Start-ups and businesses are abandoning their office spaces in busy CBD areas and opting to move closer to home, in a new and unexpected trend born out of the coronavirus crisis, according to the founder of @WORKSPACES, a provider of co-working and private offices.
“Prior to COVID-19, we always received more enquiries from start-ups and businesses wanting to take up office space in the city as it was seen as the commercial hub and place to be. Now people are wanting to be near their homes and local community,” founder and managing director Jenny Folley said.
She noted that working locally is definitely a huge trend across the board, with many Aussies finding they can’t work from home but seeking private office spaces in their local areas.
“Many people are finding that they cannot work from home and need a private office to work outside of the house. Enquiries for private and serviced office space have gone through the roof,” Ms Folley said.
She noted that the coronavirus crisis has made everyone think twice about how they work and live.
“COVID-19 has taught us a lot of things — and the most important thing is that home matters and we should try harder to build our working life around our home,” she said.
“Working locally supports this outcome.”
She added that the many personal benefits of working close to home are also part of the appeal.
“The benefits of working locally mean people can get to work and get home quickly without having to sit in traffic,” Ms Folley said.
“They can easily pick their kids up from school or collect groceries for dinner. You don’t have to contend with cramped lifts, crowds or parking issues.”
