Romance at the Office: The Top 7 Major Cities in the UK to Find Love at Work!

Posted on February 10, 2025

A businessperson with short black hair and wearing a short-sleeved white collared shirt is standing behind their female colleague and putting their arms around her as she sits at her desk with her laptop and mug of coffee on the desk in front of her. She is cradling her colleague’s head in her hand as they lean over her, and she is smiling affectionately. Image at PrimeOfficeSpace.co.uk.

You never know when Cupid is going to strike, but according to researchers, if you live in the primary urban areas of the UK’s north, chances are you may get lovestruck at work. Whilst office romances are typically frowned upon, research shows that Britons in certain cities are more open to the idea of coworkers coupling up. Let’s take a look at the top 7 cities in the UK where workplace romance is most common.

Office romance in the UK: What do surveys say?

Britons are generally open to the idea of office romance, with 44.6% saying it’s something acceptable. Yet, nearly 80% admitted colleagues dating can cause some problems.

Data from other surveys gives more details into this hot topic:

– 66% of UK workers have had a relationship with a colleague.

– 22% had a romantic relationship with their boss.

– By age group, employees aged 18-24 were the most likely to fancy other colleagues.

– By industry, employees in recruitment, transport, and logistics were the most likely to have an office romance.

– Maybe office romance is not meant to last, since only 28% of employees said they were still in a relationship with a co-worker.

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The Most Trustworthy Accent According to Customer Service Reviews: UK

Posted on December 16, 2024

Two customers, a young woman and a young man, are smiling broadly in conversation with a shop worker who is processing their transaction at the checkout. The woman is wearing a grey hijab and grey denim jacket, and the man is wearing a bright blue beanie and light denim jacket over a white hoodie. A few of their items are still on the checkout conveyor, yet to be scanned, like a pineapple and bottle of cooking oil, and full shelves of dry goods are visible in the background. Image at PrimeOfficeSpace.co.uk.

Personalised customer service experience is the most important thing for British consumers. The question is, does personalisation include catering to a customer’s preferred accent?

When it comes to customer service, certain UK accents are often seen as more trustworthy than others, which will invariably extend to trust placed in the business. Positive experiences lead to happy customers; negative ones lead to lost sales.

This phenomenon of accent preference isn’t just based on stereotypes but is backed by surveys that highlight the power of dialects in shaping interactions. Let’s have a look at the most trustworthy UK accents, diving into what makes each of them so endearing in customer service.

Why accents matter in customer service

There’s plenty of research showing that foreign accents impact people’s perception in customer service interactions, as people associate the speaker’s accent with the brand’s voice.

The same can be said about UK accents. Trustworthy accents not only make communication more effective, they can also build better rapport with customers and encourage brand loyalty. In other words, having the right mix of accents in customer service teams can improve customer satisfaction and enhance company reputation.

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Office Secret Santa Etiquette – The dos and don’ts for a harmonious workplace gift exchange

Posted on December 2, 2024

Two women colleagues wearing Christmas jumpers and red and white Santa hats are sitting on a fluffy white rug next to a white-dusted Christmas tree with silver baubles, exchanging gifts and smiling. Image at PrimeOfficeSpace.co.uk.

Ah, the office Secret Santa—a time-honoured workplace tradition where mystery meets merriment and (hopefully) good taste. Done right, gift exchange games like these can definitely brighten the office vibe. But done poorly, it can create more awkwardness at the work Christmas party than an over-shared email chain. 

For this blog post, we polled 50+ office workers, managers, and HR staff about their particular company’s Secret Santa ideas as well as their dos and don’ts. To ensure your office holiday gift exchange stays on the cheerful side, here are the golden rules of this tradition. 

Secret Santa etiquette dos: What do UK office managers and staff say?

Do: Give enough time 

Nobody enjoys the idea of running up and down a crowded high street in the middle of a Secret Santa rush. Especially at the time of year when the shops are already packed and the weather is less than accommodating. Most of the workplaces who responded to our survey said they give staff 2+ weeks to prepare. Considering that everyone is busy during the festive season, a week’s notice should be the absolute bare minimum.

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The Impact of Remote Work on London Office Rental

Posted on June 6, 2024

A woman wearing jeans, trainers, and a green t-shirt sitting on a picnic blanket, working on her laptop in a park. Image at PrimeOfficeSpace.co.uk.

The generalised adoption of remote work has significantly reshaped the landscape of the office real estate market worldwide. London, as a global business hub, has also experienced significant shifts in office space demand and in its rental dynamics due to the rise of remote and hybrid work. In this article, we’ll explore the impact of remote work on London office rentals, analysing key trends, challenges, and opportunities for office-based companies.

Remote Work in London: Key Facts and Figures

Next, let’s look at how the figures above translate into office real estate trends within the city.

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What is Hot-Desking? Discovering the Future of Workspace Flexibility in the UK

Posted on September 26, 2023

hot desking in the UK

In the modern age of flexible working conditions and digital nomadism, the way we view traditional office spaces is changing. Amongst the numerous innovations arising from this shift, one concept stands out in particular: hot-desking. Increasingly embraced by organisations throughout the United Kingdom, hot-desking represents a dynamic and efficient approach to office management and organisation that not only redefines our understanding of the workspace but also presents a compelling range of benefits for both employees and employers alike.

