- Citibase has announced three new flexible workspaces in prime Central London locations, set to open in 2018.
- The self-proclaimed Property Manager for the New Economy, Citibase is finishing the year on a high after a string of new UK openings in 2017.
- Citibase’s new centres will launch in Knightsbridge, Victoria, and London Tower Bridge in Southwark.
Citibase has boosted its Central London presence with the announcement of a hat trick of new management contracts launching flexible officing hubs in Knightsbridge, Victoria and Southwark.
These three centres follow hot on the footsteps of the phenomenal success of the London Green Park and London Victoria Palace Street hubs, both of which premiered this spring.
The newly launched centres are set to provide a boost for local businesses searching for flexible workspace in a prime location at an affordable price, and could host over 900 SMEs and entrepreneurs of the New Economy.
Knightsbridge: The London Knightsbridge centre occupies a landmark building overlooking Hyde Park, moments from Hyde Park Corner and Knightsbridge underground stations. Boasting a full height atrium, the centre has the potential to provide up to 34,000 sq ft of space and up to 600 workstations.
Victoria: A short distance away, the hub in London Victoria is located in a magnificent stone-clad building opposite Victoria station, and has the potential to provide up to 12,000 sq ft of flexible space and up to 230 workstations across three floors.
Tower Bridge: The third new centre at London Tower Bridge will offer over 110 workstations and more than 7,000 sq ft of space. It is set in the heart of Southwark, and provides convenient access to London Bridge station.
With the announcement of these new management contracts, there has never been more significant evidence to support Citibase CEO Steve Jude’s mantra that ‘the world of work has changed forever’. A quiet revolution has taken place in the requirements of office occupiers, with large and small businesses alike shunning the traditional long lease in favour of flexible, short-term contracts.
As multinationals and conglomerates increasingly turn to short-term contracts, it would seem that the days of flexible offices acting only as hubs for freelancers, start-ups and entrepreneurs are now also gone. Research conducted by CBRE enterprises suggests that by 2020, 54% of enterprise real estate portfolios will be coworking and serviced offices, a shift which has been largely caused by global trends influencing the way people work and companies operate. Many smart building owners have spotted the trends identified by CBRE and appointed Citibase to make the most of their underutilised assets.
Citibase has never been busier, with 11 new centres coming under the company’s management in the past year, half of which are located in the Capital’s Zone 1. As client enquiries continue to rise, many more centre openings are expected to follow over the coming months.
Citibase CEO Steve Jude commented: “The success of our other two recently opened central London hubs — both of which have been filled soon after launching — has given us the confidence to continue our march across the capital.
“We know that these three new centres will be exceptionally popular with businesses both large and small seeking a first-class location in the heart of London’s most sought-after districts with the benefit of affordable, flexible and short-term contracts.
“Agile London businesses are taking to these no-hassle contracts in droves as the flight to flexibility takes place. Our latest exclusive Citibase Business Confidence Index backed this up with 74% of London SMEs surveyed stating that they wanted a contract of under three years.
“We have enjoyed a record past 12 months with a total of 11 new centres opening their doors across the UK. We have nearly 25 years of experience in transforming underutilised office space into thriving hubs for entrepreneurs and SMEs, providing building owners with a healthy income from their assets in the process.
“There’s no greater concrete evidence to prove that the world of work has changed forever and that the need for affordable, serviced offices is spiralling. As the flexible workspace revolution continues, we take pride in acting as the satnav to guide our building owner Clients from the old economy of long leases to the new economy of flexibility.”
All the new centres will offer flexible contracts and enjoy superfast broadband with a range of internet and telecoms packages, friendly business support services from specialist Concierge teams, showers and bike storage.