Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Coworking & Childcare: Making Workspaces Work for Parents with Ann-Marie Kinlock
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Coworking & Childcare: Making Workspaces Work for Parents with Ann-Marie Kinlock
Episode Summary:
How do you run a business, build a career, and raise a child—without burning out?
In this episode, Emily sits down with Ann-Marie Kinlock, founder of Kindhaus, to discuss the massive gap in support for working parents and how coworking spaces can fill it.
Ann-Marie shares her journey from navigating corporate redundancies and postnatal depression to launching Kindhaus, a workspace built for parents who need childcare and a place to focus.
They get into the real challenges of creating coworking spaces that welcome families, from finding the right property and funding to working with (or against) landlords who just don’t get it.
If you’ve ever tried balancing work and parenthood—or thought about adding childcare to your coworking space—this episode is packed with insights on what it takes.
Timeline Highlights:
[0:02] – Bernie introduces the Community Builders Cohort and how to get involved.
[0:39] – Emily welcomes Ann-Marie and asks about Kindhaus and its mission.
[1:14] – The unmet needs that led Ann-Marie to start Kindhaus.
[2:49] – From corporate redundancies to business ownership: Ann-Marie’s journey.
[5:35] – The financial and emotional toll of balancing work, childcare, and business.
[8:10] – Why existing childcare models don’t work for many parents.
[9:48] – What’s stopping coworking spaces from adding childcare?
[12:12] – What would it look like if childcare-friendly coworking was standard?
[14:30] – How coworking spaces can start small with family-friendly features.
[16:23] – The rollercoaster of finding a permanent space: A cautionary tale.
[19:21] – Landlords, legal red tape, and the unexpected barriers to progress.
[24:33] – The challenge of changing landlord perceptions of family-friendly workspaces.
[28:40] – Property, funding, and the reality of securing investment for a coworking space with childcare.
[32:10] – Lessons from failed leases and why Ann-Marie is more determined than ever.
[34:08] – Advice for coworking spaces thinking about adding childcare.
[37:55] – Finding the right investors: Why values alignment is crucial.
[42:24] – Where to find Ann-Marie and how to support Kindhaus.
Detailed Episode Breakdown:
Why Kindhaus Exists: A System That Fails Working ParentsAnn-Marie shares how her experience of losing her job while pregnant and struggling to afford childcare led to the idea behind Kindhaus.
She explains why traditional coworking spaces often exclude parents and why flexible childcare solutions are critical for economic equality.
The Real Barriers to Childcare-Friendly CoworkingCoworking spaces have toyed with the idea of adding childcare for years, but very few make it work.
Ann-Marie breaks down the real reasons, from landlord resistance to financial risks—and what workspace operators can do to test the waters without overcommitting.
How to Make a Parent-Friendly Workspace WorkAnn-Marie shares practical steps for coworking spaces that want to support parents, from trial runs and partnerships with nurseries to simple space adjustments like buggy parking and flexible booking systems.
The Nightmare of Finding a Space—And What She LearnedAnn-Marie tells the gut-wrenching story of nearly securing the perfect location, only for the landlord to pull out at the last minute.
She shares what she learned from the experience and how coworking spaces can avoid the same mistakes.
What Coworking Spaces Need to Know About Property and FundingFrom navigating commercial leases to securing investment, Ann-Marie shares what she wishes she knew before starting out.
She explains why finding the right investors—those who truly believe in the mission—is more important than chasing quick money.
Links & Resources:
* KindHaus, where flexible workspace meets flexible childcare
* Leeds University Research on Childcare & Gender Pay Gap
* Coworking Values Podcast on LinkedIn
* Join The Coworking Community Builder Cohort
* Register for European Coworking Day, May 2025
* Get Your Pass for the Workspace Design Show London 2025
* Join the 8k Members in the LinkedIn Coworking Group
* Connect with Emily on LinkedIn
* Connect with Ann-Marie on LinkedIn
One more thing
Coworking brings communities together, helping people find and share their voices.Each episode of the Coworking Values Podcast explores the core values driving coworking: Accessibility, Community, Openness, Collaboration, and Sustainability.
These values aren’t just ideas—they shape the spaces where we gather, work, and grow.
We hope this resonates with you.If it does, please rate, follow, and share the podcast.Your support amplifies our reach, helping others discover how coworking can enrich lives, build careers, and strengthen communities.
