By Mark Dixon, Regus Founder and Chief Executive

Regus hit its millionth customer when startup Innovative Database Solutions (IDS) took a flexible workplace at The Point of Inverness business centre in Denver, USA.

I’m delighted Regus has reached this key milestone in our journey to enable companies to work smarter and more productively. IDS is typical of the many small businesses that use us to achieve a speedy, cost effective start-up and to expand when they’re ready.

This historic moment shows how the flexible work revolution is fast becoming business as usual.  Today, more than one billion people globally work on the move and alternative ways of working in all kinds of business continues its inexorable rise.

Flexible working is a win/win for every business. It makes it easier for new businesses, like IDS, to start up, while established companies are going flexible to improve employee productivity and reduce overheads. Together with improved work-life balance, it’s easy to see why the flexible working phenomenon is going from strength to strength.

72% of global businesses say they believe their company is more productive directly as a result of flexible working practices,and 68% say that flexible working allows them and their staff to generate additional revenue, according to the 16,000 people who responded to the latest Regus Business Tracker Survey.

This is particularly true in emerging economies that appear to have made flexible working a key part of their development push: China (90%), India (79%), Mexico  (84%). By contrast Japan is split with only 51% of companies reporting a link between flexible working and productivity.

68% globally declare that they generate more revenue through flexible working.  The same trend identified for productivity and flexible working among developing economies is evident: China (87%), Mexico (84%) and India (77%). Japan is yet again at the other end of the spectrum although even here 45% of respondents agree that flexible working helps their company produce increased revenue.

Countries where flexible working is believed to be more closely linked to productivity were more likely to report that flexible workers felt more energized and motivated confirming a link between motivation and productivity: China (79%), India (75%), Mexico (77%), but also Brazil (72%).

Regus’ latest flexible working white paper reveals some huge new trends in the way the world works:

• 72% of global businesses report increased productivity as a direct result of flexible working practises
• 68% of firms said flexible work means staff generate more revenue
• 80% of company managers are expecting to see a surge in people going part-time
• 64% of workers are more energized and motivated because of working part-time
• 81% of firms now offer their staff alternatives to fixed office working

To get the complete picture, download the full report, which is based on interviews with 16,000 business repondents.

For more information on Regus click here

Are you working over the Christmas holiday? Come and check out our tips for staying productive during the holiday season

For more information on Regus click here

Optimal venue for productive work

Comparing a range of third places to work as well as home, half the interviewees working in coffee shop and library settings reported the type of venue where theywere interviewed as most conducive to productive work.

But a far greater proportion of the interviewees in business centres reported this
setting as conducive to productive work. This shows that people using
business centres benefit from better alignment between their work setting and their
needs than those using the other third place settings.

Taken from Why place still matters in the digital age: Third place working in easy reach of home

Regus’ Businessworld membership program, giving the on-the-go business person access to workspace in 1100 locations worldwide, is attracting more and more parters. In fact, mobile workers — who are more likely to work from home or a business lounge rather than a Regus day office — now make up the majority of our customers.

Our latest partner, Oakwood, the global leader and provider of furnished and serviced apartments, is offering our U.S. and Canadian customers discounts of up to $3,000. Regus customers staying for three to six months in Oakwood’s studios or one and two-bed furnished apartments, are eligible for discounts (visit the Regus Purchasing Group website for more info).

Oakwood customers who stay for 30 days or more at any North America location gain access to Businessworld.

“This live and work solution enables more than cost savings. We are helping our guests be more productive and helping our clients realize the additional value of working with Oakwood on their global mobility programs.”

- Howard Ruby is Chairman, Founder and COO of Oakwood

Image by Waka Jawka via Flickr

Regus is expanding with a new centre in the Digital World Centre in Manchester, UK


When looking for work space in Manchester there are some common pitfalls that small business owners should avoid.  To reduce expenses and secure room for future growth, we encourage entrepreneurs to use the “SPACE” test below to help ensure they’re getting the right space at the right price before they sign on the dotted line:

S – Savings

There are ways to limit upfront costs and save money beyond the price of rent. If a traditional lease, which typically lasts five to 10 years, negotiate a smaller upfront deposit, which usually consists of six months rent or up to half of the total cost of the lease. Businesses also can save up to 60% on office space costs by using ready-to-work space that includes furnishings, most office equipment and maintenance.

P – Productivity

Many business owners still want all employees to work in the same place at the same time, but the best work space is structured to help employees be more productive – which may mean not working in an office at all.  Review which employees really have to be at a physical office, and which ones can telecommute from home or a shared office space location. This can help save on overhead by reducing the amount of space needed.

A – Address

Having a King Street address in the centre of the city or working from the Manchester Business Park close to the airport can add a level of prestige to your business that’s hard to calculate in pounds.  But leasing traditional space in those key areas may still be cost prohibitive.  Consider using a virtual office instead of leasing physical space to obtain the address your business needs.

C – Clauses

Not understanding the fine print in your leasing contract could mean unwelcome and unexpected fees at a later date. Clauses in your leasing agreement dictate everything from when rent is due to limitations of use and your maintenance obligations. It’s important to read and understand all clauses before signing your lease.

E – Expansion

If your business changes drastically, will your space change with you?  Ask your potential landlord about what options exist to expand, or shrink your space should the need arise.  Consider exploring other leasing options, such as subleasing or shared spaces.  Adding or contracting space as needed prevents business owners from paying for space they aren’t using at startup or cramming into a small space when growth exceeds expectations.

For more information:

On our new centre Regus, Digital World Centre, Manchester.

Regus in Manchester

Regus UK

Image of Regus, Digital World Centre, Manchester

Photo by normalityrelief via Flickr

Have you ever woken up tired feeling you don’t have the energy to face the working day ahead? Take a power nap and in 15 minutes, recharge, feel refreshed and get more productive!

Here are the 3 golden rules for a power nap that will get you rejuvenated for that important meeting:

Photo by Demion via Flickr

1.    Have a coffee. This may seem odd, but the caffeine will take some time to work through your system allowing you to take a nap ensuring that you don’t over sleep!

Photo by CyboRoZ via Flickr

2.    Reach your Zen. Try going to a quiet, dark, environment suitable enough to let you totally relax. Make sure you get your timing right! Remember, your body is less susceptible to a nap in the morning, so better save your powernap for the afternoon.

Photo by Robbert van der Steeg via Flickr

3.    Keep the nap to 15minutes. Because of the way our bodies work and their sleep cycles, if you sleep for more than 15minutes you risk waking up even more tired!

Post adapted from an article originally from Wired.it

In a follow up to our previous blog post, we have compiled a list of seven ways you can avoid the worst parts of commuting, relieve stress and increase productivity (at least according to us)

Here is what we came up with:

1. Be healthy and walk or cycle to work.
2. Convince your boss to allow you to work from home once a week.
3. Work from home everyday and get yourself a Virtual Office!
4. Cut your commute and work from a business centre near you.
5. Create your own business and become your own boss.
6. Win the lottery, and retire in style and comfort.
7. And if all else fails….just go on holiday for a bit to relax and recharge (that’s what my manager did!)

(Post adapted from our original Spanish post in Regus Hispano)

Photo credited to chadmagiera via Flickr