Shared office provider WeWork has unveiled ambitious plans to double its presence in London by the end of next year. The announcement came as Sadiq Khan, the capital’s mayor, visited the company’s headquarters in New York to talk about City Hall’s London Is Open campaign, which aims to encourage foreign businesses to come to the UK. WeWork is already one of the largest New York-based companies investing in London with 11 locations across the city and more than 10,000 members using its services. It said this morning that it aims to add a further 10 offices in London by the end of 2017. The company rents office space on short-term contracts, particularly aimed at start-ups and small businesses. The serviced offices sector has boomed in recent years, although WeWork has attracted criticism for its rapid rate of expansion and the viability of leasing a building to it over the longer term. But chief executive and co-founder Adam Neumann said the company was committed to “London’s entrepreneurial community” and had an “integral role in London’s future”. The company has launched an entrepreneurship programme to support companies through WeWork centres, allowing new businesses to join WeWork on a sponsored contract. Speaking at the event, Mr Khan said: “Our great city has long been at the very forefront of financial services. When you combine that with our new-found technological expertise, it creates an unrivalled opportunity for companies looking to break into the European market.
WeWork is set to add 10 offices to its existing 11 locations in London by the end of next year , with the new spaces aimed at start - ups and small businesses . The news followed city mayor Sadiq Khan 's visit to WeWork 's New York offices , to launch the London Is Open campaign , which aims to woo foreign businesses to invest in the English capital . WeWork 's CEO Adam Neumann said the company was " committed to London ’s entrepreneurial community ” and had an “ integral role " in the city 's development .