Signs You Have Outgrown Your Current Office Setup

Growing your business is always a cause for celebration, but it can also present operational challenges. Whether it is an explosion or slow and steady, an office space that once felt large enough can start to seem quite a bit more cramped.

Often, it is feasible to adapt and remain in place; reorganising furniture can revitalise an office. But what are the indicators that it is time to acknowledge you have outgrown your current space and need to find something more appropriate for your requirements?

Your Staff Require Additional Space

Exactly how much space you need depends on your operation. The absolute minimum, according to health and safety legislation, is eleven cubic metres per person. In a conventional room, this will be a work area of less than 2×2 metres. While this means you can accommodate many people in a room, in practice, even in a desk-based environment, people will feel cramped long before they reach that minimum.

Rather than considering space per person, consider how the space is used. Does everyone have a workstation? Can people move around freely? Are chairs frequently in the way, or even bumping into other items when people stand up?

If team members are complaining about space, why not relocate to one of our managed offices? Because we maintain shared facilities, like break-out spaces, your office can be dedicated to desks and work areas, giving everyone more room to operate comfortably.

Confidentiality Is Compromised in Your Current Space

Privacy doesn’t have to be, or even mean, a private space. A well-designed office is one where people can work without being or feeling watched and quiet conversations can be held without being overheard or disturbing others.

Your business may or may not have privacy/confidentiality requirements, but rest assured, these issues have a cost in either case. Studies have proven that the feeling of autonomy aids motivation and productivity, yet even the perception of being watched can decrease employee satisfaction and morale.

Similarly, general noise does not appear to be a problem for most people, and many report an optimal level of background noise improves productivity. But linguistic noise is distracting because the brain will process the words, which is why it’s difficult to tune out a specific conversation when you can hear it.

Spend a few minutes thinking about your current office and you’ll soon get an idea of how crowded it feels. One excellent option is to consider managed offices. Get in touch and we’ll show you how we can help you scale up, or down, to ensure you always have the right amount of office space for your team.

Meeting Rooms Are Never Available

Meeting spaces and breakout areas may be vital to your business, but have you considered what that means if they are constantly in use?

The most obvious reason they are always occupied is that people have numerous meetings. This might be a positive thing, but if you do not have the capacity for the level of meeting activity your business is generating, you require more space.

Sometimes, though, meeting spaces are fully booked because people are using them as a retreat. If someone is reserving a meeting room because they want a space to work without interruptions, or to have discussions that cannot take place at their desks because of the disturbance, it is another indicator that your office space is no longer functioning as it should.

Overbooked meeting spaces are a signal that change is needed. And the simplest change is a move to managed office spaces. Our buildings offer superior offices, flexibility, and meeting rooms. From a dedicated meeting room to access to bookable rooms, we’ve got you covered.

Your Storage Areas Are Overflowing

Technology has reduced the amount of physical storage we need. Whether it is getting documents organised or making them more accessible, digital storage is typically the superior option. But we still need some physical storage to retain hard copies of certain documents, and there is still a requirement to store office equipment.

When your storage areas are jam-packed, it can quickly have an impact. Over-filled storage makes it harder to locate things, and people may find themselves spending more and more time playing stationery-cupboard Tetris as they carefully repack items. They can also create a saftey risk, with the danger of items falling, or even a fire risk if there is a lot of paper.

Full storage areas may not mean you need a larger office. Often, it is important to rationalise your storage. There is a difference between being well-stocked and over-stocked with supplies, and evaluating the need to digitise paper documents may be sufficient.

However, overfull storage may reflect an overfull office. If that’s the case, managed office space is a straightforward way to expand, providing you with professional office accommodation that you can scale as your needs develop. Call us today, and we can demonstrate how our services can help you as your business evolves.

Your Workplace Facilities are Stretched Beyond Capacity

When your business operates from a space where the amenities are exclusively yours, monitoring their usage patterns reveals crucial insights about whether expansion is necessary. Unlike serviced environments where ample capacity is deliberately built into shared facilities, dedicated amenities can quickly become bottlenecks that signal operational strain.

