WeWork’s UK and Ireland general manager, Mathieu Proust, has predicted that the WeWork office model designed for flexible workers is the future of all office space in Manchester.
WeWork’s newest 66,000 sq. ft office space in Manchester at Dalton Place is almost fully occupied. The company also has offices at No 1 St. Peter’s Square and No 1 Spinningfields.
Proust is convinced that flexible working is the future of work, but sceptics doubt that all traditional office space in Manchester will be converted to flexible working spaces. Proust claims that WeWork office spaces are designed with the aim of making people happier and encouraging networking, with 60% of WeWork members saying that they do some kind of work with other people working in WeWork spaces. Research commissioned by WeWork found that 57% of its Manchester members say that working in the company’s offices has helped accelerate their company’s growth
Proust commented on WeWork:
“People love it, it’s not going anywhere, and it’s needed by big and small companies alike. There’s a need for community, that’s needed everywhere. There’s a deep change in society, and we’re at the forefront of that and that raises questions.
“WeWork is in it for the long run. Real estate is the hardware, and WeWork is the software, it’s what people enjoy.”
There has been an increase in flexible workspaces in Manchester over the last few years, but the majority of Manchester offices remain traditional workspaces, with the city benefiting from good transport links.
