IWG sees sharp increase in franchised offices

Flexible working giant IWG has said rocketing demand for hybrid working has driven a sharp increase in franchising deals in the first half of the year compared with the same period in 2020. The company has signed 20 new franchise partners globally in the first six months of this year, which will see more than 110 new offices added to its international network. This compares with seven new deals and 30 centres agreed during the first half of 2020. The new deals have expanded its franchising operations into Detroit, Ohio and Indiana in the US, as well as northern India and Malaysia. Meanwhile, it now has 12 franchise partnerships in the UK across 72 offices, with new sites opening in Wolverhampton, Ipswich, Cambridgeshire and London. Chief executive Mark Dixon said a new centre was added to IWG’s network every day last month. “With the signing of a growing number of franchise partners, we anticipate a greater number of openings as we move into the second half of the year,” he said. To send feedback, e-mail alex.daniel@eg.co.uk or tweet @alexmdaniel or @EGPropertyNews