We’re into the final quarter of the year and businesses are planning ahead for 2025. There’s no better time to make a change than the start of a new year – and that includes looking at the space you work in.

Is it working as hard as it can be for you and your employees? There are more options on the market than ever before, and the potential benefits of finding a new office space that is aligned with your growth plans are huge.

Here’s seven essential things you should look for in a new office in 2025 to make sure it boosts your company’s growth and gives your employees what they need to thrive.

Great connectivity

Most importantly of all, your office needs to be connected. That can mean a space which is well linked to local transport options to cut down commuting and open up your office to clients from around the country.

It also means digital connectivity. It’s absolutely essential to find an office that has fast WiFi and the communication technology that lets you make the most of it. Business is international and having poor digital connectivity means you’re cutting off a huge number of potential customers.

It’s also key for successful hybrid working systems where people in the office need to connect with people at home easily and instantly. That helps build company culture and also keeps productivity high.

Dote is a fantastic recent example of how important both types of connectivity are for a growing business. The company’s staff are spread across Manchester and Birmingham, making it essential for them to be able to get to the office easily on days they are in, and communicate smoothly on days when they are at home.

In 2025, you need to follow Dote’s example and prioritise connectivity when looking for a office space to rent in Manchester.

Relaxation and socialising spaces

The smartest companies out there are adapting to the future of work by keeping their employees happy. Get your office space right and you could see attendance jump by 100% and employees coming in even on their designated work from home days.

One of the key ways to do that is to give people a range of different spaces in the office. Most importantly, to recognise that work needs to be about more than sitting at a desk for hours then going home.

To that end, finding a space which offers relaxation and social spaces is a key way to retain the best employees and make sure your business keeps growing. These can be lounges, kitchen facilities, green terraces or other areas that help people balance work and life.

For example, GigPig required a space with great social facilities and chose a managed office in Manchester which included a space that is a café by day and music venue by night. It was ideal for their staff who like to perform and entertain others in the building.

Taking the business’ brand and proposition into account in this way and enuring that their workspace reflects it is a fundamental part of Level’s process.

Amenity is all important!

Linked to the need for relaxation and socialising spaces is the desire for amenities that transform and office space into something more.

If you’re looking for a new office to rent in 2025, you need to find one that offers something extra. Amenities like gyms, cafés, content studios, additional meeting rooms, collaboration spaces, yoga spaces, cinema rooms, event spaces, bike racks, shower rooms and more are now commonplace in all types of office buildings.

If you’re trying to attract the best staff and keep them in the business, you need to provide a workspace that gives them something they can’t get elsewhere or at home. That means creating an environment that encourages their return.

A great example is The Modern Milkman. The business needed a space that offered a real community feel in Manchester city centre and found it at Bonded Warehouse which includes a gym, gin bar and event space – the perfect features to encourage that community.

Inclusive design

Inclusivity is all important and modern office building design takes it into consideration more than ever before. When it comes to providing the best possible workspace for your staff, you need to be thinking about inclusivity.

It can mean many things such as disabled access, quiet spaces, neuro-diverse lighting, prayer rooms, a range of food selections and much more. What all of those have in common is that they take into account different needs to provide an office space that is welcoming for all.

INEVITABLE needed an office with disabled access for their founders which Level found for them, but it applies to every company. If you’re not working out of an inclusive space, you’re limiting the potential of your company and turning clients and potential employees away for no reason.

Businesses moving to a new office in 2025 need to have inclusive design at the front and centre of their plans.  

Room to grow, affordably

The economy is expanding and companies up and down the country are looking to grow with it. As we exit the challenging times seen in recent years, this is a great opportunity to find a new office that matches your growth plans – and the flexible workspace boom gives businesses more options than ever.

Most importantly, you can now take the exact number of desks you need and scale up when your company grows. That’s instead of a traditional office lease where you have to predict how much space you might need in the future ahead of time and pay for it all even if it’s not filled. That makes flexible offices ideal for the current economic conditions when you need room to grow, affordably.

Chatloop is a great example of a company which did this. They chose a space at Huckletree in Ancoats where they can take more desks at short notice when required without having to pay up front for space they might not use for six or 12 months.

Health and wellbeing features

Big open-plan rooms with regimented banks of desks aren’t the default anymore. Offices are designed to have more personality now with health and wellbeing features throughout which make them more attractive places to spend time.

That can be biophilic design touches like greenery, flowers or green walls which have a positive effect on people’s health. It can also mean bigger windows to provide more natural light, or natural décor to make the office a welcoming, warm space.

When it comes to creating a welcoming environment, health and wellbeing features should be near the top of your list. You want an office that inspires your staff like ESProfiler, not one that is sterile and lifeless.

Sustainability

Last but by no means least, in 2025 you need to think about sustainability when looking for your next office space.

Many businesses and potential employees are making their decisions based on sustainability. If you neglect it, you could be missing out on business and the best employees at the same time.

On the other hand, if you choose an office space which highlights sustainability, you could be giving yourself an advantage over the competition.

Likewise, you are making your own sustainability reporting easier if you move into a building that has a high BREEAM rating or encourages more sustainable behaviour with amenities such as bike racks or EV charging points.

Want to learn more about offices to rent in Manchester and see what’s out there? Our expert team is on hand to help you work out exactly what your business needs to thrive, then help you find it. Book your free consultation call today to get started!

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