Coworking is Not Just for Startups – The World Needs To Know Corporations Embrace Flexible Workspaces
A common misconception persists: coworking and flexible workspaces are only for small businesses, startups, or freelancers. However, as the members of the industry know, the reality is quite different. Today, some of the world’s largest corporations, including FTSE 100, CAC40, DAX or NASDAQ-listed companies, are integrating flexible workspaces into their strategies to optimize costs, improve agility, and support hybrid work policies.
Matt Hewitt from One Space Dubai, highlights it perfectly, in a Linkedin post this week: the perception of the coworking industry must evolve. Coworking is no longer just a solution for individuals or small businesses—it has become a mainstream corporate real estate strategy embraced by global powerhouses.
Matt Hewitt lists in his post some examples of coworking operators hosting a growing number of the world biggest corporations within their walls. Here are the examples he refers to :
1. IWG (Regus, Spaces, HQ, Signature) – A Fortune 500 Favorite
- Reports indicate that over 80% of Fortune 500 companies use some form of flexible workspace, including IWG’s brands.
- HSBC, Microsoft, and EY—all publicly traded companies—are key clients of IWG.
- In 2023, IWG signed a global hybrid workspace deal with Standard Chartered (FTSE 100) to accommodate their employees worldwide.
2. WeWork – A Legacy of Enterprise Clients
- Before its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in 2023, WeWork stated that 40% of its client base were Fortune 500 companies.
- Amazon, Meta, IBM, and Microsoft were among the largest WeWork enterprise clients.
- Despite WeWork’s restructuring, many corporate contracts were absorbed by other flexible office providers, particularly IWG.
3. Other Major Flexible Workspace Providers
- In the UK and Germany, Fora, and Landmark Group (UK) report strong demand from FTSE 100-listed firms.
- Knotel (now owned by Newmark Group, NASDAQ: NMRK) served major corporate clients before its restructuring.
- Industrious, recently bought by CBRE, which has locations in the Benelux and in Germany, partners with landlords who lease to NASDAQ-listed firms like Zillow and Yelp
- In smaller countries such as Bulgaria, for example, betahaus, Work Better and many others host big international companies offices for the locally based teams
What are these companies motivations to join coworking spaces environments ?
Matt Hewitt, whose One Space Dubai also accommodates companies such as Amazon, Hitachi Rail or Uber, stresses on three main trends he observes :
Hybrid Work Policies Drive Demand – Many publicly traded firms, including those on FTSE 100 and NASDAQ, are reducing their fixed office footprints in favor of flexible workspaces.
Corporate Agreements with Coworking Operators – Large enterprises sign multi-location deals with coworking providers to allow employees to work from multiple locations instead of a single HQ.
Landlords Enter the Market – Real estate giants like British Land (FTSE 100) and Landsec (FTSE 100) have launched their own flexible office brands to attract corporate clients.
“The demand for premium, well-located flexible office space from major corporations is undeniable, proving that coworking has evolved far beyond its startup roots”, he says.
The coworking industry must redefine its image in the eyes of the general public. The reality is that corporate giants, including financial institutions, tech companies, and Fortune 500 firms, are increasingly turning to flexible office solutions to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and support hybrid work models.
It’s time to stop thinking of coworking as a startup-only solution—corporations worldwide are already leading the way, tells Hewitt.
Pic Source : One Space Dubai website
