Building Co-Space: A New Approach to Offices - Will Stokes - EP23

Will Stokes is the Founder of Co-Space, a serviced office company taking a unique approach to the flexible workspace market. Before launching Co-Space, Will built his career in property development. But he saw an opportunity to do something different using data to identify regions and specific locations where demand for serviced offices was underserved, and then building spaces that matched what local businesses really needed. That approach has helped Co-Space stand out in a crowded sector, and given Will a platform to grow the business on his own terms. We also dive deep into the story of WeWork, arguably one of the most fascinating rises and falls in recent business history. With Adam Neumann at the helm, WeWork became a global giant, fuelled by huge investment, big promises, and a culture that divided opinion. Will shares his perspective on why the business achieved such rapid growth, why it ultimately struggled, and what lessons operators in the serviced office space should take from its journey. In this episode, we explore: • How Will transitioned from property development into the serviced office market • Why data-led site selection has become the foundation of Co-Space’s model • His take on the rise and fall of WeWork, and what we can learn from Adam Neumann’s leadership • How COVID reshaped office demand and where the serviced accommodation sector is heading next Will brings insight, energy, and a clear vision of what the future of workspaces could look like. This one’s full of honest lessons, market perspective, and a look at how flexible office space is evolving beyond the hype.