How Uncommon Made 2024 Its Year:
A Double Triumph at FATC Awards

For many operators, it’s not uncommon to attend an awards night and go home empty handed, but for one flex operator, in particular, it might seem so. Uncommon, scooped not one but two awards at Flex and The City’s inaugural Awards night on 24th October: Best New London Flex Space and Sustainable Excellence. We caught up with CEO Chris Davies to unpack why Holborn has been such a hit and how Uncommon’s unwavering commitment to sustainability continues to set them apart.

Making Its Mark

Uncommon’s name ringing out twice at the Awards was hardly a surprise for those familiar with its trajectory. The flex space operator's latest site in Holborn—a meticulously crafted, 10-story building that has been in the works since 2020—secured the award for Best New London Flex Space 2024. This recognition comes as a testament to Uncommon’s relentless pursuit of innovation, wellness, and value in the London flex market.

“Receiving an award in honour of Holborn has been incredible, especially for the sales team,” Chris Davies tells Flex and The City. “It really rebuilds your faith in the fact that it's taken us four years to get here. Within that time, we've gone through COVID, we've gone through the construction—and building stuff is hard. On a day-to-day level, it’s easy to forget that. It’s a celebration of completing our most ambitious project. All the hard work should pay off, and the FATC award is a crystallised version of that.”

Setting New Standards with Holborn

Holborn is more than just another flex site; it’s a game-changing blend of modern design, functionality, and holistic well-being. The building is packed with top-tier amenities: an in-house café, spacious breakout areas, a member’s bar, a wellness studio, and a breath-taking rooftop terrace. This focus on creating an immersive, thoughtfully designed environment has truly set Holborn apart.

No two Uncommon spaces are alike, Chris emphasises. “If you think about our spaces, none of them look the same. None of the colour palettes are the same. It's a collection of little things that then come together to create something unique. It’s hard, but that's what operators should be doing.”

For Holborn, the magic lies not just in design, but in the human touch. “The efforts that the team put into creating the building, and then the effort that the team continues to put in every day, does get noticed. There’s an element of us being able to pull everything together into one holistic, cohesive presentation of a space that our members really enjoy,” Chris explains. “But beyond that, it’s the people behind it who breathe life into the space, from our sales team to our plant caretakers. It’s the human element that keeps it alive, and that passion—that's what really pushes the space.”

Standing Out among the Competition 

The awards weren’t handed out lightly. Over 1,500 flex professionals cast their votes, narrowing down a shortlist that included strong contenders like Orega The Strand, MYO Piccadilly, Fora Sixty London Wall, and Huckletree Liverpool Street. 

Perhaps what makes the Holborn site truly stand out from nearby operators, is its commanding presence and versatility. “Compared to some of our competitors that are close by, with new buildings that are lovely, they don't have that same real presence. Having street frontage on all our sites is a real asset, but Holborn, because it's effectively three buildings in one (front High Holborn, central core and Eagle Street side), which allows us to be a lot more flexible. We’ve created whole floors for clients, individual wings, or bespoke units. That's what every operator should be striving for.”

No doubt, a copycat is a compliment. “I’ve had people come up to me and say, we literally just copied [Uncommon] Liverpool Street, or we're going to copy what you’ve done in Holborn”, Chris smiles. The reality is, of course they can. But will it feel authentic to them? 

Leading the Charge in Sustainability

Exemplified in their newest site and their second coveted award, Uncommon has solidified its reputation for Sustainable Excellence. As a certified B Corp, the flex operator has set bold sustainability standards, achieving BREEAM certifications across four buildings, reducing energy consumption, and offsetting 110% of its carbon footprint. It is this dedication to environmental responsibility that propelled them past strong contenders like Projects Brighton, X+Why, Fora, and Runway East to secure a well-deserved victory.

“The vision for the company and our Uncommon ethos is driven around our our market leading sustainability strategy. It's all about taking on more buildings and converting them to be energy efficient, doing good for the planet, and for the people we serve,” Chris elucidates. “Plus, we’ve been very strategic about the accreditation choices. B Corp was important as it’s widely recognisable stamp of approval.”

For Uncommon, the whole business is focused on playing their part in the environmental journey. And that journey is infectious. “Achieving accreditations is one thing, but wholeheartedly believing in it is another”, Chris underscores. “It’s something every team member is passionate about, and clients can see that animated authenticity- that’s why it works,” he adds.

Naturally, a key factor behind Uncommon’s ability to implement such sustainability initiatives is its ownership of its buildings. “We control the whole building, which means we can go in and make adjustments to ensure we meet EPC requirements,” Chris explains. This control allows Uncommon to swiftly adapt its spaces to align with evolving environmental standards.

Looking Ahead

A significant part of Uncommon’s success this year has also been down to its strong relationships with brokers, Chris appreciatively notes: “The good ones really add value to clients and help streamline our operations. The best relationships are true partnerships, and that’s what makes our lives easier. I think that's where it needs to be and continue, that relationship element”.

Looking ahead, Uncommon anticipates a calmer 2025 after a whirlwind year. “I think that's fair and allowed,” Chris jokes. As for new sites, Uncommon remains patient and deliberate: “New projects take a long time to come through, so it's got to be right. After all, owning the real estate, it’s a very permanent decision for us.”

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