Official launch of our Impacts of Working from Home report

Our report An Evaluation of the Economic Impact of Post-COVID Working Practices on Sheffield City Centre was officially launched Monday 4 March to a full house inside the new city centre offices of Henry Boot PLC. 

Kicking off the proceedings Sheffield Property Association Chair Martin McKervey gave some background to the report and why we had it commissioned by Sheffield-based Kada Research. Shortly followed by CEO of Henry Boot PLC Tim Roberts who provided great feedback as to their decision as a business to take up their new head office space in Sheffield city centre’s Heart of the City development. 

Senior Consultant at Kada Research Patrick Coupar gave an insightful presentation breaking down the findings of the full report, including the current outlook on post-COVID working practices on city centres and their recommendations for the public and private sector going forward. 

The event culminated with a Q&A session with S-PA Directors Tim Bottrill and Rob Darrington, CMS Partner Helen Johnson and Tim Roberts returning to join the panel. Questions from both Martin as Chair and from those in the room gave fantastic insights as to what is happening with working patterns and spending habits in Sheffield city centre following COVID, and how those trends are being seen in cities around the UK and abroad. 

Among the discussion was an agreement that there are aspects of city centre working that cannot be recreated when working from home, and likewise there is a flexibility afforded from remote working that can’t be achieved from a mandated office presence. As seen in the report, older members of the workforce are the demographic wanting to work from home, which can prevent younger members learning from their experience. 

“Balance” was a key term used throughout the discussion, and that is what is key to ensure a thriving city centre, attracting the best talent to businesses, improving people’s mental health and reducing inequality.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to Patrick Coupar for presenting, panellists Helen Johnson, Tim Roberts, and the whole Henry Boot team for use of their venue and hospitality on the day. 

If you want to see the report for yourself, please click here: https://www.sheffieldpropertyassociation.com/news-and-events