Viewpoint: The workplace is being used as a recruitment and retention tool and landlords are increasingly stepping up

The modern workplace is more than a suite of desks and sockets, it is a hub, an environment for creative thinking and social interaction, charged with inspiring its workforce.

Landlords are getting the message loud and clear

The changing demands of occupiers, is feeding into the design of new offices up and down the country. While not all businesses want a slide and a cinema room, there are some requirements that are now becoming pre-requisite. The basic expectation is for fast broadband, impressive entrances, contemporary amenity space and a decent kitchen/rest area.

This has admittedly been a challenge for the investor-led refurbishments, which traditionally provide a shell and leave it to the occupier to fit out. But Landlords are now responding positively, and I think it is fair to say the overall base level of office refurbishment has improved across the board.

Some building owners are going further and providing much more in order to secure great tenants with those all-important strong covenants. In-house food and beverage provision is fairly commonplace, a great option for a landlord who secures a lucrative retail tenancy and offers a neat little extra to the building’s office workers. Gyms and swimming pools are also popping up in basements, or tenants are being offered free or subsidised use of nearby facilities.

Social networking

While the creation of specifically designated co-working hubs are on the rise, and landlords are certainly tapping into that market, the broader idea of neighbouring businesses benefitting from shared ideas or services means these co-working spaces are also being retrofitted into existing buildings, often via the refurbishment of an reception area or even roof top terrace or garden.

Car parking is another amenity which is making a comeback. While limited in city centre locations, cheap or free parking near to the office is one of the major draws for out-of-town business parks. The trend towards city centre is now being seriously challenged by high quality developments in these ‘secondary’ locations, with better transport links, often closer to employees’ homes and thereby providing a better work / life balance.

These business parks are now often home to their own food and beverage stores, and have the space to provide cycle stores and changing rooms alongside parking facilities. Landlords are also increasingly instructing management companies to foster a sense of community within the park, with social and wellbeing activities on offer.

A recent case study: Guildford Business Park

We recently completed the £15m remodel of Building Two at Guildford Business Park for Benson Elliot and Cube Real Estate, which has seen the 1980s building transformed into a ‘city style’ Grade A office. The double height entrance floods the contemporary interior with light and serves to create a sophisticated welcome. The addition of three decks of parking on the neighbouring multi-storey removes any concerns over provision for large occupiers. A flagship for the park and the whole area, Building Two is an excellent example of asset management in the ever-competitive office market.