London is a hotbed for new businesses of all shapes and sizes, but in such a uniquely competitive space, finding the right office can be difficult. Nonetheless, an office is a crucial step in expanding your business, hiring, and scaling up. These tips will help you find the best premises for your needs.
#1 Search online
Long gone are the days when prospective office owners had to scour the streets, physically visiting office spaces to get a feel for them. Finding the right office is now a matter of searching online, and there are lots of different search engines available. Most private property search engines like Zoopla and Rightmove have a commercial tool that will show offices according to various criteria, including price, location, and size. Being able to compare offices at the click of a button is powerful. It means that you can perform an exhaustive search in a matter of hours, which is crucial for a city as big as London.
#2 Research location carefully
Although there are lots of criteria to consider when finding an office, location is one of the most important. The location of your office determines commute times for your staff, access to suppliers, and, depending on the type of business that you run, it will also affect your deliveries. Other less obvious factors, including internet speeds and the price of utilities, will be affected by location too, so research is crucial. There’s no “one-size-fits-all” perfect location, as this will be determined by the kind of business that you run and its unique needs. Motorway, airport, and rail links all play their part.
#3 Consider hot desking
Hot desking simply means that employees don’t have a specific desk. They operate in a shared workplace, find a desk, plug in and get to work. The benefits of hot desking are manifold (not least flexibility and cost-effectiveness), but in the post-pandemic world, it’s more popular than ever. Remote work has become the norm, and more people than ever operate at least partially from home, only coming into the office when necessary. Hot desking is the ideal solution in this scenario. Better still, for hot desking London is one of the best locations. Since office spaces tend to be more expensive, it’s a fantastic way to save some money and foster a friendlier, open workplace.
#4 Work with a commercial agent
More so than anywhere else, businesses need a commercial agent to find an office space in London. Agents operate within a closed system, and lots of new office spaces aren’t even advertised, so you won’t hear about them unless you have an agent. Better still, agents will be able to work with you, understand your needs and find the right office based on years of experience. They’ll also assist with contracts and help you to negotiate the best price for your office space. Having an agent on side shortens the process significantly and lifts the stress from your shoulders.