Flexible workspace provider signs first franchise partnership for Scotland

IWG says agreement will see centres open across Lanarkshire by 2024

Flexible workspace provider IWG has signed its first franchise agreement in Scotland to meet the growing demand for hybrid ways of working. 

The owner of brands such as Regus and Spaces says the deal covers towns and suburbs in the central belt of the country and gives people previously commuting into cities such as Glasgow and Edinburgh the chance to work closer to home.

The agreement will see three franchisee-owned centres opened across Lanarkshire by 2024. 

It follows a surge in demand for IWG workspaces in Scottish suburban areas, where the business has witnessed a 20-25 per cent increase in enquiries for its centres over the last quarter.

Partnering with IWG to spearhead its expansion in Scotland are Tommy Nevin, an experienced BT and EE franchisee; Graeme Orr, a freelance project management consultant for multiple blue-chip organisations; and Tony McCabe and Scott Gibson, both experienced operations directors, who’ve ran and partnered with some of the UK’s biggest organisations in financial services and telecoms.

Tommy is one of Scotland’s most experienced franchise investors and with Scott and Tony now runs 70 per cent of BT’s Scottish operations. 

They’re planning to move their BT staff members to the first IWG franchise centre in the country.

Julian Chambers, head of franchise at IWG - UK & Ireland, says: “The pandemic has accelerated a trend that we were already seeing across the world - the shift towards hybrid working. 

“Employees want the freedom to work closer to home, avoiding a lengthy commute to the office - and businesses are listening.

“We’ve seen demand soar considerably around the world in 2021, with more than a 350 per cent increase in new locations committed by franchise partners so far this year, compared to the same period in 2020. 

“Our UK partnerships have played a huge part in this and now we’re delighted to bring the opportunity to Scotland, where there is still plenty of unmet demand across the country.”

Graeme says: “It’s a hugely exciting time for the flexible workspace sector and we’re delighted to be spearheading IWG’s franchise network in Scotland. 

“For years people have commuted to cities such as Glasgow, Edinburgh and further afield for work, sometimes spending over two hours on public transport or on the motorway. 

“Additionally, we believe many organisations will be seeking property solutions with greater flexibility that can rise and fall in line with business demand, providing agility that’s missing in traditional real estate arrangements.

Tommy says: “We’re putting our collective business knowledge together to make a real difference to the lives of commuters and are on the lookout for property owners who are interested in helping this vision come to life.”

To date in the UK, IWG has formed multiple franchise partnerships in 75 city and suburban locations.

It launched its franchise opportunity globally in 2019.

IWG regularly organises franchise discovery days at which potential investors can learn more about the business model.