What’s In A Word? Choosing “Coworking” Or “Flexible Workspace” Matters More Than You Think

• In the U.S., “coworking space” is a more inclusive term, often referring to private offices as well.
• In the U.K., “coworking space” is clearly understood as shared desks with people from different companies, while “flexible workspace” remains a more ambiguous term that covers serviced and virtual offices as well.
• The variation in definitions creates confusion for international operators, especially in marketing and communication, as businesses in different countries use the same terms to describe different types of workspaces.

It is said that the U.K. and the U.S. are “two countries divided by a common language.” 

That can range from the frustration caused whenever the Wordle answer turns out to be a word with a distinctly American spelling (it’s spelt fibre, not fiber!), to the arguably more significant matter of nomenclature within the world of flexible workspace.

In the U.K., “flexible workspace” has become the common term to cover a range of workspace related services offered on flexible terms. 

Serviced and managed offices, coworking spaces and business centres are encapsulated within this, and virtual office services are a common additional service provided by flexible workspace operators. 

Workshop units can be a further type of workspace often offered on flexible terms, and thus forming part of the community.

Whilst in the U.K., “coworking space” specifically means a room, large or small, in which desks are used by people from different businesses to work alongside each other, in the U.S. it’s an all-encompassing term. For example, a building comprising private serviced offices in the U.S. is a coworking space.

So does this matter? Is it creating unnecessary confusion that we should seek to resolve, or do we just accept it as a quirk of the global use of English language?

I came fresh to the sector when I joined what was then called the Business Centre Association (BCA) at the end of 2018. 

As I got to know the industry and the services it provides, it quickly became clear that the trade body for the sector needed a new name to encompass the growing range of services offered with a common goal. 

At our annual conference in May 2019, we announced Flexible Space Association as our new name.

We continue to have many business centres within our membership, providing vital services to support the local economies of towns and rural communities across the U.K. 

However, we also have many member companies which would never describe themselves as business centres, and flexible space was seen as an all-encompassing term. It is also one which allows for the inevitable continuing evolution of the sector.

Many flexible workspace operators, and the businesses that provide goods and services to them, are increasingly operating across countries, and this can cause greater confusion as well as challenges in global marketing activities.

I’ve had more than one conversation with people based in the sector outside of the U.K. in which they’ve argued the case for us “falling into line” in helping to drive the industry towards a global common use of coworking space in place of flexible workspace. 

I’ve also had a few confusing conversations when it’s become clear that we’re talking about slightly different things due to the different meanings of the same words.

Coworking space and serviced offices in the U.K. are clearly defined terms, and people with an interest in taking workspace see a difference. 

It’s probably fair to say that if you were to ask 100 people picked at random what a flexible workspace is they wouldn’t be able to clearly define it, but if you asked what coworking space is I’d expect the majority of U.K. residents to describe the scenario of sitting with people you probably don’t know from different companies at desks in the same room.

I think this is one of those things that we need to agree to differ on. It’s good to build connections with others in similar industries across counties, but whilst respecting each other’s language quirks. 

We are united in collectively working in an industry supporting individual businesses and worldwide economic growth, and that’s what matters most.