The workplace landscape has undergone a remarkable transformation since 2020. As we navigate through 2025, the hybrid work model has evolved beyond a temporary solution into a sophisticated, strategic approach to work. Companies are no longer asking if they should adopt hybrid work, but rather which hybrid model best suits their unique needs.
Recent data shows that 78% of UK businesses now employ some form of hybrid working arrangement, a significant increase from 65% in 2023. However, not all hybrid models are created equal, and the right approach depends on your company’s culture, industry, and specific goals.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the five distinct hybrid work models that are reshaping office space requirements in 2025, helping you identify which approach might work best for your organisation and how flexible workspaces are adapting to meet these evolving needs.
The Hub-and-Spoke model has gained significant traction among mid-to-large sized companies looking to maintain a central headquarters while providing employees with more location flexibility.
How it works:
The “hub” is your main headquarters – typically in a city centre – while the “spokes” are satellite offices or flexible workspaces distributed across different geographic areas. This model allows employees to work from locations closer to their homes while still maintaining access to professional workspace environments.
Key benefits:
Workspace requirements:
Companies implementing the Hub-and-Spoke model need a mix of permanent headquarters space and flexible arrangements in satellite locations. The headquarters typically requires more meeting rooms and collaboration spaces, while satellite locations focus on providing productive individual workspaces with some meeting capabilities.
Real-world example:
Financial services firm Deloitte has embraced the Hub-and-Spoke model, maintaining its central London headquarters while establishing partnerships with flexible workspace providers across the UK, one in Work.Life Hammersmith. This approach has reduced their real estate costs by 30% while improving employee satisfaction scores by 25%.
The Activity-Based Hybrid model takes a task-oriented approach to workspace utilisation, designating specific environments for different types of work activities.
How it works:
This model encourages employees to choose their work location based on the nature of their tasks. Collaborative work, client meetings, and team workshops take place in office environments, while focused individual work can be done remotely or in quiet workspace zones.
Key benefits:
Workspace requirements:
Activity-Based Hybrid requires thoughtfully designed spaces that support different work modes. This includes collaboration zones, meeting rooms of various sizes, quiet focus areas, and social spaces. Technology that seamlessly connects in-office and remote workers is essential.
Real-world example:
Technology company Cisco has implemented an Activity-Based Hybrid model where employees come to the office specifically for collaboration, client meetings, and team building. Their offices have been redesigned with 70% of space dedicated to collaborative activities, while individual work is primarily done remotely or in designated quiet zones.
The Scheduled Rotation model creates a structured approach to office utilisation through coordinated team schedules.
How it works:
Companies establish a rotation system where different teams or departments come into the office on designated days. This approach ensures teams that need to collaborate are present simultaneously, while keeping overall office density at manageable levels.
Key benefits:
Workspace requirements:
Scheduled Rotation requires flexible office layouts that can accommodate different teams on different days. Hot-desking or neighborhood-based seating arrangements work well, supported by robust booking systems. Meeting spaces need to accommodate hybrid meetings for team members working remotely on their off-site days.
Real-world example:
Professional services firm PwC has implemented a 3-2 rotation model where teams are scheduled in the office three specific days per week. Teams that frequently collaborate are scheduled on overlapping days, while the overall office never exceeds 70% capacity. This approach has allowed them to reduce their office footprint by 25% while improving cross-team collaboration.
The Flex-First model represents the most location-flexible approach, with remote work as the default and physical workspaces available on-demand.
How it works:
Employees primarily work remotely but have access to workspace options when needed for specific purposes. Companies provide stipends or memberships to coworking spaces, maintain a small headquarters, or create partnerships with flexible workspace providers to give employees professional environment options.
Key benefits:
Workspace requirements:
Flex-First companies typically maintain minimal permanent office space, instead leveraging networks of flexible workspaces. When they do maintain offices, these spaces focus heavily on collaboration, social connection, and brand experience rather than individual workstations.
