Office occupancy hits new high in ‘back to school’ season
The number of UK workers returning to offices is at its highest level since lockdown was lifted in May 2021, with external clients taking up office meetings and the end of the summer holidays driving workers back to the office.
The latest analysis from Remit Consulting, which tracks data from building managers, shows average occupancy for the UK of 31% in the week ending 9 September – a notable uptick on the previous week’s 22% and the highest since before Covid-19 hit.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday remain the busiest days, with some days achieving occupancy of more than 36%, while Friday occupancy stands at an average of 13%. This follows the trend of strong mid-week numbers bookended by weak Mondays and even weaker Fridays.
The number of UK workers returning to offices is at its highest level since lockdown was lifted in May 2021, with external clients taking up office meetings and the end of the summer holidays driving workers back to the office.
The latest analysis from Remit Consulting, which tracks data from building managers, shows average occupancy for the UK of 31% in the week ending 9 September – a notable uptick on the previous week’s 22% and the highest since before Covid-19 hit.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday remain the busiest days, with some days achieving occupancy of more than 36%, while Friday occupancy stands at an average of 13%. This follows the trend of strong mid-week numbers bookended by weak Mondays and even weaker Fridays.
The management consultant’s Return Report showed figures are not far from the previous highest national average office occupancy rate of 30.6%, which was recorded in June this year.
It also showed the number of external visitors to offices has risen from previous weeks.
London’s West End and Docklands markets have experienced individual days when an average of around 50% of all staff were in the office, with numbers of staff at their desks hitting an average high of just over 40% on Wednesday 7 September in the City.
Lorna Landells, corporate real estate consultant at Remit Consulting, said: “The increase in the number of office workers being back at the desk reflects a similar increase at the same time last year, marking the start of a slow but sustained return to the workplace. This came to an end with the restrictions put in place in response to the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in December 2021.
“Since the restrictions were eased earlier in the year, the figures recovered but have fluctuated since, partly in response to economic headwinds, such as the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations, industrial action and extreme weather events. While the state funeral of Her Majesty the Queen will have a further impact on the figures, many will hope that the most recent data points towards a lasting return to the office.”
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