Tesco is trialing the new service
(Picture: Joe Pepler /PinPep)Sometimes doing the weekly shop can feel like just another job -- now it can be.
Britain’s largest supermarket chain Tesco is trialing using parts of its stores as a co-working space under a tie-up with workspace provider IWG, owner of Regus.
The first location to host the trial will be the Tesco Extra in New Malden in Greater London. The store’s 3,800 square foot upper mezzanine level will contain 12 co-working desks with 30 co-working spaces.
Mark Dixon, founder and CEO of IWG, said: “New locations in suburban areas will transform communities and are a response to the growing demand we are seeing from customers who want to live and work locally.”
In a statement company said that the partnership signalled a “shift towards creating more self-sustaining, vibrant local communities that will greatly improve the work-life balance of local workers”. It is the first collaboration between IWG’s Spaces brand and Tesco.
The project should also have a positive impact on the environment by reducing the need for daily and costly commutes into London.
Workers who want to use the desk will have to sign-up to the IWG service, which will give them access to WiFi, the instore café and a private working space.
Louise Goodland, head of strategic partnerships at Tesco, said: “We are always looking to serve our customers and communities better and we will be interested to see how they respond to this new opportunity.”
The deal is part of IWG’s plans to add 1,000 new locations to its global network this year. Other new IWG locations across South London will include Twickenham, Sutton and the revamped Battersea Power Station.
The push into more suburban areas comes in response to the rise of remote and hybrid working in the post-pandemic era.
