It would be fair to say that office environments have become a key talking point amongst business leaders over the past couple of years. Once regarded as a core component of the majority of businesses, now they have almost become an option. We have seen a huge number of companies go for the ‘remote only’ option; eradicating office rent from their budgets and instead allowing their entire workforce to work from home permanently.
Of course, this isn’t something that is practical for all businesses, nor is it always desirable. Some companies still require physical office space, and this is where today’s article comes in.
While the remote option might be off the table, cost-cutting certainly doesn’t have to be. Let’s now take a look at some of the ways your business can save money with its office facilities.
Do you need a desk for everyone?
In the current climate, this is a valid question. Permanent remote working might not be an option but consider a hybrid approach. Could some of your workforce work from home a couple of days per week? This would obviously reduce the amount of desk space you need in your office, and subsequently, allow you to downsize.
Not only that, but other costs start to decrease as well. For example, you won’t have as many people in the building, resulting in lower utilities and insurance expenses. It’s food for thought and could lead to some decent cost savings.
Would a co-working space be more cost-effective?
Following on from the above, this is an option that is certainly worth considering, especially if you have a small workforce. Co-working spaces are becoming increasingly popular and provide hot-desking options for businesses. You pay a monthly fee and then have access to a certain number of desks. This can be a flexible and cost-effective way of accommodating your workforce, without the need for a long-term lease.
How many meeting rooms do you truly need?
Meeting rooms are often a debatable office topic. Once upon a time, the general consensus was that there wasn’t enough of them! Well, in today’s era, that might be changing. The rise of Zoom meetings means that you have a serious decision to take with your meeting rooms. Do you really need all of them? If not, let’s revert back to that first point – your office space could be too big and you could downsize.
Alternatively, you can consider equipping smaller, multi-functional spaces with folding tables, which offer flexibility and can easily be stored away when not in use.
Invest in your tech stack
This is a tip that will reap rewards in both the short and long term. Investing in a quality tech stack will make your office more efficient, and this increased efficiency will quickly lead to reduced costs. Make sure you look at things like office heating and air conditioning. Getting in touch with a company that offers services such as air conditioning Leicester could mean that your system works more efficiently and save you money in the long run.
Another important part of remote tech is software that secures the privacy of employees working from home. This could be anything from a VPN to mask their location, a business phone so they don’t need to use a personal one, or even royal mail redirection services that allow them to use a third-party address for business communication, whilst still getting any important documents.
It might also be important to invest in a cloud-based storage system or a project management tool – the key is to find the tech that works best for your specific business needs. In relation to the former, you can finally have control over the files that have been clogging up your hardware for years. Then, in relation to the project management tool, you will have finally found a permanent replacement for the dreaded whiteboards and post-it notes.
*Collaborative post
Debz Louise is a plus-size blogger based in Yorkshire. Behind many nationwide campaigns such as #WeaAreTheThey & winner of Best Blogger at the UK Plus Size Awards, she talkas about life as a plus-size 40-something woman in South Yorkshire.
Leave a Reply