When Ambition Isn’t the Problem
Why sustainable micro business design starts with your real-life capacity, not others’ expectations. If you run a micro or small business, you may recognise this feeling… I’ve been telling myself for a while now that I feel lost, but the more I sit with that feeling, the more I realise I am not lost at […]
What Small Business Really Looks Like: Voices From the Inside
Welcome to this special episode of Powering Productivity, created in celebration of Small Business Saturday and our place in the UK’s SmallBiz100. Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of sitting with founders, freelancers, independent coworking operators, community leaders and small teams, all people who’v
When Productivity Advice Meets Real Life – A Conversation with Bernie Mitchell on the Coworking Values Podcast
If you’ve ever felt smothered by productivity advice that doesn’t quite match the realities of running a coworking hub or micro business, this conversation will feel like a deep exhale. In this guest episode of the Coworking Values Podcast, I sit down with Bernie Mitchell – long-time champion of the European coworkin
Building a sustainable business that fits real life – lessons from The Hub Newry
When I started The Hub, I didn’t have a big team, endless hours, or family down the road to lean on when things got lonely or overwhelming. I’d moved from South London to Northern Ireland as a new parent, in a new place, without family nearby or reliable childcare. My husband was originally from here, […]
Finding freedom in frameworks: Why structure isn’t the enemy of flow
If you run a small business or lead a coworking space, you already know that structure & systems can be a double-edged word. You crave it the rhythm, the calm, the sense of knowing where things fit but it can really go against the whole human led feel of your business. Yet for all its […]
What Makes The Hub Newry Unique – A People First Coworking Space in Newry
As we head into November, we’ve been reflecting on what really makes The Hub Newry unique and how it all began. When we first opened The Hub back in 2012, coworking wasn’t really a thing here in Newry. We just knew there were people like freelancers, start-ups, small teams all trying to build something meaningful, [&hellip
The Quiet Superpowers of Curiosity & Deep Listening in Small Business
In the heart of every thriving small business, there’s something that often gets overlooked in the rush to build systems, scale, or “show up” online. It’s not a flashy new tool or strategy. It’s human connection, built slowly, intentionally, through curiosity and deep listening. As a coach for micro business owners a
Why embracing uncertainty is key to sustainable small business leadership
For years, I believed I was resistant to risk. But in truth, embracing uncertainty has become one of my greatest strengths. Moving from London to Ireland not knowing anyone apart from my husband, starting a coworking business in 2012 when the model was almost unknown locally, and steering through Brexit, the absence of governm
Why small business burnout feels so heavy right now
You’re not imagining it, business does feel heavy right now. Here’s why (and what you can do about small business burnout). If you’re running a micro business or managing a neighbourhood coworking space, you’ve probably felt it: that slow, quiet heaviness, the mental load. The emotional weight of trying to hold everyth
More time, less noise: Finding balance in people-led business
Running a micro business or managing a neighbourhood coworking space doesn’t fit into a tidy job description especially a people-led business. One minute you’re deep in planning, the next, you’re tracking down an HDMI cable or figuring out who prefers oat milk. This is hands-on, people-first work, real, human and often d
Stronger together: How the right partnerships support a sustainable, strategic & human way to work
I didn’t start out thinking partnerships would be the thing that sustained me, but looking back, they’ve made all the difference. When you’re running a coworking space or a micro business, it’s easy to fall into the trap of doing it all. But some of the most powerful progress, both emotionally and operationally has com
What does real support for micro business owners & coworking leaders look like?
If you’re running a micro business or managing a neighbourhood coworking space, you’re probably the one others rely on. You’re the organiser, the listener. The person quietly holding things together, not just the work, but the people. But have you ever stopped to ask: What does real support look like for you? It
Series 4 Ep7. Coworking in Ireland: inside the movement with Stephen & Leah of Connected Hubs
In this episode discover how Ireland’s national coworking network is transforming local business, innovation and community through people-led workspaces and what it means for your coworking space or micro business. Together with Stephen Carolan and Leah Fairman of Connected Hubs we explore the real-world impact of coworking
Local workspaces with heart – where micro business belongs
Over the past week, I’ve had the opportunity to reflect on what makes coworking more than just a place to work and why that matters for micro business, especially those rooted in local communities. From speaking at The Growth Network event in Newry, to preparing for a European Coworking Day pop-up celebration at Space NI [&h
Laying the foundations & enabling a great community around you….
Community and belongingness are topics that I love talking about so much. I’ve kind of figured about they’re definitely one of my pillars when it comes to coworking & coaching & in deed life in general it fills me with energy. So what does community mean to me? As a flex & coworking operator, laying […]
S4 Ep3. Evolving opportunities & transitions: coaching, coworking & community at the heart of SME leadership, with Claire Carpenter
Suzanne talks to Claire Carpenter, a pioneer in coworking and social impact. From creating one of Europe’s first coworking hubs, The Melting Pot, Edinburgh to mapping rural opportunities & engaging in social fabric projects far & wide, Claire’s journey is full of lessons for community leaders and SME owners. They t
