Growing without limits in a flexible workspace

Four years ago, Tesco Mobile made a bold decision to relocate from a traditional office to a flexible workspace. Since joining Department’s Bonded Warehouse in the vibrant area of St. John’s, they’ve not only found their perfect workspace, they have seamlessly scaled from 42 to 58 desks without the typical growing pains of office expansion. 

In this Q&A, we spoke to Matthew McBride, Transformation Lead at Tesco Mobile to find out how the move to a flexible workspace has helped their operations, enhanced their employee experience, and positioned them for continued growth.

Q: In 2021, you made a significant move from a traditional office to Department’s flexible workspace at Bonded Warehouse. What was the reason behind that decision, and how was the transition for your team?

Matthew: “We were exploring various options for office space, including other traditional leases and serviced offices, but we quickly realised that the typical “suited and booted” corporate environment wasn’t right for us. It simply didn’t reflect who we are as a business.

Bonded Warehouse offered a refreshing alternative to a sterile corporate environment, giving us the space and flexibility to adapt and scale as our business grows. 

Location was also an important factor to help us attract the right talent. Having an office in central Manchester gives us a significant advantage in attracting younger, fresh talent to the business. The combination of these elements – culture, flexibility, and strategic location made Bonded Warehouse the clear choice for supporting both our immediate needs and long-term growth plans.”

Q: How has working in a flexible workspace changed the way Tesco Mobile operates day-to-day, and what specific benefits have you seen in terms of productivity, collaboration, and business agility?

Matthew: “From a productivity standpoint, we have three dedicated meeting rooms in our workspace, each equipped with our own technology and reliable WiFi connectivity. Our teams can move fluidly between focused individual work and social breakout spaces, providing the perfect environment for those informal conversations that often spark the best ideas.

The location has given us access to an incredible range of amenities. Whether it’s the Crystal Maze for team challenges, Courts Club for quiz nights, or local favourites like the Stables and Caravan for team lunches, we’ve been able to create a richer employee experience by having those amenities right on our doorstep. 

Over the past few years, our business has grown with increased headcount. Having a flexible workspace at Bonded Warehouse has meant we can expand with ease from our initial 42-desk setup to an additional 16 desks. The team at Department has made our expansion easy and seamless. We didn’t have to relocate or negotiate complex lease amendments; we simply expanded within the same space that our team already knew and loved.”

Q: With access to amenities such as an onsite gym, cafe, and a full events programme at Bonded Warehouse, how has this enhanced the employee experience and work/life integration for your team? 

Matthew: “St. John’s area has flourished since we moved in, providing our team with a great choice of dining options and experiences. During the heatwave, we were able to hire an ice cream van that parked right outside Bonded Warehouse for our team to enjoy.

The Community Team here at Department have been really helpful, nothing is ever too much trouble, particularly during our recent expansion. Having that level of partnership and support has allowed us to focus on our business rather than facilities management, while still having the flexibility to adapt our space as we grow.”

Q: Looking back over the last 4 years at Bonded Warehouse, what do you think has positively impacted your business the most?

Matthew: “It’s having a workspace that could grow with us. The other benefit has been the ability to attract and retain the right talent. We’re not just offering people a job; we’re offering them a work and social experience and a community here at Bonded Warehouse.”