There are a few things that are proven to boost employee productivity and happiness. Employees are actively looking to work with companies that offer the benefits that matter most to them, whether that’s their salary, enhanced paternal leave, or flexible working hours.
Once you’ve got those essentials sorted out, there are some added extras that are sure to improve your employees’ experience. We’re talking about good lighting, a Cycle to Work scheme, and a great place to work in. If you’re ready to upgrade your office, we’ve scouted out the coolest offices in the country that both you and your employees are sure to love.
What makes a cool office?
What makes one office ‘cooler’ than another? It’s a subjective word, of course, but office design firm Oktra has highlighted what it thinks will be the leading office trends in 2022. These include:
- Sustainability – with many businesses looking for ways to make their offices more sustainable, this has naturally fed into designing offices in appealing ways, from making the most of natural lighting, to the use of natural or recycled materials.
- Technology-enabled offices – to encourage collaboration between colleagues in the office and at home.
- Office design & layout – Offices that make great use of the space they have available, including private booths , a mixture of flexible desks and hot desks, breakout zones and meeting rooms.
- Diverse & inclusive workplaces – that cater to the needs of all employees, whether that means a prayer room in the building, or spaces that are accommodating to the needs of neurodiverse employees.
A cool office should foster a great working environment, and be somewhere that employees are excited about coming to every day. Your staff might think your company’s office is cool because it has lots of private spaces for them to get on with their work as well as areas to encourage collaboration, whilst another team might love their office because of the easy access to outdoor space.
Whatever cool means to your team, your office should be a well-designed space that helps your team thrive at work.
Discover our favourite cool offices
Some of the world’s most famous companies are renowned for their cool offices, including Google’s campus with its free employee exercise and wellness classes, gourmet meals, and bright, bold colours. If you want to join their ranks with a cool office of your own, here are our five favourites across the UK.
Long Acre, Covent Garden
Could this be one of the coolest offices in London? There’s no denying that Covent Garden is one of the best areas of the city, with plenty to see and do right on your doorstep, and this office offers the perfect gateway to this thriving part of London. Your team will love the roof terrace, whether for catching up with colleagues over a Friday evening drink, or making the most of the sunshine with a team meeting overlooking the city. With breakout areas, phone booths and meeting rooms, your team can work the way that suits them best, in a light and bright office full of other like-minded businesses.
Albert Dock, Liverpool
Liverpool frequently appears at the top of “coolest city” lists, so it’s only fitting that your base in this thriving city is also seriously cool. Our office in Albert Dock will give you a business address in one of Liverpool’s most famous destinations, and this building right on the water retains a lot of its original charm with exposed brickwork walls and rooms that have been transformed into office space that will help your business thrive. Our serviced office in Liverpool has been ranked in the top four co-working spaces by IPSE, and we’ve won three Transform awards for branding. From on-site catering to outside space and, of course, high speed broadband, a mixture of different workspaces and a staffed reception – this office offers everything your team needs, in one of Liverpool’s coolest locations.
Bridge Street, Manchester
Some offices have the cool factor from their location, others because of the facilities offered, and some because they’re in an iconic building. Our office on Bridge Street in Manchester falls firmly into the latter camp – although the facilities and location are pretty great too! This beautiful building is instantly recognisable thanks to its floral facade. Getting a glimpse of these joyful florals every morning on your way to work is sure to put a spring in your step – and if that doesn’t work, then you can grab an espresso from one of Manchester’s best coffee shops, located on the ground floor of the building. The offices are in the heart of Spinningfields, so you’re mere moments from great bars, restaurants and cafes for catching up with colleagues after work.
Boundary Row, London
Ever wished you could enjoy your morning tea with the Mad Hatter? Well, you can with this Alice in Wonderland themed office in London’s Waterloo district. With bespoke design features centring around Alice and friends, we guarantee that this is a one-of-a-kind office that’s sure to get your team thinking creatively. But it’s not just a gimmick – the office also offers the latest facilities and services you’d expect from a modern office (read more about serviced offices), including high-speed internet, secretarial support, meeting rooms and breakout areas. If you take an office in this building, you’ll also receive an ‘Access All Areas’ card allowing you to access our other office spaces nationwide – perfect if you’re visiting clients in another part of the country.
Newhall Street, Birmingham
This office space is housed in a former assay building, one of only four in the UK for the assaying, testing and hallmarking of precious metals. Today, a range of thriving small businesses are housed in the Grade II-listed building, creating a fantastic community that your business will fit right into. The original essence of the building has been maintained, and the space has been used creatively, with the original vaults and labs transformed into meeting rooms and breakout zones. With 24-hour access to allow your employees to work when best suits them, showers for freshening up after a quick lunchtime workout and high-speed WiFi, it has everything your business needs, all in one of Birmingham’s coolest offices.
Find your next office with Easy Offices
Whether one of these work spaces has piqued your attention, or you want to find a blank canvas that you can make your own, we can help you to find the perfect office space for your business. Get in touch with our team today to discuss your needs, and let us find an uber-cool office space for you.