Christophe BURCKART, IWG Group. Portrait

Christophe BURCKART, CEO of the IWG France group, entrusts us with his societal and business vision of tomorrow’s coworking. With the arrival in Bordeaux of the first coworking spaces Spaces, a subsidiary of the IWG group, the coworking market is developing.

From this perspective, differentiating is crucial. Spaces flexible workspaces meet workers’ expectations: nomadism, flexibility, comfort… Life course, enthusiasm for coworking, Bordeaux economy… Christophe BURCKART, CEO of the IWG France group, entrusts us with his societal and business vision of tomorrow’s coworking.

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Christophe BURCKART, IWG Group – Photography Sophie PAWLAK

Between innovation and passion, Christophe BURCKART’s career

After completing his studies at the Higher Institute of Commerce in Paris and a 20-year career with big names in sales and IT, Christophe BURCKART took over as CEO of the IWG Group in France in 2014. In a digital environment where technological changes are shaking up work habits, transforming the relationship to the “workplace” into mobility, Christophe BURCKART firmly believes that the rise of coworking is the best response to the new expectations of employees and managers alike:

“Thanks to digital technology, agents are becoming more mobile, their work environment is becoming an important criterion.”

The development horizons of the coworking market in the short and medium term are multiplying. In this context, the IWGC Group is a global pioneer in coworking, with brands such as Regus and Spaces. Present in 120 countries with 6 million square meters of space in the world and 2.3 million m2 in France, the Group, which celebrated its 30th anniversary, is certainly not a beginner in the coworking market.

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Christophe BURCKART, IWG Group – Photography Sophie PAWLAK

A coworking concept suitable for all stages of the company’s development

The IWG Group operates on a multi-brand, differentiated and committed approach. The concepts of workspaces developed in-house meet different objectives and price positioning, but with a sense of detail and quality in common. The concept of the IWG Group and its various brands derives directly from the vision of the workspace. This vision is based on a non-committal model and access as a member of the Business Club. This service allows for customer loyalty that seeks to pool the operating costs associated with a connection to a specific location.

“54% of our customers are travelling to other centres.”

One of the strengths of different brands like Regus and Spaces is its territorial mesh. Regus, founded in 1989 in Brussels, Belgium, typically uses the workspace as a company domiciliation. With Regus spaces, coworking is synonymous with an area of exchange and business synergies. The Spaces brand, which joined IWG in 2004, is positioning itself as a pioneer of community coworking, inspiring spaces above all.

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Christophe BURCKART, IWG Group – Photography Sophie PAWLAK

The most valuable of Spaces spaces lies in the choice of design and decoration, derived from the Nordic style. In order to keep the community alive, an animator organizes events on site.

Signature corresponds to the premium range of the group, mainly due to the location of Signature workspaces. They are located for example Place Vendôme in Paris and on the quays in Bordeaux.

As for Stop and Work, the brand was born in 2014 from the desire of Regus, the Caisse des Depots and Orange to offer professionals residing on the outskirts of metropolises access to flexible workspaces close to their homes.

The IWG Group’s brands allow us to adapt to the needs of companies: for example, by switching to a more complete premium offer or, on the contrary, in times of financial difficulties, to use a space as a simple business domicile.

A business model focused primarily on high-end and selective development for entrepreneurs

As for its business model, Spaces is a tenant and not the owner of the spaces. With regard to the solution offered to the customer, the concept of choice is fundamental. Indeed, the entrepreneur must be able to find a solution, an ideal workspace, whatever its stage of development.

The coworking market is in full swing. By 2030, flexible work will generate around 123 billion euros in economic benefits in France, according to a recent independent study commissioned by Régus. In view of this growth, mergers and acquisitions are therefore to be expected in the coming years.

To anticipate this breaking point, the IWG Group is installed in a strategy of occupying space. The objective is therefore to be present throughout the territory. Including in the peripheries, where other coworking companies are centralized on the Parisian capital. Even if it is expensive, admits Christophe Burckart, it is the group’s bet that meets the need to meet the expectations of flexibility and mobility of customers. The Regus brand is a very nice illustration of this, with a very recent opening to the franchise.

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Coworking, undeniable Bordeaux prospects for Christophe BURCKART

The challenge for Christophe BURCKART is to continue to be a reliable player for IWG customers. This necessarily means the need to deliver financial performance. The Regus brand is thus listed on the stock exchange.

The development prospects mainly concern Spaces, which currently occupies 1.5% of the workspaces. Christophe Burckart’s goal is to increase by 2025 to 25-30%. In Bordeaux, within three to five years, about fifteen Spaces centres will open in Bordeaux: Ravezy, Le Bouscat, Gare Saint-Jean, Mérignac…

“The launch of the franchise network for Spaces is another way to open up to entrepreneurs.”

Bordeaux has nothing to envy in Paris, which is the first French city in terms of start-up creation. Indeed, labelled Capital French Tech, Bordeaux welcomes investors. In 2018, Bordeaux has hosted more than 50 million euros in fundraising on its territory. According to Christophe BURCKART, however, we must remain pragmatic. If five years ago, the development of BOrdeaux did not require (yet) such a craze, now the territory of New Aquitaine is quite legitimate to see such signs established, promoting a B2B network profitable for all.

“An ecosystem cannot be created without a large group”

Regarding the ambition of the IWG group, Christophe BURCKART is optimistic on two aspects: strengthening the reputation of different brands among companies of all sizes but also strengthening the territorial network.

It is certain that the trends in the coworking market will confirm Christophe Burckart’s vision of the workspace, in line with his time.

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