Flexioffices – Offices Of The Future

Flexioffices are the office of the future combining the benefits of many of the hybrid working formats.

In order to best explain what they offer and how they are different, lets consider some of the terminology, jargon and buzzwords that are used within the office environment.

Words like serviced offices, flexioffices, co-working space, hot-desking and virtual office are all mentioned. Do you know the differences between them and what they actually provide and who they are designed for? Importantly are they just for larger companies or can entrepreneurs, start ups or small organisations use them too?

Flexioffices and Accompanying Terminology

You would think that with the UK leading the way in “serviced ” offices everyone would have a clear understanding of what serviced offices (and their accompanying terminology) actually mean. But despite their increasing demand and  popularity, the serviced offices definition remains unclear

Serviced Offices

Serviced offices are offices that come fully furnished, fully operating from the day you move in, and they’re available to rent on a short-term or long-term basis. All the office furniture is included a phone line is installed, no checking light-bulbs or restocking coffee. They can include anything you require from telephone and WiFi connections to reception staff and printing services. Serviced offices are ready to go from the moment you move in, so you can get stuck into work without any delays.

Serviced offices are flexible with terms typically being monthly ( with no long term contract)

FlexiOffices

So a Flexioffice gives you the opportunity to have your own dedicated office for as little as a day. So essentially your getting a shorter term version of a serviced office. This means that if you hire the Flexioffice for a week you can make it your own space.

This has many advantages especially if you are working on a confidential project and want some privacy and need to make sure no one will see any paperwork / documentation etc. Hiring a Flexioffice for a week would allow you to essentially “personalise” the space for that period of time, great if you are conducting some 1:1 interviews or 1:1 client meetings.

By there very nature the flexioffice gives you the opportunity to co-work in the coworking space as per your contract on a daily basis then upgrade to Flexioffice for a few days. So you get all the additional comfort, confidentiality and security of your own lockable office, then revert back to coworking as required.

The difference between co-working and hot-desking

Flexioffices, co-working  hot desking are by there very nature, entirely flexible. For this very reason flexible office spaces may seem initially a little confusing. As different office space providers have different packages that means you can have many different set-ups and environments.

A few of those set-ups are known as co-working space, a hot-desking space, or you can choose to have your own private office-within-an-office (at BBH we call this a FlexiOffice) .

Let’s consider how these are different:

Co-working means people who work in the same building. They may work for different companies, but they share just about everything else; desks, facilities, utilities and might even do business together.

No fixed-seat assigned, No set desk that’s hot-desking! It means turn up and hope that there is space available in the shared work area. Tenants can turn up, plug-in, connect and work, coming and going as they please. Most hot desking environments have limited availability so timing is everything if you want to get the best seat!

Serviced offices are ready-for-work-when-you-move-in-spaces that are fully furnished ready to walk into office spaces. Co-working areas and hot-desking are two of the approaches that often sit alongside serviced offices.

Your own space in a serviced office

As discussed earlier a serviced office facilities essentially provide your own office-within-the-office environment. Your private workspace could comprise of 2 desks, 20 or 200, or any other number you can think of! It’s entirely up to you and your workspace needs. In some serviced office locations they are individual offices next to one another along corridors, in other locations a large serviced office may take an entire floor wing of a commercial building.

Serviced offices and Flexioffices perfect for business?

Serviced office spaces and Flexioffices are great for anyone and everyone. Thee types of office accommodation have grown even further in popularity since the issues of Covid across all industries.

Serviced offices cater to entrepreneurs, SME’s and start-ups that might require only one desk, as well as,  creative entrepreneurs who need 10+ desks and established corporations with 50+ desks or. With many organisations rethinking the whole concept of having dedicated “office” premises.

Whether you’re a small business or a large team, planning to expand or needing to reduce overhead costs, serviced offices allow you flexibility when it comes to up or downsizing.

Contact Michelle Craig at Brightfield Business Hub on 01733 595885 or email Michelle Craig at arrange an appointment to see the wide range of serviced offices and hot desking at BBH. Click here to have all your flexi office questions answered.

For information on short term self storage facilities that are ideal for businesses click here