The phenomenal growth of the ‘flex’ sector is set to continue apace in years to come, with flexible workspace in EMEA grow by over 50% by 2022 and the number of office workers occupying this space growing to 750,000 across the region. That’s according to global real estate advisor, Colliers International, which recently released its Flexible Workspace Outlook Report 2019.

The increased interest of global corporations in coworking spaces was a notable trend that impacted on the office markets of the four largest capital cities in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) in 2018. The total flexible office stock of Budapest, Moscow, Prague and Warsaw stands at 286,000 sqm, accounting for approximately 1% of the combined office market of these cities (29.9 million sqm). Demand generated by coworking operators in 2018 made up 5% of the overall office take-up in the CEE capital cities.

Spaces has leased 2,700 sqm in the mixed-use Wroclavia centre. Experts from JLL advised Spaces on the negotiation of lease terms. The developer - Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield - was represented by Knight Frank.

There are already 57 centres in Prague that offer flex space. There are 37 providers in the city and most centres can be found in Prague 1. On average, the price of a fixed workplace is CZK 4,800 per month (excluding VAT). JLL, a real estate consulting company, confirmed in its latest report that the trend of flexible spaces is increasingly influencing the Prague office market.

3.5 million sqm is the amount of flexible office space currently offered by operators on the 20 biggest office markets in Europe. Warsaw is ranked as the ninth biggest flex city in Europe. Last year, the city saw the largest growth of flexible space on the continent.

Landlords have never been under such scrutiny, said Colliers International. Tenants want more flexibility, increasingly diverse locations, heightened service levels and a culture that puts their business needs at the heart of their real estate choices

JLL introduced a new workplace consulting service in the Czech Republic. It focuses on the planning and quality of the work environment. In the cooperation with the activities in CEE and EMEA regions, Lucie Malá will be in charge of the workplace strategy with the support of the research, project management and design departments. By integrating this service, JLL will expand its portfolio and meet the needs of clients in the right setting of the work environment. New service based on real-world experience and analysis will help clients with the effectivity of their offices.

How are companies adapting to the changing trends in workplace solutions? What is fundamentally different in the requirements of younger employees? How can employees use the workplace as an expression of company identity? The participants of the office leasing panel at Balkans Property Forum 2018, moderated by Michael Smithing FRICS, Former Member of the Europe and Hungary Boards of RICS, discussed new trends in workplace solutions.

The tight labour market is changing the way developers think. While designing an office building they think not only about who will lease space, but also what they should do to make people want to work there, says Artur Sutor, Partner and Head of Office Department at Cresa Poland.

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.