Wybo Wijnbergen, CEO & Co-founder, infinitSpace
For years, flexible workspaces were primarily associated with entrepreneurs, freelancers, and scaling SMEs. I’ve witnessed this first-hand in over a decade in the sector, and even as flex spaces and the world of work have evolved dramatically, this view still persists in some quarters.
In truth, it is a misconception. In recent years, the use of flexible workspaces has become a strategic component of corporate real estate planning, team building, operations and financial management.
The shift is now impossible to ignore. It’s reported that more than 80% of Fortune 500 companies use some form of flexible workspace. Our own workspace brand, beyond, has seen the same surge first-hand, with more and more corporates now calling one of beyond’s nine European locations their home.
Download our new report: The Hidden Costs of Conventional Office Leases, and Why Enterprises Should Incorporate Some Form of Flex
Yes, flex is still hugely popular among startups and SMEs, allowing them to take on small private offices while still accessing a host of additional facilities and amenities – plus, crucially, being part of a larger community that will empower learning, networking and socialising. But enterprises are also alert to the advantages of flex, and they are not merely dabbling in this market; they are committing to it at scale.
For commercial landlords, this marks a profound opportunity: corporate demand for flexible, hospitality-led workspaces is rising fast, and those who can meet it will outperform the market.
The value of corporates to landlords
One of the key drivers of more corporates turning to flex is the mismatch between traditional leasing models and the realities of hybrid work. Conventional ten-year leases, fixed footprints and high capex requirements simply don’t align with today’s operating environment.
Hybrid working was already changing the picture before the pandemic, and Covid-19 then kicked this trend into overdrive. In the past five years, we have seen large companies increasingly seeking flexible workspace because it provides what their legacy leases do not: agility, efficiency, speed, and a better experience for employees.
Further, enterprises enjoy the fact that under the flex model they have the costs of facility management, IT, cleaning, and amenities all bundled into one set monthly fixed outgoing.
Yet when looking deeper into the trend of corporates using flex spaces, there are two important questions to consider. Firstly, why is it important that landlords (through their choice of operators or when developing a flex proposition themselves) cater to corporates? And secondly, how can they do it effectively?
Focusing on the first of those questions: landlords who partner with specialist operators can unlock three major advantages:
1. Access to a deeper, more resilient tenant pool
Enterprises signing flex agreements extend far beyond SMEs in both scale and term length. Many of our enterprise customers commit to two- or three-year terms for private floors – providing operators and landlords with income stability.
2. Higher yield potential per square foot
A well-designed flex space, operated under a revenue-share or management agreement, typically generates stronger returns than a traditional long-term lease, while maintaining landlord control of the asset.
3. Future-proofing buildings
Corporate occupiers now expect amenity-rich, tech-enabled, service-led environments. Flex is often the most economically viable way to deliver that. Landlords who incorporate flex into their assets gain a competitive advantage in attracting and retaining the most valuable tenants.
Catering to corporates
So that’s the ‘why’. Then comes the ‘how’. From experience, these are some of the demands of catering to enterprise clients within a flex space:
- The ability to create bespoke spaces within the wider flexible workspace. Typically, these are private floors, which are designed around team structures, brand identity and any particular requirements they have for breakout and meeting spaces.
- The potential for them to enter into longer-term commitments – often 24–36 months – but with flexibility to scale up or down.
- Technology-enabled space management, from access to booking facilities, and the possibility to connect with the wider membership base.
- Hospitality-led services that elevate the employee experience, including events and networking opportunities, as well as community management teams.
Hybrid working has made workplace experience a critical factor in talent retention and organisational culture. Static, underutilised traditional offices simply cannot compete with the energy and service levels that modern flexible operators deliver.
Download our new report: The Hidden Costs of Conventional Office Leases, and Why Enterprises Should Incorporate Some Form of Flex
This is why we work with landlords to create flex spaces that cater to entrepreneurs, startups, SMEs and corporates alike, offering dedicated enterprise suites alongside collaborative coworking environments. The goal is not to replace a company’s headquarters but to create agile hubs that support productivity and culture, without locking organisations into inflexible, multi-year liabilities.
The next chapter of corporate real estate
The rise of enterprise adoption is the clearest signal yet that flexible workspace has evolved from “alternative” to essential infrastructure. Corporates want flexibility without compromise: private space, high design standards, and long-term optionality.
Landlords who can deliver this (by partnering with specialist operators) will be the ones who win the next decade of office demand.
The opportunity is here, and the momentum is real. The question for landlords is simple: Is your building ready for the modern corporate occupier?
Find out how infinitSpace’s premium workspace brand beyond is catering to enterprises, and get in touch today to talk about how we can help you do the same.