As Bristol’s office market faces record-high rents and increasing pressure on supply, flexible office providers addressed these challenges during a recent Flexible Space Association roundtable discussion. The Bristol Office Agents Society reported that headline rents have surged to £48.00 per square foot, the highest among the UK’s major cities, reflecting the growing demand for high-quality office space.
Founder of Desklodge, Tom Ball, comments, “The rising rents show how competitive the Bristol job market is – and how much occupiers value having a destination office that talented people want to come to. High quality flex operators are seeing a huge influx from more traditional occupiers as their leases come to an end.”
The Flexible Space Association (FlexSA) hosted its Bristol Roundtable Meeting and Workspace Visit on 11th February 2025, bringing together professionals from member companies to discuss a range of topics relevant to the sector. While the event covered diverse issues, one key takeaway emerged: the sector must play a pivotal role in tackling the increasing pressure on office space supply across the city.
Discussions explored current market trends, shifts in occupier demand, and the challenges posed by limited availability of traditional office spaces. A workspace tour of Landmark and Desklodge also gave attendees with firsthand insight into innovative approaches being adopted within Bristol’s flexible office market.
Jane Sartin, Executive Director of the Flexible Space Association, added: “The event highlighted the importance of collaboration within our industry to ensure businesses in Bristol continue to have access to the flexible, high-quality workspaces they need to thrive.”
Tom Ball continues, “Flexible space has always been popular with smaller companies – but increasingly larger companies are choosing to outsource to operators who can create a culture and experience far beyond the “branch offices” derided in sit-coms for years. Where you work matters – and companies that want the best talent need to provide the best environments.”
The event underscored the resilience and adaptability of Bristol’s flexible office sector, with providers committed to developing solutions that meet the city’s evolving workspace needs.
