Leadership that moves at the speed of hybrid work
The challenge – leading in a flexible, post-pandemic world
IWG (International Workplace Group) sits at the centre of the flexible workspace industry. Through brands such as Regus and Spaces, it supports businesses across more than 3,000 locations, 900 cities and 120 countries to work in ways that are more agile, cost-effective and human.
That scale brings opportunity - and complexity. Leaders at IWG are expected to balance operational excellence, commercial performance, people leadership and digital confidence, often within roles that span sales, facilities, customer experience and team management.
Since 2021, IWG has partnered with Corndel as its Professional Development Partner to meet that challenge head-on. Together, we’ve focused on one clear ambition: developing leaders who can think clearly, act decisively and lead confidently through growth and change.
A cornerstone of this partnership is our Leadership & Management Degree Apprenticeship – designed to build leadership capability, strengthen retention and support IWG’s wider people and digital strategy.
Building leaders who can scale with the business
As IWG continues to grow globally, leadership consistency matters. For Amber Douglas, UK–Europe Learning & Development Manager at IWG, the Leadership & Management Degree Apprenticeship directly supports this need.
“As IWG continues to scale globally we need leaders who are confident, commercially astute, digitally capable and able to inspire high-performance cultures.”
The programme develops high-potential future leaders by strengthening the fundamentals that matter most at IWG – operational and commercial management, people leadership, strategic thinking and the ability to lead through ambiguity.
“The CMDA programme directly supports these strategic goals by developing our high-potential future leaders.”
Just as importantly, it plays a role in retaining them.
“Employees who complete an apprenticeship with Corndel show a higher commitment to IWG, and report a stronger sense of being invested in when complimented with our internal development programmes.”
Across IWG’s Leadership & Management Degree Apprenticeship intakes, this shows up in higher retention and deeper engagement – a clear signal that professional development is landing where it matters.
“Employees who complete an apprenticeship with Corndel show a higher commitment to IWG, and report a stronger sense of being invested in when complimented with our internal development programmes.”
Our degree apprenticeship doesn’t exist in isolation. It builds on IWG’s wider commitment to creating “more confident and emotionally intelligent leaders” and a culture of continuous development.
“The Leadership & Management degree programme expands this foundation offering degree level options for employees who may have never had the opportunity to earn a degree previously, increasing their future career and growth prospects.”
That combination of opportunity and application is key. People on the programme report tangible improvements in how they show up at work.
“Apprentices report improved confidence leading teams, making decisions, communication and influencing skills and enhanced commercial understanding.”
In practice, that means more people stepping into stretch projects, driving initiatives and actively applying new frameworks within their roles.
One-to-one coaching that closes the theory–practice gap
For IWG, one of Corndel’s most distinctive strengths is its coaching model.
“Unlike many professional development programmes which rely heavily on self-study, Corndel's coaches bring the learning to life, exploring real world challenges and implementation with the apprentice.”
Coaching creates both accountability and momentum – helping people apply learning in real time rather than leaving it in a workbook.
“It actively removes the theory vs practice gap meeting managers where they currently are, developing early career and experienced managers alike.”
This matters in an environment that is fast-paced, commercially driven and customer-centric, where leaders need practical confidence, not abstract theory.
Technology, innovation and data are woven throughout Corndel’s management and leadership programmes – aligning closely with IWG’s operational reality.
“At IWG we need our leaders to make data led decisions understanding commercial and operational metrics.”
“The programmes assist learners to be more confident when looking at data, present insights with clarity and assist our leaders to become digitally capable, tech confident leaders.”
Magdalena Restuccio, Centre and Sales Manager, IWG
Magdalena’s role spans leadership, sales, operations and facilities – a reality common across IWG’s centres.
“As a Centre and Sales Manager in a busy IWG centre, I also operate as the landlord, facilities, and cleaning manager, so my role requires strong leadership, commercial awareness, and operational decision-making.”
The programme helped her shift from task-focused management to more strategic leadership.
“The Corndel programmes have helped me grow from managing tasks to leading more strategically.”
With support from her Corndel Coach, she adopted a more coaching-led approach with her team.
“Instead of simply directing the team, I now spend more time asking questions, encouraging ownership, and supporting individuals to find solutions themselves.”
That shift has had a clear impact on engagement, accountability and day-to-day performance.
“The Corndel programmes have helped me grow from managing tasks to leading more strategically.”
Alex Brookes, Manager, IWG
For Alex, the programme offered a way to develop leadership capability while applying learning directly in role.
“By doing it through an apprenticeship scheme, it allowed me to blend theory with practice within my current role.”
The result has been greater confidence and resilience in challenging situations.
“It has encouraged self-reflection and the confidence to take on difficult situations, where previously I may have avoided them.”
Alex describes the programme as building adaptability and problem-solving skills that are essential in a fast-changing environment.
“The programme is ensuring I have the tools and knowledge to become a dynamic and well-rounded leader within my current role.”
Success without the wait
We’ve partnered with over 400 enterprise organisations, and tens of thousands of people within them. Here’s just a snapshot of their stories, showing what’s possible when you give people everything they need to thrive.
