31. Headspace Group

Founder: Jonny Rosenblatt
Founded: September 2012 (launched August 2013)
Website: www.headspacegroup.co.uk

Marking its third appearance in the Startups 100 index is Headspace, the fast-growing provider of inspiring office spaces, meeting rooms, and event space.

With start-up businesses and creative companies continuing to scale at speed, the traditional office rental model of a five-year lease is losing its appeal – which is where Headspace comes in.

Combining a range of “beautiful working environments” on short-term leases from co-work space, private offices for up to 20 people, and entire floors of its Farringdon and Marylebone buildings, Headspace seeks to “take on the headaches of running an office so that businesses can focus on what really matters”.

The brainchild of property entrepreneur Jonny Rosenblatt, the start-up launched in 2013 and has become the go-to office provider for some of the country’s top creative and technology businesses with tenants including Eventbrite and the London School of Photography. Its larger spaces have also become popular with major international businesses such as Microsoft, BuzzFeed, and Deloitte.

Now home to 400 resident tenants across 25,000 square ft., the company achieved turnover of £1.4m and profits of £600,000 last year. Revenues are expected to increase to £2m this year with plans underway for the opening of a third site.

In growing the business, Rosenblatt has taken a lean start-up approach with no external investment and the help of just 10 employees. So what, then, is his winning business formula?

Rosenblatt tells us it’s a combination of “providing an aesthetically pleasing environment with a heavy focus on community”. With an onsite barista coffee shop, retro games room and more, he says Headspace helps “promote a culture of collaboration, rather than [being] just an office space.”