Demise of the office is greatly exaggerated, says property specialist

The demise of the office, post-pandemic, has been exaggerated, according to panellists on Invest Midlands.

As part of the online conference, three experts considered what the workplace will look like following the easing of government orders to stay at home and work remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Taking part were Rob Groves, Regional Development Director with property company MEPC, Faye Summers, HR Director, UK Flooring Direct, and Habiba Khatoon, Director with recruitment specialist Robert Walters.

They first considered the issue of hybrid working and Habiba said there has been a shift in the hybrid working conversation over the past couple of years.

She said the issue of flexible working, which would have been a deal breaker over the past 12 months, is now a given. And the issue of how to ensure productivity doesn’t dip when working from home has shifted to how do you make sure you maintain team inclusion.

Faye agreed, saying: “We talked about flexibility years ago, now it is a given.”

However, Rob argued that, while there has been a change in demand, he has still signed up lots of lettings, even during the pandemic.

“It is about agile working and flexible working. This has accelerated massively during the pandemic,” he said.

But he balanced that by adding: “There’s been a massive exaggeration. The UK is a world leader in exaggerating things.

“There is a recognition that we need the office space, but it needs to be different.”

He said facilities, such as coffee shops and restaurants, near office spaces, are still a tremendous draw to get people back into the office.

“A lot of businesses have over-reacted. A lot of businesses are coming back saying, ‘we do not have enough space’.

“The pendulum has swung back to reality.”

With the increase in hybrid working, there has also been a change in the skill set required to work from home.

Habiba said: “There is a huge demand for tech at all levels. The meaning of communication skills has changed. It now extends to being tech savvy.

“Our day to day meetings are done by Zoom. We have Group Chat, WhatsApp, Teams, you name it.”

Clockwise, from top left: Chair, Ben Ormsby, Habiba Khatoon, Rob Groves, Faye Summers

But, she said that a core skill is also that of self management: “Hybrid working has made us aware we need to concentrate on that.”

The layout of the new office structure is also important, post-pandemic. Habiba said: “We have gone from rows of desks to almost living room-style.”

Rob agreed, saying there is a need for spaces where people can gather: “Where collaborative space comes in is if you are a business bringing new people in, or if you are a graduate, that’s where your learning comes from, because you can’t have technology on eight hours a day just hearing people.

“Imagination comes from bouncing ideas off people. And let’s not forget the social bit of it. Work is to be an enjoyable place.”

Training is also an issue of the modern workspace, the panel agreed.

Faye said: “We’re finding that learning and development is really important to people. There is more focus around tech, digital and CRM.”

Habiba responded, saying that, given there’s such a shortage of talent across the board, businesses are looking at training and development, and upskilling people: “We’re inundated with requests for internal training and support.”

Considering how to attract the workforce of the future, the panel agreed that ESG (environmental, social, and governance) is a big driver.

Rob said: “ESG, environmentally friendly buildings, sustainability, it’s driven by the younger generation coming in. They are aware of the impact the environment they work in is having.

“Before, it was providing cycle facilities and public transport. We have done all that.”

Faye agreed, saying: “There’s a talent war going on and it’s around the environmental perspective. How people feel about working for the company.

“What are you doing for ESG and the local community and charity? It used to be whoever paid the most in base salary, but that’s not the case.”

And Habiba said: “We now have candidates asking what the ESG policy is.

“But also, employee engagement is up there. There are candidates who are concerned about the way they were treated during the pandemic.

“A lot of businesses we work with are starting to re-work their benefits packages, ie supermarket shopping vouchers or Uber Eats vouchers. Things employees can relate to in a meaningful way.”

Rob revealed that the wellbeing aspect of working is becoming an issue: “We have tenants who have upped their game in quality of space.”

He said this is a small price to pay to recruit, and retain, good staff: “The office cost is tiny in terms of running a business. Don’t be a cheapskate and chuck people into a 1960s office, because recruitment is a massive cost to the business.”

Concluding the discussion, the panel touched on what they see as the next big change around the corner.

Habiba said: “Automation will continue to play a huge role in the shift of the labour market.”

Faye offered: “The need for connection will continue. We will see workplaces vibrant, busy and lots of people in them.”

And Rob said: “There will be a lot more competition in the workplace. It is about having the right workplace. A lot more focus on place.”