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 centre The realities of building community across multiple locations Why team wellbeing is foundational to member experience The juggling act of operations, hospitality and emotional labour The role of design, environment and atmosphere in shaping community How digital tools help without replacing the human touch What independent operators can learn from a bigger regional player This 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 Hart Highlights: Jo’s journey from PA to leading across multiple business functions How Mantle kept its family-feel culture even as the team grew from 8 to 48 Culture, communication and why empowerment matters more than processes Navigating challenges: COVID, new centre openings, political + economic uncertainty Balancing diverse communities across different types of locations The power of thoughtful workspace design in belonging and productivity Using digital tools to support (not replace) human connection Supporting centre teams who juggle HR, operations, community, emotions The importance of celebrating wins and looking back at how far you’ve come What regional coworking operators can learn from each other Timestamps: 00:00 — Welcome to Powering Productivity 00:54 — Introducing Jo Hart & Mantle Space 02:06 — Jo’s journey into coworking 04:26 — 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 coworking 13:57 — Navigating COVID, furlough, and rebuilding with care 15:55 — Member mix: corporates, SMEs, remote workers & entrepreneurs 18:20 — Why design + environment matter more than ever 22:27 — Digital tools and keeping the human touch 25:18 — Team wellbeing, boundaries & emotional load 28:19 — Collaboration, connection & the future of regional coworking 31:12 — Where to find Jo and more about Mantle Space Resources: Mantle Space → https://www.mantle.co.uk Powering Productivity Podcast Homepage → https://www.thehubnewry.com/podcast Suzanne’s Coaching & Support for Micro / Coworking Operators → https://www.thehubnewry.com/coaching-mentoring/
