Proximity launches Protect offering for coworking and flex spaces

US workspace management software company Proximity Space has launched Proximity Protect, a specialty, nationwide insurance brokerage that provides coverage for coworking and flex space operators, members and tenants. Proximity said the new offering addresses a need in the coworking and flex industry to reduce business risk for space owners and managers and provides an easier, more streamlined approach to getting proper coverage in place.

Proximity Protect is designed to help space owners take a comprehensive approach to risk management and provides access to tailored insurance programs that address the unique risks of operating in a flexible workspace environment.

Proximity provides a full suite of operations technology to hundreds of flexible workspaces that rent offices, desks, meeting rooms and event space to more than 100,000 members in the Proximity Network. As a large segment of the country's workforce prepares to exit their homes and return to offices, the demand for flexible workspace is expected to dramatically increase among employers that enable long-term flexible and remote work.

"The two themes I'm hearing repeatedly from the country's companies are safety and security," says Josh Freed, CEO of Proximity. "These are hurdles everyone is going to face as the country returns to work. It's become clear that there's a need for experts and solutions in the field of risk mitigation and management in the flex industry."

Last year Proximity hired risk management veteran David Young who has spent the last decade as a lecturer with the CU Denver Business School teaching for the risk management and insurance degree program. Young has more than 30 years of commercial insurance experience developing tailored programs for large groups and Fortune 500 corporate clients addressing current and emerging key risks.

"Our goal is to educate the entire insurance industry on the coworking and flex industry," said Young, who serves as president of Proximity Protect. "The insurance industry can be slow to innovate which leads to risks simply being declined or inadequate coverage provided for the space operator. We're here to advocate for the industry and provide innovative solutions that so far, no one has managed to offer."

By leveraging the size of the Proximity Network, Proximity Protect offers policies nationwide through direct appointments with A-rated and admitted insurers.

"We've worked to create a specialty insurance brokerage with the sole purpose of providing solutions at scale to every operator and member of the spaces in our network," said Freed. "There's no reason spaces need to continue taking on the risk for most or all of their members."

The Protect rollout includes new insurtech features that enable space owners and managers to designate which types of memberships are required to carry insurance and to automatically collect, track and manage member insurance policies and certificates in the Proximity platform.

Policies currently available through the Proximity Protect program include property, general liability, workers' compensation, employment practices liability and cyber liability. Coverage is available for coworking and flex spaces, as well as businesses that operate within these shared workspaces.

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