Tenants told to leave the flexible working area within two weeks
Businesses based at Spaces The Mailbox in Birmingham are reeling after being told they must vacate the building within just two weeks following the sudden closure of the flexible workspace site.
Tenants received formal notification this week confirming that the co-working hub – operated by IWG’s Spaces brand – will cease operations before the end of November.
The move comes with little warning, sparking anger and confusion among dozens of small firms, freelancers and entrepreneurs who used the offices daily.
Shock for small businesses
Tenants told WM News they were given no prior indication that closure was imminent.
One described the situation as “completely blindsiding,” adding that they had “barely a fortnight to find somewhere new, move all equipment and keep our business running.”
Many companies are now scrambling to secure alternative space in the city centre, with several neighbouring providers reportedly seeing a surge in inquiries.
Unclear reasons behind closure
IWG (International Workplace Group), which also operates Regus offices across the region, has not publicly commented on the reasons for the abrupt closure.
The Mailbox, one of Birmingham’s landmark mixed-use developments, recently underwent a major ownership and management restructure, raising questions over whether the decision was linked to wider commercial changes within the building.
Fallout and frustration
Tenants have expressed frustration at the short notice, calling it “unprofessional” and “disruptive.”
One business owner said: “We’ve paid our rent in good faith every month and invested in the space – to be told with two weeks’ notice feels like we don’t matter.”
The closure will mark the end of one of Birmingham’s most high-profile flexible workspaces, which opened to much fanfare as part of the city’s growing digital and creative economy.
WM News has contacted IWG and Spaces The Mailbox for comment.
Darren, a Spaces customer, told WM News on Thursday (Nov 13): “As a tenant in Spaces, we were told this morning and informally. No formal notification has been made at all. It’s chaos and confusion and lack of clarity.
“From a PR perspective, this looks really bad for IWG, which is considered the global leader in the flexible workspace market. The team here clearly didn’t know about it either – but the short-term damage for IWG / Regus / Spaces will probably be over in days, despite leaving a group of companies with the view that Spaces really don’t give much of a care for the tenants that deliver their profit.”
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