The days of all employees working from one central office is a thing of the past for so many businesses that have adopted the hub and spoke approach to workspaces. Read our guide to this modern model for operating a company and how it can benefit your business.
One major trend highlighted by the pandemic is that the traditional model of all team members being based in one central office is no longer essential. Millions of people temporarily working from home have highlighted that many companies can still operate effectively and productively with a large part of the workforce able to do their job away from the main office.
However, the pandemic also showed that face-to-face collaboration and meeting colleagues in person still has vital benefits. Staff can feel isolated at home, while creativity and innovation often thrive when people come together. But unlike the traditional approach, that doesn't mean employees should have to spend hours travelling to do it.
With this in mind, an increasing number of businesses are exploring the hub and spoke office model. This involves businesses operating a main office (the hub) alongside one or more smaller satellite offices or workspaces (the spokes) where employees can access a professional working environment near where they live.
So why might a business want to adopt the hub and spoke model?
The benefits of hub and spoke
Reduced costs
Businesses that adopt the hub and spoke office model can enjoy cost efficiencies compared to those with one large premises.
Using spoke offices rather than a single company headquarters opens up the opportunity to reduce the space you use and pay for.
Spokes are more flexible as you only pay for the space you use, and you often don't get locked into long lease agreements. They also give you the ability to scale the amount of space up or down depending on your needs and use hot desking and communal areas when you need them for extra flexibility.
Finally, giving staff access to offices close to where they live reduces commuting costs which is beneficial to the business as well as the environment.
Increased productivity to working style
Home working has many benefits, but it doesn't suit everyone. Employees can face distractions from family members, difficulties communicating with colleagues, and feelings of isolation. They might also lack a comfortable space to work from or access to fast broadband.
Offering autonomy and options means that being your most productive becomes more accessible. For people who experience neurodivergence to disabilities to economic barriers, having the ownership over how and where they get to work can be transformative.
Being based in a local, professional and well-equipped working environment a few days a week combined with the option of remote working can boost happiness and improve mental health, which, in turn, greatly improves productivity, generating an ROI for your business.
Wider pool of talent
Having multiple workspaces in different locations can open your business up to a broader range of talent.
A brilliant potential employee, for example, could be put off if your company is based in London, which involves a long and costly commute, but they might be attracted to join if they can work closer to home.
Areas like Brighton and Slough, where the Plus X Innovation hubs are based, are home to rich pools of untapped talent, with Brighton, aka ‘Silicon Beach’, ranking as one of the UK's best locations to study and start a business. However, the people based in such locations might not be willing to travel long distances, so providing local office options can attract the talent you need.
The wisest business leaders are those who ensure they don't miss out on the best people just because employees have traditionally been based in the UK's biggest cities.
Improve creativity and collaboration
Spoke offices can be seen as the business version of what US sociologist Ray Oldenburg described in his book The Great Good Place as the 'third place'. Third places break away from the two dominant social environments, home and work, and create anchors of community that cultivate a sense of inclusiveness and creativity free from the pressures the other two environments can carry.
Many innovation experts agree that bringing teams together in one physical space is critical to unlocking creativity. And whilst the development of online collaboration tools has been transformative, nothing quite beats the energy of being in the same room as a colleague.
An inspiring change of scenery that isn't an employee's home or the company's main office can provoke the great ideas, problem solving and learnings that companies need to stay ahead.
What a good spoke office needs
When selecting a satellite office or workspace for your business, there are several key features you should look out for.
Good technology is a must. The space should have strong and secure Wi-Fi as well as access to video conferencing and other tech tools.
Inspiring environments. The space shouldn't be a rigid, cold office; look for premises with areas for collaboration and hot desks to maximise flexibility.
It is advisable to select a coworking space or innovation hub that you can grow into. You might start with using hot desks before moving to permanent desks in a communal area and then your own dedicated office.
Working isn't just doing a job, learning is also important. The best spaces deliver on site education and training that can inspire your workforce. Innovation programmes provide the knowledge, guidance, connections and structure to unlock the potential of a great idea. There is a range of guidance on offer, including experts in product design and investment.
Employees' wellbeing and mental health is key too. Natural light, good ventilation, outdoor spaces, fresh greenery and access to healthy food and drink have all been shown to benefit staff satisfaction and productivity.
Team members working in a spoke office should never feel that they are missing out by working away from the hub office. Look for an inspirational, collaborative, and modern workspace that your employees and business will be proud to call a home away from home.
Transform your working style and team by trying out a hub and spoke model. Plus X Innovation Brighton and Slough members choose from hot desking, resident desks, or office space for 2-150 employees.
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