A representative from The HMRC – Valuation Office will join senior industry leaders at the Flexible Space Association (FlexSA) Annual Conference & Exhibition 2026, as the sector debates the impact of business rates as well as highlighting the future of careers in flexible workspace.
The impact of the changes to business rates for serviced offices will be one of the topics featured at the Flexible Space Association (FlexSA) Annual Conference & Exhibition, with a senior representative from HMRC – Valuation Office set to address industry leaders.
Taking place on Tuesday 12 May at Convene, 200 Aldersgate, London. Conference will bring together operators, landlords and the providers of goods and services to the sector to hear from a wealth of different speakers on a broad range of topics relevant to the industry.
Jane Sartin, Executive Director at FlexSA, comments, “Business rates remain one of the biggest concerns for flexible workspace operators, so hearing directly from the Valuation Office at FlexSA is incredibly valuable for our members. The conference programme is diverse in the topics it covers, but all sessions will be invaluable for everyone working in or alongside the flex sector.”
The conference will be co-hosted by Freddie Fforde, Founder of Patch, and Natalie Lovett, VP and General Manager UK & Ireland at WeWork.
Titled “Rethinking flex: Resilience, innovation and the evolution of workspace,” the full Conference programme combines policy and commercial realities with a strong focus on people and progression within the sector.
The programme also includes an in conversation session between Tim Burke, Editor of Estates Gazette, and Charlie Green, CEO of Workspace Group, discussing the outlook for the UK flexible workspace market and Green’s thoughts on his first few months at Workspace Group. Green joined Workspace earlier this year and was previously Co-Founder and Co-CEO of The Office Group (‘TOG’, now Fora), which he grew over two decades into one of the UK’s leading flexible workspace businesses.
FlexSA’s Flex Generation initiative will also be a key focus. “Flex generation: Career path and perspectives on working in flex,” is a panel session exploring how cost pressure is influencing recruitment, retention and career development in the growing flexible workspace industry.
The panel will feature:
- Helen Deverill, Commercial Director, Arena Offices
- Anastasia Edey, Partnership & Growth Manager, TRC
- Greg Miley, Chief Commercial Officer, Clockwise
- Tia Samuels, Associate Director, Business Development, Workthere
Other sessions include “AI in flex: practical steps for strategic expansion”, and “What experience teaches in the ever-changing flex market” featuring Alan Pepper, CEO of Orega, Andrew Butler, Commercial Director of FigFlex, and Andrea Kolokasi, FlexSA board chair and head of business development at Workspace Group. At a challenging time for many businesses, the trio will share their decades of collective experience on remaining resilient and succeeding through difficulties.
Sartin adds, “The FlexSA Conference brings together exactly the conversations our sector needs right now. From hearing directly from the Valuation Office on business rates, to learning from the CEOs of some of the UK’s largest workspace operators, alongside the energy and innovation represented by Flex Generation, this year’s programme is designed to reflect both the realities and the future of flexible workspace.”