Coworking spaces offer professionals an alternative to traditional office settings. For women launching businesses, freelancing, or working remotely, these spaces provide the flexibility, collaboration, and support many workplaces often fail to offer. In the UK, coworking spaces are increasingly the go-to choice for women seeking environments that prioritise inclusivity, adaptability, and personal growth. Coworking spaces empower women to define success on their own terms by providing valuable opportunities for mentorship, networking, and professional development. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we want to recognise how coworking spaces are reshaping the professional landscape for women—creating not just another place to work but environments where they can truly thrive.
Strength in Community: Women Supporting Women
One of the greatest strengths of coworking spaces is the supportive community they cultivate. In many industries, women often find themselves in male-dominated environments, facing isolation and barriers to career advancement. Coworking spaces can shift this tendency by creating inclusive environments where women connect, collaborate, and uplift one another.
Many coworking spaces promote community values such as the sharing of knowledge and the collective celebration of individual accomplishments. Through mentorship, formal networking events, and even casual conversation, women in coworking spaces can find inspiration and support from those who understand their unique challenges. This sense of belonging is particularly significant for women balancing multiple responsibilities.
Coworking spaces have the potential to play a significant role in closing the gender gap in leadership. With only 10 female CEOs among 793 FTSE 250 executives in 2024, it is clear that women still face significant barriers to leadership. The strong networks within coworking spaces could provide women with the confidence, resources, and support needed to step into these roles.
Flexibility for Women in Coworking
Despite making up nearly half of the workforce, women still face significant challenges such as sexism, workplace bias, and career stagnation. Women experience diverse needs at various life points—a working mother, a woman going through menopause, and an older professional will each have different priorities and needs. The rigid traditional 9-to-5 work model often fails to accommodate these evolving needs. Coworking spaces, however, can offer an alternative by removing unnecessary barriers and allowing women to work in ways that suit their ambitions and lifestyles.
Flexibility in coworking spaces is key to achieving work-life balance, especially for women who often shoulder the majority of childcare and household responsibilities. Local coworking spaces can help bridge the gap between career and personal obligations, enabling women to thrive professionally while maintaining a fulfilling personal life.
Research from the Workplace Health Report 2023 found that women with control over their work schedules experience less burnout, greater job satisfaction, and are less likely to consider quitting. The demand for flexibility is evident—only 1 in 10 women want to return to a traditional office full-time. Instead, women aspire to work in environments where they can balance professional and personal responsibilities without sacrificing career growth. Coworking spaces provide this balance—offering the flexibility to work near home, avoid long commutes, and maintain greater autonomy over their careers.
Flexible workspaces are becoming increasingly popular for businesses as well. According to Mordor Intelligence, 12% of UK companies opted for coworking spaces in 2023 instead of committing to long-term office leases, with the industry projected to grow by 8% annually up to 2027. This shift perhaps reflects a broader demand for workplaces that support diverse career paths and personal circumstances.
Celebrating Women in Coworking
Women play a vital and prominent role at Creative Works. Many of our members are women; our community manager is a woman; half our management team is female; and many of our professional and community-focused workshops are facilitated by women in leadership roles.
International Women’s Day provides an opportunity to reflect on progress made toward gender equality while acknowledging the ongoing challenges women continue to face in the workplace. However, the true impact of coworking spaces extends beyond a single day—it’s about driving lasting change and shaping a more equitable future for women in the workplace.
