As Companies Wrestle with Post-Pandemic Office Plans, Coworking Offers Needed Flexibility

UGANDA, Kampala | Real Muloodi News | The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world has in more ways than we can imagine. Commercial real estate has been particularly disrupted. According to Knight Frank’s H1-2021 report, downsizing, merging, shifting office space to the suburbs and working from home has taken its toll on office space demand.

The sector appeared to be rebounding when the second 42-day national lockdown announced on 18th June 2021.

This came at a time when several organisations were still reconfiguring their workplace layout and strategies to incorporate the SOP’s and social distancing requirements. Flexible working in terms of working in shifts had been largely adopted in several organisations due to the inability to contain all staff members at once while adhering to set SOPs.

But now as the number of vaccinated people are rising, many businesses are pondering the future of their office environments.

Experts believe many companies will stick to a hybrid work model where employees come into an office sometimes and work remotely at other times.

Coworking, or shared office space, is one solution that offers the flexibility businesses need in these uncertain times, and a glimpse into the recovery of this sector of Real Estate in Uganda.

What exactly is a Coworking Space?

Coworking spaces are essentially shared working spaces. These affordable shared workspaces offer a suite of office amenities such as furniture, private meeting rooms, kitchens, and more.

One of the advantages of these spaces is the ability to rent out only what you need, when you need it, versus the expense of an entire private office space.

Enter Regus

Regus is a global brand under the International Workspace Group (IWG) umbrella. Regus professional workspaces enable corporations, businesses and freelancers to operate anywhere, with no upfront costs and without the need for capital investment. Regus shared workspaces remove the hassle, costs and restrictions associated with a traditional office.

With locations in Kampala tastefully chosen and flexible solutions ranging from an hour’s coworking to multi-year office space leases, Regus enables people and businesses to work wherever, whenever, however.

Regus spaces are designed for productivity and come with everything included, whether it’s industry-leading technology, a professional reception service or tastefully furnished office.

Regus’ response to COVID-19

To ensure a safe work environment, Regus has implemented hygiene and physical distancing measures across all locations as recommended by local governments and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to provide customers with a safer work environment. Measures include:

Frequent Cleaning: Regus has increased the frequency of cleaning during the day, focusing on high touchpoint areas, surface and workspace cleaning to meet global health and safety regulations.

Physical Distancing: Regus has taken the principles of physical distancing and adapted them for the workplace. This includes how people move around our centres, with clear information, signage and protocols in place to ensure minimal person-to-person contact.

Visible Signage: Regus centres all have detailed health and safety guidelines on display in key strategic locations. These guidelines support and remind visitors and customers on how to conduct business in the safest possible manner.

Support: Regus’ dedicated team of cleaning contractors, community managers, maintenance managers, account helpdesk coordinators, professional receptionists, IT engineers and many more are here to support you in running your business in the best and safest way possible.

Kampala has 3 Locations:

1. Regus Course View Towers- Plot 21, Yusuf Lule Road, Nakasero: feels like you are working in the skies. The seventh floor view of the Golf course is a reminder of the tranquility that the city offers. This site also has a kitchenette and a reception service.

2. Regus Acacia Mall- PLot 14-18, Cooper Road, Kololo: Situated in Acacia Mall, this workplace allows you to work and sneak into the nearby restaurants, eateries, video game parlors, cinema, name it you have it. The accessibility to the other city suburbs is easiest from this location. The traffic sometimes gets heavy but it is a small price to pay for the life.

3. Regus AHA Towers, Plot 7, Lourdel Road: This has always been the more serious part of town, expected from a place that has a road named after a pioneering missionary. Bordered by the equally serious embassies of Japan and Italy, many Government departments choose to call this street home. It won’t be hard for you to stroll into a mover having lunch across your table down the street.

Contact Regus today (0776 837 966) to book a tour and view their affordable office solutions in Kampala.