Hub and roam is a practical approach to modern working, offering a balance between in-person collaboration and the freedom to work from places that spark productivity.
In fact, market leaders like Google and Microsoft have been quick to adopt more flexible working solutions like hub and roam, so could it work for your business, too?
Some people thrive in a buzzing café, others value a quiet home office, and many look forward to meeting colleagues face-to-face for brainstorming and camaraderie.
Hub and roam recognises these diverse preferences by providing a central location (the “hub”) as well as options for individual work in local spaces (the “roam”).
Why hub and roam?
Remote work can boost morale and reduce unnecessary commutes.
It also promotes independence in deciding where each person can do their best work.
At the same time, many people still look forward to connecting with colleagues in person.
An office or a shared workspace helps teams communicate ideas quickly, form closer bonds, and experience the excitement of spontaneous conversations.
Hub and roam embraces these ideas by offering employees time at a main base combined with flexible days for remote or local working.
This approach suits freelancers, small companies, and larger organisations seeking to keep costs in check while creating a vibrant team culture.
Hub: The collaborative base
A central hub provides a vital anchor for collaboration and social contact.
Having these moments in a physical location encourages genuine connection and group spirit.
Roam: Freedom to work anywhere
Flexible days, or “roam days,” let each person choose the environment that suits them best.
It could be a home office with minimal noise, a local library with comfy chairs, or a creative coworking spot with energising background music.
Interestingly, many employers are currently assuming that their employees have a decent place to work at home, when our survey suggests that 40.7% actually don’t — being able to “roam” means employees can work somewhere they do have everything they need to work.
The roam element also recognises the value of avoiding lengthy commutes.
Instead of spending hours travelling, employees can get started earlier or take advantage of a local setting that boosts their concentration.
Many workers appreciate this time saved — time that can be used for exercise, personal errands, or a few moments of mindfulness before diving into the day’s tasks.
This autonomy can lead to higher productivity because it honours the unique ways individuals operate.
Hub and roam vs. hub and spoke
The “hub and spoke” model provides a main headquarters plus smaller satellite offices — like spokes on a bike.
It offers some convenience, yet often includes standardised spaces.
The hub and roam style goes further by allowing work from a wide variety of places — coffee shops, dedicated desks, or home environments — based on personal preference.
Hyper-local choices matter when cutting down long commutes.
If an employee has to travel 45 minutes to a satellite office, they might still face much of the inconvenience they wanted to avoid.
The hub and roam model removes that frustration by treating any suitable venue as a workable location.
Advantages for employees
The hub and roam model offers a few major benefits for employees, granting them more autonomy and flexibility to work however they work best, with:
Tailored work environments: Everyone’s different. Some prefer silence, while others like the gentle hum of background noise. Roam days help each individual pick the ideal space.
Less commuting stress: Travelling can be time-consuming and expensive. Working locally frees that time for focused tasks or personal commitments. 79.8% of our survey respondents to date agreed that the “lack of commute” was what they liked about remote working.
Better work-life balance: For anyone juggling childcare, pursuing fitness goals, or dealing with a hectic schedule, the flexibility to work closer to home can feel transformative.
Purposeful team gatherings: When employees do travel to the hub, they do it with intention. Team days can be more meaningful because everyone arrives prepared for group collaboration.
Positive focus on well-being: Hub and roam encourages fresh perspectives. Shifting between different environments can ward off burnout and keep motivation levels high.
Benefits for organisations
It’s not just employees who can benefit from the ever-growing hub and roam working model — businesses can reap the rewards, too:
Lower overheads: A single large office with rows of empty desks is a costly drain. A smaller shared hub, supplemented by on-demand coworking passes or reimbursements, can reduce expenses. Pay only for space that people genuinely use.
Enhanced productivity:CIPD research highlights that flexible workers often show higher engagement. When employees choose where they work best, productivity tends to improve.
Talent retention and attraction: Remote and hybrid roles are increasingly popular. Offering hub and roam signals a progressive culture that respects personal circumstances. This can attract skilled professionals who want an inclusive and adaptable working arrangement.
Stronger sense of community: Although teams aren’t always in one place, the hub anchors them. Scheduled meetings, workshops, and social events create shared experiences that bring everyone together.
Customised spaces: Coworking networks, local cafés, and other community venues often have unique aesthetics and atmospheres. Allowing employees to pick from these environments can result in a surge of creativity.
Increased productivity: In many organisations, flexible scheduling boosts output because it respects individual work styles. Clear objectives, well-defined deadlines, and reliable communication tools help everyone stay aligned. When employees feel trusted, they often outperform expectations.
Is a hub and roam setup too expensive?
It’s often more affordable than paying rent for a large, mostly empty central office.
By offering smaller, purposeful space plus on-demand options, companies only cover the costs when people actually use a workspace.
Travel stipends for regional coworking spots or coffee shop visits usually remain far lower than full-time prime-location leases.
Building a hub and roam culture
Want to start your own hub and roam working set-up?
It takes a bit of work to get the processes sorted, so we’ve broken it down for you, step-by-step, of what you need to consider so your hub and roam can kick off smoothly.
Define the hub clearly: Identify the role of the primary office or coworking space. This is where big discussions, essential meetings, and team-building moments happen.
Offer genuine roam choices: Provide employees with the tools they need — whether it’s an allowance for booking local desks or guidelines for claiming coffee shop expenses. Encourage them to find inspiring spots in their community.
Communicate expectations: Make sure the entire team knows how to schedule “hub days,” set availability, and check in with each other. Agree on core hours or a system for quick responses to urgent issues.
Celebrate successes: Recognise achievements during in-person gatherings, and highlight the value of combining group time with individual choice. Make a big deal of the times everyone’s together in the main hub.
Gather feedback: Ask employees what’s working and which aspects could use adjustment. Some might enjoy one or two hub days a week, while others might prefer less or more time on-site.
Need a hub?
Tally Workspace helps organisations roll out hub and roam strategies that truly work.
We cater to businesses of all sizes, offering:
On-demand spaces across the UK: From city-centre coworking sites to local coffee shops, Tally’s listings make it simpler to find the perfect space.
Streamlined booking and stipends: Our platform makes it easy to manage budgets, set roaming allowances, and track usage, so businesses pay only for the space that’s needed.
Curated hubs: If you’re looking for a dedicated location to gather the whole team, Tally can guide you to venues that suit your size, schedule, and style.
Guidance on implementation: We’ve advised startups, freelancers, and large enterprises on how to build remote-friendly cultures. Our experience can help you shape flexible policies and schedule team meet-ups more effectively.
Embracing the future of the hub and roam working model
Forward-thinking organisations recognise that a rigid, full-time office setup can be both costly and demotivating.
A hybrid approach, such as hub and roam, meets employees where they are — quite literally — and acknowledges that different tasks call for different settings.
It opens the door to deeper team bonding, sharper productivity, and better lifestyles for everyone involved.
If you’re exploring new ideas around remote and flexible working, hub and roam can offer the best of both worlds: a vibrant hub that brings people together for collaboration, plus personalised roam days where everyone can choose a location that suits the project at hand.
It’s a friendly, people-centred solution that aligns with a modern workforce craving freedom, meaningful human contact, and a purposeful use of resources.
Ready to start your hub and roam workspace strategy? Get in touch — we’re always happy to help.
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