In the past the serviced office space market has always been viewed as counter-cyclical. That is, as an economy dips and corporate belts tighten, both the private and public sector tend towards short-term planning rather than long term commitment. Office business centres and serviced office space, with their built-in cost flexibility and opportunities for immediately scaling up or down at short notice have tended to find favour under these economic conditions.

For many companies, especially in the UK and London, serviced offices used to be soundly associated with short-termism – a stop-gap or temporary measure before the company finally ‘committed’ to finding space under a full commercial lease.

How times have changed! Office business centres and serviced office providers have also come of age. They have developed their range of added value products and services, the quality and reliability of those services (and the staff who deliver them) and, most importantly, their ability to offer long-term sustainable value to their clients. Serviced office space now makes an excellent fit for 21st century businesses and, in turn, all types and sizes of companies have discovered a new appetite for the package of benefits they provide.

For example when looking for serviced offices in Mayfair, it is tempting to assume that rates are going to be high because of the prestigious west London location. This is simply not the case. A competitive market in the local area ensures that both clients and many suppliers keep a keen eye on pricing and, in the case of businesses such as Harvard Managed Offices at One Heddon Street, there is a commitment to long-term sustainable pricing that clients have testified is ‘ surprisingly affordable.’

If you are starting out in business or are an established business unit of between 5 and 50 people searching for office space in Mayfair, consider serviced or managed office space and you might be pleasantly surprised. Benefits such as standard two year terms with flexible occupancy packages; simple agreements with no legal costs and your own choice of infrastructure, facilities management and service options are all commonplace. In fact, they make a refreshing change from the complexity, cost and commitment of leasing commercial property and taking on a fixed overhead.