Collaborative workspace concept is being embraced in the City

It looks like the collaborative workspace concept is gaining credence beyond the tech start-up fraternity. British Land has announced it is to partner with Central Working, a members’ club which provides growing businesses with infrastructure, support and tools, to open a new club, Central Working City, at 4 Crown Place, next to Liverpool Street station. The move reflects a growing demand from start-ups and entrepreneurs for more collaborative workspaces in the area.The new club will occupy 11,000 sq ft across three floors of the five storey building. Following an extensive fit out the new club will offer members a mixture of shared working space, break out rooms, permanent offices and outdoor space. Profits from the club will be shared between British Land and Central Working.

The club is due to open during the first quarter of 2015 with the Start Up Institute, which offers eight-week education programmes for those looking to work in startups, the latest member to sign up to the new space when it opens.

Matt Pinsent, Head of City Office Asset Management at British Land, explained: “The occupier profile is rapidly changing in this area of the City, with the migration of technology and creative businesses from Old Street and Shoreditch creating a more vibrant and diverse business location.

“Central Working’s decision to open their fourth UK centre at 4 Crown Place demonstrates this, and we expect their collaborative workspace concept will appeal both to the City’s corporate occupier-base and its burgeoning start-up community.”

James Layfield, CEO at Central Working, added: “More than one new company was founded a minute last year but, as these entrepreneurs know, you need more than just four walls to succeed; they need a community in which they can connect, collaborate and share.

“We are driving this working revolution and this new space demonstrates the huge and growing demand for it.”