Roses planted at the perimeter of vineyards are an indicator of the vines’ health and an early warning of impending stress or disease.

It’s not just agriculture that uses a system of indicators and early warnings. Even the economy, when analysed well, will give you an indication of the boom or busts to come. The Big Mac index, for instance, was invented by The Economist in 1986 as an informal guide to whether currencies are at their correct level. Last January, the average price of a Big Mac in the US was $4.79 while in China it was $2.77. That indicates that at the time, the yuan was undervalued by 42 per cent.

There are other informal indicators. For instance, retailers say that rising sales of alcohol and chocolate reflect a poorly performing economy: people will entertain themselves at home or pamper themselves with a bar of chocolate because they feel that, given the sacrifices they are making, they deserve a treat. On the other hand, when entertainment venues are doing well, it means that consumers have good levels of disposable income.

Currently, the Maltese economy is doing well. A forecast issued by Ernst and Young, in collaboration with Oxford Economics, foresees a strong performance in 2015. The forecast highlights a buoyant tourism sector and growth in exports.

Figures published by the National Statistics Office show that the Maltese economy grew by four per cent in real terms in the first quarter of 2015 – this is significant given that the average growth registered in the euro area for the same period was of one per cent.

Consumer spending is also robust. In 2014, this rose by 3.3 per cent, which is the fastest growth in more than 10 years. With regards to specific sectors, particularly strong increases are being registered in the financial and insurance sector, real estate, and retail. The financial services sector and iGaming are performing particularly well. For instance, the net asset value of Malta domiciled funds reached €9.7bn at the end of 2014.

This good performance is also reflected in the increasing demand for professionals. Job creation is set to remain at around two per cent for the rest of 2015. It is no coincidence that the financial services sector, iGaming and real estate are doing well. The first two sectors attract foreign investment and foreign staff who frequently decide to settle down in Malta. This is translated into an increased demand for office spaces.

In fact, in the past year, plans to develop a number of large office space projects were announced. For instance, last May, Simonds Farsons Cisk plc stated that planning applications for the development of the Farsons Business Park were submitted to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. In the meantime, Go announced plans to turn its former HQ Spencer House in Marsa and its premises in Birkirkara into business centres. Other business developments are underway or in the pipeline. That can only mean one thing: that as long as the economy keeps growing, the demand for office space will continue to be strong.

Office essentials

• An office can only be productive if it is designed for people. That means a space which allows for collaboration, facilitates meetings and provides quiet zones.

• A company can grow or restructure – that means that it needs a flexible office space which can accommodate changes.

• Modern offices should have a flow that is designed to encourage interaction.

• Modern offices optimise natural daylight and air, which help reduce work stress levels.

• Offices should be designed with a sustainable focus, from mechanical and electric to recycling and the use of renewable materials.

• Offices need to interact with the staff need to meet new clients, socialise and relax – therefore, coffee shops, bars and restaurants in the vicinity all add to work satisfaction.