Today's technology means that many firms no longer need a physical office

The UK is finally clawing its way out of the recession, but for many, business confidence and trust in the economy remains at an all-time low. The memories left behind by recession have brought about reluctance in many UK firms to commit to long-term overheads, among them office space.

As a result, virtual offices are striking a chord with businesses who want a proven and effective solution.

Commenting on the movement towards virtual offices, businessman David Colmar says: "It's not a trend; it's a matter of survival."

A virtual office provides an established business location to the outside world, but in reality, is simply an address or a phone number. This makes it a cost-effective solution that is typically popular with small or start-up businesses, as it helps them to project a more established image to their clients. It also places the business in important commercial locations such as London and Manchester.

For firms that have suffered during the recession, and who have downsized or are looking to cut overheads, taking physical office space out of the equation can be a daunting but hugely liberating exercise.

In reality, many businesses have little need for a physical office. Thanks to the internet, Wi-Fi, iPhones and Blackberrys, workers can stay connected at home, in their car - even in Starbucks. And for those who need to meet clients on a regular basis, virtual office providers often include or permit the use of meeting rooms and conferencing equipment when necessary.

The solution can give start-up businesses a welcome boost, and can also provide a valuable meeting space or postal address for the self-employed, or for those that work from home but wish to keep their home address undisclosed.

For Therese Jenkins, owner of corporate relocation business Apple Realty Group and her team of salespeople, she found that mobile phones and email rendered their old office unnecessary.

"I was always looking for ways to cut costs without hurting the ability of my sales associates to be successful," says Jenkins. "Since everyone liked working from home so much, I decided that a virtual office was the way to go."

As more business owners turn to virtual offices to cut costs, and employees spend more time working from remote locations or on the road, the requirement of a physical office is being gradually replaced by the cheaper and more flexible virtual office solution.

Ultimately there will always be physical offices, and an abundance of firms to fill them. But businesses are now much more open to the prospect of a virtual office, and are recognising that the costs saved on an office environment can instead be put towards essentials such as marketing and upgrading technology.

If you're looking for ways to cut your overheads, or you're a new business looking to boost your image, speak to one of our experts for free help and advice on finding the virtual office solution to suit you and your company.