Consider your break areas and kitchen facilities. You might observe informal scheduling emerging where staff stagger their lunch breaks because your rest area cannot accommodate everyone simultaneously. Perhaps you’ve noticed the appearance of additional appliances – extra microwaves, multiple coffee machines, or supplementary refrigerators – because demand has outstripped your original setup’s capability.

The wellness facilities you provide may also show signs of strain. Shower facilities might have unofficial queues forming, particularly if you encourage cycling to work or lunchtime fitness activities. Storage for personal items, coats, and belongings might be overflowing, creating cluttered common areas that impact the professional atmosphere you want to maintain.

These stretched resources don’t just affect functionality; they impact team morale and productivity. When basic workplace amenities become sources of frustration rather than support, it’s time to consider expansion.

At Wrest Park Business Centre, transitioning to managed office space eliminates these capacity concerns entirely. Our parkland campus provides extensive shared facilities designed with generous capacity across our three business centres. From multiple well-equipped kitchens with complimentary refreshments, to comfortable break-out areas and shower facilities for active commuters, every amenity is planned to serve our diverse business community without strain.

Your Workspace No Longer Reflects Your Enterprise

The evolution of any successful enterprise inevitably outpaces its physical environment. What began as a suitable space for your initial team may no longer align with your current operational reality or future aspirations. This misalignment extends beyond mere square footage to encompass location strategy, professional image, and functional requirements.

You may have met your clients for coffee when you first started your business. The way you meet them to present new projects has likely changed and may now require a meeting space. Your clients, vendors, and even talent pool may have expanded geographically, and your location may not be as convenient as it used to be. You may notice a decrease in potential talent visiting your office due to location, or visiting clients who find the lack of meeting space inconvenient.

In addition to convenience and location, you may also want to start considering your professional image. The physical space where you work represents your company and brand to your clients, prospective clients, future employees, and more. The condition of your work environment can say a lot about your company’s professionalism, stability, and attention to detail. A smaller, tired environment could be setting your company back rather than enhancing the success you have worked so hard to build.

The infrastructure demands of a growing business also evolve. What once required basic internet connectivity might now need robust IT infrastructure, specialised equipment, or enhanced security measures. Your communication needs may have expanded from simple phone lines to sophisticated telecommunications solutions that support remote working and video conferencing.

Geographic strategy plays an increasingly important role as businesses mature. Proximity to transport links becomes crucial for team accessibility and client convenience. Being positioned within business communities that align with your sector can provide networking opportunities and enhance your professional standing.

At Wrest Park Business Centre, we understand these evolutionary pressures. Our historic estate setting in Central Bedfordshire combines heritage charm with contemporary business infrastructure. Located with excellent connectivity to the M1/A1 network and just 45 minutes from London via Thameslink, we serve diverse business communities across Bedford, Luton, Milton Keynes, and beyond.

Our comprehensive workspace solutions grow with your business – from flexible coworking arrangements to substantial managed offices accommodating up to 40 desks. Modern amenities, including high-speed fibre connectivity, professional meeting facilities, and manned reception services, ensure your business projects the right image while operating efficiently.

Transitioning to a New Office

We are creatures of habit, and we humans can be very accepting of things that are less than perfect. This can be particularly true in the case of a business we believe in or enjoy working for. As a rule, businesses are the result of gradual and steady growth. Most only notice the building up of that growth when they stand back and see it all together. And while there are generally logical and rational reasons for a move, such as the requirement for an office that fits your needs, this doesn’t mean that other factors, such as how your business is perceived, are not taken into account.

For whatever reason, if you are thinking of a move, we can help. Whether you are just making an enquiry about the spaces we have on offer, or you would like to take a look around Wrest Park Business Centre or any of our other workspace options, just drop us an email at info@wrestpark.co.uk, or give us a call on 01525 306000, and we will help you find the right space for your business.