What actually makes a good office?

I look at a lot of them.

Some are shiny and brand new.

Some are full of glass.

Some are in beautiful period buildings with loads of character.

And honestly, there is no right answer.

It completely depends on the business.

What works brilliantly for one company could be completely wrong for another.

Some want character, high ceilings and a beautiful reception.

Others want clean, modern space, loads of breakout areas and somewhere to collaborate.

Some businesses want everyone together.

Others need quiet rooms and somewhere to concentrate.

And then there are the things that matter to almost everyone:

Good transport links.

Good light.

Good coffee nearby.

A layout that actually works.

And somewhere people genuinely want to spend their working day.

That is why I always think the office search should start with the business and the people, rather than a list of buildings.

Because the best office is not necessarily the newest, the biggest or the most impressive.

It is the one that feels right for the people working there.

That is what I am looking for when I take a client out on viewings.

Not just “Will this fit?”

But “Will this work?”

And there is a big difference.