Leeds’ growing flexible workspace sector has been highlighted during a city-wide industry event bringing together office operators, property professionals and sector leaders.
The Flexible Space Association hosted a roundtable and workspace tour to examine demand, pricing and changing business needs across the Leeds office market.
The event began at Bracken Workspace Plus at Calls Wharf, where operators discussed local trading conditions and the challenges facing flexible workspace providers.
Figures presented during the event showed that Leeds office take-up reached 156,675 square feet during the third quarter of 2025, seven per cent higher than the same period in 2024 and ten per cent above the five-year average.
Across the first nine months of 2025, businesses took up more than 482,000 square feet of office space through 78 transactions. Grade A and prime office space accounted for 57 per cent of activity.
Separate market data placed the median flexible office desk rate in Leeds at £285, five per cent lower than previously reported, suggesting operators were keeping prices competitive as businesses became more cost-conscious.
Delegates visited three flexible workspace locations across the city, including Calls Wharf, Fora near Leeds Station and the recently opened 2-Work site at Whitehall Riverside.
The visits demonstrated the range of flexible offices now available in Leeds, from city-centre spaces aimed at established companies to smaller sites supporting growing businesses and hybrid teams.
Jane Sartin, Executive Director of the Flexible Space Association, said: “It was great to see such different workspaces, each delivering excellent customer service in well-designed environments that support businesses at every stage.
“Leeds is establishing itself as a key player in the flexible workspace market, with operators showing creativity and a strong understanding of what today’s businesses need.”
Industry representatives said demand could vary significantly between locations, even when workspaces were only a short distance apart.
Denise McGeachy, a FlexSA board member and Group Operations Officer at Bracken, said the performance of the company’s two Leeds sites showed how sensitive demand had become to price, location and the needs of individual businesses.
She said: “We are seeing very different performances from two sites that are only around a mile apart, which suggests demand for flexible workspace is increasingly price-sensitive.
“Leeds is the largest financial and professional services centre outside London, but the flexible workspace market here is still largely led by regional operators.”
The discussion also highlighted the role flexible offices play in supporting start-ups, smaller businesses, regional employers and larger organisations adopting hybrid working models.
With major property and investment events continuing to bring national attention to Leeds, operators said the city remained well placed to attract businesses seeking adaptable office space without the commitment of a traditional long-term lease.
