Global mobility is changing shape
Global mobility is changing shape. The traditional expat/move the whole family, stay five years, assignment is in decline. However, shorter, more flexible, project related stays continue to grow. The pandemic normalised globally distributed teams and hybrid, flexible working. It’s now the norm.
KPMG's 2025 Global Mobility Benchmarking Report* states that "AI is now at the forefront of workforce transformation. With the emergence of more skills-based organizations, AI enables talent with in-demand skills to be deployed digitally across multiple markets, bridging the gap between where talent resides and where growth opportunities exist."
In addition, geopolitical instability is driving shorter assignments as companies need the flexibility to move people quickly as conditions change.
Business growth demands mobility, and employees are embracing it. They expect flexibility and optionality from their employer. Companies that don’t provide this will struggle to hire the best talent.
As COO at, StatsBomb, we enabled employees working temporarily from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands. It was all employee funded, but the business supported the individuals with flexibility and understanding, encouraging async communication, fewer compulsory meetings and a lot of writing.
However, the picture in the UK is different. The UK remains a stable, attractive destination for senior corporate placements and project-based work. The standard UK tourist visa does allow for remote working (with restrictions) but there is a fundamental shortage of housing. CapRelo's** 2026 report describes housing as 'a binding constraint on labor mobility' — even with visa approval, professionals struggle to find a home.
Great Pulteney Street in Bath. Houses, apartments and Hotels in Bath’s premium Georgian quarter.
Firms need low friction and easy to turn on/off according to their demand. Tenancies are cumbersome, it makes no sense for employees to set up utilities for a project. Short term lets are expensive, priced per night and subject to growing planning restrictions in many local authority areas.
Serviced accommodation for 2-6 month stays is exactly where the need sits, and it is currently underserved.
This demand is not limited to London. As firms headquarter outside of the capital to benefit from space and create an attractive work life balance for employees, the demand is mirrored in cities such as Reading, Bristol, Bath, Oxford. The UK planning and housing framework does not deal with this need at all well.
As a business owner and investor who lives in the UK, I care about business growth. As someone who is somewhat obsessed with property restoration, creating homes for this use ticks all my boxes. I am working through the legal side of all this but I’m here for it!
Full reports:
**https://www.caprelo.com/insights-resources/industry-trends/global-mobility-in-2026/