The price of flexible office desks rose by one-sixth last year, as the sector embarked on what is expected to be a dramatic recovery post-pandemic.

The average cost for a private desk in flexible office space reached £443 in 2021, a 14% increase on the previous year, according to Savills’ flex venture Workthere.

Workthere found inquiries were up 82% on pre-pandemic levels, driven predominantly by occupiers whose employees were previously working from home, and from occupiers wanting to take temporary space.

While the desk price remains well below the 2019 figure of £529, the combination of recovering prices and surging demand last year looks set to give “further traction” to flex operators, the company said.

Workthere said 13% of demand came from companies entering the UK market for the first time, which reflected growing attractiveness for overseas occupiers.

Jack Williamson, head of Workthere UK, said: “There is no doubt that flexible offices have regained, and even excelled, their pre-pandemic momentum with demand and pricing levels all moving in an upward direction.

“Our latest provider sentiment survey also reinforces this showing that 95% of respondents are optimistic about the sector over the next 12 months, which is supported by more consistent occupancy levels of 70% at the end of 2021.”

He added: “The flexible office market has demonstrated its ability to adapt and recover in the most challenging of circumstances, which has reinforced its fundamental position in the UK office market.”