Flexible office provider Clockwise took on a new growth direction in the commercial real estate market in 2024: managed spaces. The business opened its first flexible space under a management agreement with real estate fund Patrizia at The Louise building in Brussels.

Until this point, Clockwise had operated its own properties across the UK and mainland Europe. With the hire of Mark Dansky as head of acquisitions, the business aims to grow through new partnerships with landlords and property owners, Chief Operating Officer Alexandra Livesey said.

“Since we established Clockwise in 2017, we have grown 500%,” she said. “We want to turbocharge this growth through diversification, both in the UK and in key European cities.”

Bisnow spoke to Livesey about Clockwise’s plans for management agreements and other growth opportunities.

Bisnow: Why has Clockwise decided to expand into management agreements? 

Livesey: For seven years, Clockwise has grown and thrived across the UK and mainland Europe with backing from investment fund Castleforge, operating flexible workspace in our unique buildings.

As Clockwise continues to grow, we’ve seen opportunities and a need from other asset owners for experienced flex operators to add value to their assets as well as better serve a fast-evolving market. More landlords are experiencing a shift in demand from traditional leases to more flexible offerings as employers are adapting to this new way of work.

Bisnow: How will your hire of Mark Dansky help with that?  

Livesey: By hiring a dedicated lead who is focused on partnerships with asset owners who will help to articulate the value of Clockwise operations, we hope to establish several new partnerships and avenues for growth. This is something we’re particularly excited about and see huge potential for.

Mark brings a wealth of experience in the sector, a great network and ambition to bring flex and Clockwise’s approach to workplace hospitality to a whole new market.

Bisnow: What made you choose The Louise for your first managed space? 

Livesey: The building is iconic. It’s a true pleasure to deliver our Clockwise experience in this space and help grow the flex market in this vibrant European centre. We have a fantastic partnership with Patrizia, the German real estate fund who has taken on The Louise, where we saw a lot of alignment in values and ambition with the space.

We’ve already seen great success in Brussels with our Arts 44 building. With a second site in Brussels, we’re able to meet that demand and deliver a distinctly different space ideal for the sectors who have their heart set on an Avenue Louise address.

Bisnow: What growth plans do you have for Clockwise in 2025 and beyond? 

Livesey: We’d love to find more partners aligned to our values, as well as beautiful buildings that continue our dedication to providing brilliant amenities and quality workspaces in new markets. This way, we’ll expand our existing presence.

Clockwise has a proven model, tried and tested in very different regions and properties. We’re looking forward to sharing that with new partners and want to keep delivering more solutions for members who we know love what we do.

Bisnow: Where do you see most opportunities? 

Livesey: We hope to grow our portfolio in the UK and mainland Europe. With so much of the market still new to flex, we have a lot of value to add.

But we’re also keen to grow sustainably and really invest in the spaces we feel are most appropriate for our member audience and where we can add to the community. We’re very open to different opportunities, even in some of the existing cities where we have presence and have been very warmly received by the market, as in Brussels. Every location is unique and brings its own local nuances, even those very close geographically.

Bisnow: How does this strategy fit with your Castleforge backing? 

Livesey: This strategy sits in complete complement to our Castleforge portfolio, where we’ve been able to grow and evolve our model as the market is continually adjusting. We have locations in some of the most exciting and growing regions for small businesses, and this has really set the template for how we can partner with other owners and investors.

This article was produced in collaboration between Clockwise and Studio B. Bisnow news staff was not involved in the production of this content.

Studio B is Bisnow’s in-house content and design studio. To learn more about how Studio B can help your team, reach out to studio@bisnow.com.