Scots not keen on a speedy return to office

Smaller firms in Scotland are the least likely in the UK to make a return to office working, a new study has found.

Despite a push for a return to normality across the UK, home and hybrid working will linger on well into next year, according to Hitachi Capital Business Finance (HCBF).

Fewer than one in two small and mediumsized enterprises will see a return to a traditional office by December, HCBF said.

While nine regions in the UK will see an increase in the percentage of small businesses returning to the workplace between now and December, this will not exceed more than 50% anywhere, indicating a shift in work practices as the legacy of the pandemic draws on, the lender added.

Scotland currently has the highest percentage of people either home or hybrid working (63% vs 58% UK average), the study found.

While this figure is due to fall quite significantly by the end of this year, to 46%, there will still be more small-business employees sticking to the new methods of working that have emerged as a result of the pandemic than those returning to the office, HCBF said.

Joanna Morris, head of insight, at HCBF added: “Whilst some may be ready and eager to return to a bustling workplace setting, others may feel more comfortable and settled sticking with an approach they have become accustomed to over the past year – home working.

“It is important to never underestimate the impact these events can have on our small business community, and the nuances that exist between different locations in the UK.”