Coworking Europe Podcast

SocialWorkplaces.com

Podcast by SocialWorkplaces.com

  1. 5 days ago

    #85 Thanks to Management Agreements We Grew to 12 Locations in 3 Years

    In this episode, Jean-Yves Huwart, founder of Coworking Europe, speaks with Rafał Pisklewicz, founder of The Shire – Beyond Coworking, about how landlord partnerships and management agreements have helped the Polish flex operator grow to 12 locations and more than 24,000 sqm in just three years. More than half of The Shire’s portfolio now operates under management agreements based on income sharing and close cooperation with landlords. Rafał explains that the model starts with trust, transparency and a clear understanding of the landlord’s economics. His own background in asset management and leasing has helped The Shire build partnerships around a simple objective: make vacant office space productive and profitable for both sides. The conversation also explores why flex operators can help landlords capture demand from smaller occupiers that would otherwise be difficult to accommodate in traditional office buildings. In this episode: How The Shire grew to 12 locations in three years Why more than half of its portfolio is based on management agreements How successful first partnerships helped attract more landlords Why trust and transparency are critical to operator-landlord relationships How flex can activate vacant office space Why profit sharing can align the interests of landlords and operators How flex operators can help landlords serve smaller occupiers Why partnership models differ between Warsaw and regional Polish markets How The Shire approaches management agreements, joint ventures and other cooperation models For Rafał, there is no single formula that works for every property. The objective is to find a partnership structure that works for both parties — and ultimately makes the space perform. 🌍 Coworking Europe is the voice of Europe’s flex and serviced workspace industry, delivering news, insights, podcasts, reports, and interviews throughout the year: https://coworkingeurope.net/ 🎟️ Join 500+ industry leaders at the annual Coworking Europe Conference, Europe's leading event for coworking, flex office, and workplace innovation: https://coworkingeurope.net/conference/ Rafał Pisklewicz will join Coworking Europe 2026 in Paris to share more about The Shire’s growth and its approach to landlord partnerships. 🎙️ Hosted by Jean-Yves Huwart, founder of Coworking Europe.

    #85 Thanks to Management Agreements We Grew to 12 Locations in 3 Years
  2. 8 Sept

    #84 We solve the workspace need coworking day passes don’t cover

    What happens when you need a professional place to work for just one or two hours? In this episode, Jean-Yves Huwart, founder of Coworking Europe, speaks with Oliver Lehmann, Business Developer at ATworld and former General Manager of Mindspace Germany, about a growing use case in the flexible workspace market: workspace by the hour. Business travellers, remote workers and hybrid employees increasingly need places to work between meetings, before a train or flight, or simply for a few focused hours away from home. ATworld is addressing this demand through a network of nearly 2,500 locations, ranging from coworking spaces and hotels to cafés and airport lounges. Oliver explains why this model is designed to complement coworking rather than compete with it. By serving shorter stays and more distributed demand, the network can introduce new users to coworking spaces and generate incremental traffic and revenue for operators. They discuss: • The growing demand for workspace by the hour • Why hybrid and remote work require more distributed workspace options • How hotels, cafés and coworking spaces can form one flexible network • The opportunity for coworking operators to reach new customers • Why demand is emerging in residential neighbourhoods as well as transport hubs • What coworking can learn from network models in the fitness industry • Why hospitality remains central to the work-from-anywhere experience ATworld is a partner of Coworking Europe 2026 in Paris. 🌍 Coworking Europe is the voice of Europe’s flex and serviced workspace industry, delivering news, insights, podcasts, reports, and interviews throughout the year: https://coworkingeurope.net/ 🎟️ Join 500+ industry leaders at the annual Coworking Europe Conference, Europe's leading event for coworking, flex office, and workplace innovation: https://coworkingeurope.net/conference/ 🎙️ Hosted by Jean-Yves Huwart, founder of Coworking Europe.

    #84 We solve the workspace need coworking day passes don’t cover
  3. 27 Aug

    #83 The best community events are topic deep dives open to everyone

    What makes a great community event? For Maximilian von der Ahé, co-founder of betahaus, the best events go deep into relevant topics while remaining accessible to people who are not already experts. In this episode, Jean-Yves Huwart, founder of Coworking Europe, speaks with Maximilian about the role of events and community in coworking—and why great space and furniture alone are no longer enough. Founded in Berlin in 2009, betahaus now operates 13 locations across four countries, with around 4,000 members. Across its spaces, it hosts more than 1,000 events every year. The conversation explores how betahaus selects topics such as AI, gaming and defense tech, while avoiding becoming defined by the latest industry buzzword. Maximilian also explains why accessibility matters, why recurring event formats work better than one-offs, and how the right speakers can attract the right communities. They discuss: • How to balance topic deep dives with accessibility • Why coworking spaces need to offer more than physical space • How to choose relevant topics without chasing every trend • Why successful event formats need consistency • The importance of speakers, community management and personal matchmaking • How events can create tangible business value for coworking members As Maximilian puts it, “space is nothing without great content.” For coworking operators, events can be much more than community programming: they can connect members with new clients, partners, investors and business opportunities. 🌍 Coworking Europe is the voice of Europe’s flex and serviced workspace industry, delivering news, insights, podcasts, reports, and interviews throughout the year: https://coworkingeurope.net/ 🎟️ Join 500+ industry leaders at the annual Coworking Europe Conference, Europe's leading event for coworking, flex office, and workplace innovation: https://coworkingeurope.net/conference/ 🎙️ Hosted by Jean-Yves Huwart, founder of Coworking Europe.

