This latest research, that surveyed over 1000 local professionals, revealed that the majority of Australian workers carry out two to four hours of overtime each week (19 per cent), while a committed 15 per cent put in an additional 15 hours or more – almost reaching the equivalent of a seven-day working week.

The following table presents the overtime hours and days undertaken by business professionals, both globally and nationally:

Source: Regus

Unsurprisingly, Australian respondents reported Monday as the day they were most likely to put in overtime or work out-of-office hours (16 per cent), and Friday’s were the least common day for workers to commit to doing overtime (10 per cent) – unless you work in retail (27 per cent). However, when comparing the most common days for overtime for small and large businesses, SME workers were more likely to put in extra hours on the weekend, with Saturday and Sunday ranking highly (16 per cent and 14 per cent, respectively), compared to those in larger businesses who put in significantly less weekend overtime (six per cent and seven per cent, respectively).

When comparing Australian cities, 19 per cent of workers in Brisbane were more likely to put in more than 15 hours of overtime each week, which was higher than any other state. Interestingly, despite Monday’s being the most common day for out-of-hours work nationally, on a state level, only Sydney and Perth professionals elected for late-stay Monday’s, with Brisbane workers preferring to work extra hours on Tuesdays, Melbourne workers putting in the most overtime on Wednesday’s, and both Adelaide and Canberra professionals opting to tackle their extra workload on a Thursday.

CEO of Regus Australia and New Zealand, John Henderson, said: “While the commitment of Australian workers is admirable, it is worrying that a small proportion are working the equivalent of a seven day week. From previous Regus research, we know that over half of Australian workers claim to be more stressed than they were five years ago (52 per cent) and working long hours in overtime is a major contributor to such high stress levels.

“While it can’t be healthy to carry out so much overtime, it is also true that the location this work is carried out in plays an important role in contributing to worker wellbeing. The freedom to work away from the main office from time to time is now seen as a key factor in achieving an ideal work:life balance - with 59 per cent of Australian respondents across all the major cities reporting that flexible workers are much better off.

“Therefore, if workers are able to carry out an acceptable amount of overtime from a location closer to home, they will benefit from a shorter commute at the end of the day and a more efficient use of their time. If instead, punitively long hours are combined with gruelling commutes, workers could be facing burnout all too soon,” Mr Henderson said.

- Ends -

The new centre will be situated on level 16 of Darwin’s most iconic business address, the Charles Darwin Centre, which is positioned in the premier section of the city’s growing CBD. The centre has fully equipped offices, professional meeting rooms, business lounges, the world’s largest network of video communication studios and drop-in access the wider Regus network spanning 106 countries including Asia, the UK, and the US.

The Regus business centre will take up 905 square meters (sq. m) with one of Darwin’s best-known families, the Paspaley family. The centre boasts 360 degree uninterrupted harbour and park views and 155 work stations to cater for local, national and international businesses looking to work flexibly and professionally.

The introduction of Regus in the Northern Territory highlights a rapid year of growth for the company. This latest centre is the final Australian mainland capital city the company has entered into and brings the total Australian Regus network to 74 locations - an increase of 19 per cent from last year.

Studies have found that Darwin is currently performing strongly when compared with other parts of the nation. According to a recent report the Northern Territory has overtaken Western Australia to share the title of best performing economy alongside New South Wales[1].

Area Director for Queensland & Northern Territory at Regus, Yusuf Oner, said he is excited that Regus is entering into the Northern Territory market.

“As Regus launches in Darwin next month, we look forward to providing our new and existing customers with more opportunities to carry out business easily and efficiently.

“This dynamic city is strategically placed as Australia’s closest capital to Asia and is developing a strong strategic gateway position for shipping and regional freight. We anticipate our Darwin centre will form an essential location for both Darwin professionals and those that travel interstate who now have the option of a productive and flexible workspace on-the-go,” said Mr Oner.

Newly appointed CEO of Regus Australia and New Zealand, John Henderson said that by 2020 Regus aims to be in all Australian suburban markets, all regional centres and select transport nodes, including airports.

“Flexible workplace providers, such as Regus, allow businesses to rapidly react to market conditions and keep their capital free for investment in further growth, which is important for a growing economy like Darwin. Businesses need to be able to rapidly expand, but also to retract speedily, should growth possibilities open up elsewhere,” said Mr Henderson.

ENDS

[1] CommSec “State of the States” Report (January 2015)

Mr Henderson is a long-standing company leader, having spent the past 15 years as Regus’ Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in the Asia Pacific, operating out of Hong Kong. Before that, he was instrumental in helping to set up Australia as the regional head office of Regus Asia-Pacific, and was the Director of Best Practice in London.

During his time at Regus Asia-Pacific, Mr Henderson has been responsible for business development and strategy across 19 countries, including Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Korea, as well as Australia itself. The growth that he managed in these regions included oversight and management of mergers and acquisitions, franchise and joint venture initiatives in a number of forms.

Now in his new role, Mr Henderson will be responsible for accelerating growth through a key market for Regus, and one that he was instrumental in developing.

“I am looking forward to returning to Australia to take on the opportunity to be the Regus CEO for Australia and New Zealand,” he said. “Australia is a robust and well established market for Regus, but we see a lot of opportunity to grow it further.”

With more than 2,500 business centres in 106 countries around the world, Regus is already the global market leader in flexible workspace provision. In 2014 alone, it grew over 20 per cent from London to Durban to Mumbai, to satisfy growing demand worldwide.

“The Regus network in Australia alone has grown from 43 sites to 70 sites in the last year, with plans of expanding our network across Australia and New Zealand in the coming months.” said Mr Henderson. “We’re embracing the changing face of the workforce and through our range of innovative workspaces that meet the needs of the worker today and into the future, we’re meeting this evolving demand.”

As CEO, Mr Henderson will begin his role based in the Hong Kong office and will move to the Australia Square Regus Headquarters in Sydney in early 2016.

Ends

Regus has partnered with Locomote to offer Regus’ business customers an end-to-end corporate travel management solution. Businesses will be offered the opportunity to organize every aspect of their employees’ travel, including authorizations, bookings, duty of care, procurement and expenses with Locomote’s user-friendly interface.

Regus has over 2,500 business centers in 106 countries, and an international customer base that relies on the company’s agile and technology driven foundation.

The services available to Regus customers as part of the new partnership with Locomote will progressively be rolled out globally and ultimately allow them to lower the total cost of their corporate travel by having complete control and visibility.

Andre Sharpe, Regus Chief Innovation and Information Officer, says Regus provides businesses with flexible workspace, wherever in the world it might be required.

“Our partnership with Locomote will allow us to provide an innovative corporate travel solution tailored to our customer’s needs; this will enable them to have a holistic view of their travel and expenses management, lowering their companies’ corporate travel costs.

“We want to work with Partners that can provide relevant business benefits to our customers and who understand our underlying philosophy of helping businesses succeed whatever the economic climate. Travel is a major expense to our customers and Locomote has developed a solution that will meet the needs of our customers. We very much look forward to this partnership developing.”

Philip Weinman, CEO and Executive Chairman of Locomote, says that the tech-driven platform is a great fit for Regus.

“We’ve focused on developing a seamless platform which is designed to make booking travel simple and intuitive. As a global, tech-driven company, we’re excited to partner with a similar-minded company. This partnership with Regus will allow us to take the Locomote platform to a new audience.

“We’ll be ensuring that Regus customers have access to support 24/7, they’ll be able to make bookings both online and offline; but most importantly, they will be able to use the platform to lower the total cost of travel.”

Under the agreement, Regus will manage the recently completed Cromwell Business Hub at 200 Mary Street. The co-branded space takes up 335 sqm on the mezzanine level of the building and will complement the recently launched Regus Business Centre located on Level 16 of the building, which opened on 1 September.

The contemporary space was designed by Sydney-based interior designers The Bold Collective and will offer a range of flexible working options including co-working spaces, quiet rooms offices, meeting rooms and a conference training facility.

Demand for these types of facilities has risen dramatically in Brisbane over the past two years, leading Regus to more than double its local network to eight locations.

Existing and future 200 Mary Street tenants will have free access to the facility while external users will book space through Regus.

This opening follows a rapid year of growth for Regus as recent studies found that 28 per cent of Brisbane-based companies intend to increase flexible working options for their staff[1].

Area Director for Regus Queensland, Yusuf Oner, said the new facility would make it easier for customers to access flexible workspace, wherever and whenever they want to.

“The continued growth of Brisbane as an economic and entrepreneurial hub this past decade shows the city is riding a wave of transformation as it embraces the globalised digital economy and flexible working revolution,” he said.

“Regus and Cromwell have recognised the changing face of the workforce and we’re meeting this evolving demand with an innovative workspace that meets the needs of the worker today and into the future.

“We’ll set the standard of high-quality working environments in Brisbane to help our customers work flexibly, and attract and retain a talented local workforce.”

Cromwell Director of Leasing, Bobby Binning, said the facility was originally developed as part of the Group’s re-positioning of the building that also included development of additional building amenities including high end of trip, bicycle, shower and locker facilities.

“Part of our strategy at Cromwell is to get to know our tenant partners and understand their key business drivers. We have identified that one of the key themes valued by SME’s in this economic environment is having flexibility in relation to their accommodation strategy,” he said.

“This new facility provides our 200 Mary Street tenant partners with an exceptional amenity, allowing them more flexibility and efficient office accommodation with a central CBD location.

“The space provides an ideal environment for tenants in the building who do not utilise large meeting/training rooms all the time but need flexibility for visiting staff or during periods of increased activity.

“This allows organisations to dial up or down their workforce without being forced to commit to their maximum space requirement. This partnership with Regus gives our 200 Mary Street tenant customers flexibility to grow their business within the ecosystem of the building.”

[1] http://press.regus.com/australia/australias-business-confidence-up/

Hosted by Regus, the flexible workplace provider, reality star Pollard will demonstrate a variety of quick healthy lunch fixes using grab-and-go ingredients. Guests of Regus will have the opportunity to watch, learn and then taste the prepared dishes during their lunch break.

Recent Regus research revealed that unhealthy eating habits and a lack of exercise are the leading causes of workplace stress for Melburnians, with 19 per cent of local respondents placing these factors above understaffing (17 per cent) and technology issues (16 per cent).

The survey revealed that, as a whole, Melburnian respondents are more than twice as stressed compared to five years ago (53 per cent) - a significant and concerning jump.

Market Director of Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia, Georgia Mitchell, said: “We are continuing to see overwhelming evidence that stress levels are mounting due to a combination of factors including poor dietary regimes and not having adequate time to exercise and recalibrate.

“We’re thrilled to invite our Regus customers to spend their lunch break with Ash, where we’re sure her tips and tricks will help our guests adopt healthy workplace eating habits, and also show how this can have a significant impact on workplace health and happiness,” said Mitchell.

Pollard hopes to spread the message of healthy eating in the workplace and highlight the long-term benefits it can have on people’s overall health and wellbeing.

“You must give your body the respect it deserves, after all, it’s going to carry you a long way in life. Fuel it with all the ingredients it needs to survive those long days at work by eating smart, healthy choices that will help elevate your mood, self-esteem and energy, which in turn will reduce anxiety and stress,” Pollard said.

ENDS

By contrast salaries have only increased by 14 per cent over the same period.

These findings are from a recent survey that polled 1,194 Aussie professionals, with commuting cost burdens represented as a percentage of average full-time Australian salaries in 2010 and 2015[1] ^[2].

Not surprisingly, the survey also indicates that work practices are evolving to account for this significant increase in the cost and time of commuting to work, with 79 per cent of senior management in Australia now supporting remote working and 68 per cent of businesses reporting that they are increasingly needing to offer remote working opportunities to retain and develop talent.

When put into perspective, this additional $1,039 cost burden could:

• Buy your daily coffee for 59 weeks; based upon a five-day working week
• Purchase five months’ worth of daily work lunches; assuming you would pay $10 per day
• Cover 13-months’ gym membership, based upon a current monthly average of $77 [3]
• Buy your Netflix subscription for the next 115 weeks
• Cover 148 visits to a GP with a co-payment of $7

CEO of Regus Australia and New Zealand, Paul Migliorini, said, as the typical Australian commute becomes a further drain on the pockets and time of Aussie workers, it’s no surprise that business mind-sets are shifting into more efficient practises.

“Work is no longer a matter of where you go, but what you do, and it’s refreshing to see so many businesses realign their policies to ease the burden on employees. Reducing the commuting burden not only offers workers’ a better work:life balance, but businesses are increasingly realising the benefits this has on productivity as a whole. Just think of what could be achieved during the 241 hours a year employees are spending just getting to and from the office.

“Furthermore, as remote working becomes the norm, a growing number of remote working tools and applications are helping with this transition. Thanks to tools such as Skype, WhatsApp, WeChat and Google Hangouts, workers can stay in touch with their colleagues, desktops and servers wherever they choose to work. In fact our latest survey revealed 90 per cent of workers use at least one instant messaging tool a month,” said Mr Migliorini.

ENDS

[1] http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/6302.0Main+Features1Nov%202010?OpenDocument

[2] http://www.livingin-australia.com/salaries-australia/

[3] http://www.gymprices.com.au

Alongside the recent openings at 180 Lonsdale and 90 Collins Street, Regus has negotiated further leases in the eastern suburbs of Kew and Box Hill, with both centres set to open by the end of July, and a prestigious additional CBD offering at Investa’s upcoming 567 Collins Street location due to launch in September.

These openings will increase the Melbourne Regus network to a total of 22 locations and has resulted in an additional 4,100 square metres (sq m) of negotiated office leases with landlords including PCL, Investa Property Group, Dexus and Mirvac.

The need for flexible working options such as co-working spaces, pay-as-you-go offices, virtual offices and drop-in business lounges has seen Regus’ Melbourne network almost quadruple in size from just six centres in 2013.

The latest office leases include:

• Regus 180 Lonsdale Street, which has a floor space of 913.7sq m and is situated on level 19 with views of the inner city. Fellow building tenants include Australia Post, Accenture and GHD.
• Regus 90 Collins Street is situated on level 8 and has a floor space of 1,136.80sq m.
• Regus, Kew occupies a floor space of 526sq m on the ground floor of a five-level office building in one of Melbourne’s most prestigious suburbs. It has views overlooking Alexandra Gardens.
• Regus, Box Hill has a floor space of 651.1sq m and offers unique office accommodation 14 km east of Melbourne’s CBD.
• Regus 567 Collins Street will occupy 869sq m of floor space in Investa’s upcoming A New Centrepiece For Melbourne building, designed to create a healthy, balanced lifestyle for local professionals.

Regus has recently announced its partnership with Colliers International to further ramp up its national expansion and help source landlords interested in leasing office space.

CEO of Regus Australia and New Zealand, Paul Migliorini, said by 2020 Regus aims to be in all Australian suburban markets, all regional centres and select transport nodes, including airports.

“Colliers International's role will be pivotal in helping us secure property and partnership opportunities with landlords and occupiers, not just in Melbourne, but nationwide. Their expertise will help us identify opportunities that are going to be most suitable to our growing customer network," Mr. Migliorini said.

With these five additional centres, their launch contributes to a rapid growth period for Regus in Melbourne – with an end of year goal to have a Regus centre within a 20-minute drive of all Melbournians.

The new locations provide a range of fully equipped workspace options and business services including 24-hour access to a business lounge, part-time and Virtual Offices, serviced offices, meeting rooms and video conferencing.

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) listed company operates a network of 2,300 business centres in 850 cities and 104 countries, accommodating a wide variety of users including start-ups, multi-national-firms and mobile workers seeking somewhere productive to work when on the move.

Mr. Migliorini said that Melbourne offers great opportunities for businesses to successfully expand in and out of the local market, as the city is one of the strongest economic and entrepreneurial hubs in the country[1].

“Flexible workplace providers, such as Regus, allow businesses to rapidly react to market conditions and keep their capital free for investment in further growth. Businesses need to be able to rapidly expand, but also to retract speedily, should growth possibilities open up elsewhere,” said Mr. Migliorini.

[1] http://theage.domain.com.au/real-estate-news/citys-population-explosion-20110331-1cng1.html

Regus’ Grenfell Street location has expanded its Adelaide network to a total of three business centres. The new centre occupies level 21 of the popular office building, spans 1,077m² and provides a 360-degree view of Adelaide’s bustling CBD and the Adelaide hills. Here, Regus will join a diverse mix of Government, national and international companies together with high-end retailers.

The new location provides a range of fully equipped workspace options and business services; including a business lounge, Virtual Offices, serviced offices, meeting rooms and video conferencing.

The LSE listed company operates a network of 2,300 business centres in 850 cities and 104 countries, accommodating a wide variety of users including start-ups, multi-national-firms and mobile workers seeking somewhere productive to work when on the move.

Regus’ 25 Grenfell Street centre will join this growing global network along with the expanding local network, which includes:

• Adelaide City Central – Level 5, City Central, Tower 2, 121 King William Street
• Adelaide Victoria Park – Level 3, 169 Fullarton Road, Dulwich

Regus has recently signed a unique partnership agreement with leading global commercial real estate services company, Colliers International. The agreement sees Colliers International become a strategic partner for the global workspace provider, accelerating and streamlining its procurement of real estate in South Australia and across the nation.

CEO of Regus Australia and New Zealand, Paul Migliorini said Regus’ new Adelaide location was an exciting edition and one that will help local professionals work more flexibly and efficiently.

“We are excited to open our new centre at 25 Grenfell Street and are already witnessing strong demand at our vibrant, new business location.

“Business centre options in the Adelaide area are limited so our offering will be attractive to a range of business operators, from small start-ups to larger companies who require short-term accommodation for project teams.”

Market Director for Regus South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia, Georgia Mitchell said: “The Grenfell property is an exciting addition to our network in Adelaide, providing a new business location in the heart of the CBD, with excellent transport links and a vibrant atmosphere. We expect strong take-up from local small businesses, start-ups and remote workers as well as national firms opening satellite offices and global businesses looking to establish a footprint in South Australia.”

ENDS

The survey, which polled over 1,194 business decision makers and professionals in Australia, found that as a nation, female workers most commonly used online file-sharing service Dropbox (67 per cent), followed by Google Drive (44 per cent) and Microsoft remote desktop 19.4 per cent).

The research also found that the most popular VoIP Messaging applications female respondents used over the previous month was Skype (63 per cent), followed by Facebook Messenger (63 per cent) and WhatsApp (33 per cent).

Whilst the top three popular VoIP messaging applications were the same for both genders, male respondents used Facebook Messenger significantly fewer times than their female counterparts (49 per cent and 63 per cent, respectively).

The full list of popular apps for female professionals included:

Source: www.regus.com.au

The sometimes challenging needs of remote workers have strongly driven the take up of cloud-based applications that provide users with cost-effective access to office tools wherever they are (84 percent).

Commenting on the research, Regus Market Director of VIC, SA and WA, Georgia Mitchell, said: “With a growing number of women working remotely least some of the time, the surge cloud-based applications to help with work and communication is incredibly beneficial.

“There are instances where women feel they are overlooked when they are not in the office. Instant Messaging tools and VoIP have revolutionised how busy female professionals can communicate. They are able to show they are available, connected and immediately responsive,” she said.

A particularly important group of females in the workplace are working mothers. Previous research indicates that mind-sets are rapidly changing with 89 per cent of Australian businesses reporting that the companies who do not employ women returning from maternity leave are in fact missing out.

Respondents reported that flexible hours, along with working remotely are among the top strategies to get more mothers back into the workforce. In fact, 63 per cent of Australian respondents report that more women are demanding to work remotely when they return to the workforce.

Ms Mitchell continued: “With more businesses offering not just mothers but all women the opportunity to work remotely at least occasionally, online tools are helping to overcome some of the hurdles traditionally associated with working from outside the office. Cloud-based technology is bridging the gap whereby workers no longer feel out of touch with colleagues and unable to access documents on the company server.

-Ends-

The survey, which polled over 1,194 business decision makers and professionals in Australia, found that as a nation, Dropbox was the most commonly used online file-sharing service (69 per cent), followed by Google Drive (45 per cent) and TeamViewer (22 per cent).

The research also found that the most popular VoIP Messaging application was Skype, used by 66 per cent of respondents over the previous month. Messaging applications Facebook Messenger (54 per cent) and WhatsApp (38 per cent) followed.

The full list of popular apps included:

Source: www.regus.com.au

With a growing number of professionals working outside the main office at least some of the time, the use of remote working tools has radically increased. The sometimes challenging needs of remote workers have strongly driven the take up of cloud-based applications that provide users with cost-effective access to office tools wherever they are (84 percent).

Another challenge remote workers face is that of getting overlooked when they are not in the office. Instant Messaging tools and VoIP have revolutionised the way workers communicate and have helped remote workers show they are available, connected and immediately responsive.

Other key findings that revealed the reach and influence of online tools in the work environment included:

• Respondents who worked for big businesses are more inclined to use Whatsapp (46 per cent) compared to small businesses (only 35 per cent).
• 72 per cent of small business employees use Dropbox compared to only 58 per cent of large businesses.

• Just 11 per cent of those questioned in Australia said they had not used an instant messaging tool in the past month.
• Respondents working in the media and marketing sector were the highest users of Skype (74 per cent), followed by ICT (72 per cent) and the least likely was healthcare and medicine.

CEO of Regus Australia and New Zealand, Paul Migliorini, said: “With more businesses offering staff the opportunity to work remotely at least occasionally, online tools are helping to overcome some of the hurdles traditionally associated with working from outside the office. Cloud-based technology is bridging the gap whereby workers no longer feel out of touch with colleagues and unable to access documents on the company server.

The growth in instant messaging applications and document-sharing services is playing an enormous role in helping more people work flexibly, by enabling a reliable and secure way of connecting. This means that they can be fully operative even when they are not in the office and in fact, they can save time by working closer to home and therefore boost productivity.

“The office of the 1970s was built on paper, the office of the 1980s was built on computer software such as spreadsheets and word documents, the office of the 1990s was built on websites. Today, the office is built on cloud-based apps,” he said.

-Ends-

The survey, which polled 1,194 business decision makers and professionals in Australia, found that as a nation, Dropbox was the most commonly used online file-sharing service (69 per cent), boosted to the top of the chart by the 83 per cent of Aussie creatives who voted this as their favourite tool.

In fact, those working in the media and marketing industry came out as the leading users for nine of Australia’s Top 10 preferred file-sharing services, with figures well above the national averages for all of the tools in the list. The only exception was Microsoft remote desktop that appeared to be favoured more by ICT professionals.

The research also found that the industry’s most popular VoIP Messaging application was Skype, used by an average of 74 per cent of respondents over the previous month. Facebook Messenger (72 per cent) and WhatsApp (43 per cent) followed in second and third place, respectively.

The full list of popular apps included:

Source: www.regus.com.au

Source: www.regus.com.au

Other national key findings that revealed the reach and influence of online tools in the workplace included:

• Females appeared to be more favourable to Facebook Messenger than males (63 per cent and 49 per cent, respectively);
• Males preferred the use of Whatsapp to their female counterparts (40 per cent and 33 per cent, respectively);
• Australians were the number one global users of Snapchat, coming in above all other nations;
• Australia and India appeared to be the only significant users of Viber (30 per cent and 26 per cent, respectively), coming in largely ahead of the global average of 13 per cent;
• Just 5 per cent of those questioned from Australia’s media and marketing sector said they had not used an instant messaging tool in the past month.

CEO of Regus Australia and New Zealand, Paul Migliorini, said: “With more businesses offering staff the opportunity to work remotely at least occasionally, online tools are helping to overcome some of the hurdles traditionally associated with working from outside the office. Cloud-based technology is bridging the gap whereby workers no longer feel out of touch with colleagues and unable to access documents on the company server.

“The industry-level data breakdown was really interesting to see, with professionals in the media and marketing sector clearly ahead in the use of these technologies. It appears that Aussie creatives are heading more so into the digital realm than those in other industries, including ICT,” he said.

To find out what online tools other Australian industries prefer, visit: http://press.regus.com/australia/australian-cloud-based-apps-industry-data/

-Ends-

The need for flexible working options such as co-working spaces, pay-as-you-go offices, virtual offices and drop-in business lounges has seen Regus’ Sydney network triple in size from nine centres in 2012 to a current total of 26 – which includes the latest two openings at 63 Miller Street, Pyrmont and 45 Evans Street, Balmain.

Commercial landlords are fast becoming aware of flexible workplace providers like Regus, as they realise the benefits they can provide to their building, including:

Incubator: Many fledgling businesses are now using flexi-work providers to get off the ground before moving to a permanent office. At this point, many wish to remain in the same building to avoid the upheaval of a major relocation. So workplace providers act as tenant incubators for landlords.

Long-term partnerships: Landlords are used to signing leases in the vicinity of one to five years, whereas flexible workplace providers can bring continuity with long-term leases, avoiding the constant re-negotiation, tenant churn and vacancy issues.

Network: Flexi-work providers are always looking to expand into new areas and will often do so using the same landlord, expanding into their commercial portfolio as they take on new premises.

Facilities: In-house workplace providers offer other building tenants the ability to temporarily expand and retract with no long-term commitments, along with the use of facilities including meeting and project rooms.

In both new centres, workers have 24-hour access to a business lounge, reception, meeting rooms, and boardrooms. The Pyrmont and Balmain locations, along with the wider Regus Network, give workers ample opportunities to work flexibly.

Regus 63 Miller Street, Pyrmont has a floor space of 678m², including 113 work stations and 26 offices, and is situated on level one of one of the suburb’s most iconic landmarks, the former Festival Records Headquarters.

Regus 45 Evans Street, Balmain occupies the ground and first floors of a well-serviced office building. The business centre has a floor space of 770m², which includes 110 work stations, 32 offices and 4 conference rooms.

CEO of Regus Australia and New Zealand, Paul Migliorini, said that Sydney offers an ideal platform to expand the Regus network due to the changing mindset of how people work.

“We are constantly looking for new areas and commercial hubs to expand our Regus network, as research shows that the number of remote and flexible workers is on the rise and this needs to be catered for.

“Today’s professional can now access company files and data through their smartphone, tablet or laptop, so they don’t need to fight their way through the inconvenience of Sydney’s rush hour traffic to reach their office anymore, which is why we’re dedicated to offering alternative locations both inside and outside the city centre. People want options.”

Regus is even going one step further and localising the aesthetics of their centres, starting with Balmain, Blacktown and Ultimo, who each display customised imagery of their individual suburb’s landmarks as part of an initiative to support the local arts scene.

The creative skills of young, up-and-coming photographer, Zack Esawie, were subcontracted by Regus as part of a wider strategy to further enliven Sydney’s strong arts culture and help showcase some of the city’s up and coming creative minds.

The full list of Sydney’s Regus locations can be found here: http://www.regus.com.au/business-centre/australia/sydney

Colliers International will work with Regus right through from assessing local market strategies for flexible workplaces, to execution, project management, including identifying and developing workplaces in suitable and emerging locations.

This partnership will help Regus ramp up its already formidable worldwide network growth rates, and meet rising demand for its flexible workplaces. It will also provide landlords in Australia and New Zealand with unprecedented opportunities to connect to the flexible workplace trend.

Demand for flexible workplaces rose strongly in 2014, as the mobile workforce increased and traditional office occupiers considered ways to reduce their real estate footprint. Flexibility for occupiers to increase or decrease their space, dependent on current business needs, was a key driver.

With more than 2,300 locations and 2.1 million members in over 850 cities around the world, Regus is already the global market leader in flexible workspace provision. In 2014 alone, it grew over 20% in locations by adding more than 400 locations to its worldwide network, from London to Durban to Mumbai, to satisfy growing demand worldwide.

“The Regus network in Australia has grown from 43 sites to 70 sites in the last year,” said Paul Migliorini, CEO of Regus Australia & New Zealand. “We’ve recognized the changing face of the workforce and we’re meeting this evolving demand with a range of innovative workspaces to meet the needs of the worker today and into the future.”

“Colliers International is helping us design new processes that make it easier for customers to access flexible workspace, wherever and whenever they want to. These processes – and Regus’ continuing growth – also offer an unmatched global opportunity for landlords to position their assets to benefit from meeting that need.”

Doug Henry, Head of Corporate Solutions at Colliers International in Australia says “We are eager to propel Regus’ growth through this innovative global partnership and look forward to supporting their strategic expansion.

“Our work with corporate occupiers tells us that they are looking for spaces that are more flexible, to accommodate their business needs as they expand and contract. Regus is meeting this need. Their tenancy in a building is likely to make that asset more attractive to other tenants.”

In addition to working exclusively with Regus in Australia, Colliers International has also been appointed as exclusive agents in Latin America.

-- End --

The research found that the cost burden on workers could be prohibitive; 48% of respondents say that setting up a fully functioning home office costs more than 20% of their annual salary. In fact, the average Australian home office is estimated to cost $240 per month, and 10% of respondents estimate they spend over $500 per month. This takes into account all the elements required to run a professional home office suite, including the cost of equipment, forgoing the use of a room, energy bills, cleaning and maintenance.

Other findings include:

• Over half (55%) of respondents have set-up a fully equipped professional workspace in their home
• Two-fifths (41%) think that most companies that encourage their employees to work from home are simply trying to transfer the cost of having workspace onto the employee.
• 77% of Australian respondents believe that companies that encourage their employees to work from home are not aware that they must ensure health and safety standards are implemented.
• 80% per cent said that employers do not take out the appropriate insurance cover on this home workspace.

Paul Migliorini, CEO of Regus Australia and New Zealand, commented: “Flexible working is already changing the shape of the Australian workplace, but it is important that people do not feel short changed by this evolution. Employers are finding efficiency and cost savings from following an agile approach to where their employees work. It is both smart business and fair practice to invest in home workers. This means both providing workers with the tools and financials they need, and taking health and safety concerns seriously.”

“Another important point is that, for many workers, a home workspace can be isolating. Empowering workers to use third places like public libraries, co-working communities or professional business centres can provide the right mix for people. At the end of the day, it’s all about being able to take control of your schedule and decide when and where you will be most productive.”

Source: Regus

Interestingly, large businesses were less likely to back home office working, with their employees less likely to have a home office and a overwhelming 90% of workers at large companies say their employer does not pay for equipment in their home office. In fact 45% of small business employees with a home office said their employer contributed to equipment costs.

Mr Migliorini commented: “I’m not surprised to see smaller and more agile businesses leading the way when it comes to home work, as they often have less red tape when it comes to making workplace changes. At the same time, small businesses need to ensure they have the right systems and processes in place to support their teams and protect their company.”

The latest Regus study reported that only 43 per cent of Brisbane firms contributed to kitting out their employees’ home offices. It also found that the cost burden for employees working from home was high - 51 per cent of respondents say that setting up a fully functioning home office costs more than 20 per cent of their annual salary.

In fact, the average Brisbane home office is estimated to cost $243 per month. This takes into account all the essentials required to run a professional home office suite, including the cost of equipment, forgoing the use of a room, energy bills, cleaning and maintenance.

Brisbane findings include:

• A total of 76 per cent of Brisbane respondents have a home office
• Well over half (57 per cent) have set-up a fully equipped professional workspace in their home
• 44 per cent of Brisbane respondents think most companies that encourage their employees to work from home are simply trying to transfer the cost of having a workspace onto the employee
• 80 per cent of Brisbane respondents believe that companies that encourage their employees to work from home are not aware that they must ensure health and safety standards are implemented
• 86 per cent said that employers do not take out the appropriate insurance cover on this home workspace
• Most companies that encourage their employees to work from home do not cover all the costs of creating and maintaining that workspace (84 per cent)

Yusuf Oner, Area Director for Regus Queensland, said: “Flexible working has increased significantly over the past five years and it’s changing the nature of the Australian workforce. Brisbane employees and employers are finding many benefits such as increased productivity and a better work:life balance but it’s important to note that there are many considerations to make especially when individuals are working from home.

