What Can Flex Bring to Commercial Landlords?

How do you make the most of the flexible workspace market? As hybrid working continues to be the norm for most businesses, what does that mean for the traditional office? In our latest Yardi Proptech Insights, a series where we address the toughest questions around proptech with a simple conversation, Will Kinnear from HEWN and Justin Harley from Yardi discuss the benefits, challenges and future of commercial and flex office space.

Will Kinnear has specialised in the flexible workspace sector since 2005, advising property owners and operators throughout the UK on their flexible workspace strategy. He was co-founder and director of GKRE in 2012 and created HEWN in 2020.

Key Topics –

• The current landscape of work
• What contract models there are
• How to build a team of experts
• The technological challenges
• Which companies are moving into flex space

Should flexible workspace operators view commercial real estate as a threat or an opportunity?

“I think it’s both – Operators need to look at them as an opportunity. Operators should look at what they’re doing in commercial real estate. Is it the same old thing? Look at flex – we’re providing everything to the occupier, but we’ve taken it to the next level. So, in terms of the opportunity, they’re so far ahead that if they continue to evolve and they continue to listen, they will remain ahead of the curve. In terms of a threat, there are some large companies that have evolved and are doing it well – but they are in a box-seat. It’s down to them to see how they react and how they continue to evolve and adapt.”

“There are some operations in the UK that are incredibly high tech with high level facilities and then there’s low-level facilities in terms of meeting the basic needs – and then we have more interesting ideas with parachutes coming in through the ceilings and sheds and ships etc. But they all have their place and I think that’s the key element here – If you understand your audience, your occupier, then they all have their place in terms of space that we’re seeing more of.”

Will Kinnear, director at HEWN

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