Real-world example:
Software company Dropbox has adopted a “Virtual First” approach where remote work is the primary mode, but the company maintains “Dropbox Studios” in key cities and provides stipends for coworking space usage. These studios are designed specifically for collaboration and team building rather than daily individual work.d
The Choice-Driven Hybrid model emphasises employee autonomy within a framework of company guidelines.
How it works:
Companies establish baseline expectations (such as minimum in-office days or required in-person events) but give employees significant freedom to determine their work location based on their preferences and needs. This approach trusts employees to make appropriate decisions while maintaining some structure.
Key benefits:
Workspace requirements:
Choice-Driven Hybrid requires flexible workspace solutions that can accommodate varying levels of office utilisation. Hot-desking arrangements, bookable meeting spaces, and neighborhood-based team areas work well. Technology must seamlessly support both in-office and remote collaboration.
Real-world example:
Consumer goods company Unilever has implemented a Choice-Driven Hybrid approach they call “Flex Work.” Employees must be present for team meetings and collaborative sessions but otherwise have freedom to choose their work location. The company provides access to a network of flexible workspaces in addition to their offices to support this approach.
At Work.Life, we’ve designed our spaces and membership options to support businesses implementing any of these hybrid work models.
For hub-and-spoke:
Our multiple locations across London and regional cities make us an ideal partner for companies looking to establish satellite offices closer to where their employees live. With consistent design and technology across all locations, your team members can enjoy the same Work.Life experience regardless of which location they choose.
For activity-based hybrid:
Our spaces feature a variety of environments to support different work activities – from private phone booths for focused calls to collaborative areas for team sessions. Meeting rooms of all sizes can be booked on-demand, ensuring you have the right space for every activity.
For scheduled rotation:
Our flexible membership options allow companies to right-size their office space commitments while ensuring teams have access when they need it. Our hot-desking options and dedicated desk arrangements can be tailored to your rotation schedule.
For flex-first:
Our day passes and part-time memberships are perfect for companies with primarily remote teams who need occasional access to professional workspaces. With locations across major cities, your team members can access Work.Life spaces when they need a change of scenery or a professional meeting environment.
For choice-driven hybrid:
Our variety of membership options – from hot-desking to private offices – allows companies to create custom arrangements that support employee choice. Team members can access the type of workspace that best suits their needs on any given day.
Hippo Digital: A hub-and-spoke hybrid model that works
Hippo Digital, a full-service digital consultancy, needed a workspace solution that supported their teams across multiple cities while embracing a hybrid way of working. With offices in both London, Work.Life Holborn and Manchester, Work.Life Manchester, they’ve adopted a hub-and-spoke model – giving their teams central bases to collaborate while allowing flexibility for remote work.
Work.Life provides Hippo Digital with the best of both worlds: private office space for focused teamwork, shared coworking areas for collaboration, and access to meeting rooms and community events. Without the burden of long-term leases, they can scale their space to match their growth while keeping their teams connected.
For businesses looking for a flexible approach to hybrid work, Work.Life makes it easy to build a model that works.
Choosing the right hybrid work model depends on several factors unique to your organisation:
As we move through 2025, it’s clear that hybrid workplace design is not a passing trend but a fundamental shift in how we approach work. The five models we’ve explored – hub-and-spoke, activity-based hybrid, scheduled rotation, flex-first, and choice-driven hybrid – provide frameworks for companies to create workspace strategies that balance business needs with employee preferences.
The most successful organisations will be those that thoughtfully design their approach to hybrid work rather than simply allowing it to evolve organically. This means intentionally selecting a model that aligns with your business objectives, culture, and team needs.
At Work.Life, we’re committed to supporting businesses through this evolution with flexible workspace solutions designed for the future of work. Whether you’re implementing a hub-and-spoke model or going flex-first, our spaces and membership options can be tailored to support your hybrid work strategy.
Ready to explore how Work.Life can support your hybrid work model? Book a tour of any of our locations and see firsthand how our spaces can help your team thrive in the new world of work.