The High Street is in trouble…
But there are lessons it can learn from the flex sector.
1. Don’t be exclusive! The flexible sector is growing rapidly, and so is the audience using it from corporates to solopreneurs, SME’s to makers. For a flex space to work, the operator has to look around them and create something appropriate. Coworking Corner in Matlock is a great example, it’s a small flex space but it’s filled with local people who want to be out of the house!
2. Think about curation. Day to Night, food to IT, therapists to photographers – let one feed the other to thrive! Oru is a great example, and their new space in Sutton has such an exciting mixed offer with a Bar, Nursery, Café, Therapy Rooms, Co-working and Serviced offices.
3. We’re all in this together! Use Partnerships, the flexible workplace sector is thriving as building owners see the value in bringing in an operator to enliven and activate their space – utilising their hospitality offer to up the attract-ability of the building. Vulcan Works in Northampton is a great example, it is a partnership with South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) to create space for freelancers, start-ups and businesses.
Read the whole piece in BE News – huge thanks to Simon Creasey for publishing!