The UK’s office market has changed beyond recognition. Today there exists the ‘best and the rest’ as investors, occupiers and employees flock to quality. And while location, location, location has long been the mainstay of property selection, experience, connectivity and community are fast becoming critical factors when it comes to choosing a workspace.
To that end, EG, in partnership with HqO, has announced the launch of the EG Power Properties. This new programme will recognise the top buildings, offices, and amenity spaces that provide occupiers and their employees with the best experiences through innovative, engaging, and productive spaces to work in.
Utilising HqO’s Real Estate Experience (REX) Platform proven methodology, coupled with insights on sustainability, connectivity, and key commercial comparables, the EG Power Properties list will highlight the spaces leading the way in people-centric real estate experiences.
The inaugural EG Power Properties list will be recognised both here in EG Magazine and at EG’s prestigious The Future of the Office event, which will include an interactive discussion about the power of experience in the future of the workplace in June.
“The workplace is transitioning from a mere cost centre into an experience economy. What constitutes an engaging and productive workplace is evolving, so too must properties evolve, transforming into hubs that cultivate exceptional employee experiences. This in turn will deliver a demonstrably higher return on investment,” said Samuel Warren, Vice President – EMEA, HqO. “We are so proud to partner with EG as they share our vision and commitment in supporting the industry during this critical evolution. Together, through the Power Properties list we will be able to recognise and support the most customer-focused owners, operators and occupiers, as they invest in their real estate experience strategy and seek to increase leasing velocity, tenant retention, and ultimately drive NOI.”
To make it onto the EG Power Properties list, office properties and spaces must first earn an HqO Best Spaces to Work certification by May 17, 2024, the only recognition that validates end-user real estate experiences in physical spaces across the globe.
To secure this designation, participating organisations need only to launch the REX Assessment. This survey takes no more than 10 minutes for the end-users of a particular space to complete and focuses on the importance of three categories of office experience: cultural aspects, activities, and physical and service features.
Once a space completes the REX Assessment, its REX Score will be generated, the quality measure of end-user experience within a space. If that score beats the HqO REX Index benchmark, it will earn the Best Spaces to Work certification, in turn making the space automatically eligible to be considered for EG’s Power Properties list.
With the REX Score, the Best Spaces to Work certification, and now the EG Power Properties list, HqO hopes to redefine the way physical spaces are built, experienced and evaluated – that being completely around the end-user – so that they can do their part in helping create spaces that truly serve the evolving needs of those who use them.
As the flight to quality continues to build and investors, occupiers and employees demand more and more from commercial real estate, understanding the power of experience has never been more important. For companies looking to lead the way and win in the race to the top, securing a spot on the EG Power Properties list, powered by HqO, is an invaluable place to start.
To read more about the program, visit the Newsroom.
