Tag Archives: Coworking

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Entries open for Flexible Space Association industry awards

The Flexible Space Association, the professional trade body for flexible workspace, have officially opened entries to its industry awards this week. The awards are free to enter and open to Flexible Space Association members, with the deadline for all nominations and entries being 5pm on Friday 28 October.

This year the awards consist of 4 categories: 

  • Workspace Design – Recognising the best in design of new or refurbished flexible workspace. 
  • Technology and Innovation – Recognising excellence in delivering technology-driven projects that are innovative and deliver benefits to customers and to the running of the workspace. 
  • Service Innovation – Recognising new or expanded services that benefit flexible workspace customers, or clients of businesses providing services to the flexible workspace sector. 
  • Customer Service – (5 awards will be presented covering different geographic areas) – This award will recognise individuals or teams working at a flexible workspace location, or in a company which supports the flexible workspace industry. 

There will also be an Industry Achievement Award, recognising outstanding service to the flexible workspace industry.   

Judges of the awards include a number of esteemed industry professionals including Freya Cross, FlexSA Chairman of the Board; Ian Calder, a Chartered Director and founder and former owner of Centrix; Gareth Evans, a Chartered Accountant by training, having held senior roles at Sun Life, Whitbread and Orion Media Marketing; Liz Hamson, former editor of PPA award-winning title Property Week and founder of BE Content Solutions, and Sophie Turnball, industry professional for over 13 years and Commercial Director at Work.Life.  

Last year the awards underwent a major overhaul resulting in a significant increase in entries, with a series of regional presentation events. After a 3-year gap, the FlexSA Gala Awards Dinner returns at London’s iconic Landmark Hotel on Thursday 24th November. The event will bring together the flexible workspace industry for an evening of celebration and networking.  

Last year’s winners include RA Information Systems, Huckletree, and Bruntwood Works.  

Jane Sartin, Executive Director at the Flexible Space Association, comments: “The Flexible Space Association’s Awards will highlight the successes of flexible workspace businesses of every type and size. It’s an opportunity for our member companies to reflect on their achievements and submit entries to share and recognise these.” 

The Flexible Space Association speaks on behalf of the industry, working to ensure it has the conditions needed to thrive. It provides information and support to its members and provides opportunities for them to come together. 

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21st Anniversary for FlexSA member BE Offices

BE Offices is celebrating its 21st anniversary as members of the Flexible Space Association (FlexSA). FlexSA supports, promotes and represents the flexible workspace industry, and has member companies across the UK.

Andy Issott, Marketing Director at BE Offices states: “We were one of the first major operators to join the Flexible Space Association and have been big advocates ever since. It’s been a valuable source of information and has successfully remained relevant in a rapidly changing era of workspace. It’s a great platform for collaborating with other players in our sector, with the added bonus of kicking off Christmas with their annual Awards Dinner, in which we have been delighted to pick up eight awards, most recently Operator of the Year for our Barbican centre, and Community Engagement Activity of the Year.”

The Flexible Space Association speaks on behalf of the industry, working to ensure it has the conditions needed to thrive. It provides information and support to its members and provides opportunities for them to come together.

During an unprecedented last two years, FlexSA offered members support and guidance as home-working ended and hybrid working became much more popular. According to ONS figures the proportion of hybrid working people rose from 13% in February 2022 to 24% in May 2022.

Having joined in 2001 when FlexSA was known as the Business Centre Association, BE Offices has scooped a number of Flexible Space Association Awards over the years, including 2019 – Community Engagement Activity of the Year, supporting Rays of Sunshine; 2019 – Flexible Workspace of the Year – Barbican; 2015 – Flexible Workspace of the Year – Minories; and 2011 – Flexible Workspace of the Year – Wembley.

Nick Gandy, Director of Business Centres at BE Offices, has been a member of the Flexible Space Association Board since 2018, and Founder & Co-CEO, Simon Rusk, was a Board member from 2010 to 2015.

Jane Sartin, Executive Director at the Flexible Space Association, comments: “BE Offices has been a very supportive member of FlexSA over the past 21 years, always getting involved in our activities, and working with other workspace operators for the benefit of the wider industry. We are hugely grateful for the company’s involvement, and are honoured to be celebrating this milestone with them.”