Businesses in the booming industrial railway town of Swindon are often looking to expand. Swindon was always known as a place where a lot of manufacturing took place, but now, there is more focus on modern, flexible, tech-driven hubs.
So, how does this affect future Swindon space needs? When you look at the differences in workspaces, even twenty years ago, and compare them to today, it's clear that Swindon workspaces have had to adapt to the times. For example, in the 1990s and 2000s, there was a rise in financial and technology sectors, with Nationwide Building Society making a home there. In more recent years, there was the massive redevelopment of the Honda Site, which is now Panattoni Park.
To ensure your Swindon workspace supports productivity for the long haul, here are six things business expansion trends say about future space needs.
1. Flexibility is Everything
Swindon has experienced unpredictable markets even in recent years, so employers need to scale up and down whenever they can. That means that businesses are looking into flexible offices and industrial space solutions. The good news is that there are plenty of options available in Swindon, such business centres catering for these very needs. These flexible spaces should be adaptable, offering spacious layouts that balance privacy and collaboration in shared areas like kitchens and meeting rooms. There shouldn't be any fixed terms holding a business to a one-year-plus lease in Swindon, either. Instead, the business can use the space for as long as it needs to and move on when the time is right. It's about staying loose in an ever-changing market.
2. Green Infrastructure is Essential
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important as time goes on and a business grows. This is in part because of the growing number of green-focused consumers and clients in Swindon, and is especially important when you consider that there are swathes of young people currently caring about and shaping the town's green future. Plus, there are compliance rules to adhere to.
As such, green infrastructure is becoming essential. Smart, energy-efficient buildings mean that the business has a lower carbon footprint while also paying less in utility bills. It also helps attract top talent who care about sustainability, as they are more likely to accept an offer from a business that runs in a green building.
One great example of this in Swindon is Panattoni Park, which placed real emphasis on sustainability. All buildings in this park aimed for net zero construction via:
- Rooftop solar panels
- EV charging stations
- Efficient lighting
- Greywater recycling
- Smart water management
3. There's No Room for Poor Wi-Fi Connections
When businesses expand, they tend to gravitate towards office spaces that don't just have desks for every employee, but also separate areas for collaboration and breaks. It's all about creating a dynamic, flexible space that people can move about in while maintaining creative momentum.
As a result, there's absolutely no room for dodgy internet connections. It needs to be speedy and reach all corners of the workplace, no matter what.
The good news is that it's pretty easy to do, and many Swindon buildings are already ahead of the game, as you can put in additional wired internet access points or router extenders. Even better, install a business Wi-Fi mesh network with several satellite nodes around the office space. This works well in larger, corporate environments.
4. Consolidated Work Hubs
In Swindon, more businesses are moving away from owning or renting scattered workplaces around the town and instead focusing on having a single consolidated work hub where all processes are completed. This central, connected location means fewer problems managing operations all over the South West.
Part of the reason Swindon is ahead of the curve with this trend is because of the easy access to the M4. A single work location in Swindon means better access to other parts of the UK.
5. Layouts with a Purpose
Swindon is seeing a rising requirement for workspace layouts with a purpose. This is because more and more Swindon businesses are now recognising the importance of being in a physical space. While the pandemic showed that working from home was a definite possibility (and has its own benefits), there's also a need for in-person collaboration.
Even Swindon Borough Council spoke up a few years back about it, with Mr Sumner at a council meeting encouraging: "As close a return as possible to pre-pandemic working, with an increase in the numbers of officers being on-site in order to support our town centre businesses".
This trend means more Swindon workspaces need to accommodate collaborative working. It's all about finding workspaces that have layouts with a purpose. In particular, open-plan workspaces help employees naturally gravitate towards one another and come up with new, interesting ideas.
6. A Need for Premium Spaces in Swindon
In Swindon, there's a serious fight going on for the best talent, in particular, for forklift drivers and warehouse technicians.
The competition is fierce, and businesses naturally want the best of the best, especially when expanding in this town. This has had a knock-on effect on the type of workspace sought out, as, nowadays, there's a higher need for employers to invest in premium space.
These companies are realising that the physical space where their employees work acts as a recruitment tool. The better the space is to work in, the more chance they have of hiring the best talent in the area.
When searching specifically for people working in Swindon offices, there's a real focus on:
- Climate-controlled breakrooms (not too warm or cold)
- Secure lockers for employees to safely keep their belongings
- Green spaces for a serene place to take a breather
- Shower facilities for employees to get clean after a manual shift
- Access to the gym
- High-quality appliances like a kettle and coffee machine
They are also searching for high-end offices, warehouses, and studios that use sustainable materials and smart building technology. They may place more emphasis on a space with lots of natural light, access to the outside, and executive suites that will genuinely impress clients. It's more likely that an employer is willing to pay a premium for this, too, even when compared to an office building that could accommodate more employees.
Some examples of premium workplaces in Swindon include:
- Panattoni Park Swindon
- Cheney Manor Industrial Estate
- nLighten
- Windmill Hill Business Park
Expansion Trends are Seriously Impacting Future Swindon Space Needs
Swindon business expansion trends are changing. There's a real emphasis on sustainable buildings, premium locations for recruitment purposes, and consolidated work hubs for more streamlined processes. So, if you are looking for a workspace in Swindon specifically, it's important to keep the trends in mind so you have a better chance of business growth.
