What often comes to your mind when you think of employee development? What do you think of the work culture? Do you think of options that allow for work-life balance? Usually, businesses will think of training programs, mentorship opportunities, and skill-building workshops. But what about the role that your business location plays in shaping the growth and development of your team members? 

Believe it or not, where your business is situated can have a significant impact on employee learning and professional growth. Oh yes, you read that right! For the most part, it’s not was a company (of any size) would think about. Usually, they think of adult learning and skill advancements, but while these do play a pretty big role, the actual location can too. So, is the location of your business truly boosting employee development? Here’s what you need to know! 

Proximity to Learning Opportunities

One of the key factors to consider is the proximity of your business location to learning opportunities. Are there universities, colleges, or training centers nearby where employees can further their education or acquire new skills? If they have to travel fairly far, it’s not something that’s going to be helpful at all (again, this affects work-life balance). So, having access to educational institutions can be incredibly beneficial for employees who are looking to expand their knowledge base or pursue advanced degrees.

Also, is your business located in a business park, in the middle of nowhere, or somewhere more like the city center? Generally speaking, being located in a vibrant, knowledge-rich community can inspire a culture of continuous learning and professional development within your organization.

Networking and Collaboration Opportunities

If your business is in an office park or even the city center, this will work; if it’s in a suburb or rural area, not so much. So, this doesn’t 100% have to affect networking opportunities, but to a degree, it does. If your business is located in a dynamic business ecosystem, then this can provide employees with valuable networking opportunities, mentorship possibilities, and collaborative projects that can enhance their skills and career prospects. 

Sometimes, but not always, businesses will try to be in a location that’s basically known to be a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship (like Silicon Valley). But it doesn’t have to be a problem because you could always have everyone drive to an event. Additionally, proximity to industry events, conferences, and meetups can facilitate knowledge sharing and idea exchange among team members. Again, not needed but it can help. 

Think About the Commute

So this one is definitely going to be the most important of them all!  Is it easy for employees to get to work, either by public transportation, biking, or walking? Or do they face long commutes and transportation challenges that can negatively impact their job satisfaction and productivity? Absolutely everyone hates commuting! 

It means waking up earlier, dealing with traffic, and being shoulder-to-shoulder with people; it’s just things that make a bad start to the morning and a bad start to your evening. If it’s a short ride, then that’s not so bad, but more than 15 minutes (traffic included) can be utterly dreadful!