HSBC will retain headquarters in London despite drive to cut £3.4bn in costs

HSBC is in the process of implementing a £3.4 billion savings drive, but the attraction of an office in London remains high as they announced that their headquarters will remain in the capital. Despite the high costs associated with space in the capital, many businesses are reluctant to abandon their prime commercial location.

Paul Statham, founder and CEO of workplace management experts Condeco Software, comments: “Business leaders are facing up to tough decisions as they are under pressure to deliver cost-cutting measures whilst retaining their key business operations. As we see in the news from HSBC, despite the costs involved, a London location retains a key value proposition for businesses.

“In this climate, it is essential that decision makers have a clear view of the space they need and how their employees are using it. Our research shows that on average, companies only use 39 per cent of their space. This means that many businesses are paying to maintain space which they simply do not use.

“Business leaders can take advantage of workplace technology which gives them a clear insight into the way their office is used, and may find that they can deliver cost-efficiencies that secure their long-term future in the capital.”