Employers must ‘fire up office culture’ to prevent London exodus

LONDON-based businesses may struggle to get staff back into the office, even after restrictions are lifted, as many young people plan to leave the capital or have already done so

A new survey of 1022 Londoners aged 18-34 showed that 55 per cent want to leave London when restrictions ease.

The survey was conducted by Urban Jungle, which provides home and contents insurance to renters and those in shared accommodation, and suggests the capital is losing its allure as young professionals embrace working from home.

When asked where they would like to live post-pandemic, just 45% of young Londoners chose the capital. Whereas 19% opted to live somewhere greener such as a village or the countryside.

Roughly eight percent of respondents said they wanted to live in a different city. Whereas, nine percent of young people expressed a desire to travel.

Jimmy Williams, founder and CEO of Urban Jungle, says the pandemic looks likely to have a long-term impact on work and life in London.

“Employers based in London and other large cities are going to have to think long and hard about ways to entice people back to the office. A big part of living and working in a city is the social life that comes with it. They need to fire up their office culture and put some fun back into work.

“Right now, young people are stuck in flats, paying rent, for very little in return – they just aren’t going to stick around for no good reason. As an employer myself, I believe company culture is everything.”

To view the full London Exodus report, and take Urban Jungle’s quiz to find out where you should live after the pandemic, visit the Urban Jungle website.