Global workplace provider Regus has signed an agreement with Gatwick Airport to open a drop-in business lounge and meeting room centre near the South Terminal Arrivals area, in addition to workspace airside next to the departure gates.

The new Regus Express facilities offer convenient access for those needing a quiet place to work, hold a meeting or even freshen up with a shower prior to departing or on landing at Gatwick.

The business lounge located near Arrivals will comprise an open plan area for co-working and private Thinkpods with built-in desks, in addition to meeting rooms available by the hour.

The departure gate area will be the first location in the world to host the new concept of “Business Workbox”, the new private workspace by Regus, designed for people on the move.

It is a fully self-contained, resourced and private space measuring four square metres ideal for locations with high, transient footfall such as airports.

The space will give individuals a haven in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the departure gates, to make last-minute phone calls or finish emails before boarding their flight.

Phil Kemp, global managing director, Regus Third Place, said: “Regus Express is leading a revolution in the way we work. Notions of ‘the office’ are changing rapidly and we increasingly need places to connect to work, wherever we are.

“As a company, we are striving to make modern business easier, extending our network of locations at leading transport and retail hubs across the globe.

“Today’s agreement with Gatwick Airport is the latest development in this strategy to help businesspeople work more productively on the move.

“We expect the facilities to be popular with a range of business travellers from those wanting to make the most of their time before boarding a flight to others needing a convenient place to meet clients after they’ve landed.”

Demand for “third places” to work – not the office, not the home – is on the rise globally.

Other UK locations include Heathrow airport, motorway service stations and Staples retail outlets supplementing Regus’ 220 business centre national network.

The workplace provider also has a number of Regus Express sites in other markets, through partners including SNCF in France; the Dutch and Swiss railway networks and Shell in Germany.