Every business reaches a point where its workplace no longer fully supports its ambitions.
Perhaps teams have grown, hybrid working has changed how the office is used, or the workplace simply no longer reflects the organisation’s culture and aspirations. Whatever the reason, many businesses face an important decision: should they refurbish their existing office or relocate to a new one?
Both options can create exciting opportunities.
A carefully planned office refurbishment can transform an existing workplace into a more inspiring, productive and future-ready environment. Equally, relocation can provide access to new facilities, larger floorplates and opportunities for expansion.
The right decision is rarely about square footage alone. It is about understanding your people, your business objectives and the role your workplace plays in supporting success.
Before beginning the search for new premises, it is worth asking whether your current workplace is delivering its full potential.
Many organisations assume relocation is the only solution when offices begin to feel crowded, outdated or disconnected from modern ways of working. However, workplace analysis often reveals significant opportunities to improve utilisation, collaboration and employee experience within the existing footprint.
Hybrid working has fundamentally changed how offices are used. Many workplaces now contain underutilised desk areas, meeting rooms that no longer suit team requirements, and layouts designed for working practices that have evolved considerably.
By understanding how employees use the workplace today, businesses can make informed decisions based on evidence rather than assumptions.
In many cases, office refurbishment can unlock value that already exists within the current environment.
One of the most common reasons businesses consider relocating is a perceived lack of space.
However, space shortages are often symptoms of workplace design challenges rather than actual capacity limitations.
Poorly configured layouts, inefficient storage, oversized desk areas, and a lack of flexible working environments can all contribute to a workplace that feels constrained.
Before deciding to move, organisations should evaluate whether their current office supports the way their people work today.
Crafted, an award-winning digital marketing agency, faced a similar challenge as its team expanded and hybrid working became embedded within daily operations. The business needed a workplace that encouraged creativity, collaboration and stronger connections between employees.
Through thoughtful workplace redesign, the office was transformed into a more collaborative environment that better supported modern working practices, helping the business maximise the value of its existing space while creating capacity for future growth.
Often, the answer is not more space, but better space.
Office refurbishment allows organisations to transform their workplace while retaining the advantages of an established location.
For many businesses, the existing office already provides a solid foundation. Employees know the commute, clients are familiar with the location, and the surrounding infrastructure supports day-to-day operations.
Refurbishment provides an opportunity to build on those foundations while creating a workplace that better reflects current and future needs.
Benefits can include:
Acteon Norwich office demonstrates how workplace transformation can unlock the potential of an existing environment. Inspired by the movement of water and energy, the workplace was redesigned to create a contemporary, functional and engaging environment that supported team cohesion while making the most of its stunning riverside location.
For organisations that are happy with where they are but want to improve how their workplace performs, refurbishment can deliver significant long-term value.
A workplace is more than a building.
Over time, locations become part of a company’s identity and culture. Employees establish routines, build relationships within the local business community, and become familiar with the amenities that support their workday.
Clients, suppliers and partners also associate the location with the organisation itself.
Relocation can sometimes disrupt these advantages.
Refurbishment allows businesses to retain the benefits of an established location while creating a workplace that better supports future ambitions.
This is particularly relevant within established business destinations such as Cambridge Science Park, where access to talent, innovation networks and transport links can be just as valuable as the workplace itself.
Rather than starting again, many organisations find greater value in enhancing what they already have.
Hybrid working has become one of the biggest drivers of workplace change.
Many offices were originally designed around fixed desk occupancy and individual work. Today’s workplaces need to support a much broader range of activities, including collaboration, focused work, learning, social interaction and client engagement.
When workplaces no longer meet these requirements, relocation can seem like the logical solution.
However, the issue is often not the building itself but how the space is configured.
Refurbishment can introduce a more effective balance of meeting rooms, breakout areas, collaboration zones, quiet spaces and flexible work settings without increasing floor space.
Crafted’s workplace transformation is a strong example of this approach. By adapting the office to support evolving working patterns, the business created an environment that encouraged collaboration and creativity while maintaining flexibility for hybrid teams.