    #83 The best community events are topic deep dives open to everyone
  4. 5 Aug

    #82 We had to rebrand to reflect the human nature of our business

    In this episode, Jean-Yves Huwart, founder of Coworking Europe, speaks with Tom Sleigh, Head of Property at Elementa Workspace, about the transformation from Landmark to Elementa Workspace—and what the rebrand says about the future of the flexible workspace industry. Tom explains why the company felt its previous identity no longer reflected the way it operates today. As client expectations evolve, flexible workspace is no longer just about office space, location, or flexible terms. It's about creating measurable workplace experiences that help businesses perform. The conversation explores how hospitality, operational excellence, design, and human interaction have become central to customer retention, and why the people behind a workspace matter just as much as the physical environment itself. In this episode: Why Landmark rebranded as Elementa Workspace after 24 years How workplace experience has become the industry's key differentiator Why hospitality is transforming flexible workspace The growing importance of shared spaces and amenity-rich environments How data and customer feedback shape workspace design Why the human experience is essential to client retention How London's flex workspace market continues to evolve Whether you're a flex workspace operator, landlord, broker, investor, or occupier, this conversation offers valuable insights into how leading operators are redefining workplace experience. 🌍 Coworking Europe is the voice of Europe’s flex and serviced workspace industry, delivering news, insights, podcasts, reports, and interviews throughout the year: https://coworkingeurope.net/ 🎟️ Join 500+ industry leaders at the annual Coworking Europe Conference, Europe's leading event for coworking, flex office, and workplace innovation: https://coworkingeurope.net/conference/ 🎙️ Hosted by Jean-Yves Huwart, founder of Coworking Europe. #FlexibleWorkspace #WorkplaceExperience #ManagedOffice #Hospitality #FutureOfWork #CommercialRealEstate #OfficeDesign #FlexOffice #ElementaWorkspace #CoworkingEurope

    #82  We had to rebrand to reflect the human nature of our business
  5. 21 Jul

    #81 Employers now have the budget to pay for workspace amenities

    London has become one of the world's leading markets for managed offices—but what's driving this rapid growth? In this episode, Jean-Yves Huwart, founder of Coworking Europe, speaks with Laura O'Sullivan, UK Sales Manager at Rubberdesk, about how managed offices are reshaping the flexible workspace market. Laura explains why more companies are looking for a solution that combines the flexibility of coworking with the privacy, branding, and control of a traditional office. They also discuss how occupier expectations have evolved since the pandemic, why workplace amenities have become part of the budget, and how the role of brokers is changing as clients arrive better informed than ever. They discuss: • Why managed offices are booming in London • How managed offices bridge the gap between coworking and traditional leases • Why companies increasingly invest in workplace amenities • How occupier expectations have changed since COVID • The growing importance of educating clients about flex workspace options • Why flexible workspace has become the default choice for many SMEs 🌍 Coworking Europe is the voice of Europe’s flex and serviced workspace industry, delivering news, insights, podcasts, reports, and interviews throughout the year: https://coworkingeurope.net/ 🎟️ Join 500+ industry leaders at the annual Coworking Europe Conference, Europe's leading event for coworking, flex office, and workplace innovation: https://coworkingeurope.net/conference/ 🎙️ Hosted by Jean-Yves Huwart, founder of Coworking Europe.

    #81 Employers now have the budget to pay for workspace amenities
  6. 10 Jul

    #80 Are AI search tools changing the role of flex workspace brokers?

    In this episode, Jean-Yves Huwart, Founder of Coworking Europe, speaks with Sophie Lloung, Head of Sales France at Workaround, about how AI, changing occupier behavior, and the rapid rise of managed offices are transforming the European flex workspace market. As more companies use tools like ChatGPT and Claude to research office solutions before contacting a broker, tenants are arriving with greater knowledge and clearer expectations. Sophie explains how this is changing the sales process and why brokers are becoming trusted advisors rather than simply space finders. The conversation also explores the growing popularity of managed offices, which are helping traditional occupiers—including law firms, financial institutions, and corporate teams—embrace flexible workspace for the first time. Topics covered in this episode include: • How AI is changing the office search journey • Why managed offices are booming across Europe • The differences between coworking, managed offices, and traditional leases • Why managed offices are no longer only for large companies • Comparing the maturity of the flex markets in Paris, London, Amsterdam, and Scandinavia • How occupier expectations are evolving Whether you're a flex operator, broker, landlord, investor, or workplace strategist, this conversation offers valuable insights into where the European office market is heading. Learn more about Coworking Europe: https://coworkingeurope.net Join the Coworking Europe Conference: https://coworkingeurope.net/conference/

    #80 Are AI search tools changing the role of flex workspace brokers?

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Podcast by SocialWorkplaces.com