Almost one in three UK employees now splits their working week between home and the office, prompting organisations to completely rethink how they handle office moves.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that 28% of working adults are now classed as hybrid workers. What started as a temporary solution during the pandemic has evolved into a permanent way of working.
Rather than making offices redundant, remote work has changed what they are actually used for.
Offices are busier again – but redesigned
Office occupancy has recovered to roughly 40%, according to Remit Consultant, the highest level recorded since COVID. Staff are returning, but not to rigid desk layouts. Instead, workplaces are being reshaped around collaboration zones, flexible seating and meeting areas that better suit hybrid teams.
Business growth now drives 42% of London office relocations (Sumomove), yet companies are downsizing. In 2024, record numbers of deals were signed for offices under 10,000 sq ft (Business Money), showing a clear focus on smarter, more efficient space.
This shift is forcing businesses to reconsider how much space they really need, where it should be located and what function it should serve.
The era of the overnight move is ending
The traditional Friday-to-Monday office relocation is rapidly becoming a thing of the past.
Research from the British Association of Removers shows organisations that plan moves 12 to 18 months in advance experience 68% less disruption than those that rush (Sumomove). Instead of relocating all at once, companies are moving in phases. Teams shift gradually, furniture is stored off-site and operations continue throughout.
While it may look more complicated, this phased approach keeps businesses running and allows them to adapt as their needs change over time.
Office moves are more complex than ever before
Modern workplaces feature modular pods, integrated technology, acoustic panels and specialist furniture – all expensive and difficult to replace if damaged.
A poorly executed move can result in broken equipment, delayed installations and costly downtime. For many organisations, that level of risk is simply unacceptable.
Sustainability is now a priority
Environmental targets and ESG commitments mean businesses are paying closer attention to what happens to their old furniture and equipment. Throwing everything away and starting again is no longer viable.
In 2024, more than 27,000 items of office furniture and IT equipment were refurbished through circular economy schemes, preventing an estimated 2,000 tonnes of CO₂e emissions (European Business Magazine).
More firms are reusing, reselling or responsibly recycling assets, particularly when resizing offices for hybrid work.
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 isn’t going anywhere
With hybrid patterns now firmly established and attendance levelling off, office transformation continues at pace.
For many organisations, relocation is no longer a one-off project but an ongoing process of adjusting space to match real working habits.
And with nearly one in three employees still dividing their time between home and office, workspace decisions are increasingly strategic rather than purely logistical.
