Hybrid Work Is Here to Stay: What Welsh Businesses Should Be Doing in 2025.
In offices across Cardiff, Newport, Wrexham, and beyond, desks sit empty on Mondays and Fridays. This is not a sign of disengagement; rather, it is a new rhythm of work. Gone are the days of the nine-to-five office grind being the default choice. Modern work is reshaping in Wales. Large and small enterprises are considering hybrid work as a sustainable option instead of a temporary solution. It’s a shift driven by productivity, well-being, and new expectations from a changing workforce.
According to the Office for National Statistics, 28% of working adults in the UK now follow a hybrid working model, splitting their time between home and office. The percentage in the Welsh public sector is even higher: a survey conducted in March 2024 revealed that 73% of employees at the Welsh Government were working hybrid, with the majority working more from home than at the office.
So, what should Welsh businesses do in 2025 to make hybrid work work? Let’s explore.
The Productivity Paradox: In Person Vs. Hybrid Work
Hybrid work has become the norm for professionals, specifically those over 30 years of age, in managerial and specialised roles. The average employee is now saving up to 56 minutes daily on the commute, time that can be put in for focused work, relaxation, and exercise.
The Office for National Statistics reported that 28% of employed adults in Great Britain currently adopt a hybrid working model, dividing their time between home and the office. In the Welsh public sector, the percentage is even greater: a survey conducted in March 2024 revealed that 73% of Welsh Government employees were engaged in hybrid work, with many of them dedicating more time at home than at the workplace.
An astonishing 74.5% of SMEs in Wales report implementing hybrid models. The result? An impressive 95% noted enhanced productivity, whereas 97% experienced improved employee well-being.
Even with these successes, 95% of those leaders indicated they preferred employees to be in the office. This is not due to a lack of faith in remote work but because they believe face-to-face interaction is essential for mentoring, teamwork, and fostering company culture.
For a lot of organisations, the question is not whether hybrid working is feasible or not; the question is what advantage this brings against the actual requirement for getting together as a team.
How Can Companies Maintain Culture in a Hybrid World?
For many employers, the key question is: how can we preserve culture when we’re not in the same place?
The answer lies in intentional communication. Routine team check-ins, open calendars, and visible leadership play a role in creating a harmonious work culture. Hybrid onboarding programs, defined role expectations, and online acknowledgement systems contribute to making new employees feel welcomed from the very first day.
Companies must ensure junior employees are taken care of. Without casual desk-side learning sessions, structured mentorship and shadowing, even over video, become essential.
Hybrid models cut down commuting time for a lot of employees who live outside city centres and let more positions open that were geographically restricted.
In 2025, offices are no longer a fixed location. They’re hubs for connection, not cubicles. For Welsh employers, this opens the door to rethink physical space, creating smaller, multifunctional areas for focused work, casual drop-ins, and team collaboration.
Designers are seeing a trend of hot-desking areas, soundproof pods, and electronic whiteboards. The aim isn’t to entice employees with tricks but to provide an environment that fosters collaboration for optimal work.
Technology Is the New Office Backbone
A successful hybrid model hinges on the right tools. Inefficient tech leads to miscommunication, delays, and a frustrated workforce. Welsh businesses are increasingly seeking systems that integrate, scale and simplify.
“We’re seeing a real shift where businesses in Wales, particularly SMEs. They want reliable hybrid collaboration tools that don’t overwhelm their IT teams,” says a spokesperson from Bridgehampton, a UK-based IT consultancy specialising in Microsoft workplace technology. “Meeting room systems like Microsoft Teams Rooms are popular because they streamline remote collaboration, simplify room booking, and securely integrate existing workflows, all without disrupting day-to-day operations.”
This isn’t to say that video calls will die out completely. In fact, they are gaining relevance because companies will invest further into a platform that gives employees access and the comfort of being secure in their document sharing and with IT working on remote-friendly modes.
Inclusion Must Be at the Core of Hybrid Design
Hybrid working has the potential to be more inclusive — but only if designed that way. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and Business Wales have both urged employers to consider the specific needs of disabled workers in hybrid settings.
Adjustments might include:
- Offering video conferencing with captions
- Providing ergonomic support for home offices
- Permitting adaptability for healthcare visits
- Ensuring digital platforms are screen reader compatible
As the workforce diversifies, inclusive design isn’t just a legal requirement — it’s a business imperative.
The Bottom Line
Hybrid work is not a compromise. It can boost productivity, widen access, and strengthen resilience. Welsh businesses now have the chance to spearhead this change by providing hybrid work and executing it effectively.
That means investing in better tech, redesigning spaces with intention, building inclusive systems, and supporting managers through change.
In 2025, success will not be defined by who’s in the office but by who’s adapting with purpose.
Image – Freepik
