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New data from IWG reveals that over the past two years commuter towns have increasingly become the primary place of work for many employees across the U.K.
This trend, driven by the workforce’s desire to reduce time and money spent on lengthy commutes, has led to a rise in demand for flexible workspaces in towns like Maidenhead, High Wycombe, and Uxbridge.
More specifically, the report lists the top 10 rural, suburban and town office locations for footfall growth since 2022, as:
- Maidenhead (+171%)
- High Wycombe (+158%)
- Uxbridge (+134%)
- Milton Keynes (+79%)
- Amersham (+77%)
- Reading (+75%)
- Slough (+68%)
- Chertsey (+64%)
- Chelmsford (+63%)
- Preston (+49%)
Alongside this geographical shift, the traditional 9–5 workday is also undergoing dramatic changes. A poll conducted by IWG among more than 2,000 workers suggests that 75% of hybrid workers now choose their own hours — with 64% rarely working a standard 9–5 day. This newfound freedom has allowed employees to tailor their schedules to their most productive hours.
“The working world has transformed over the past few years, with businesses and employees showing continued enthusiasm for the hybrid model,” said IWG Founder and CEO Marx Dixon. “It is not hard to see why. Enabling businesses to save money amid rising costs while giving employees an improved work-life balance and significantly reducing their expenditure on long commutes is a no-brainer.”
These new schedules have workers either starting their days earlier or later, often benefiting from a healthier work-life balance. On average, hybrid workers are logging one hour less per week compared to their previous centralized office arrangements.
Businesses are also reported to be adapting to this norm, with the majority reconfiguring their office footprints to accommodate hybrid working models. The strategic shift not only caters to changing employee preferences and demands but also offers significant cost savings, with 73% of companies reporting reduced office expenses.
As commuter towns emerge in the U.K. as new work hubs and flexible hours become the norm, the workforce will become more defined by a decentralized and individualized approach to location and work scheduling.
