How Local Partnerships Sustain Coworking Spaces
Lessons in sustainability, support, and shared momentum from 13+ years in coworking
Looking back over the years of running a neighbourhood coworking space, it’s clear that what’s truly sustained me hasn’t just been systems or strategy, it’s been people.
When you’re holding space for a community, managing the day-to-day, and navigating the constant evolution of work, it’s easy to feel like you’ve got to shoulder everything yourself. But I’ve learned (and keep learning) that trying to do it all can quietly wear you down.
The real breakthroughs, both in how we operate and how I feel about the work have come through building the right relationships at the right time.
The hidden value of local partnerships
We often hear that collaboration is about scaling, reach, revenue or visibility. But at the local coworking level, partnerships offer something deeper:
Shared responsibility when the to-do list gets overwhelming
Fresh thinking when you’re feeling stuck
Complementary strengths that balance out your own gaps
The energy of creating something together
A stronger collective voice when you’re advocating for your place and your people
And sometimes? Just someone to talk it all through with…
Coworking that’s rooted in real-world collaboration
Across the coworking landscape, I’ve seen spaces thrive by weaving strong relationships into their day-to-day.
In Kent, Dragon Coworking is embedded in its local network, collaborating with youth organisations, community groups and members to build something living and local.
KindHaus in London combines workspace and flexible childcare by partnering with parents and local agencies to deliver something that really fits family life.
Patch has taken a fresh approach to town-centre workspaces by working closely with councils, local creatives and traders creating places where connection is as important as productivity.
At The Hub Newry, the same kind of collaboration shows up in quieter ways:
A long term member turned partner handles our finances
Local IT experts keep us online and sane
Our admin support, post handling, and compliance are all managed through long-term relationships we trust
Wherever possible, we source locally because it just makes life easier when you know who you’re working with
Let your members lend a hand & take ownership of ideas they have, you’ll find that’s where the creativity, community & magic starts…
These aren’t just service providers, they’re the people who’ve helped me breathe a little easier over the years.
You don’t have to do it all yourself
There’s brilliant support out there if certain tasks feel heavy or outside your comfort zone. Content writing, newsletters, marketing posts, they don’t have to sit on your shoulders alone. There are people who love that stuff and can take it off your plate.
And if event planning sends you into avoidance mode (you’re not alone), there are some amazing folks and tools who make it all feel smooth and very doable. One that came highly recommended by Bernie Mitchell is Luma - a smart little events app that integrates beautifully with your newsletter and helps get the word out with ease.
These kinds of working relationships aren’t just practical, they bring ease, clarity and a sense of shared momentum and that makes the whole thing feel a lot more human.
Keeping your space and yourself sustainable
This year, we joined a sustainability benchmarking initiative designed for flexible workspaces through Instant Office’s Sustainability Index. It’s helping us stay transparent and accountable for how we operate but more than that, it’s helping us stay aligned with what really matters.
For me, sustainability isn’t just a policy it’s a way of working that supports people as much as performance. And it often begins with partnerships built on trust, understanding, and shared values.
If you’re running a space and feeling like you’re carrying a lot you’re not alone. This work is full of meaning, but it can be heavy too.
Growing alongside the coworking movement
Over the past 13+ years, I’ve seen the coworking world evolve in so many way and I’ve evolved right alongside it.
Being part of communities like the European Coworking Assembly, London Coworking Assembly and FlexSa has connected me with people doing thoughtful, creative and grounded work. Through those networks, I’ve found not just resources and insight, but real friendships. Conversations about accessibility, inclusion, freelancer-first models, they’ve all shaped how I show up in my own space.
What I love most is this: no one has all the answers. We’re learning in real time, together. When we’re generous with what we know and open to learning from each other, the impact is bigger than any one of us could create on our own.
If you’d find it helpful to talk through where you are and where you’d like things to go, you’re always welcome to book a complimentary discovery call or connect with me on LinkedIn.
With quiet encouragement,
Suzanne Murdock
Heart-Led Coach & Mentor for Micro Business Owners & Neighbourhood Coworking Leaders
Host of Powering Productivity Coworking