Sometimes referred to as a managed office, flexible office or business centre; a serviced office is a modern fully equipped workspace often found in business districts of large cities including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, etc.
Generally offering more flexible rental terms when compared with conventional leased offices, which often come with further set up charges including furnishings, equipment, etc.; the serviced office workspace is normally flexible, with the option of additional space at short notice should the size and requirements of an enterprise diversify.
With reduced costs and access to equipment which may otherwise be unaffordable for start-ups, for example, serviced offices often have shared reception services. Providing access to a workplace, technology and people central to its operations, they are a principal component of the flexible workspace industry.
Where it all began
As early as the 1960s, pioneers of the serviced office industry were recorded in the US, with OmniOffices in 1962 and Paul Fegen’s furnished law suites for attorneys in 1966. Alf Moufarrige founded ServCorp in Australia in 1978 and the first UK business centre was opened in Northampton in 1979. As tech advances propelled in the 80s, a serviced office became more attractive to businesses who wanted to benefit from the latest equipment including computers, voicemail, fax machines, etc.
Today’s serviced office spaces
Todays’ serviced premises offer many advantages, which will doubtless become increasingly clear as the concept further aligns with hybrid workplace practices. Providing high value space, it seems likely that serviced or managed space will become integral to a greater number of larger office developments. With key advantages that include flexibility, cost savings and an improved environment, they create the ultimate workspace that doesn’t require the long-term commitment associated with traditional rental contracts.
A term coined by Bernard de Koven in 1999, coworking spaces are a branch of serviced offices that nurture collaboration and introduce community to the workplace. A popular solution for start-ups and international companies, client types might include:
• Businesses with headquarters in other countries or in regions that require a business presence.
• Small to medium sized businesses (SMEs) or enterprises who don’t want to commit to longer leases. They will also benefit from lower running costs.
• A large company experiencing growth may have short-term requirements as they outgrow their current premises.
• Based on specific requirements, clients might need office space while they complete a certain project/contract.
BE Offices serviced offices
Having won Business Centre of the Year 6 times, we are the only 2-star-accredited business in our industry. With serviced offices in London and across the UK, our premises are perfect for those who want to be in the thick of it! Even better, we don’t ask you to commit to lengthy agreements: we are happy to arrange contracts from 1 month up to 2 years in London business centres and across the UK.
Our values
• We set the standards within our industry
• Our value for money product comes with total transparency
• To support customer needs, we provide leading technology
• We support our customers in the achievement of their goals
• We develop and support our employees to fulfil their career goals
• Helpful and friendly, we are always courteous to our customers and each other
• We have a responsibility to our communities and the environment
• If we are not serving a customer, we will be serving someone who is
The changing landscape
Research highlights some of the changes in the UK workspace landscape, underlining the importance of spaces and work practices that support today’s workforce. Understanding these challenges will be crucial to business success. Providing the agility to adapt and change to market conditions, serviced office space is here to stay. Combining in-office collaboration with the flexibility of remote working, it is the perfect solution for those who prefer hybrid working, with workspaces that are versatile, sustainable, technologically advanced and wellness oriented.
As one of the UK’s largest independent serviced office providers, across our portfolio we are currently operating 6,000 workstations across nearly 300,000 sq. ft. – to put that into context, that’s 22 Olympic-sized swimming pools! Our award-winning service caters to all-inclusive packages, an industry leading IT infrastructure, break-out space and exclusive facilities for our clients, not to mention a real sense of community.
Is it time your business joined the serviced office revolution? For further information on our serviced offices in London and other major UK cities, please visit our website.
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