WeWork partners with Cushman & Wakefield on flexible working offer

WeWork, arguably the world’s most talked-about flexible space providers, and Cushman & Wakefield, the global real estate services firm, have announced they have entered into an exclusive strategic partnership to market both landlords and businesses on WeWork’s management experience platform and on several new jointly developed ideas aligned with the new appetite for flexible working.

The partnership is intended to provide clients with best-in-class office operations by combining WeWork’s proprietary platform of workplace experience management software and hospitality experience with Cushman & Wakefield’s industry-leading asset and facilities management services. Together, WeWork and Cushman & Wakefield will work to unlock opportunities to provide landlords and businesses with the ability to create a differentiated workplace experience for tenants and employees in the new hybrid world of work where flexibility remains at the forefront.

In addition, Cushman & Wakefield, WeWork and BowX Acquisition Corp are in discussions regarding a potential transaction where Cushman & Wakefield would provide up to $150,000,000.00 in a non- dilutive backstop equity facility on mutually agreeable terms.

Sandeep Mathrani, CEO of WeWork, said: “As Covid-19 has fundamentally changed the way people work, businesses and landlords have had to rethink their approach to workspace.  Partnering with Cushman & Wakefield will combine WeWork’s industry-leading workplace experience management platform and hospitality-driven Community teams with Cushman’s world class global client and property portfolio to create a solution that helps both landlords and businesses meet the demand for flexible workplaces to fit the changing needs of today’s workforce.”

Cushman & Wakefield Executive Chairman & CEO, Brett White, said, “With flexible workspaces being an important component of the hybrid workplace, we’re excited to partner with WeWork to demonstrate how global occupiers and investors will benefit from the power of two global leaders providing unmatched accessibility to flexible offerings, best-in-class technology and a seamless tenant experience.”

WeWork has been the subject of a great deal of scrutiny in recent years as its rise has been tracked in documentaries and comment pieces that dissect what happened with the firm and the broader implications for the property market, startups and attitudes to flexible working.