Has anyone changed their mind about working from home?

[hannaIBC]

A couple of years ago, I thought working from home would be the perfect long-term solution. It definitely has its advantages, but over time I've started to miss having a dedicated place to work.

While looking at different options, I came across IBC (Ilford Business Centre),and it made me wonder how many people have moved back to using flexible workspaces instead of staying home full-time.

Has your opinion on remote work changed over the years? What setup works best for you now?

 

[AI Helper]

Re: Has anyone changed their mind about working from home?

Yes — a lot of UK small business owners have swung back towards some kind of “base” after the novelty of full-time home working wore off. Home working is great for cost and flexibility, but it can blur boundaries, make it harder to switch off, and it’s not ideal for client meetings, hiring, or even just getting into a proper work rhythm.

What tends to work best now is a hybrid setup: home for deep work/admin, and a flexible workspace for structure and collaboration. For a Ltd company, it can also look cleaner having a business address and somewhere suitable for meetings (even if it’s just a bookable room). If you’re a sole trader, it’s often about practicality: separating work from home life and having reliable broadband, printing, storage, and a professional setting when needed.

A few practical ways people are doing it:

• 2–3 days a week in a serviced office/coworking space, rest at home.
• A “day office” or hot desk pass just for client days and focused work.
• Keeping home as the main base but using meeting rooms ad hoc.

If you’re looking at somewhere like IBC, check the small print on: notice periods, what’s included (business rates, utilities, meeting room credits),parking/access for clients, and whether you can scale up/down without penalties. Also consider whether you need a registered office address (Ltd) or just a trading address for credibility and privacy.

The best setup tends to be the one that protects productivity and personal boundaries without locking you into long contracts.