WHAT’S THE ISSUE?

Of course as well as working from home or working from an office, there is a third option – the flexible co-working space.

Proponents of these spaces say they could be the perfect bridge between home and office work – allowing for geographical flexibility whilst enabling workers to get some real life face time with their colleagues.

Mathieu Proust, General Manager for the UK, Ireland and emerging markets at flexible space provider WeWork joins Stephen to consider just where they fit in to the future of work.

MEET THE EXPERT

Mathieu Proust is the General Manager for WeWork UK, Ireland and Emerging Markets, overseeing all aspects of the company's business in these markets.

He began his career working for Microsoft in France before founding two companies, ScalesUp and VivaPics.

In 2014, he moved to the UK to join Uber where he became General Manager of Uber Eats, rolling out the service to 40 cities and towns.

WHAT DOES PROUST SAY?

Flexible working spaces can help companies create a new kind of “urban spoke model”, says Proust, with a central office in a big city, and any number of smaller spokes more geographically convenient for their employees. “The pandemic has shown that the office needs to have a new purpose - a new purpose of collaboration and energy - and we can provide that.”

But it’s not something a company can dive into without consultation: “Our member companies need to have a discussion with their staff to make sure any solution is the best for them.” He say going forward “Companies around the world are having this discussion to define exactly what the best model is.”

THE KEY QUOTE
“The pandemic has shown us that nothing is certain and the future is always moving.” - Mathieu Proust

ALSO ON THE AGENDA:

- Kate Lister, President of Global Workplace Analytics explains how working from home, pandemic or no pandemic, can save employees three of their most precious commodities – their time, their money and even their sanity. https://youtu.be/bYaR6_aUpOM
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- Dr Heejung Chung from the School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research at the University of Kent explains how there could be real benefits to the new working normal, especially in bridging the gender pay and opportunities gap. https://youtu.be/NMleq4EIWgs

- Dr Yasuhiro Kotera, Academic Lead in Counselling, Psychotherapy and Psychology at the University of Derby joins Stephen to discuss how employees and employers will have to work together to ensure the transition out of pandemic working practices is good for everyone. https://youtu.be/6fkuGrea-IM

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