When hybrid work first moved into the mainstream, many feared that something essential would be lost. Without fully communal shared offices, spontaneous conversations and everyday rituals, connection was expected to erode – culture reduced to calendar invites, Teams’ Chats and Zoom calls.

Clockwise commissioned some research, to look deeper into hybrid working. As a flexible workspace provider having this insight and understanding member behaviour is crucial to our success.

In a survey of over 100 of our employees across the UK, conducted in August 2025, two-thirds said social connection with colleagues still matters to them. Far from signalling decline, the data points took a shift: connection hasn’t disappeared, expectations around it have changed.

Employees are no longer willing to commute, gather or collaborate by default. Instead, they want purpose behind their presence. They want environments that justify the journey, and experiences that feel meaningful rather than mandatory.

This evolution is reshaping the role of the workplace itself – an opportunity for flexible workspace. Once a fixed obligation, the office is becoming a destination, valued not for desk density or infrastructure alone, but for how it enables belonging, shared experience and collective momentum.

That shift matters. Wider research consistently shows that people who feel connected at work are more engaged, more resilient and more productive. In a world where engagement levels are under pressure globally, connection is emerging as a strategic advantage, not a “nice to have”. More than half of respondents in Clockwise’s research actively choose hybrid work. Flexibility has simply reframed what connection should, and can, look like.

We see that office days are designed around collaboration rather than attendance. Our spaces prioritise considered design, they are created to promote interaction and networking, while also providing opportunity for individual focused work when required. Rituals, from communal lunches to regular moments of recognition, provide rhythm and continuity, even when teams aren’t together every day. Clockwise’s differing membership plans also support this; from private offices with access to breakout areas to club lounge memberships in a shared space and meeting rooms, each package is tailored to businesses to support connection, as well as productivity.

Events too are evolving. Skill-building sessions, learning-led gatherings and community-driven meetups consistently attract more genuine engagement than traditional forced socials. People show up when the experience respects their time and adds value. A benefit of being a member at Clockwise is the curated member events in each location, ranging from networking events to panel and training sessions on how to supercharge businesses.

Importantly, connection now spans both physical and digital worlds. Hybrid-accessible events, shared platforms and inclusive forums ensure community isn’t location-dependent. In 2023, Clockwise built the Clockwise Campus, the first ever space in the Metaverse. Influenced by the best of our existing locations, the Clockwise Campus provides a digital platform for users to interact without the barriers of physical space.

None of this works without balance. Protecting time for deep, focused work ensures collaboration feels energising rather than intrusive. And culture is strongest when it’s co-created, when teams have ownership over the rituals, moments and spaces that matter to them.

Leadership, as always, sets the tone. In hybrid environments, proximity alone no longer builds trust – visibility without intention achieves very little. I believe what matters instead is how leaders communicate, how consistently they show up, and how human they allow themselves to be – this doesn’t necessarily mean being in the office everyday either. Clear expectations, regular dialogue and genuine curiosity create psychological safety, whether teams are together in a co-working space or connecting remotely. When leaders model openness and respect for flexibility, trust is built through behaviour rather than presence, and connection becomes something that endures beyond the office walls.

I think we’re at a pivotal l moment in the evolution of work. Flexibility is here to stay, and yet so is the human need for connection. The organisations that thrive will be those that recognise this isn’t about recreating the past but designing something better – and giving people a solid reason to visit the office.

Greg Miley is CCO of Clockwise