How the global mobility trend is changing, but still growing

Although the economic slowdown is a worldwide phenomenon, one trend that's shown no signs of slowing in the phenomenon of mobile working and temporary relocation. Research from GMAC Global Relocation Services has shown that the global expatriate population has increased steadily in the last 2 years. 

Today's internationally mobile workers are predominantly male (71% in 2007), although this proportion is falling. And relocation for work is rarely a solo phenomenon. 60 per cent of expatriate workers are married, and 83 per cent are accompanied by their partners when they make their move. 

This is just one reason behind the strong demand for serviced apartments in London and other UK cities. And, as we'll see, it's part of a trend that suggests there will be further growth in the UK serviced apartments sector generally in years to come, whether the economy is in growth or otherwise.

The ongoing rise of the mobile worker: 1950s to present

The dawn of the nationally and internationally mobile workforce was around the mid-1950s and 1960s. During those decades, companies deployed their executives away from home for up to 3 years at a time. This meant they needed to look for permanent housing, new schools for their children and so on.

It's different for today's executive, who is typically not prepared to work away from home or family for over a year, and more usually no longer than nine months. This has coincided with the rise of US-style short term working contracts, and a general rise in the number of home-based or remote workers. Of course, 'home-based' can mean from temporary accommodation as well. The one necessity is good data and telecommunications connections; that spoken for, the virtual office can be in any room of the house.

New approaches from companies: work-life balance and 'mobility specialists'

Whilst detachment to a remote office is nothing new, the way that companies approach relocation has also changed over the last decade or so. An increased sensitivity towards employee welfare, together with enhancements in duty of care legislation, has meant that work/life balance is now a key issue. The result when applied to national and international relocation is that employees are more likely to be provided with a home-from-home that takes into account the need for proper 'downtime' and leisure opportunities.

There is also a trend in the way these matters are taken care of within organisations. Instead of dealing with travel and relocation separately through procurement and HR, organisations are looking instead at corporate mobility as one defined and integrated function. It is not uncommon for larger corporates to have a 'Mobility Specialist' on board, or even a whole mobility task force – all aimed at making the relocation experience as smooth and well integrated as possible, ultimately geared towards providing a low-stress transition for the worker. These teams and specialists have a keen sense of responsibility for their charges, and each tends to have their own list of favoured suppliers based on successful past experiences.

An essential part of the relocation jigsaw

SACO provides just one part of the relocation jigsaw, but it's an essential one: the provision of short-to-medium term serviced accommodation, often used to house relocated workers for the entire duration of their stay. This can be in 1 bedroom apartments or studios for solo workers, or, with an increasing supply of 2- and 3-bedroom properties on the roster, their partners and families as well.

The company is a tried and trusted accommodation provider for the relocation specialists, having won the 2011 Re:Locate award for Best Property Provider. SACO was also nominated for an EMMA (Expatriate Management & Mobility Award) as Corporate Housing Provider of the Year. Hosted by the Forum for Expatriate Management, EMMAs are the Oscars of the Global Mobility profession, awarded to recognise excellence in assisting the aims of relocation professionals.

Should you wish to find out more about SACO's role in relocation and the range of serviced accommodation solutions provided for corporate customers, you can contact Clare Ace on 0117 9706999.