A growing trend of UK workers choosing to spend longer periods in coastal regions like Cornwall and Devon is prompting employers to establish offices beyond traditional city centres, according to Mark Dixon, founder and CEO of workspace giant IWG Group.
Dixon explains that businesses are increasingly decentralizing, expanding their office footprints nationwide to align with the locations of their staff. He highlights that local communities, particularly coastal areas, are experiencing a surge in demand for workspace.
“If you look at the UK, our focus is shifting towards places like Dorset, Somerset, and Cornwall,” Dixon said. “It’s about creating a nationwide network.”
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Contrary to the typical concentration in cities such as London, Manchester, and Birmingham, British workers are now scattered throughout the country. This shift is revitalizing economies that were once dormant during off-peak seasons. Cornwall, for instance, historically quiet in winter months, is now showing signs of renewed economic activity.
This change is partly driven by people extending their stays in holiday homes—from brief two-week vacations to spending entire summers by the coast. Dixon describes it as a “big movement” that helps “democratise the UK,” distributing office presence more evenly rather than concentrating it in urban hubs.
IWG, operating in approximately 120 countries, reported record revenues in the first half of 2025 after opening nearly 500 new centres globally. Notably, 80% of these new locations are in local communities including small towns, suburbs, and rural areas, a significant shift from the previous 60:40 city-to-community ratio.
Within the UK alone, 24 new offices have been established in coastal towns over the past year, including Margate, Dundee, Hayle, and Banff. IWG’s brands, such as Regus, Spaces, and Signature, plan to expand their footprint further in 2026.
Dixon also noted that companies are increasingly leveraging technology to monitor employee presence in these new workspaces to ensure productivity. Large firms like HSBC and PwC have invested in systems that track when employees clock in and out of offices.
“The key priority for British businesses remains productivity,” Dixon said, emphasizing the balance between flexible locations and effective workforce management.