tie you into a contract, and you’ll have your pick of locations, facilities and surroundings from week to week.
You can also adjust requirements in line with your team size on any given occasion. For example, if 25% of your team are away on a specific day, you can simply book a smaller meeting room. So, not only will you have more control, but it’s also much more cost-effective.
At Hubble, we can help you book high-quality, on-demand meeting rooms—find out more.
Use the Hubble Pass
The Hubble Pass allows businesses of all sizes to access hundreds of on-demand workspaces across the UK and selected international cities—from New York to Notting Hill.
With it, you’ll be able to meet up with your team in whichever location suits you on a given day, giving you and your team more autonomy and freedom. Whether it’s hot desks, private offices, event space or meeting room, you can book suitable part-time workspace for your employees whenever you need to.
Get a one-month free trial of the Hubble Pass.
How do I find an office timeshare?
If you are interested in office timesharing in the future, start by filling in this form with any needs and preferences. Our advisors can then give you more information around the options available to you as a business, and put you in touch with the most suitable office providers on the market. You can also contact us via live chat, or schedule a call with our advisory team below:
