Research suggests return to offices will see city’s workers each contribute up to £1,373.57 to economy per year
With workers being encouraged to return to the office as part of the Government’s announcement of a return to Plan A, one firm has calculated the impact that busier city centres could have on the economy across the UK.
Based on workers returning to offices just two days a week, Frank Recruitment Group has calculated a potential windfall for businesses that support the country’s workforce. Their research shows workers could spend up to £1,373.57 each per year, even without going back to the previous Monday-Friday routine. That’s based on the average price of a morning coffee at £2.81, with lunch also coming in at £5.77, just twice per week, as well as transport costs incurred on the commute.
With almost 7,968,500 workers based in England’s cities in total, that means a potential annual spend of £10,945,276,608.00 available, which is welcome news to those companies that have struggled to keep the wheels turning during the pandemic.
“There’s a huge range of businesses that will benefit from workers returning to the office,” said Zoë Morris, President at Frank Recruitment Group. “Even further beyond the 9-5 are the people working to get us into our cities, serving us post-work drinks and meals—there’s an entire support network around the desk-based workforce that we don’t often think of.”
Despite the lifting of restrictions, the success of remote work during the pandemic is likely to mean that the return to offices won’t be on a full-time basis. “I think most people are looking forward to having the option to be together in person again,” added Morris. “Remote work isn’t for everybody, so having a hybrid approach offers the opportunity for employees to get a better work-life balance than has ever been possible before.”
The Office for National Statistics has reported that 85% of homeworking Brits want their employer to offer hybrid options for going back into the office. With energy costs on the increase, it offers the potential for savings on utility bills incurred working from home, while also giving employees the chance to better control their week in a way that suits them.
“From a takeout coffee on the way to the office to treating ourselves at lunch, that spend has a fantastic impact on city centre economies, which have really struggled to adapt to the challenges of the last two years,” said Morris.
Across the 50 cities analysed, the data below shows how much an individual will spend each year in total, depending on their city. On average, a person working two days per week on-site in England will spend £1,373.57 on both hospitality and transport for work-related purposes. For local businesses looking for a light at the end of the tunnel, this provides excellent news as they recover from the effects of the pandemic.