Our latest Coworking Week, when Plexal opens the doors to its innovation workspace on the Here East campus for a free one-week trial, has come to an end. Building on the success of previous Coworking Weeks, this most recent gathering of startups, corporates, creatives and freelancers was our most popular Coworking Week yet, with a record number of signups and attendees.
But this event was not just free workspace for a week.
Coworking Week gave us a glimpse into the future of work and showed us that the most valuable workplaces are no longer defined by square footage. They’re defined by their ability to bring together diverse communities, create meaningful connections and act as the foundations of thriving innovation clusters– locations where stakeholders from different sectors come together to collaborate and find solutions to common problems.
After a week of workshops, networking and community activities, here are the five signals we’re seeing about how people want to work in 2026 and beyond:
The return to the office is a return to community
September typically marks a time when we return to our busy routines after the disruptions of the summer months. As innovators flocked to Plexal’s Stratford headquarters to experience our space for themselves one thing stood out – people are looking for more than just a place to work, they’re seeking community.
We saw this throughout the week as members and Coworking Week attendees alike found chances to share experiences and build relationships – from the Women in Business lunch and technical AI-building workshops to food and drink pop-ups and members’ night. Each event gave attendees the chance to interact in a new environment, some more structured than others, but all prompting connection, interaction and a real sense of community.
What we’re seeing is that people are willing to come to the workspace when it creates value they can’t get at home or elsewhere.
Great workplaces act as catalysts for innovation
At Plexal we know that innovation happens when the right people come together. Whether you’re a founder, investor, academic or policymaker, proximity creates opportunities that would not emerge in isolation.
During Coworking Week, we saw that the most successful events brought together expert insights and lived experience with opportunities to network and exchange ideas.
The future workplace is less about where people sit and more about the unexpected conversations that happen between meetings – filling your mug with your drink of choice at the coffee machine or during a group run around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. These are the conversations that spark ideas and ultimately drive innovation, progress and results.
Founders are looking for ecosystems, not offices
One of the clearest messages from Coworking Week is that startups and scaleups increasingly want practical support alongside workspace. Through our conversations with founders, we saw the appetite for support, guidance and connections rather than simply access to a desk.
Plexal provides a great environment for founders to activate growth and make meaningful connections. Our innovation ecosystem has supported over 830 companies, with over 90 innovation programmes delivered, helping raise over £1.206bn in investment, as highlighted by our most recent update to our Impact Report.
Ecosystems are built on human relationships
The numbers are compelling and paint a picture of an approach which is working. However, the ecosystem is based on human relationships and connections. Coworking Week reinforced this idea. Whether participants came for a workshop, coffee pop-up or networking event, the real value came from engaging with people they might never otherwise encounter.
Before innovations become new products, businesses or industries, they usually begin as conversations.
Places matter more than ever in an increasingly digital world
AI, remote collaboration tools and digital platforms have made it easier than ever to work from anywhere. Yet Coworking Week’s strongest takeaway is that physical places remain critical because they bring people together around shared ambitions and create valuable human connections.
The UK’s future growth will be shaped by networks of innovation clusters where local strengths, diverse talent and strategic priorities intersect. These places act as centres of gravity that attract expertise, relationships and investment. We see these clusters emerging around the country, rooted in a shared vision. Whether it’s advanced manufacturing in the Midlands, cyber in the North West, defence innovation in the South West or AI and deep tech clusters across the country, innovation already exists nationwide. The opportunity is creating the conditions for those ecosystems to grow and thrive.
Jennifer Underwood, Head of Sales and Member Experience, said: “Coworking Week was much more than a free trial week of the Plexal innovation workspace. The week highlighted the power of shared experiences and meaningful connections, both of which are deeply rooted in Plexal’s mission.
For Plexal, this journey began in 2017, when we helped bring the vision for the London 2012 Olympic legacy to life. At Here East, we helped build one of the UK’s most ambitious innovation clusters, bringing together entrepreneurs, industry, academia and local communities to drive growth and regeneration in East London. It’s truly rewarding to see the energy and spirit of community come alive during Coworking Week.”
A huge thank you to the individuals and teams that came together and made the week such a success including the Plexal workspace team, community team, marketing, our current members and partners across Here East all working in sync.
If you were able to join us and experience our dynamic community for yourself, why not join us? We’ve got a lot to offer – reach out to our community team ([email protected]) to get started.
