When setting up an office, businesses and organisations have to consider a number of competing interests, with cost and comfort perennially at odds.
Employers want their staff to be happy in their working environment and have access to all the tools and facilities needed to maximise productivity.
But at the same time, the bottom line is all important – particularly in a difficult economic climate – and firms cannot afford to pay for unnecessary luxury.
They need to ensure they have enough office space, but are not paying out for room they do not need. At present, it appears many companies are falling into this trap.
A new report published by advisory firm DeVono Property suggests businesses are spending £42 million a year more than they need to on office space.
The firm believes the industry measure usually used is wrong and out of date, meaning companies are failing to maximise efficiencies when setting up a base, reports the Independent.
Adam Landau, director of DeVono Property, said the industry accepted standard of 100 sq ft per person when measuring office space is an overcalculation by between ten and 15 per cent.
“For far too long, it has become widely practised and accepted that office space measurements should be based on this,” he stated.
“But having consulted with architects, building designers and our experience from acting for office occupiers, office space should be calculated at no more than between 85 and 90 square feet per person.”
Mr Landau said the rise of hot desking and flexible working means businesses can now afford to have smaller offices than in previous years.
“Telecoms, media and technology companies are largely leading the way for the future of how our offices will look, with breakout and brainstorming areas of increased social gathering leading to more collaborative work places,” he stated.
Businesses have a fine line to tread when selecting office facilities – in order to maximise return on investment they need to think very carefully about the space they provide for their workforce.
Too big or too small and they could see the bottom line suffer.