Hot-desking involves employees sharing communal desks and workspaces instead of having assigned personal desks. This practice capitalises on the realities of contemporary work schedules, where not all employees are present in the office simultaneously. Thus, hot-desking ensures that office space is used more effectively, reducing unnecessary overheads while encouraging a fluid, flexible, and collaborative workspace.

As hot-desking continues to gain momentum in the UK, businesses are seeking reliable avenues to find appropriate spaces to implement this strategy. This is where Prime Office Space steps into the picture. As a leading office brokerage service in the UK, Prime Office Space provides an unparalleled database of available office spaces – one that includes numerous options perfectly suited for hot-desking. With expert consultants at your service, we can assist you in finding the ideal space that meets your organisation’s specific hot-desking requirements.

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Rising Popularity of the Short Term Office Lease Across the UK

Posted on September 17, 2023

woman smiling at a work desk

The commercial real estate landscape in the UK has been experiencing an intriguing trend over the past few years: the gradual shortening of office leases. This shift is not an isolated occurrence; rather, it signifies a comprehensive transformation that is reshaping the way businesses, landlords, and real estate professionals approach property leasing. It also comes with a unique set of implications and opportunities that are affecting various stakeholders involved in the leasing process.

The phenomenon of shortening office leases cannot be viewed in isolation. It is the culmination of a series of interconnected factors and pressures that are converging to redefine the commercial real estate market in the UK. The trend transcends geographical boundaries, encompassing major cities like London, Manchester, Birmingham, and extending into the suburban and rural areas. It reflects an evolution of attitudes and practices in commercial real estate that has been shaped by both macroeconomic forces and nuanced, industry-specific dynamics.

At its core, the shortening of office leases represents a departure from traditional long-term commitments that once characterised the commercial real estate market. These multi-year leases were often seen as stable and secure, forming the backbone of many property portfolios. However, the shifting economic climate, technological advancements, changes in work culture, and growing emphasis on flexibility have challenged this once-established norm.

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The Role of Natural Materials in Sustainable Office Design

Posted on May 31, 2023

Welcome to a world where the boundaries between the indoors and outdoors are seamlessly blurred, where the hum of air conditioning is replaced by the rustle of leaves, and where steel and plastic give way to wood and stone. Welcome to the world of natural materials in office spaces. A world where nature and work coexist harmoniously, offering a breath of fresh air – quite literally – to office workers.

The integration of natural materials into office design isn’t just an aesthetic choice. It’s an increasingly popular trend that aligns with our innate desire to connect with nature – a concept known as biophilia. With an accelerated shift to remote working and flexible office spaces catalysed by recent global events, the focus has shifted to creating work environments that are not just functional, but also comfortable, calming, and inspiring.

This transformation goes beyond merely placing a few potted plants around the office or installing a green wall in the reception area. It involves a thoughtful infusion of natural elements into the very core of sustainable office design – from the choice of construction materials to furniture, and from energy efficient lighting to layout. The outcome? Spaces that promote wellbeing, creativity, and productivity, all while treading lightly on the planet.

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Hybrid & Flight to Quality – Changing the UK Office Landscape

Posted on October 10, 2022

Numerous key factors have dramatically impacted the UK office space landscape in recent years. Changing employee demands and ever-evolving communications technologies have resulted in a world of work that is much more diversified, decentralised, and agile than seen in years prior.

The adoption of hybrid working practices and the flight to quality seen within the UK office space market stand as two such factors that have undoubtedly altered the landscape across multiple industries. This article will explore these two concepts and provide a general explanation of the way in which these two concepts have changed the market, whilst also providing insight on potential future events.

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UK Businesses Embracing the 4 Day Work Week

Posted on September 13, 2022

calendar outlining a 4 day work week

The 4 day work week has been a hotly debated concept in recent years, particularly in response to ongoing discussions surrounding employee experience and work-life balance. JLL’s 2022 Workforce Preferences Barometer, which delves deep into the desires of post-pandemic office workers, highlights a prominent gap between the flexibility currently being offered by employers and demand from employees. Currently, 56% of employees express a desire for a 4 day work week option, whereas it’s only provided under 29% of companies’ Employee Value Propositions (EVPs). 

This 27% gap between workforce expectation and market supply clearly illustrates the need for more businesses to consider leaving the five-day working week behind, or at least attempting to do so through a considered trial period. With various studies highlighting the benefits to business productivity, retention, and overall employee life satisfaction that such a shift can provide, it’s no surprise to see a groundswell of support.

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5 Things That UK Employees Want in an Office Environment

Posted on August 12, 2022

The needs and preferences of office workers have changed dramatically in recent years, causing much of the market to shift their offerings to create a positive work environment that stimulates employee engagement. These changes have largely been linked to increased demand for flexibility in the workplace, in addition to more humanistic office design elements and healthy working initiatives.

It’s well known that happy workers are more productive. An extensive study out of the University of Oxford even quantified this boost – with a finding that happy workers are 13% more productive. Employees are undoubtedly the most valuable asset for the vast majority of businesses, making a focus on improving mental health and building a positive working environment extremely vital.

But what exactly do employees want in an office environment? What types of things can employers provide to strike a healthy balance between productivity, positive reinforcement, hard work, and employee happiness? Below, we’ve collated five core things that employees can do to make employees feel happy at work, both inside and outside the office walls.

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