The finance sector looks to the office as a vehicle for change

Rarely do office overhauls make headlines, but NatWest’s City of London headquarters recently got a makeover – and it is causing a stir. The banking giant has designed an office space that reflects its new hybrid working policy: rows of desks have been replaced with pastel couches, reports the Guardian, and office phones have been swapped for Zoom-enabled meeting rooms.

Electrified lockers full of charging Chromebook laptops cater to staff who are splitting their time between home and office, whilst “cafe-style meeting rooms are separated with stylish soundproof curtains” and single-person work pods provide quiet and privacy.

This office revamp is just one indication of the finance sector’s post-pandemic approach to working life. As the UK opens up, finance sector businesses have spearheaded the move to bring workers back to the office, introducing new flexible and hybrid working models that cater to the needs of their employees, post-pandemic. More and more, businesses like NatWest are looking to the office as a means of finding a new balance, creating a space that suits modern ways of working.

Similarly, appealing workplace perks are increasingly seen by finance businesses as a means of enticing staff back to the office. For instance, Goldman Sachs waived gym fees for its UK employees, reopened its London office rooftop garden to staff, and provided onsite childcare, as needed.

Meanwhile, the introduction of new, more flexible models of working have seen some finance-sector organisations rethink their office footprint. HSBC, for example, is planning to reduce its global office space by 40% as its capitalises on new hybrid working arrangements. 

As finance businesses across the country look to find a new workplace normal, the office is acting as a stepping stone, helping to facilitate the transition into post-pandemic working life.

At BizSpace, we provide our customers with contemporary, stylish office space that is aligned with modern working models. Our flexible terms, co-working spaces and regional, easy-to-reach locations help businesses thrive by providing a space that works for employees.

Our serviced offices – like our newly refurbished Cardiff business centre – provide a mixture of large open-plan office suites along with smaller offices suitable for start-ups and small businesses. BizSpace Cardiff in Trafalgar House is a fully serviced private office space, providing spacious, furnished offices, stylish breakout areas and private-working booths, as well as a manned reception, meeting rooms for hire, and custom signage.

For finance sector businesses looking for a turnkey solution to their post-pandemic office requirements – one that supports a shift toward hybrid working, a business that is growing or downsizing, or one that’s just starting up – BizSpace could be the answer.

Find out more about our serviced offices and BizSpace Cardiff here.