‘Flexible’ space to increasingly feature in company office plans

Employers will increasingly seek a ‘flexible’ workspace option in their office portfolios within two years, a survey of property decision-makers has found.

In 2025 over half (54%) of occupiers expect their office footprint to have 10% or more of ‘flex’ space, up from 37% today, research from CBRE suggests.

The property consultancy spoke to heads of corporate real estate or the nearest equivalent from 136 companies across Europe (half of which have a presence in the UK), about plans as hybrid working continues to be popular.

Flexible space covers a range of options not typically involved in long leases. That could include a membership card that allows employees to work on a pay as you go basis across a network of locations, a single desk rented per month in a shared space, or a floor of desks and meeting rooms in a building that is not a firm’s main headquarters.*

In the financial and professional services category currently 75% have exposure of less than 10%, but that falls to 43% in two years.

Richard Holberton, senior research director at CBRE said: “Flex space is now seen as a tool of hybrid work strategy and is regarded as increasingly important as these strategies take shape. It satisfies several aims for occupiers including reducing capital expenditure, addressing uncertain demand levels, expanding employee choice and providing a first foothold when entering new markets.”