With ‘hybrid-working’ gaining in popularity, IWG has joined forces with the Ashley Group to announce a project that will benefit employees in Enfield, Barnet and Hertfordshire.
IWG (International Workplace Group) has announced a new franchise agreement with the Ashley Group, which will help to reduce commuting time for many people living in north London and the surrounding area. This latest franchise deal will see five new IWG centres open for business in the London boroughs Enfield and Barnet, as well as Hertfordshire, during the next four years.
This agreement is the latest in the company’s plans to unveil between 800 and 1,200 new workspace locations in suburbs, towns and villages across the UK by 2030. Most of these will be created through franchising. IWG is a British holding company which provides serviced offices under several brand-names that include Regus, and has been in business since starting out in Brussels in 1989.
This latest initiative will cut commute time and enable employees to work closer to home following the pandemic. Recent IWG research has demonstrated the need for businesses to reconsider their attitudes towards office working. More than three-quarters (77%) of employees surveyed, said that being closer to home was likely to be a key priority when searching for their next job. And 49% of businesses admitted they were considering moving to areas where their workforce lived.
The trend to increase ‘hybrid-working’ would be a major financial boost for suburbs, towns and villages across the UK. A recent economic impact study by IWG and Arup showed that the new wave of flexible office space could see suburbs benefit from up to £171m of extra spending each year. It is also expected to create 4,000 new jobs.
The Ashley Group are currently locating and securing appropriate properties within Enfield, Barnet and Hertfordshire, so that these flexible workspaces can open as soon as possible. Zamir Hirji, director at the Ashley Group, said: “We have expanded our business rapidly across the UK over the last five years, from growing our hotel business to our recent gym deal. By adding flexible workspace in our local area to our current franchise portfolio, is the exciting next step.
“Hybrid-working was already an attractive business opportunity before the pandemic, but following the events of the last year, there is a clear need for flexible office space in more UK towns and suburbs. The pandemic has helped to shape our attitudes towards how and where we choose to work. As a business, we know first-hand the value of having office space options in outer London and we are excited to work with IWG to develop new flexible workspaces.”
Post-pandemic trends are showing that workers are now splitting their time between home and an office environment, with this hybrid model of employment continuing to gain momentum. Julian Chambers, head of partnerships growth at IWG, added: “For many workers, the pandemic highlighted the benefits of working in their local areas. But now, as we slowly return to ‘normal’, people want to retain these advantages. This is good news for employees who will benefit from the flexibility and productivity.
“Yet it is also good for local towns and suburbs which could see their local economies and highstreets revived. As more businesses adopt a hybrid model of working, now is the time for investors to begin exploring suburban areas that could benefit from flexible workspaces. We have seen an increase in enquiries across London, firmly pointing towards the growing appetite for this new way of life”.
About IWG: Is the global operator of leading workspace providers. Digitalisation and new technologies are transforming the world of work. People want to live and work closer to their homes. IWG customers range from start-ups, to small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as large multinationals. All of these businesses want workspaces and communities to match their needs. Through IWG‘s stable of companies (Regus, Spaces, HQ, Signature and Basepoint) they provide that choice, and serve the world of work. They embrace the power of flexible working to increase productivity through efficiency, agility and market proximity. IWG launched its franchise opportunity globally in 2019. The company partners with franchise entrepreneurs to meet the booming demand for flexible, local office space in every town centre and suburb. IWG regularly organise Franchise Discovery Days. These provide the ideal opportunity to learn more about their business model.
