Running Multiple Sites: Where Systems Help, and Where They Hurt

About this session

Space Management session with Ben Newton, 45 min — recorded at Coworking Tech Week 2026.

In this session, Ben Newton, Operations Director at Patch, shares a practical look at what changes when a coworking business grows from one location to several. The conversation covers how Patch decides what to standardise across its sites, where local teams need freedom, how reporting and software can either support or slow down operators, and where AI is beginning to help behind the scenes. It is a grounded discussion for coworking founders, operators, and site leaders who want to scale with better processes without losing the local character that makes each space work.

Ben Newton will share a practical, operator-level view of what it really takes to run six sites across the UK without losing what makes each one work. Drawing on real experience, he will explore the constant tension between centralisation and local autonomy, looking at where standardised systems create clarity and scale, and where they can quietly damage the character, responsiveness, and effectiveness of an individual site. This session will focus on the decisions operators wrestle with every day: what should be standardised, what should stay in the hands of the local team, and how to recognise when you have drawn that line in the wrong place. Ben will talk openly about the lessons learned, including mistakes, adjustments, and the thinking behind the systems they use today. He will also touch on where technology and AI are starting to play a more useful role in improving systems, visibility, and operational support across multiple locations.