OneCoWork — a Spanish coworking operator with three major spaces in Barcelona — recently announced its international expansion with the opening of a new space in the city of Preston in the United Kingdom.
Notably, OneCoWork’s spaces in Barcelona are home to several Fortune 500 companies. The organization has also been selected by real estate developer and investor Branco Capital to run its upcoming high-end coworking space at Preston’s Winckley Square. More than 500 desks for individual workers, remote or hybrid teams and enterprises will be available at the flexible office center at Winckley Square when it opens in early April 2024 following a complete renovation.
After Capita’s 25-year lease, Manchester-based Branco Capital purchased the 32,000-square-foot office property in July 2022. The first phase of the project will include more than 300 desks, along with 4,000 square feet of common space, meeting rooms, event and conference facilities, kitchens and even a gym.
Branco Capital pledged to use local suppliers for the remodeling and fit-out of the facility — one of Preston’s most renowned commercial addresses — after hiring Manchester-based Workspace Design and Build as contractors.
“Preston is ideal for our first flexible workspace location in the UK,” said Ben Nachoom, CEO of OneCoWork. “Its central position in the north of England, coupled with robust transport links, make it an accessible and strategic hub. The city is home to major businesses such as BAE Systems, benefits from close proximity to innovation centers like the University of Central Lancashire and contains a huge number of SMEs. Compared to other cities that have a more developed coworking market, Preston provides us with an opportunity to make a significant impact on the local entrepreneurial and business community.
Nachoom followed up by saying: “Flexible workspaces play a pivotal role in revitalizing urban centers. They are more than just shared offices. They are incubators for collaboration, innovation and community-building. In secondary cities across the north of England, coworking spaces like ours serve as catalysts for economic development, offering a unique blend of flexibility, networking opportunities and access to a diverse talent pool.”
Along with the recent opening of 14 opulent apartments at Park Place, Chapel Street, (featuring a shared library and yoga studio) and the approval of 35 brand new apartments with a gym, coworking space, and terrace at a seven-story building on Mount Street by the city council, Winckley Square is Branco Capital’s most recent real estate development in Preston.
In addition to developing the 35,000-square-foot Leven lifestyle hotel and the soon-to-open Maya restaurant on the corner of Chorlton Street and Canal Street in Manchester, Branco also has additional residential and commercial developments around the North West under its portfolio.
