1. Serviced officesPrivateofficesleasedonflexibleterms,fullyfitted-outspacesinclusiveofservicecharge andrates,usuallywithreceptionservices.Thesespaceswereamongtheoriginal alternativestoleasingbuthavesincebeenovertakenbythedynamicandcreativeinteriors of the new flexible operator (and product). 2. Private flexible offices Canbecategorisedundertwosub-types,(a)Standardand(b)Hybrid.Thesespaces usuallyaccountforaround80%ormoreoftheflexibleoperators’curatedspaceina building.Thesebuildingsofferdynamicsharedspaceswhichareafarcryfromthesterile andutilitarianofficeinteriorsthatareoftentypicalofmanybuildingswithleasedpremises. Typically taken on a term of 9 months up to 3 years. a. StandardAprivateofficelicenceandfitted-outbyanoperatorreadyfortheoccupierwhothenpays a monthly licence fee. Sometimes fitted to the occupier’s criteria and specification. Thearrangementisoftenbyfixedpriceper/deskofficeforan‘allinclusive’offer.Includes afairlycomprehensiverangeofservicesincluding,receptionservices,internetaccess, refreshments,meetingrooms(sometimeschargeable).Other‘bolt-on’servicesmightbe provided for an additional charge.b. Hybrid Amanagedprivateofficeforcustomerswhowanttheirownspacebutdon’twantthe commitmentassociatedwithmanagingit.Sometimeswithindependentaccess,these mightbedescribedaspremiumspacesforHQorlargerbusinessesandinstitutions. Savingscanbeachievedthroughefficientlayoutanddesign.Theseareoftenfitted-outby the operator or service provider. Thesespacesmightbeofparticularbenefittothoseorganisationslookingtomanagetheir leaseassetsinaccordancewithInternationalFinancialReportingStandards;(IFRS16- typically short term: 12 months or less). 3. Co-working spacesOnamembershipofperdeskbasis(fixed-deskorhot-deskarrangements).Theseusually accountfor10-20%oftheoperator’sspace.Theyprovideasociableworkingenvironment where users can network, collaborate and do business with each other. Thefixedmonthlyfeeincludesunlimitedaccessonafirstcome,firstservedbasis(more limitedonapay-as-you-goarrangement).Includesinternetaccess,refreshments,meeting rooms (sometimes chargeable) and a curated calendar of events. Co-workingcommunitiesincludefreelancers,start-upsandsmallbusinessesoperatingin openenvironments.Theynetwork,collaborateinsharedspaces.Thereenvironmentsare fullyservicedwhichareequippedwithresourcesandfacilitiesthatwouldbefoundinan officeenvironment.Theseco-workingenvironmentsremovebarrierstoentryandprovide flexibility and scaling for rapid growth and development.Other Co-working environments:a. AcceleratorsThesespacesholdacceleratorprogramsinwhichstart-upsspendtimeworkingwitha groupofmentorsoverasettime-frame,oftenwiththeopportunityforseedfundingatthe endoftheprogram.Spaceistypicallyopen-planwithplentyofcollaborationspace.These are usually within fixed-desk environments. b. IncubatorsSimilartoaccelerators,incubatorspacesaccommodatestart-ups,butarefocusedona specificsectorwithsponsorshipfromlargerfirmsandpublicinstitutions.Whilethespace typesaresimilartheunderlyingtenantistypicallydifferent.Theseareusuallywithinfixed-desk environments.
Whilsttheterm‘co-working’mightgeneratethemostheadlines,thereisconsiderably moredepthtothewiderflexibleworkspacemarket.Belowwehavesetoutthebasic characteristics of the three types of flexible workspace currently in the market.
OFFICE Solve
Myth Busting: Flexible Spaces
1. Serviced officesPrivateofficesleasedonflexible terms,fullyfitted-outspaces inclusiveofservicechargeand rates,usuallywithreception services.Thesespaceswereamong theoriginalalternativestoleasing buthavesincebeenovertakenby thedynamicandcreativeinteriorsof thenewflexibleoperator(and product). 2. Private Flexible offices Canbecategorisedundertwosub-types,(a)Standardand(b)Hybrid. Thesespacesusuallyaccountfor around80%ormoreoftheflexible operators’curatedspaceina building.Thesebuildingsoffer dynamicsharedspaceswhicharea farcryfromthesterileand utilitarianofficeinteriorsthatare oftentypicalofmanybuildingswith leasedpremises.Typicallytakenon a term of 9 months up to 3 years. a. StandardAprivateofficelicenceandfitted-out byanoperatorreadyforthe occupierwhothenpaysamonthly licencefee.Sometimesfittedtothe occupier’s criteria and specification. Thearrangementisoftenbyfixed priceper/deskofficeforan‘all inclusive’offer.Includesafairly comprehensiverangeofservices including,receptionservices, internetaccess,refreshments, meetingrooms(sometimes chargeable).Other‘bolt-on’services mightbeprovidedforanadditional charge.b. Hybrid Amanagedprivateofficefor customerswhowanttheirown spacebutdon’twantthe commitmentassociatedwith managingit.Sometimeswith independentaccess,thesemightbe describedaspremiumspacesfor HQorlargerbusinessesand institutions.Savingscanbeachieved throughefficientlayoutanddesign. Theseareoftenfitted-outbythe operator or service provider. Thesespacesmightbeofparticular benefittothoseorganisations lookingtomanagetheirleaseassets inaccordancewithInternational FinancialReportingStandards; (IFRS16-typicallyshortterm:12 months or less). 3. Co-working spacesOnamembershipofperdeskbasis (fixed-deskorhot-desk arrangements).Theseusually accountfor10-20%ofthe operator’sspace.Theyprovidea sociableworkingenvironmentwhere userscannetwork,collaborateand do business with each other. Thefixedmonthlyfeeincludes unlimitedaccessonafirstcome, firstservedbasis(morelimitedona pay-as-you-goarrangement). Includesinternetaccess, refreshments,meetingrooms (sometimeschargeable)anda curated calendar of events. Co-workingcommunitiesinclude freelancers,start-upsandsmall businessesoperatinginopen environments.Theynetwork, collaborateinsharedspaces.There environmentsarefullyserviced whichareequippedwithresources andfacilitiesthatwouldbefoundin anofficeenvironment.Theseco-workingenvironmentsremove barrierstoentryandprovide flexibilityandscalingforrapid growth and development.Other Co-working environments:a. AcceleratorsThesespacesholdaccelerator programsinwhichstart-upsspend timeworkingwithagroupof mentorsoverasettime-frame, oftenwiththeopportunityforseed fundingattheendoftheprogram. Spaceistypicallyopen-planwith plentyofcollaborationspace.These areusuallywithinfixed-desk environments. b. Incubators Similartoaccelerators,incubator spacesaccommodatestart-ups,but arefocusedonaspecificsectorwith sponsorshipfromlargerfirmsand publicinstitutions.Whilethespace typesaresimilartheunderlying tenantistypicallydifferent.These areusuallywithinfixed-desk environments.
MYTH BUSTING - FLEXIBLE
SPACES
Whilsttheterm‘co-working’ mightgeneratethemost headlines,thereisconsiderably moredepthtotheflexible workspacemarket.Belowwe havesetoutthebasic characteristicsofthethreetypes offlexibleworkspacecurrentlyon the market.