Demand for coworking spaces is expected to slow in 2019

Real estate firm Savills predicts that serviced office spaces will slow production looking into 2019. Georgina Dillon, head of Savill’s Workthere unit, says that while the market is growing in popularity, demand is started to decrease.

Dillon predicts that spaces will start consolidating, but small firms may still have a chance to flourish in the market so long as they can set themselves apart from big operators.

“There are some office providers that don’t have all the frills and perks of somewhere like WeWork, but have more competitive rates and a lot of companies like that,” said Dillon. “If each one offers something different then there’s space for more providers.”

Ireland’s coworking sector has boomed in the past year, with providers such as Iconic Offices competing with WeWork and other flexible office giants.

Savills says that coworking spaces are still expected to grow outside of Dublin, including in Cork

where operators Glandore and Regus have plans to open new offices.

Dillon added that flexible spaces are no longer reserved for startups and larger businesses are starting to see the benefits of coworking offices. For example, Microsoft recently moved into WeWork’s Iveagh Court.

“More businesses want something different to the traditional office lease so that their teams can grow or contract,” Dillon said. “These spaces offer flexibility but also give staff a community, a place to share ideas, meet people in similar sectors.”