“Many companies could be incurring all sorts of expenses if they are not regulating the environment from which their staff members work. As seen in the research, a staggering 80 per cent of companies that encourage their employees to work from home are not aware that they must ensure health and safety standards are implemented. Furthermore, 86 per cent reported that they do not take out the appropriate insurance cover on the home workspace. These are the negative aspects of flexible working that must be addressed,” he said.

Source: Regus

Mr. Oner continued: “While Brisbane does have a long way to go to improve the conditions for home working, we were the highest city where firms were in fact contributing to the cost of the home office.

“Another important point is that, for many workers, a home workspace can be isolating. Empowering workers to use third places like public libraries, co-working communities or professional business centres can provide the right mix for people. At the end of the day, it’s all about being able to take control of your schedule and decide when and where you will be most productive,” Mr. Oner added.

The global report that surveyed 22,000 business people across more than 100 countries identified key trends in the Australian market, with the rise of freelance workers particularly prevalent in small businesses (64 per cent) compared to larger enterprises (51 per cent).

Commenting on this, CEO of Regus Australia and New Zealand, Paul Migliorini, said that small businesses were more likely to benefit from the freelance movement, enabling them to reduce overheads, cut out lengthy and costly recruitment processes, and react to market changes faster – providing them with a leaner business model.

“Freelancers can benefit small businesses because they will offer a well-honed skill set in a particular area that can be utilised as and when the business needs it, which means they are ideal for one-off projects or short-term work commissions. Further to this, being self-employed will most likely ensure that the freelancer will work hard to provide an exemplary service with a view to earn further business opportunities.”

Why is Freelancing on the rise?

Flexibility: 77 per cent of Australians said that fixed working hours are less suited to their duties.

Work:life balance: 57 per cent of Australians believe that freelance workers have a better work:life balance than retained employees

Freedom: Significantly more Australians want the freedom to work where they like, with a professional home office topping the most productive out-of-office environments at 67 per cent. Outside of the home a business centre proved to be the most desirable location (46 per cent).

Business Mindsets: 75 per cent of Australians have noticed an increase in outsourcing of projects, meaning the business mindset is now more open to external working relationships - creating more opportunities for freelancers.

Interestingly, freelancer numbers are documenting rapid growth in consultancy, with 71 per cent of respondents from the consultancy industry reporting an increase – followed by the banking and insurance industry (55 per cent) and ICT sector (54 per cent).

In response to this, Mr Migliorini added: “I’m not surprised that consultancy is seeing the highest number of freelancers. For those who have a fine-tuned skill or area of expertise, many professionals are using that to their advantage and offering their services in that area. It’s a great way to impart knowledge and also build your personal brand, which is so important in this day and age.

“Furthermore, with companies like Freelancer.com.au now listed on the ASX, it’s clear that work habits are shifting, with both employers and employees seeking more flexible ways of operating. This is further supported by the Regus’ survey finding that having to work fixed hours is now considered to be a limitation, with 77 per cent of Australian workers saying these are not suited to their duties.”

ENDS

The report, which canvassed the opinions of over 22,000 respondents in 100 countries, further revealed that appearance matters most for startups and small businesses, with 73 per cent respondents prioritising a smart, well maintained office.

Other interesting observations include the willingness to commute, with proximity to transport links being critical to 57 per cent of startups and small businesses, set against the global average of 49 per cent. Yet only 27 per cent prioritised workplace car parking compared to the global average of 48 per cent.

Source: www.regus.com.au 

CEO of Australia and New Zealand, Paul Migliorini, said he is not surprised Australian startups and small businesses place such heavy emphasis on fast IT services.

“Australian small businesses and startups demand a high standard in the workplace, especially surrounding highly functional ICT, as they need to remain productive and connected at all times,” he said. “Today’s tech-led climate means that most businesses rely heavily on IT services, however, with smaller businesses less likely to have in-house IT departments, it’s crucial they prioritise this issue when selecting their workplace to minimise any disruptions that could cause huge productivity setbacks.”

Just under a quarter (23 per cent) of startup and small business respondents valued being close to other firms in their sectors – for example in the financial district or CBD – in contrast to 38 per cent of respondents in large businesses. Smaller businesses also seemed to be less concerned about being located close to shops and restaurants (17 per cent) than larger businesses (26 per cent).

Mr. Migliorini continued: “The survey garnered really interesting and unexpected responses such as the seemingly lesser value for small businesses to be close to shops and being close to other businesses in a similar sector. I expect this is down to the focus on the brand itself and how this is reflected in the business space, rather than the need to socialise since they will have less employees on the ground.”

David Bull, Director of Technical Sales at DataCore in Australia agreed that location is important, but not in the traditional sense.

“Whilst it is appealing to invest in a permanent company office, I personally feel that it is a redundant idea in this day and age of doing business. If you’re running a dynamic team, they can be located anywhere, so you want them to use hot-desks and drop-in business centres as opposed to having physical desks where they then become geographically limited,” he said.

The survey revealed that over half of Australian workers claim to be more stressed than they were five years ago (52 per cent), with Sydneysiders appearing to be the most stressed nationals (55 per cent), and Adelaide the least (45 per cent).

While Sydney workers topped the national scale with their understaffing complaints (19 per cent), Australia’s remaining cities all unanimously agreed that a lack of exercise and healthy eating was their number one concern, with Adelaide professionals in the most need of a health-kick (21 per cent).

Further findings revealed that Perthians make the nicest colleagues, with only two per cent of respondents citing their workplace buddies as a stress concern, and Melburnians were revealed to be the most concerned about their job security (14 per cent).

Brisbanians topped the national list for several gripes, including stressful working hours (10 per cent), unpleasant bosses (nine per cent), annoying colleagues (nine per cent) and deadline dreads (14 per cent).

The following table presents the global, national and state-capital top stress factors:

Source: www.regus.com.au

With the pressure on to find ways of reducing stress, 73 per cent of Aussie workers found that a change of scenery – such as working from another location – is the best way to relieve tension and restore a work:life balance.

CEO of Regus Australia and New Zealand, Paul Migliorini, said flexible working was the buzzword for 2014 and will continue into 2015, for good reason.

“We are continuing to see overwhelming evidence that stress levels are mounting. This is due to a combination of factors including being under-resourced and over worked, feeling deskbound, and not having adequate time to exercise and recalibrate. Flexible working conditions provide this outlet,” he said.

