Show notes
What does it really take to scale a coworking business without losing the soul of what made it special in the first place?In this episode of Powering Productivity, I’m joined by Jo Hart, who has been at the heart of Mantle Space’s growth from a single serviced-office centre to eight thriving locations across the South East of England.Jo’s story isn’t flashy or polished, it’s real.She’s worked her way through every layer of the organisation over the last 14+ years: front-of-house, operations, business development, marketing. And because of that, she brings something rare, a grounded understanding of what teams, members, and communities genuinely need to feel supported.This conversation is especially meaningful for independent hubs, neighbourhood coworking operators, and micro business owners who want to grow in a way that still feels human. Even though Mantle is a larger operator now, the challenges they’ve navigated culture, communication, community balance, energy, wellbeing are the same ones small spaces face every day.✨ Together, we explore:How Mantle scaled from 1 to 8 locations while keeping member + staff culture at the centreThe realities of building community across multiple locationsWhy team wellbeing is foundational to member experienceThe juggling act of operations, hospitality and emotional labourThe role of design, environment and atmosphere in shaping communityHow digital tools help without replacing the human touchWhat independent operators can learn from a bigger regional playerThis episode is ultimately about growth that doesn’t cost your heart and why scaling with care, clarity and culture still matters more than ever.“What stayed at the heart of Mantle through growth is simple: look after your people, and everything else follows.” Jo HartHighlights:Jo’s journey from PA to leading across multiple business functionsHow Mantle kept its family-feel culture even as the team grew from 8 to 48Culture, communication and why empowerment matters more than processesNavigating challenges: COVID, new centre openings, political + economic uncertaintyBalancing diverse communities across different types of locationsThe power of thoughtful workspace design in belonging and productivityUsing digital tools to support (not replace) human connectionSupporting centre teams who juggle HR, operations, community, emotionsThe importance of celebrating wins and looking back at how far you’ve comeWhat regional coworking operators can learn from each otherTimestamps:00:00 — Welcome to Powering Productivity00:54 — Introducing Jo Hart & Mantle Space02:06 — Jo’s journey into coworking04:26 — From 1 centre to 8: what has changed (and what hasn’t)05:33 — Culture, values & how Mantle “scaled with heart”10:58 — Operational challenges & opportunities in regional coworking13:57 — Navigating COVID, furlough, and rebuilding with care15:55 — Member mix: corporates, SMEs, remote workers & entrepreneurs18:20 — Why design + environment matter more than ever22:27 — Digital tools and keeping the human touch25:18 — Team wellbeing, boundaries & emotional load28:19 — Collaboration, connection & the future of regional coworking31:12 — Where to find Jo and more about Mantle SpaceResources:Mantle Space → https://www.mantle.co.ukPowering Productivity Podcast Homepage → https://www.thehubnewry.com/podcastSuzanne’s Coaching & Support for Micro / Coworking Operators → https://www.thehubnewry.com/coaching-mentoring/
