As agencies debate flexible working, why is this indie opening a new London office?
For many agency businesses, the pandemic proved they don’t need a fancy office to attract new talent or compete for clients – and provided an opportunity to cut costs on floor space. In London, agency Five by Five is running in the opposite direction by opening its second UK office.
Indie agency Five by Five has opened an office in London
Agencies across the globe are currently debating what their post-pandemic office will look like. One potential benefit to those not seeking a return to normal would be lower overheads, with smaller headcounts enabling companies to downsize their real estate footprint.
But one UK indie agency is choosing to do the opposite. Creative shop Five by Five is expanding by opening a new foothold in the English capital.
Katie Whittam-Hayes, group head of human resources for Five by Five UK, explains why the agency is investing now – and in one of the most expensive cities on the planet for commercial property and living costs.
“I think the removal of offices altogether is a mistake for businesses and particularly agencies. It’s ignoring the reality that not everyone wants to work from their home and it’s just not possible for some people or their wellbeing.“
She argues physical office space is still a powerful tool for an ambitious agency.
“Opening the London office is about expanding. We’re one team and one agency, just with two office locations. For us, this is about offering options and opportunities for our teams. They can use either office, or work from home, or somewhere else. We’re enabling our people to choose the place and time that allows them to work at their most productive, rather than confine everyone to a 9-5 in a set location.“
Even as the agency opens a second British office, Whittam-Hayes says it’s embracing flexible working for the foreseeable. “We don’t have any set patterns or minimum number of days in the office or at home. For us, it gets in the way of what we’re trying to achieve. Being in the office, or ’face to face’ with colleagues, will be based on desire, need and ease.
“There are undoubtedly some things that are just better in person, and for those people will come in if they aren’t already. We also plan to have some ’everyone in’ occasions, like our monthly agency update. Everyone will attend one of the offices for that as a chance to catch up with colleagues and have a few beers.“
The agency’s staff of almost 60 already had the option to work remotely and flexibility over working hours, meaning pandemic-enforced home office set-ups weren’t much of a culture shock. Still, with remote working making it harder for managers to check up on team wellbeing, she says it’s adapted to improve its staff care policies.
“We’ve implemented a wellbeing and engagement tool across the group to get feedback from our colleagues which informs our strategy and approach,“ she says.
“As an agency, we also push back really firmly against the traditional working hours culture agencies have. We don’t expect people to be working all hours and weekends too. Sometimes it’s needed, but it’s the exception, not the rule. Managers review timesheets on a weekly basis so we can pick up any excessive working hours quickly and address the causes so it can be resolved quickly.“
Five by Five’s second outpost will form part of its plan to offer staff flexibility. Whittam-Hayes hopes it will attract new hands, as well as inspiring loyalty among the current crew.
“We’re growing and expanding, and that provides massive opportunity for our teams in terms of development, progression and reward. I’m really excited about seeing that come to fruition and pushing the boundaries of what an agency of our size is traditionally expected to do or be capable of.“