Leaders in their field: Regus explained

The global workspace and co-working market is a growing industry of which Regus are at the forefront. Here, Regus give an overview of the franchise opportunity and why they are leaders in their field.

Tell us about the service you supply

IWG (the parent company of Regus) is a leading global workspace provider. IWG is present in 3,300 locations in 110 countries around the world – and it’s this experience that makes IWG the ideal franchise partner for those wanting to take advantage of the booming demand for serviced offices worldwide.

What will a typical day for a franchisee be like?

We expect that the focus of franchisees will be very similar to ours as a business, with a key focus on development. There is also a focus on local sales-driving activities, including building local business connections, seeking opportunities to build awareness of their centres in the local business networks, and connecting with local chambers of commerce, commercial agents and office occupiers.

What training and support do you provide initially and ongoing?

Our training is fairly structured and covers sales, operations and development. For the franchisee, we’ll assess their training needs and provide a training programme that will support their specific needs. This usually takes around three to four weeks and can be completed flexibly around their current business interests. We also provide training for each of their key team members, from operations and sales through to development. Each role has a very specific training programme that lasts between four and eight weeks and is a mix of onsite, offsite and online training. 

What’s so rewarding and sustainable about the B2B sector?

Our sector specifically is experiencing significant growth. In fact, projections show that 30 per cent of corporate real estate could be flexible workspace by 2030. That’s three out of every 10 buildings. This growth reflects the changing wants and needs of businesses that increasingly recognise the financial and strategic benefits of a flexible workspace strategy and co-working setup. For those working in B2C franchise sectors, and specifically retail, our franchise model offers business owners the ability to participate in this growth story with huge potential.

What are the benefits of investing in and operating a franchise with your brand?

Franchise partners will benefit from IWG’s strong heritage in the UK and beyond. Alongside industry experience, market awareness and customer understanding, we provide the blueprint for everything from acquisition, design and construction to sales and operations, and we’ll support our franchisees shoulder to shoulder every step of the way. 

What are you looking for in a franchisee?

We’re looking for experienced business operators, who have the ambition and drive to deliver business growth at pace. There is a commitment to open a minimum of five Regus centres over a three-year development term, so the ideal franchisees need to have both the financial and people capability to deliver this pace of growth.