Community is the key 🔑
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit coworkingvaluespodcast.substack.com
View all episodes
By Bernie J MitchellEpisode Summary:
How do you run a business, build a career, and raise a child—without burning out?
In this episode, Emily sits down with Ann-Marie Kinlock, founder of Kindhaus, to discuss the massive gap in support for working parents and how coworking spaces can fill it.
Ann-Marie shares her journey from navigating corporate redundancies and postnatal depression to launching Kindhaus, a workspace built for parents who need childcare and a place to focus.
They get into the real challenges of creating coworking spaces that welcome families, from finding the right property and funding to working with (or against) landlords who just don’t get it.
If you’ve ever tried balancing work and parenthood—or thought about adding childcare to your coworking space—this episode is packed with insights on what it takes.
Timeline Highlights:
[0:02] – Bernie introduces the Community Builders Cohort and how to get involved.
[0:39] – Emily welcomes Ann-Marie and asks about Kindhaus and its mission.
[1:14] – The unmet needs that led Ann-Marie to start Kindhaus.
[2:49] – From corporate redundancies to business ownership: Ann-Marie’s journey.
[5:35] – The financial and emotional toll of balancing work, childcare, and business.
[8:10] – Why existing childcare models don’t work for many parents.
[9:48] – What’s stopping coworking spaces from adding childcare?
[12:12] – What would it look like if childcare-friendly coworking was standard?
[14:30] – How coworking spaces can start small with family-friendly features.
[16:23] – The rollercoaster of finding a permanent space: A cautionary tale.
[19:21] – Landlords, legal red tape, and the unexpected barriers to progress.
[24:33] – The challenge of changing landlord perceptions of family-friendly workspaces.
[28:40] – Property, funding, and the reality of securing investment for a coworking space with childcare.
[32:10] – Lessons from failed leases and why Ann-Marie is more determined than ever.
[34:08] – Advice for coworking spaces thinking about adding childcare.
[37:55] – Finding the right investors: Why values alignment is crucial.
[42:24] – Where to find Ann-Marie and how to support Kindhaus.
Detailed Episode Breakdown:
Why Kindhaus Exists: A System That Fails Working ParentsAnn-Marie shares how her experience of losing her job while pregnant and struggling to afford childcare led to the idea behind Kindhaus.
She explains why traditional coworking spaces often exclude parents and why flexible childcare solutions are critical for economic equality.
The Real Barriers to Childcare-Friendly CoworkingCoworking spaces have toyed with the idea of adding childcare for years, but very few make it work.
Ann-Marie breaks down the real reasons, from landlord resistance to financial risks—and what workspace operators can do to test the waters without overcommitting.
How to Make a Parent-Friendly Workspace WorkAnn-Marie shares practical steps for coworking spaces that want to support parents, from trial runs and partnerships with nurseries to simple space adjustments like buggy parking and flexible booking systems.
The Nightmare of Finding a Space—And What She LearnedAnn-Marie tells the gut-wrenching story of nearly securing the perfect location, only for the landlord to pull out at the last minute.
She shares what she learned from the experience and how coworking spaces can avoid the same mistakes.
What Coworking Spaces Need to Know About Property and FundingFrom navigating commercial leases to securing investment, Ann-Marie shares what she wishes she knew before starting out.
She explains why finding the right investors—those who truly believe in the mission—is more important than chasing quick money.
Links & Resources:
* KindHaus, where flexible workspace meets flexible childcare
* Leeds University Research on Childcare & Gender Pay Gap
* Coworking Values Podcast on LinkedIn
* Join The Coworking Community Builder Cohort
* Register for European Coworking Day, May 2025
* Get Your Pass for the Workspace Design Show London 2025
* Join the 8k Members in the LinkedIn Coworking Group
* Connect with Emily on LinkedIn
* Connect with Ann-Marie on LinkedIn
One more thing
Coworking brings communities together, helping people find and share their voices.Each episode of the Coworking Values Podcast explores the core values driving coworking: Accessibility, Community, Openness, Collaboration, and Sustainability.
These values aren’t just ideas—they shape the spaces where we gather, work, and grow.
We hope this resonates with you.If it does, please rate, follow, and share the podcast.Your support amplifies our reach, helping others discover how coworking can enrich lives, build careers, and strengthen communities.
Community is the key 🔑
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit coworkingvaluespodcast.substack.com