Redefining 'Managed': Inside Knotel's
vision for the modern workspace

Consistently outperforming the conventional leasing market in London, Managed workspace is certainly having a moment. For workspace provider, Knotel, that momentum reflects a model that creates value across the board: providing owners with a powerful leasing and retention tool, occupiers with a platform to support business objectives, and operators with the opportunity to bring the two together.

Once positioned somewhere between the rigidity of a traditional lease and the limitations of co-working, the category has steadily evolved into one of the most significant segments of the workplace market. Today, it's a topic occupying office owners, operators, occupiers and advisors alike. Yet, despite becoming one of the industry's favourite buzzwords, there's still remarkably little consensus on what 'Managed' actually means. Knotel's newly released Guide to the Managed Office is a definitive statement aimed at aligning the industry once and for all…

The New Language of Office Space

Having delivered more than 7.7 million sq ft of managed workspace for over 1,900 customers, Knotel has witnessed first-hand how occupier expectations have evolved over the past decade.

As Cat Le Druillenec, Knotel's Managing Director, puts it: "Managed workspace conversations are everywhere."

For Knotel, however, the conversation can no longer be limited to flexibility, convenience or fit-outs alone. Instead, the operator believes ‘Managed’ should be viewed through a much broader lens - one that considers the role that workplace plays in supporting collaboration, culture, talent and organisational growth.

Within the guide, 'Managed' is defined as: "Self-contained units or floors delivered and operated by an owner, provider or third-party operator. It is the marriage of privacy, autonomy, enablement and brand control, underpinned by high-quality, hospitality-led service and flexibility."

To bring this definition to life, Knotel has outlined five core pillars that underpin its approach: Flexibility, Privacy, Brand Control, Autonomy and Service.

Together, these principles reflect a broader shift taking place across the workplace sector. Increasingly, occupiers are seeking far more than square footage alone. From workplace strategy and design to hospitality, operations and day-to-day experience, the emphasis is moving towards environments that actively support business performance.

In Cat's words: "The most successful workplaces are those that intentionally deliver experiences that enable performance, supporting collaboration, productivity, wellbeing, culture, talent attraction and retention, and positive business outcomes."

For Knotel, this evolution represents something much bigger than a real estate trend.

As Cat explains: "Managed is not just about what is supplied; it is about what it enables. It enables owners to attract and retain occupiers, and it enables businesses to align their physical space with their strategic goals."

"The reality now is that Managed is performance infrastructure."

Two Core Products, One Unified Vision

The momentum behind ‘Managed’ continues to accelerate. As occupiers demand more from their workplaces and office owners seek new ways to attract and retain customers, the category is increasingly being recognised as a strategic tool for enhancing both business and asset performance.

Set against this backdrop, Knotel has evolved its proposition into two distinct offerings: the Managed Office Experience and Work Club. Together, these two platforms allow Knotel to support a broad spectrum of workplace requirements. One focuses on delivering and operating the workplace itself. The other provides access to the amenities, environments and experiences that surround it - while also showcasing how to deliver the best experiences into occupiers’ own spaces.

Knotel Services: The Managed Office Experience, On Your Terms

Whilst the model was initially honed within Knotel's own portfolio, the company's strategic focus is increasingly centred on extending those capabilities into third-party buildings, partnering with both owners and occupiers to deliver managed workplace solutions.

Through Knotel Services, the operator applies the in-house expertise, infrastructure, vendor relationships and operational know-how, developed across more than a decade of delivering managed workspace, to support both owners and occupiers.

For owners, Knotel acts as both operating partner and strategic advisor, helping transform conventional white-box space into experience-led managed workplace environments. Spanning design and delivery, sales and marketing, workplace operations and hospitality, the platform enables owners to broaden market appeal, enhance occupier experience and unlock greater value from their assets, assisting with leasing and retention.

As Steve Lydon, Real Estate Partnerships Director at Knotel, notes: "We're having a lot of conversations with owners about how ‘Managed services’ delivers experience and performance in a space."

For occupiers, the proposition is equally compelling: access to move-in ready space without sacrificing privacy, autonomy or brand control. Leveraging years of experience supporting hundreds of businesses, Knotel enables occupiers to align their physical workplace with broader business objectives while removing much of the operational complexity traditionally associated with office management.