Understanding workplace utilisation before committing to relocation often reveals opportunities that might otherwise be overlooked.
While refurbishment can unlock significant value, there are circumstances where relocation is the right choice.
Business growth may have exceeded the capacity of the existing building. Lease restrictions, infrastructure limitations or changing geographic requirements may mean that relocation offers the best long-term solution.
Moving premises can provide access to:
For rapidly growing organisations, relocation can create opportunities that are not available within the existing workplace.
Oxford Ionics provides a strong example of workplace investment supporting ambitious growth. As the company evolved from a start-up into a global innovator in quantum computing, its workplace needed to support collaboration, innovation and future expansion. The resulting headquarters provides the environment and infrastructure required to support continued growth and world-leading research.
In situations where the existing building can no longer support business objectives, relocation can become a powerful catalyst for transformation.
The financial comparison between refurbishment and relocation is often more complex than many businesses initially expect.
Relocation involves far more than securing a new lease.
Costs may include:
Refurbishment also requires investment, but organisations can often retain existing assets, reduce disruption and avoid many of the costs associated with moving premises.
The most effective workplace decisions consider both immediate project costs and long-term business value.
Workplaces play a vital role in shaping company culture.
Employees increasingly expect workplaces that support wellbeing, flexibility, collaboration and professional growth. As a result, any decision involving refurbishment or relocation should place people at the centre of the conversation.
Refurbishment can be particularly attractive because it improves the employee experience while maintaining continuity and familiarity.
Relocation can also deliver positive outcomes, particularly if the new workplace offers significant improvements in accessibility, facilities and working conditions.
At COEL, understanding employee needs forms a key part of workplace strategy, helping ensure workplace investment supports both business objectives and the people who make them possible.
Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important factor in workplace decision-making.
For many organisations, refurbishment offers significant environmental advantages by extending the life of existing buildings and reducing the need for extensive construction work elsewhere.
Opportunities may include:
A refurbishment-first approach often aligns closely with an organisation’s environmental commitments while delivering meaningful workplace improvements.
Creating an inspiring workplace does not necessarily mean starting from scratch.
Many organisations already have office furniture, fixtures and workplace assets that can be retained, repurposed or incorporated into a refreshed design scheme.
Altium Cambridge workplace is an excellent example. Existing furniture assets were integrated into the wider workplace strategy, helping the business balance sustainability objectives with employee experience and operational requirements.
This approach supports the circular economy, reduces waste and helps organisations maximise the value of previous investments while still delivering a transformed workplace experience.
Whether choosing refurbishment or relocation, the workplace should support future ambitions rather than address today’s challenges.
The most successful projects begin with a clear understanding of:
A workplace should be adaptable enough to evolve alongside the organisation.
By taking a future-focused approach, businesses can create environments that continue supporting innovation, collaboration and growth for years to come.
Before committing to refurbishment or relocation, consider:
The answers often provide valuable clarity and help determine which option will deliver the greatest long-term value.
At COEL, we believe great workplaces improve working lives.
Every successful workplace project begins with understanding the people, culture and ambitions that make a business unique. Whether clients are considering refurbishment or relocation, our role is to help them make informed decisions based on long-term objectives rather than short-term assumptions.
By analysing workplace utilisation, understanding employee needs and aligning workplace design with business goals, we help organisations create environments that support collaboration, wellbeing, productivity and growth.
Projects for organisations such as Crafted, Acteon, Altium, Mishcon de Reya and Oxford Ionics demonstrate that there is no single route to workplace success. Some businesses unlock new potential through refurbishment, while others benefit from creating entirely new environments.
Because our in-house teams provide workplace consultancy, design, fit-out, furniture and maintenance services, we can support clients through every stage of the journey.
In some cases, refurbishment delivers the greatest value. In others, relocation creates opportunities that an existing building cannot provide. The key is understanding which option best supports your people, your culture and your future ambitions.
By taking a strategic approach to workplace transformation, organisations can create inspiring spaces that enable innovation, strengthen culture and support long-term business success.
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