Office occupancy levels across the UK reached a post-COVID lockdown high in recent weeks, according to the latest data from Remit Consulting.
Remit recorded the daily office occupancy rate for the UK at an average of 39.6% in the week ending 11 July. The average daily occupancy rate remained steady last week at 39.4%, just 0.2 percentage points below the all-time high recorded the previous week.
The research group said the data, the leading survey of office usage since the pandemic started, points to a more sustained return to the office, with attendance holding steady even as the school summer holidays begin. With the West End of London regularly topping 50% occupancy, and other business districts also reporting stronger figures, the numbers suggest that hybrid working patterns are becoming more established and potentially more predictable, it added.
Lorna Landells of Remit Consulting said there has been a steady and sustained improvement in office attendance so far this year, with weekly occupancy levels hitting several new post-pandemic highs.
"With the school summer holidays now beginning in England and Wales, we expect the annual, seasonal dip in the data. But if the pattern of previous years holds, September will be the key month to watch. Historically, it’s when office attendance picks up again, often sharply, once schools are back and routines re-establish. What’s different this year is the stronger baseline we’re starting from, which could signal a more meaningful shift in workplace behaviour.
“Whether this trend continues into the autumn will offer valuable insight into how firmly hybrid patterns are bedding in, and how businesses are reshaping their approach to space, culture and productivity as a result,” she added.
This upward trend is being seen across all cities monitored by Remit’s study, with London showing some of the strongest figures. In the West End, occupancy levels are now regularly above 50%, while the City and Docklands are frequently reaching 40%. Mondays have also seen a slight improvement in attendance, although Fridays continue to record the lowest levels, highlighting the persistence of hybrid working patterns.
Remit points out that there are diverse views in the property sector regarding what constitutes maximum occupancy for offices, with some industry commentators suggesting that, due to holidays, external meetings, staff sickness and other operational issues, offices were only ever 60-80% "full" before the pandemic.
Previous research from the BCO suggested a figure of 60%, while other market practitioners suggest a figure of between 70% and 80% at peak times in the calendar, although this will have varied widely according to individual buildings and businesses.
The Return Report is compiled by Remit Consulting weekly and is based on data provided by building managers from office buildings in major cities around the UK, many in central and prime locations. The data is obtained from the buildings’ access control systems, providing an overview of the number of staff and visitors entering a property on weekdays. This is presented as a percentage of the capacity of each building.