The number of Bristol businesses considering a move into flexible workspace has soared in the past year amid Brexit uncertainty.
Companies seeking flexible accommodation in the city jumped by 54 per cent during the year to April 2019, according to research from flexible workspace finder Officio.
The Bristol increase is the second largest in the UK - only behind Manchester which saw a 66 per cent rise in enquiries.
Nationally, enquiries about flexible workspace increased but the number of companies taking space decreased by an average 17 per cent on the previous year.
The figures suggest many companies are checking their options in the pre-Brexit climate, including larger firms which are moving out of traditional leasehold office space and into flexible workspace.
The average number of desks per office in the UK rose from 5.4 to 6.9, while in Bristol desks per workspace rose by a third from an average of 5.2 to 6.9.
Chris Meredith, Officio chief executive, said: “Our latest figures reveal a fascinating picture of how businesses across the UK are responding to Brexit uncertainty.
“With Brexit remaining unresolved and business uncertainty increasing we expect to see the trend towards flexible workspace increase further this year.”
Demand for space has led to a modest increase in the average price per desk in Bristol - up by three per cent from £243 to £250 a month.
