Every business has different needs for its office space, but when moving into a new office, particularly in a new region for the company, it is essential that the process of getting everything ready is as simple and streamlined as possible.
As experts in office management in Manchester, we have considerable experience in working with companies just like yours, whether you are considering moving into the North West, downsizing your existing offices or moving to facilities where your operations can be scaled up.
Every business needs a different type of office space, and these needs are typically grouped into categories, often known as CAT A, CAT A+ and CAT B.
What do these categories mean, and what is the practical difference between A+ and B? Read more to find out.
What Is A Fit Out?
To understand the different categories of office fit out, we first need to define what a fit out actually is.
The simplest definition is that a fit out is when a building is supplied with everything it needs to be suitably used.
In the context of office space, it is the process of transforming an empty room that is typically too dangerous to inhabit into a usable office space. Exactly what that means depends on whether a landlord or a tenant leads the process.
What Is A CAT A Office Fit Out?
Typically, a category CAT A fit out is a blank canvas that includes:
- Floors
- Ceilings
- Lights
- Electricity
- Basic plumbing.
- Air conditioning
- Anything else needed to create an initially functional environment.
What Is a CAT A+ Office Fit Out?
A CAT A+ fit out is an enhanced version of a traditional bare-bones CAT A approach, often focusing on higher specification materials.
This is typically organised by a landlord as a “plug and play” or “turnkey” space that a tenant can easily move into and start working in without much adjustment, although at the expense of lacking specialised branding or specific features.
An ideal starting point for tenants, a CAT A+ office typically includes:
- Partitioned areas, including meeting rooms, breakout spaces and a reception.
- Ready to use building services such as internet connectivity and smart building technology.
- Desks, chairs and other furniture.
- Carpet and ceiling tiles.
- Internal finishes, albeit with scope for customisation.
What Is A CAT B Office Fit Out?
By contrast, a CAT B fit out is a more comprehensive and often-customisable fit out which includes most of the functions and features needed to move into an office straight away.
A CAT B fit out is typically organised by a tenant with the approval of the landlord, and will typically centre around the needs of tenants intending to stay within a certain office on a long-term basis.
These works can vary but often include:
- IT infrastructure, such as telecommunications cabling.
- Audio-visual equipment such as sound systems and projectors.
- Specialist lighting, such as dimmer switches and smart lighting.
- Raised flooring.
- Decorative lighting.
- Branded fixtures
- Individual room partitions.
What Is The Main Difference Between CAT A+ And CAT B?
There is considerable overlap between CAT A+, CAT B and (to a degree) CAT C fit outs, but the differences are largely centred on the leading influence of the fit out process and the long-term aims of both landlords and tenants.
A CAT A+ office is more akin to a showhome; it allows a landlord to present ready-made spaces that are attractive to tenants who cannot afford the time it can take to organise their own fit out, but allows scope for branding and additional installations.
By contrast, a CAT B office is typically a tenant-led fully-featured fit out necessary when a business has specific needs or a layout structure that relies more on their own equipment.
Is There A CAT C Office Fit Out?
A CAT C, or “business in a box”, is a largely generic but complete fit out solution, allowing businesses to get to work right away and move in without having to think about layouts or adding additional furniture.
