IWG signs first cluster franchise deal in Poland

IWG, the world's largest operator of flexspace and coworking with brands such as Regus and Spaces, has announced its first cluster franchise agreement in Poland, in partnership with the L&L Club. This deal will see IWG expand throughout South-Eastern Warsaw and its suburbs, adding five centres under the Regus brand.

The announcement comes at a time where companies across Europe and the world have begun to emerge from their Covid hibernation and are ready to make the move into the new way of working - cutting company costs and carbon footprints at the same time. 

Pre-covid it was estimated that coworking’s market share will increase tenfold in Europe by the end of the decade, jumping from 5% of the global market today, to 30%. This new deal directly reflects the markets trends toward new-world workspaces, as new signings begin to amount from international and local business, entrepreneurs and start-up companies.

These new centres in Poland will be located in the Warsaw districts of Ursynów and Wilanów, as well as Piaseczno and Konstancin, popular residential towns on the South-Eastern suburbs of Warsaw. The cluster agreement provides the franchisee with exclusive rights to operate under the Regus brand within the agreed regions.

“This is a natural area for us in which we operate and commute for as long as we can remember. We know the local business environment, people living and working here. In short, we have a vast knowledge about this part of Warsaw,” says Jacek Laskowski, CEO of L&L Club.

L&L Club is owned and operated by three brothers: Jacek, Tomasz and Łukasz Laskowski. The Laskowski brothers developed some of Warsaw’s biggest sporting businesses before expanding their portfolio into commercial real estate under the Forest Project brand, with clients such McDonald’s, Sphinx and MSX international.

Jacek Laskowski said their company were initially thinking about implementing one flexspace in their second office building. However, after consultations with IWG they realised there was bigger business potential and scale to be had with the help of the coworking industry leaders, who have over 30 years’ experience under their belt.

“We… decided to go for five localisations and start immediately,” said Jacek.

“We also did not consider running a flexible offices’ business on our own at all. When we analysed the best fits for our current operations, we started looking for a company, that has vast experience, as well as comprehensive solutions and tools,” he said.  

“We are aware that entering this market without the support of professionals would be very difficult. With IWG we get right away the knowledge, that we would have to learn for years on our own mistakes.”

Michał Dorszewski, IWG's Franchise Director in CEE, says that IWG’s “Franchise concept offers partners the unique opportunity to make an attractive, high-yield investment with the know-how of the market leader and their local expertise.”

“With a strong entrepreneurial spirit and extensive knowledge of the South-Eastern parts of Warsaw, the L&L Club is an ideal partner to grow the Regus brand in this area," Mr Dorszewski said.

Until this year IWG did not offer franchsing options in Poland. The company are seeking committed franchise partners to capitalise on the significant demand for flexible workspaces in Poland. As part of its new programme, IWG offers comprehensive infrastructure to support franchisees throughout the lifecycle of their investment, as well as the potential for exclusive territories.