According to research conducted by JLL, the flexible office space sector in Europe has more than doubled since 2014, driven by the development of start-ups, creative industries, and small- and medium-sized companies. Furthermore, the combination of high tenant activity with the business plans of the world's largest operators means that the volume of flexible space in most European cities will have likely increased by 20-40% in 2018 alone.

According to the latest report by JLL, Disruption or Distraction, the flexible office space sector in Europe has more than doubled since 2014, and could grow by up to 30% per year over the next five years. These forecasts - based on an analysis of 20 major European markets - also include Warsaw, which dominates the Polish flex market.

For growing numbers of employees across Europe's big cities, heading into the office no longer entails sitting at the same desk, next to the same colleagues each day. As more companies of all shapes and sizes choose turn to flexible space – whether its hot-desking areas in buildings they already occupy or taking space in independently owned coworking set-ups - it's fast becoming part of modern working life and a small but increasingly significant part of Europe's office markets. Europe's flex space footprint has doubled since the start of 2015, according to JLL's report. In 2017 alone, flexible space grew by 29 percent, adding around 620,000 square meters.

Adgar Poland has concluded an agreement for the acquisition of the asset at Czackiego 15/17 in Warsaw. Thus, the portfolio of the company in Poland was increased to 12 assets. The value of the transaction amounted to €8.3 million (PLN 36 million).

In their early days, start-ups require a flexible working environment and usually opt for co-working space, which, however, is relatively costly in the long term. That’s why it’s important that they do not overstay there and move forward at the right time, says Artur Sutor, Partner and Head of Office Department at Cresa Poland.

CBRE advised coworking operator Spaces on leasing 4,100 sqm of office space in Expo Business Park, located in the Expoziției area of Bucharest. The leasing contract exceeds the market average length of five years.

JLL has successfully rented out the Albatros Business Centre in Prague 1. Almost 3,500 sqm of space on Národní třída will be occupied from spring 2019 by Spaces, a global coworking giant of Dutch origin, which will become a major tenant of the building next to Česká spořitelna. This opening of the first branch in the Czech Republic indicates a growing interest in this type of office.

Operators of co-working spaces rented nearly 20,000 sqm of office space in existing or developing buildings in Bucharest in H1 2018, which represents a 13,4% share in the total transaction volume, estimated at around 150,000 square meters, according to data from Cushman & Wakefield Echinox.

Heiko Himme has been appointed Head of Real Estate Central Europe at WeWork. Currently Head of Office Agency Germany and Team Leader Office Agency Berlin for Cushman & Wakefield, Heiko will join WeWork by the end of the year. Kathrin Hellwig who has been with Cushman & Wakefield since 2013 will take over his responsibilities as Team Leader of Office Agency – Berlin with immediate effect.

Romania becomes the seventh country in which Mindspace offers its flexible workplace solutions, following a leasing agreement Globalworth has just signed. Mindspace will start operating in three Bucharest buildings, on approx. 12,000 sqm across Globalworth Campus, City Offices and Bucharest Tower Center. At the same time, Globalworth is investing $10 million in the company to support its ongoing growth.