Paul Thomas shares some interesting shifts highlighted by recent CoStar data. We see a big move from the established brands to newer, high-end operators who are winning more and more deals.

For 2018 to 2022, flex leasing was going to Spaces (25%), WeWork (19%), Regus (16%), Instant Offices (13%), Orega (11%), X+Why (7%), Pure Offices (5%) and Gilbanks (4%).

Fast forward to 2023 and 2024: Cubo (33%), Orega (13%), IWG (13%), 2-Work (9%), Runway East (9%), Re-Defined (8%), Gilbanks (8%) and Wizu Workspace (7%).

CoworkingCafe just released their quarterly report on the state of the coworking in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

In it they share that the region now boasts 3,089 locations (2,718 in England, 202 in Scotland, 105 in Wales and 64 in Northern Ireland). Greater London still leads by size with 887 spaces, followed by Manchester with 74 hubs.

The national median price for dedicated desks sits at £210, with Brighton and Hove holding the highest median price at £310, and Newcastle and Sheffield at the other end of the price spectrum at £189. Open space median prices are £160 (£245 in Greater London). VO are £50 per month nationally, while Greater London has the highest median price at £100. Meeting rooms are listed at a median hourly rate of £25 at the national level, reaching as high as £46 / hour in Greater London.

Regus leads the pack regionally with 195 coworking spaces throughout the UK (with less than half of its national portfolio is concentrated within the 15 busiest coworking markets). Fora comes in second with 66 spaces nationally, 64 of which are concentrated in the top 15 markets – particularly London. With a similar distribution pattern, 55 out of Workspace Group’s portfolio of 57 coworking locations, are in the top 15 cities, predominantly in the London area. The Boutique Workplace Company comes in fourth with 40 and Spaces rounds out the top 5 with 39 coworking spaces.

Ireland has a total of 234 coworking spaces, almost half of which can be found in Dublin – 116. The top three operators in Dublin are Pembr, which has 18 coworking spaces, Iconic Offices with 12 spaces and Regus with 9 spaces.

Norwich City Council is nearing completion of a £4 million refurbishment of Townshend House, transforming the former ITV regional headquarters into a digital hub for tech start-ups. Set to open in spring, the facility aims to accommodate up to 25 companies and create approximately 200 jobs. The hub will be managed by IWG.

The UK, along with other European local governments have been at the forefront of creative public financing around repurposing spaces on high streets and their equivalents of CBDs. While past deals have been more centered around leases, along with other trends we are witnessing, this is a shift towards third party management agreements.

Congrats to Dayle Parkins and the Spaces The Wentworth team and community!

The team at Spacebring share a data snapshot and infographic on coworking in Germany.

Key data takeaways: the country boasts 978 spaces, with the 5 largest operators being WeWork, Spaces (by IWG), Design Offices, Friends Factory (by Rent24) and Rent24.

The piece also digs into challenges and tactics from local operators like Christian Cordes, Jonte Schlagner, Dr. Alexandra Bernhardt, Karen Klauke, Vicki Janssen, Dörte Schabsky and Andrea Buehler.