Scotland’s Flexible Workspace Leaders Unite: First Scottish Flex Forum Meeting Held in Edinburgh
Scottish Coworking & Flex Workspace Leaders Meet in Edinburgh
About the Flex Forum
Scotland’s coworking and flexible workspace leaders came together in Edinburgh for the inaugural Scottish Flex Forum a new industry group created by Steven Carr to strengthen collaboration, share market insights, and address the challenges facing operators across the country. From shifting occupier expectations to the growing demand for hybrid‑ready space, the forum marks an important step in shaping the future of Scotland’s flex workspace sector.
Representatives included senior leaders, owners, and managers from independent, regional, and national operators, alongside sector specialists from across Scotland’s central belt.
Hosted by The Melting Pot in Edinburgh, the group explored topics ranging from business rates to TikTok trends, with an insightful talk from Werksy co‑founder Cameron Foskett, followed by a guided tour led by Melting Pot CEO Helen Denny.
The Scottish Flex Forum exists to bring together the diverse and fast‑growing flexible workspace community across Scotland, from independent coworking hubs and non‑profit CICs to serviced office providers, flex‑industrial operators, and national brands. As Scotland’s market continues to expand, operators often face similar challenges in isolation: lean teams, shifting occupier expectations, rising demand for hybrid‑ready space, and the need to balance community‑driven models with commercial sustainability. The Forum provides a dedicated space for leaders to connect, share best practice, and learn from one another, strengthening the collective knowledge of the sector.
More than just a networking meet‑up, the Scottish Flex Forum aims to create a unified voice for Scotland’s flexible workspace industry. By facilitating open discussion, peer support, and collaboration between independents and larger operators, the Forum helps shape a more resilient and innovative market. It offers a platform to explore emerging trends, compare operational experiences, and identify opportunities for growth across cities, towns, and rural communities. With no membership fees and a community‑driven ethos, the Forum ensures every operator, from single‑site coworking spaces to multi‑city providers has a place to contribute and benefit.
Hot Topics: Business rates and flexible workspaces
One of the biggest talking points at the Forum was the UK Government’s recent announcement on changes to the Small Business Rates Relief scheme in England, and the impact this could have on coworking spaces and shared offices. The group discussed the high‑profile case of The Fisheries in Hackney, East London — a creative workspace that faced a dramatic increase in its rates bill after losing relief, triggering a widely reported appeal and raising concerns across the flex space sector. Although these changes do not currently apply in Scotland, operators here are watching closely. Many fear that similar reforms could eventually be introduced north of the border, potentially putting pressure on independent hubs, CICs, and smaller operators who rely on predictable, stable rates to remain viable.
Beyond business rates, the Forum explored wider industry trends, news, and the continued strength of hybrid working and “work near home” demand across Scotland. Attendees also highlighted the fantastic work being done by Connected Hubs Scotland to support independent and non‑profit flexible workspaces, helping them navigate operational challenges and strengthen their role within local communities.
Words from Werksy
The Forum was delighted to welcome Cameron Foskett, founder of the innovative desk‑booking and flexible workspace platform Werksy, who shared his journey of building a tool designed specifically for the needs of coworking operators and hybrid teams. Cameron spoke openly about the challenges of launching a tech product in the flex space sector and the growing demand for simple, user‑friendly booking systems that help operators manage desks, meeting rooms, and hourly and day passes more efficiently.
The app focuses on making desk booking straightforward for members while giving operators better visibility of occupancy, utilisation, and revenue opportunities, without the complexity or cost of larger enterprise systems. Its approach aligns closely with the needs of Scotland’s growing network of community‑driven workspaces, where ease of use and operational efficiency matter more than ever.
Tour of The Melting Pot
As part of the Forum gathering, attendees enjoyed a guided tour of The Melting Pot, one of Scotland’s most established and socially‑driven coworking spaces located in the heart of Edinburgh. Known for its strong focus on social innovation and community impact, The Melting Pot offers a mix of coworking, meeting rooms, event space, and virtual office services — all designed to support people and organisations working to make a positive difference. Housed at 15 Calton Road, the space blends character with functionality, featuring a warm, collaborative atmosphere that reflects its mission to help ideas grow. Many operators were particularly interested in how The Melting Pot balances community‑led programming with sustainable workspace operations, making it a standout example within Scotland’s flexible workspace ecosystem.
Next Meetup
The Scottish Flex Forum plans to meet every two to three months, alternating between Edinburgh and Glasgow, with the option of occasional virtual sessions to ensure wider participation. The next gathering is pencilled in for August in Glasgow, where operators will continue sharing insights, challenges, and best practice across Scotland’s growing flexible workspace sector.
Membership of the Forum is completely free. It is open to leaders across the flex industry — including coworking operators, business centre managers, serviced and managed office providers, community managers, directors, owners, and specialists with a presence in Scotland’s flexible workspace ecosystem.
If you’d like to take part, connect with the group through the Scottish Flex Forum LinkedIn page and join the conversation.
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Author: Steven Carr
I am a creative , passionate, commercially focused leader with 25+ years customer service experience, 15+ years’ sales operations experience and 13+ years driving sales, service operations , hyperlocal marketing, and growth strategy at mid-senior level across flexible workspace, commercial property, and B2B sales operations and service environments across Scotland.