The GCUC Experience
GCUC UK is two days in the company of people who genuinely care about the future of coworking and flexible workspace. The kind of event where the conversations in the breaks are just as valuable as the sessions themselves.
Day one is a full conference day: keynotes, panels, workshops and roundtables, with time built in to connect with the people in the room.
The audience is a deliberate mix of operators, founders, developers, landlords, investors and voices from outside the industry altogether, because that is where the most interesting thinking happens.
Day two takes things out of the venue and into the city. Our coworking tours give you a proper look at the spaces and the people behind them. If you would rather explore independently, we will point you in the right direction.
But it’s not all work and no play.
It is not all back-to-back sessions. The drinks reception at the end of day one is where a lot of the best conversations happen, and our expo gives you a proper chance to meet the partners and service providers who are shaping the industry.
We keep things informal enough that you actually enjoy it.
Who Should Attend GCUC?
GCUC UK attracts a genuinely broad mix of people from across the coworking and flexible workspace world.
Coworking Operators and Founders
Whether you run one space or many, you will find people here facing the same challenges and opportunities you are. The sessions are built around what operators actually need to know.
Developers and Landlords
Flex is no longer a niche corner of the real estate market. GCUC UK is where you get a clear picture of where the industry is heading and who is driving it.
Aspiring Coworking Entrepreneurs
If you are exploring coworking for the first time, this is the best possible room to be in. The community is genuinely open to newcomers.
Shared Workspace Enthusiasts
For those passionate about the future of work and the role of shared workspaces, GCUC offers a platform to learn from industry leaders and network with like-minded individuals.
Corporate Real Estate, HR leaders and Workplace Strategists
Hybrid working has changed what occupiers need. GCUC UK brings the operator and investor perspective that is often missing from the corporate workplace conversation.
Service Providers and Technology Innovators
A focused, senior audience of decision-makers, all in one room.
Our Why
The coworking industry is collaborative by nature. GCUC UK exists to reflect that. We bring people together to have honest conversations about what is working, what is not, and where the industry is heading next.
The programming is built around what operators, investors and workspace professionals actually need: practical insight, genuine debate and the kind of connections that lead somewhere after the event is over.
We are not interested in surface-level networking or generic panel discussions. We want people to leave with something useful.
Origin Story
Back in 2012, GCUC founder Liz Elam had a simple idea: bring the brightest minds in coworking together to share ideas and spark something bigger. What started at Austin’s SXSW has grown into the world’s largest coworking conference series, with 49+ events across the globe and over 20,000 people through the doors.
The 50th global GCUC takes place in New York in April 2026. A landmark moment for an industry that shows no signs of slowing down.
GCUC UK has been part of that story since 2016. Since 2023, the UK events have been led by Director and Producer Emilie Lashmar. Emilie joined Brighton-based operator PLATF9RM at its inception in 2016. She knows the industry from the inside, and that operator perspective shapes everything about how GCUC UK is programmed and run. Built by someone who gets it, for people who get it.