Find space for new ideas at work

A tiny office with little diversity in the type of space available is enough to make anyone go stir crazy. However, as new people enter the workforce, companies are altering the way the office is run, and this is leading to a change in the distribution of the workplace budget.

The latest Occupier Density study conducted by the British Council for Offices shows that more diverse working patterns are giving rise to a change in the distribution of office space. Typical budgets used to see 80% spent on fixed work places, 15% on meeting space and 5% on other support rooms. As the work force becomes more varied, however, fixed workstations are taking a smaller portion of the budget, with meeting rooms, client entertainment spaces and breakout areas becoming more common.

The research also reveals that London offices and those in the Southeast have the lowest occupier density, apart from Wales, making for more room in which to divide office space.

The results of the study will be used to create the BCO’s next Guide to Specification and to inform the industry about how to future-proof buildings to keep up with the changing needs of the modern office.