- According to results, one in three UK officer workers have met their closest friends through a past/previous workplace
- The North East is the top region where workers have built strong friendships in the office. Workers in Wales are the least likely to have found enduring friendships at the office
- Newcastle is the city where workers find it easiest to make friends at the office, while Brighton workers are most likely to find it difficult
- Shyness (36%) is the main reason office workers struggle to form friendships while many prefer to keep their social life and work separate (34%).
While making friends in the office isn’t required, studies have shown that having office friendships can be beneficial for your health and well-being. In a 2019 survey conducted by Totaljobs, 72% of UK employees believe that having a friend at work makes their job more enjoyable, which contributes to better mental health and overall job satisfaction.
But are we good at making friends? Are businesses doing enough to help support the social aspect of workplace culture? Well, Manchester-based flexible workspace & co-working operator Colony surveyed 2,000 UK office workers to find out more.
The results found that under a third (28%) of UK officer workers have met their closest friends through a past or previous workplace, with more than one in four (26%) having met them at their current workplace.
The results also provided some insight into how workers across the UK – including in regions and cities – feel about making friends at work.
North East is the top region for making friends at work
It seems some regions in the UK are certainly better at fostering workplace friendships than others – whether it be down to shyness, workplace culture or the stress and pressures of the job.
The North East is the region where workers seem to find it easiest to make friends, with 54.8% of these respondents claiming they find it ‘very easy’ or ‘somewhat easy’. Meanwhile, Scotland and Northern Ireland are most likely to find it difficult, with 36% of their respondents respectively claiming they find it ‘very difficult’ or ‘somewhat difficult’.
When it comes to England specifically, it’s the North West that appears to face the most social challenges, with 35.8% of respondents from this region also saying they find making friends in the workplace difficult.
Top 5 easiest regions in the UK to make friends at work
(No. of respondents who answered ‘very easy’ or ‘somewhat easy’)
- North East – 54.8%
- East Midlands – 50.4%
- West Midlands – 44.8%
- East of England – 44.7%
- Yorkshire and The Humber – 44.7%
Top 5 most difficult regions in the UK to make friends at work
(No. of respondents who answered ‘very difficult’ or ‘somewhat difficult’)
- Scotland – 36.2%
- Northern Ireland – 36%
- North West – 35.8%
- South East – 35.4%
- Greater London – 33.8%
Newcastle revealed as the UK’s easiest city to make friends at work
When it comes to cities, Newcastle leads the pack, with 56% claiming they find it ‘very easy’ or ‘somewhat easy’ to make friends at work. Other cities where workers are more likely to find it easy to form strong connections include Norwich (49%), Nottingham (47.6%), Southampton (47%) and Birmingham (46%).
However, not all cities are finding it quite so easy. Brighton is the city where people find it hardest to make friends at work, with 41% claiming they find it ‘very difficult’ or ‘somewhat difficult’. Other cities where finding friends is a challenge include Bristol (39%), Edinburgh (38%), Manchester (36%) and Belfast (36%).
Top 5 easiest cities in the UK to make friends at work
(No. of respondents who answered ‘very easy’ or ‘somewhat easy’)
- Newcastle – 56%
- Norwich – 49%
- Nottingham – 48%
- Southampton – 47%
- Birmingham – 46%
Top 5 most difficult cities in the UK to make friends at work
(No. of respondents who answered ‘very difficult’ or ‘somewhat difficult’)
- Brighton – 41%
- Bristol – 39%
- Edinburgh – 38%
- Manchester – 37%
- Belfast – 36%
Why do workers struggle to make friends?
Making connections in the office can sometimes be a struggle, for a variety of reasons – both cultural and personal. According to the results, shyness (36%) is one of the key hurdles UK office workers face when it comes to making friends.
Other reasons cited include preferring to keep work and personal lives separate (34%), while others say that a lack of common interests with colleagues (33%) can often be the cause.
In some cases, not being able to spend enough face-to-face time with colleagues (30%) can be an obstacle. Others find talking about non-work-related topics (26%) a struggle.
The research also shows that building a solid work-friendship can take time. Just 10% of those who have worked in their current role for less than six months have made a close connection. This is compared to 19% of people who have been in the same job for one to two years.
To form better relationships, almost one in two employees say that having things in common with your co-workers is important.
Which companies are doing enough to support office relationships?
Belfast is the city where office workers feel their employers are doing enough to foster work friendships (52%), while 30% believe they aren’t. Norwich and Southampton follow closely behind, with 50.9% and 50.6% feeling that their workplaces actively promote social connections. In Sheffield, 47.9% of workers agree that their employer helps build friendships, while Newcastle rounds out the top five with 45.4% of employees agreeing.
In contrast, many workers feel that their employer isn’t doing enough to create a positive social office culture. Edinburgh leads the pack here, with 31.8% of workers feeling their workplace isn’t helping facilitate friendships.
Glasgow comes in second with 30.8% of workers feeling the same. Interestingly, third place is where Belfast makes its appearance again, with 30% of workers saying their employer does not do enough. Manchester follows closely, with 29.7%, while Brighton finishes the list at 27.8%.
Top 5 cities where employers are seen to be supporting office friendships
1. Belfast – 52%
2. Norwich – 50.9%
3. Southampton – 50.6%
4. Sheffield – 47.9%
5. Newcastle – 45.4%
Top 5 cities where employers are seen to not be supporting office friendships
- Edinburgh – 31.8%
- Glasgow – 30.8%
- Belfast – 30%
- Manchester – 29.7%
- Brighton – 27.9%
Reflecting on the results, Jamie Halliday, Head of Marketing at Colony, a co-working space provider based in Manchester, says:
“Office friendships are a lot more important than many people think. They don’t just make the day more enjoyable—they can lead to better teamwork, higher productivity, and high morale across teams.
“From the survey, it’s clear that office friendships can definitely differ depending on where you are. In cities like Newcastle and Norwich, where workers find it easier to make friends, it’s often due to more supportive environments and a social-focused workplace culture. But in places like Brighton and Manchester, companies might need to rethink their approach and consider if their workplace is doing enough to support their employees.
“While friendships aren’t required for a job well done, they do make a big difference in how happy and engaged people feel at work. For companies, investing in a culture that helps build these relationships isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a way to make sure employees can succeed, both personally and professionally.”