A billion people around the world work on the move, and it is estimated that this number will increase by a third by next year. This growing army of workers is already being catered for by serviced-office centres in cities and at airports. Now, they are to be served by similar facilities at rail stations and on motorways.

Regus has recently agreed deals with the service centre operation of the Shell oil business and the French rail company SNCF that could lead to millions of professionals being able to work more effectively as they travel the roads and railways of Europe. The business centres at motorway service stations and rail stations will give workers on the move space in which to make private phone calls or work on an assignment between meetings while also gaining access to the sort of support associated with a Regus centre – such as video communication and printing, copying and scanning of documents.

The development is further evidence of the changing nature of work. A recent study supported by Regus – “Why Place Still Matters In The Digital Age; Third Place Working In Easy Reach of Home” by ZZA User Responsive Environments – reveals that many people now do most of their work in a place that is neither their home nor their office, but a “third place”, such as a library or coffee shop.

Deals like that with SNCF and Shell will broaden considerably the types of places where these workers can operate, so improving their productivity and at the same time making their lives simpler.

“Technology is a key driver in the growth of the mobile workforce, but the increase in demand for drop-in business centres has come from mobile workers who still need a place to think or to make a private phone call, for example, and a drop-in business centre at a railway station platform makes sense.”

— Celia Donne, regional director at Regus

Indeed, one of the factors behind the growth in third-place working is individuals’ preference for combining the benefits of not commuting to offices in city centres with being able to share space with other workers. Studies suggest that employees are more productive if they are alongside other workers (although not necessarily in their offices) and away from the distractions of home.

With companies constantly looking for ways to improve productivity in these challenging times, drop-in business centres like those being introduced by Shell and SNCF could soon become the norm across Europe and beyond.

Are you a mobile worker? Have you tried our new business lounges? Let us know what you think in the comments below

Regus business lounge opens at Shell motorway station, an innovative pilot for mobile workers.

Shell and Regus announce the trial of a joint programme that could see Regus business lounges open at Shell petrol forecourts on motorways across Europe. The business lounges are designed specifically to meet the needs of a growing number of mobile workers.

The first business lounge has opened at a Shell station just south-west of Paris, on the A10 autoroute, at the Limours-Janvry service station. Drivers can drop into the lounge to:

• use reliable high-speed internet;
• scan, copy or fax documents;
• print from their laptop, smartphone, Blackberry or tablet;
• get help from a virtual concierge;
• arrange courier deliveries; and,
• combine stopping for fuel, food or forecourt services with using professional work facilities.

To access the Regus business lounge, they simply buy a day pass at the Shell checkout or swipe a Regus Businessworld card. The Businessworld programme offers members drop-in access to more than 1,200 Regus business centres around the world.

The lounge will be an addition to the existing range of high quality fuels and lubricants and other forecourt services such as the shop.

“This alliance allows Shell and Regus as market leaders in their respective fields to come together to better serve our customers. We know that many of our customers are working on the move and are excited to explore offering them accessible and innovative working options as part of our existing network.

—Istvan Kapitany, Vice President Shell Retail Europe

“Research shows there are around 1 billion mobile workers globally. Though they communicate and work using smartphones, tablets and laptops, they miss access to a professional place to work, meet or think where there is easy access to state of the art business facilities. By opening Regus business lounges at motorway stations, Shell and Regus are bringing vibrant business hubs right to the roadside. As a result, many people will be able to work more productively in a professional business environment while on the move.”

—Mark Dixon, CEO of Regus

Have you tried one of our business lounges at a Shell motorway station?

For more information on Regus in France, click here