Mr. Migliorini continued: “The freedom to work away from the main office from time to time is now seen as a key factor in achieving an ideal work:life balance - with 59 per cent of Australian respondents across all the major cities reporting that flexible workers are much better off.”

In response to a Regus global survey on top productivity killers, IT glitches proved to be the number one source of daily work disruptions for Adelaide professionals, with 55 per cent of respondents confirming this as their main hindrance, compared to the national average of 47 per cent.

Adelaide natives also topped the regional chart for those complaining of daily road work interruptions, with 31 per cent of respondents claiming the city’s road repairs heavily impacted productivity levels, far outweighed the nation’s average of 11 per cent.

The survey revealed that Adelaide topped the national chart for all tech-related issues, with 14 per cent blaming lowered-productivity on their smartphone battery checking out whilst on-the-go, and seven per cent of respondents complaining that energy outages spoiled their daily stride.

CEO of Australia and New Zealand, Paul Migliorini, said that it was interesting how the survey revealed Adelaide professionals as the most polarised when it came to their productivity frustrations.

“Out of all the productivity killers we asked our respondents to provide feedback on, Adelaide workers came out either top or bottom of the survey for nine out of the 12 listed interruptions, with IT glitches and transportation issues tagged as major productivity killers.”

“On a positive note, it seems that more personalised business interruptions are not viewed as detrimental, with Adelaidiens appearing to be the least annoyed respondents for lengthy meetings and conference calls,” Mr Migliorini said.

The following table presents the national and state-capital top production killers, with respondents asked to select their top three from the list:

Source: Regus

Mr Migliorini added: “For those who work flexibly, business centres such as Regus can provide professional, productive working environments and IT security to ensure busy professionals get the peace and functionality they need to get on with the job without interruptions.”

This was closely followed by IT glitches (47 per cent) and traffic jams (37 per cent), as voted for by Australian respondents in a recent Regus global survey on all things productivity related.

The report also revealed that the early bird really does catch the worm, with 51 per cent of Australians claiming that they are at their most productive in the early morning, compared with just five per cent of night owls.

The following table presents the national and state-capital top production killers, with respondents asked to select their top three from the list:

Source: Regus

For workers who labour outside of the office, the survey revealed that 67 per cent of Australian respondents found a professional setting in their own home as the most productive out-of-office environment, although the appeal of working from home dropped to 38 per cent for those not lucky enough to boast a home office suite.

Outside of the home, business centres topped the chart for the most productive setting, with almost half of Australians (46 per cent) believing these to be a safe haven for work outside the office. Noisy and disruptive venues including public libraries and hotel bars and lounges sat at the bottom of the list, with only eight per cent and three per cent of workers championing their productive values, respectively.

CEO of Australia and New Zealand, Paul Migliorini, said: “In today’s business climate, where many professionals now have the option to work outside of the main business environment, its important to identify what the biggest productivity killers are so that these can be avoided.

“For those without a professional home office, business centres with their professional, productive working environments and IT security provide an answer, allowing busy professionals the peace and functionality they need, when they need it.”

Regus, the global workplace provider, has created the Workpod, which is a private workspace, tailor-made for business, offering business travellers a quiet place to work whilst waiting for their flight. Inside the pod users have access to business class Wi-Fi, a comfortable desk and chair, power and mobile chargers, computer screen and a telephone.

The Workpod is the latest development in the rollout of Regus Express, offering users flexible workspace outside of traditional Regus business centres in high traffic locations such as railway stations, airports, motorway service stations, retail outlets and hotels across the world.

Under the new Qantas-Emirates alliance that offers direct flights from Dubai to Gatwick and several other UK airports as alternatives to Heathrow, Australians are booking significantly more flights into London's second airport[2].

CEO of Regus Australia and New Zealand, Paul Migliorini, said: “The Gatwick Workpods offer Australian business travellers everything they need when working on the move: a discrete environment to make calls, check emails or concentrate on urgent work before or after they fly. With an increase of Australian professionals working on the move, this is another way of helping our customers maximise their productivity.”

Australian business travellers can book the Workpod on the spot using their credit card or online on the Regus website in advance of their travel.

Mr Migliorini added: “With six per cent of Australian’s travelling to the UK each year, the instalment of Regus Workpods in local airports is a viable business initiative. Regus has created pods that cater for the continuing work demands of business travellers and I believe that these will become an integral part of their commute. The inclusion of pods creates a suitable working atmosphere equipped to cater for the everyday business travellers’ needs, and I hope to see these adopted by Australian airports in the near future.”

Guy Stephenson, Chief Commercial Officer at London Gatwick, said: “Business travel continues to grow at Gatwick, with 1 in 5 passengers now travelling on business to a range of destinations; from European business centres to emerging international markets. The Regus Workpods are another key addition to the modern facilities we offer business passengers every step of the way from the office to the plane.”

[1] http://www.ausbt.com.au/aussie-business-travellers-get-fast-track-lane-at-london-heathrow

[2] http://www.ausbt.com.au/london-gatwick-qantas-new-business-traveller-alternative-to-heathrow

The research, by global workplace provider Regus, found that Australian businesses report significant benefits – including improved efficiency and innovation – while being a fun, social experience where employees build community ties and accomplish co-operative problem solving.

Analysing the views of over 22,000 respondents in more than 100 countries, Australian respondents noted that collaborative workplaces provided the ideal breeding ground for innovation (74 per cent) and entrepreneurial spirit (72 per cent).

Collaborative working is also seen as an effective way of creating connections with partners (79 per cent), providers and suppliers (81 per cent) and even potential clients (80 per cent). This introductory function can prove very valuable to businesses in the long term.

CEO of Regus in Australia and New Zealand, Paul Migliorini, said: “2015 is going to be the year that collaborative environments evolve from a buzzword to a mainstream trend. The nature of how we work has fundamentally changed over the past ten years. More and more businesses are choosing to provide their staff with top-class locations in a more cost effective and flexible way.

“And this isn’t confined to the multinational or big firms, collaborative spaces aren't built simply by putting people next to one another - but are instead an intentional space with the tools necessary for collaborative activities. The best examples of companies that have done this are Google, BGT Partners, Headvertising and Skype. Australian businesses recognise that mixing workers from different firms and different functions helps develop a more innovative and entrepreneurial outlook as well as keeping the firm supple and able to respond to changes in the market faster.

“From smart work hubs in our city fringes to co-working spaces and business lounges throughout the CBD – the tools are now available for any business to benefit from collaborative working.”

