Business Centre Sector Continues To Thrive Amidst Increased Competition And Brexit

New research published by the Business Centre Association (BCA) in collaboration with CBRE has found that the business centre sector enjoyed a 13% increase in turnover and was home to around 11% more workers in 2015 and 2016, despite initial fears about the impact of Brexit on the sector, and increasing competition from new entrants into the market. The sector is worth around £3.3bn in terms of turnover, up from £2bn in 2013.

The findings come from “The UK Business Centre Market” report which surveyed 580 business centres, representing 23% of the sector across the country, to assess the current state of the market. Overall, the report found the UK wide business sector is now home to 93,000 individual small businesses which employ over 480,000 people, supporting around £18bn of GDP.

The research is published amidst a flurry of recent acquisitions and new entrants coming into the market place. In June 2017 alone, it has been announced that Blackstone have acquired a majority stake in BCA member, The Office Group, whilst Carlyle Group have made three acquisitions to boost its “Uncommon” flexible workspace venture. British Land have also launched Storey, a new flexible workspace concept.

At the UK-wide level, the report found:

• Turnover in the sector increased by 13% and the number of workers in business centres has increased by 11%
• Overall, turnover in the sector was worth in the region of £3.3bn in 2016, up from £2bn in 2013.
• The amount of space taken by businesses per worker in a business centre has fallen by 8% year-on-year between 2013 and 2016.
• 74% of businesses in business centres have 5 employees or fewer.
• 39% of businesses stay in business centres for more than three years, up from 14% in 2013, providing further evidence that the sector is seen as a long-term option for those seeking flexible workspace for their business.

Over 90 new centres opened in 2015 and 2016, providing a home for thousands of the UK’s new and growing companies. The evidence suggests that this trend will continue regardless of Brexit as more people take advantage of the terms, services and in particular leading technology provided by business centres.

This increase in competition comes amidst wider economic concerns around Brexit. As part of the report, 38% of operators sampled said Brexit had a slightly negative impact on their business, 34% of operators sampled said it had no impact and 20% said it had a positive impact. Whilst it was felt there was an initial pause in activity after Brexit, demand for space has recovered.

Speaking on the impact of the EU referendum on the sector, the Chair of the BCA and Director of Sales at Bruntwood, Andrew Butterworth, said:

“After the referendum, almost immediately enquiry levels and demand levels fell…but they have come back and are now tracking long term averages. Business confidence started to return and people decided they needed to get on with running their businesses. As recent investment and acquisitions in the sector demonstrate, the prospects for the future of the sector are extremely positive.”

The continuing success of the sector within the office market is also evidenced by the growth in competition over the two years, as high levels of demand from customers drives ‘fleet of foot’ operator innovation, and creates clearer and more distinctive customer offers and facilities.

Whilst the sector has traditionally been seen as a stepping stone on the way to long-term leases, the evidence suggests that the sector is now being seen as a long-term option with 39% of businesses now staying in businesses centres for at least three years, an almost three-fold increase on 2014.

Commenting on the findings presented within the report, the Executive Director of the BCA, Jennifer Brooke, said:

“Our sector continues to push to the front of the commercial sector, with operators able to respond to customers and technology in a way which the traditional office market cannot.  Whilst 2016 was a year of some uncertainty for many in our sector, this survey shows that the sector continued to grow and thrive amidst the instability created by political events. And, of course, Brexit has not and could not have stopped the pace of technological innovation or stemmed the ever-increasing aspirations of customers for higher quality space and more responsive service from our members. The sector looks set to respond positively to what is likely to be a challenging few years to come.”

Miles Gibson, Head of UK Research at CBRE, which conducted the research, commented:

“Our annual survey of flexible space providers confirms that the workplace is now changing very rapidly. Business centres are turning the very idea of the office upside down, and their model is proving very attractive, with growth in customers averaging 28% each year between 2013 and 2016. The customer expectations created by flexible space providers present both challenges and opportunities for landlords more used to dealing with long term leases and conventional fit-outs.”