My Big Idea: Robert Schogger, co-founder of MetSpace

‍Hi! What’s your elevator pitch? Why does the market need it?

My business partner, David Cluer, and I introduced the first managed office to the UK market in 1999. Since then, the market has grown (about 111% year-on-year 2025 figures show) but we’ve continued to draw on our experience to offer self-contained central London workspaces, thoughtfully designed with an expert eye, through MetSpace.

We give growing businesses a space they’re proud of – well-designed, service-led, and thoughtfully managed – without the headache of fitouts, ongoing management or maintenance, or rigid long leases. And we ensure landlords get the returns they deserve.

Where is the business today? 

We currently operate over 50 floors of managed space across central London, including prime spots in Clerkenwell, Fitzrovia and Holborn. At 90%, occupancy is strong, we’ve seen consistent growth (even through Covid), and we have a team of 20 running operations behind the scenes. Our occupiers include scale-ups, established firms, and national organisations (including the Women’s Super League, who recently moved their HQ from Wembley to one of our offices).

What made you think there was money in this?

I left school at 16 and property, the City, or recruitment companies were the “trending” jobs of the day. It was on a family holiday that I bumped into a friend, who said his company was looking for a junior in the commercial property investment department, where he worked. I honestly had no idea what this was, but it had the word property in it. He said the owner of the company was also on holiday close by so I asked if I could meet him. We had a chat, agreed I would start on a trial when I was back and I worked for him for the next 10 years. I still work with this person today…

You can read the rest of Robert’s interview with My Business Age here.