Coworking, corporate offices, and global investment are all on the move. The U.K. and Ireland now boast over 4,300 flexible workspaces, while the U.S. sector has quietly surpassed 8,400 coworking space locations.
Meanwhile, foreign buyers are snapping up U.S. offices again, and U.K. lending has surged 33% — driven by prime offices. On the other side of the globe, Google is betting big on India, locking in 617,000 ft² of Gurugram office space, signaling that multinational expansion isn’t slowing.
Behind the numbers, a clear pattern emerges: companies are blending flexibility with quality, investors are chasing top-tier assets, and global hubs—from London to Gurugram—are redefining what office demand looks like in a hybrid world.
Industry News
The U.K. and Ireland now host 4,315 coworking spaces, making the region one of the world’s most connected markets for flexible work. London leads with 1,191 locations, while Dublin dominates in Ireland with 126 spaces. Growth is driven by startups, remote workers, and multinational firms, as city-by-city offerings, memberships, and day passes continue to expand across both countries.
The U.S. coworking sector now exceeds 8,400 locations and 152 million square feet. Manhattan leads in scale while Los Angeles hosts the most spaces, and secondary cities like Denver and Raleigh–Durham are growing fast.
U.S. office sales just hit $38 billion as investors targeted modern, amenity-rich spaces. New construction reached 11.9 million square feet, with smaller, high-end projects rising. Vacancy eased slightly to 18.6%, while coworking quietly expanded, meeting demand for flexible, hybrid-ready offices in top markets like Manhattan, Seattle, and the Bay Area.
Nordic office occupancy hit 46%, matching the European average, as companies increased in-office collaboration. Nearly half of firms expected attendance to grow, and 29% planned for half of their portfolios to become flexible spaces by 2027, driven by efficiency, sustainability, and strong demand for high-quality offices.
Foreign investment in U.S. offices surged sixfold to $877 million last quarter, led by Manhattan and San Francisco, as buyers targeted high-quality, amenity-rich buildings. While still below pre-pandemic levels, the rebound reflects renewed confidence in top-tier office markets. Boston, Dallas, and Washington, D.C., also drew attention, and Canadian capital remained a major source.
U.K. commercial real estate lending rose 33% to £22.3 billion, fueled by cheap financing and major developments. Prime office and logistics dominated, while secondary offices lagged. Development finance approached £31 billion, near 2007 levels. Debt funds led speculative lending but showed a 20.3% default rate, above the 6.3% market average. Loan margins tightened, and competition among lenders—including returning overseas capital—intensified, signaling a liquid but cautiously risk-aware market.
Google signed one of India’s largest office leases this year, taking 57,300 m² (617,000 ft²) at Atrium Place, Gurugram. This followed an earlier 51,100 m² (550,000 ft²) lease nearby, marking a strategic expansion after pandemic-era retrenchment. The moves signal renewed multinational demand and long-term confidence in India’s office market, highlighting Gurugram’s role as a top business hub and potentially prompting other global firms to secure large office footprints.
The 5 Secrets Behind a Truly Thriving Coworking Experience
Do you know what makes a coworking space truly unforgettable? It’s not just smooth bookings or clear billing. It’s the subtle ways spaces anticipate needs, spark connections, and turn ordinary days into energized, inspired experiences. When members feel seen, supported, and part of a community, work stops feeling like work and starts feeling like possibility. These five approaches quietly shape spaces where people thrive. Read here
Who is UltraSoftBIS?
UltraSoftBIS is an all-in-one ERP software for the operators of managed spaces, coworking spaces, and flexible workplaces. It automates key tasks like sales, proposals, contract generation, e-signatures, inventory management, reservations, billing, and reporting in a single integrated system.
