WeWork – an American company founded in 2007 – emerged during a boom in the number of self-employed Brits, from 3.8 million on the eve of the financial crisis in 2008, to 4.6 million in 2015. Young people are turning their backs on the 9 to 5, motivated by ideas about being master of their own destinies. But self-employment often comes with lower pay, instability and the likelihood of mental health issues. WeWork's job is to convince you, with yoga classes and free beer, that it's worth it. The clue is right there in their mission "to create a world where people work to make a life, not just a living".