Paul Migliorini’s tips for collaboration in the workplace:

• Schedule regular innovation sessions between staff from different departments.
• Work with suppliers and partners to explore ideas and collaborate more closely on product and service design.
• Share some of the businesses ideas or resources with the wider community to attract a larger network of contributors.
• Create spaces that encourage collaboration and interaction within your office environment – it can be as simple as having a whiteboard by the water cooler or as advanced as a dedicated work-play area for employees to meet and discuss new ideas.

Mr Migliorini added: “Businesses should consider professional environments that allow employees to work collaboratively with their co-workers and also spaces where they can interact with people outside of the business. Regus work hubs across Australia offer co-working spaces, business lounges, meeting rooms and even mobile collaboration in the way of teleconferencing, which is especially helpful over the holiday period. We can assist in significantly improving innovation and productivity by providing collaborative environments that we know are the work spaces of the future.”

The launch of the newly renovated Riverside Centre caps a rapid year of growth for Regus as recent studies found that 28% of Brisbane-based companies intend to increase flexible working options for their staff[1]. Demand for Regus services such as co-working spaces, pay-as-you-go offices and drop-in business lounges, has risen dramatically in Brisbane over the past two years, leading them to double their size to six locations.

CEO of Regus Australia and New Zealand, Paul Migliorini, said the continued growth of Brisbane as an economic and entrepreneurial hub the past decade shows the city is riding a wave of transformation as it embraces the globalised digital economy.

“Brisbane is one of the fastest-growing regions in Australia, averaging 4.7% growth between 2001 and 2011.[2] The Brisbane economy accounts for almost half (48%) of Queensland’s economic output and 9% of Australia’s as a whole.[3] It is encouraging to see companies in Brisbane embracing new ways of working, and empowering their staff to make the most of technology and cloud computing to work flexibility. Regus has decided to set the standard of high quality-working environments that will help our customers role out flexible working, and attract and retain a talented local workforce.”

Commenting on Regus’ presence in Brisbane, Regus Area Director for Queensland, Yusuf Oner said: “We have invested in growing our Brisbane and South-eastern Queensland footprint to a total of seven locations in the past two years alone. This includes helping local start-ups set up their first out-of-home workplace, as well as helping established international companies to launch in Queensland, or even to implement their own flexi-work plans.”

The newly refurbished Riverside Centre is located in the heart of Brisbane. Regus Riverside now has vibrant co-working spaces: a more sociable way of working, a shared office space in a great location with access to all the facilities of a Regus location such as business lounges with Wi-Fi access, video communications suites, individual work pods, and flexible, hi-tech meeting rooms.

CEO of Brisbane Marketing, John Atkien, said: “At Brisbane marketing we are committed to supporting investment in Brisbane and I congratulate Regus on the launch of the newly renovated Regus’ Riverside centre. Regus plays a key role in helping out-of-state businesses into Queensland and also helping local businesses with valuable tools for flexible work.”

Regus Brisbane locations:

• Brisbane Northbank, 22/F Northbank Plaza, 69 Ann Street, Brisbane, 4000
• Brisbane 127 Creek Street, Level 22, 127 Creek Street, Brisbane 4000
• Brisbane Central Plaza, Level 21, 345 Queen Street, Brisbane 4000
• Brisbane Riverside, Level 18, Riverside Centre, 123 Eagle Street, Brisbane, 4000
• Brisbane, 333 Ann Street, Level 18, 333 Ann Street, Brisbane, 4000
• Brisbane, Fortitude Valley, Level 10, 15 Green Square Close, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, 4006

The opening caps a rapid year of growth for Regus, which has doubled its presence in Western Sydney over the past 18 months to 10 Regus work hubs, as changing work styles and increasing flexibility mean more Australian professionals are working remotely. The new Regus Blacktown centre caters to these flexible workers by providing a range of workplace options, including a drop-in business lounge, co-working space, private offices and meeting rooms. Blacktown businesses and workers using the new work hub will also plug into Regus’ wider network – allowing them to use any of Regus’ 25 centres in Greater Sydney or any of the 60 across Australia.

Paul Migliorini, CEO of Regus in Australia and New Zealand, said that the continued emergence of Western Sydney as an engine of business growth made it a perfect fit for Regus’ expansion plans:

“The population of Western Sydney is set to increase by four million in the next 40 years[1], and Western Sydney’s $100 billion economy is already Australia’s third largest[2], home to 30% of the country’s top 400 companies. We are excited to be a part of Blacktown’s fast developing business eco-system, and look forward to helping more companies establish themselves in the area and assist local businesses expand their reach throughout Sydney or even globally.

“We have a first rate management team in the centre who will be on hand to help our customers transition to the workplace of the future.”

A recent survey conducted by Regus found the daily commute in Sydney is an average of 32 minutes each way and has increased by three minutes each way nationally since 2012. The Bureau of Transport Statistics has also estimated that road congestion alone, costs NSW at least $5.1 billion lost in productivity annually, most of that in Sydney[3].

Mr Migliorini said he hoped that the expansion of Regus across Western Sydney would help more people avoid stressful commutes: “Each morning 200,000 commuters leave Western Sydney on crammed trains, packed buses and choked roads heading eastwards to job rich-areas such as the CBD, North Sydney, Pyrmont and Macquarie Park.”

“With the majority of commuters traveling 50-plus kilometers to get to work, we hope our network of work hubs can help to alleviate some of the daily congestion on our roads, as well as increase productivity and help businesses and ensure workers have a healthy work:life balance at a cost that won’t hurt their back pocket. Our Blacktown customers will no doubt benefit from having a professional, flexible work hub in the heart of town, as well as being able to drop in to use our extensive network of CBD locations when they are in the city.”

The new Regus Blacktown work hub is located in the recently refurbished 81 Flushcombe Road, and offers over 600sqm of flexible workspace and meeting rooms. Businesses who have already signed-up to occupy the hub include an international software provider and the office of a local law firm.

One local business already implementing this new way of working is boutique film studio, Onsight Films. Co-owner, Marlon Simmons, said: “We deal with a diverse range of clients so we have decided to base ourselves in the Regus Blacktown centre for a few days a week. Working close to home saves us time and increases productivity and the added benefit of Regus means that when necessary, we can meet our clients at a range of locations across Greater Sydney."

"Being apart of the Regus community gives us confidence to expand and security that we have a safe and professional place to work."

*

[1] Dr Ken Henry, The Shape of Things to Come: Long Run Forces Affecting the Australian Economy in Coming Decades, 22 October 2009.

[2] http://www.marisepayne.com/content/business-jobs-and-rail-keys-developing-greater-western-sydney

[3] http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/