Attracting the Best Staff With the Right Office Location

What should you be thinking about? What should I avoid? Where are
the suggested best office locations?When choosing your next office
space location you should not only think about a convenient location
for yourself but also your staff and your future staff. It is all far
too easy to pick a location based on your own personal preferences as
a boss and also based on the budget available at the time. The
important thing to remember when planning your next office move is
that, if your business is growing and you are planning to expand in
the near future then your office location can act as a magnet or a
deterrent to new staff candidates.Everyone likes glamorous offices
with all the luxuries but if they are difficult to reach then you will
not attract or keep your staff for very long. On the opposite side of
the coin, if you have poorly lit, designed and decorated offices, then
you staff will not be happy or productive working in that way. It is
really a case of striking a balance and you need to take a number of
factors into account when making this important decision. If you rush
into it you may find that your business suffers because you are unable
to attract the right calibre of employee to take your business
forward.Transport Links
Transport is of major importance because if
you staff are unable to get to work on time then you will lose
productivity. If they take a long time to get home then their
enthusiasm may suffers and they may become unhappy. Many cities have
great transport links but some routes can become overcrowded at times.
You will never be able to satisfy everyone but you want to make sure
your current employees are kept in the loop and your new ones have the
easiest journey possible in to work.So, before you make your decision
you need to ask yourself the following questions:Does my planned
office location offer easy links in and out of town?
Where will the majority of my staff be coming from?
Are there any businesses nearby that have staff I could attract?
Are there usually serious traffic issues around this location?
Do the trains run frequently or do they break down?
Is the walk to the office from the car park or station safe for my
employees?
Environment and Social Setting
The surroundings of your new offices
can be a major plus or negative for your staff. The social side of any
business can help bolster it and give you stronger foundations for
productivity. Everyone needs time to unwind either at lunchtime or
after work and enabling your employees to interact outside work can
strengthen their relationships inside work.Convenient facilities and
places to socialise nearby, whether it be cafes, sandwich shops,
restaurants, pubs or bars, can have a massively positive impact on
staff morale. What's more, you can also use these facilities for
meetings which, in itself, can be a positive mood enhancer.The social
side of work is especially important during the Winter months because
the dark and cold weather can make it difficult for your employees to
socialise if your offices are located away from an civilisation. If
you are a small company then you have more flexibility to find the
right location than if you are a larger business. Many cities usually
have a mass of areas to explore which means you will never be short
options for your new office.Surrounding Businesses
In many instances
it can help the success of your business if you are located in an area
where competitors also reside. In London, the core media, advertising,
financial and I.T companies are located in their respective districts
around the City. Being located at the hub or the centre of your
industry can help you to keep your finger on the pulse of the latest
developments, find partners with complimentary services or
technologies and attract the best staff from your competitors. It is
often a tough play-off because your competitors can approach your
staff also but if your business is in a strong position with some
fantastic offices then you give yourself the best chance of building a
supreme workforce.