Close to a third of UK employees now work part of the week from home, forcing businesses to rethink how and when they move offices.
Recent Office for National Statistics data shows 28% of working adults are now hybrid workers. What began as a crisis response has turned into a permanent shift in working culture.
Importantly, this change hasn’t removed the need for offices – it has transformed their role.
Offices return with a new purpose
Office occupancy across the UK has rebounded to approximately 40%, according to Remit Consultant, marking the highest level since COVID restrictions ended. Workers are coming back, but not to rows of fixed desks. Instead, offices are being redesigned with collaboration hubs, flexible seating and meeting spaces that suit hybrid teams.
Growth is behind 42% of office relocations in London (Sumomove), yet businesses are choosing smaller footprints. In 2024, record numbers of deals were signed for spaces under 10,000 sq ft (Business Money), highlighting a move towards smarter, more efficient workplaces.
This shift is forcing companies to reassess how much space they really need, where it should be located and what purpose it should serve.
Traditional relocations are becoming obsolete
The once-common weekend office move is now largely outdated.
Research from the British Association of Removers shows companies that plan relocations 12 to 18 months in advance face 68% less disruption than those who rush (Sumomove). Instead of moving everything at once, businesses now transition gradually, shifting departments in stages and storing furniture as needed.
While this method may seem more complicated, it allows firms to keep operating and adjust plans as their needs evolve.
Office moves are now high-stakes projects
Modern workspaces include expensive features such as modular pods, integrated technology and specialist furniture. Mishandling any of it can result in costly replacements and delayed setups.
A poorly executed move can lead to downtime and broken equipment – expenses many businesses simply can’t absorb.
Sustainability is shaping decisions
Environmental targets and ESG commitments are changing how businesses handle old office assets. Dumping furniture and starting from scratch is no longer viable.
In 2024 alone, more than 27,000 items of office furniture and IT equipment were refurbished through circular economy initiatives, cutting an estimated 2,000 tonnes of CO₂e emissions (European Business Magazine).
Firms are now prioritising reuse, resale and responsible recycling, particularly when adapting offices for hybrid working.
A spokesperson from SFI Logistics, a UK commercial logistics company that handles office moves and installations, put it plainly:
“The old model of everyone packing up on Friday and starting fresh on Monday just doesn’t work anymore. Companies want to keep operating while they transition, which means moving bit by bit. You need proper planning, people who know what they’re doing with the install, and somewhere to store things in between. It’s a different approach entirely.”
Hybrid working is here for the long haul
With attendance patterns stabilising and hybrid work firmly embedded, office transformation shows no signs of slowing.
For many organisations, relocating is now an ongoing process rather than a one-off project, with spaces constantly evolving to suit real working habits.
And with nearly one in three workers still dividing their time between home and the office, workspace planning is becoming a strategic priority rather than a simple logistical task.
