Global office owners must take a more nuanced approach to their portfolios if they want to attract tenants, according to a new survey.
BNP Paribas Real Estate surveyed 3,500 employees across Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK about their expectations for office space and found that responses differed greatly between countries and generations.
In the Netherlands (61%) and Belgium (56%), respondents said the greatest focus should be on the office as a place to exchange ideas, socialise and work together. But in the UK, 70% of employees consider the office as simply a workplace where as little time as possible should be spent.
Most Europeans aged under 30 appreciate the human and social aspects of the office, with 69% citing this in Italy, 66% in France, 59% in Germany and 57% in the UK. But for workers aged between 30 and 49, it is chiefly a place to work in France (54%), Germany (57%) and the UK (70%).
“The survey clearly shows we are at a tipping point for commercial real estate, where the quality of the spaces and services offered by companies is essential to both retaining employees and attracting new talent,” said Séverine Chapus, deputy general manager for development at BNP PRE. “Apart from the office, this also implies a more mixed, flexible and sustainable vision of the urban landscape.”
In terms of office design, the UK favours private and individual concentration spaces, while Spain prefers areas that encourage teamwork.
“The sudden prevalence of hybrid work has prompted us to question the traditional role of the office,” said Sylvain Hasse, head of corporate services for BNP PRE. “The partitioned unit is a thing of the past, we must now constantly ‘re-enchant’ it to offer what telework perhaps cannot. This means offices, of course, but also places to receive guests, to learn, to have a social experience.”
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