Company Relocation: Preparation & Planning
Relocating an office or company can be a lengthy and costly process. It can also be a stressful time in a company’s life for employers and employees. There are a range of considerations that must be top priorities when moving to a new office. These range from legal responsibilities to design and layout considerations to employee well-being and relations. This is the first in a four part series on company relocation, a subject we’ll be covering in depth over the coming months.
Company Relocation: Preparation & Planning
A successful move involves a lot of planning. Establishing requirements and priorities for a new location during the early planning stages will help inform decisions down the road. It will also establish a vision or objective for the move that will guide the entire process. Engaging with affected parties such as employees and clients will also help ensure the appropriate site is selected. It will also help reduce confusion and anxiety that inevitably is associated with a move. As a result, communication with employees, clients and other stakeholders is crucial to ensure a seamless move.
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Digital Business Guide
London has an enviable position in both finance and business services globally, but it is also one of the most important places in Europe as a creative city and one which drives the worldwide media agenda. This has traditionally been in the field of publishing and conventional broadcasting, along with a relatively minor film industry. However, these days the capital’s creative industries are increasingly run by digital businesses. Given that so much of the business world, including the financial services sector, are now also reliant on digital transactions and products, digital businesses are now only likely to grow in importance as contributors to the city’s wealth.
According to the Greater London Authority’s Intelligence Unit, the city is well placed in the information revolution which has seen the growth of entirely new industries, as well as the transformation of well-established ones. In a report into London’s digital economy, they said that the opportunities for the cross-pollination of innovative ideas in the digital business world will be bolstered by London’s world-class universities. In addition, the report continues, the capital’s highly-skilled will add to the attractiveness of London as a base for digital industries, even web-based corporations from overseas.
If the capital is to continue to lead the world in the innovative digital industries of the future, it is of huge importance that businesses based in London have access to a digital communications infrastructure which is fast-moving and able to compete on a global stage. The authorities in London recognise that the city must improve its digital connectivity. Indeed, the Greater London Authority has said that it must cooperate with London’s boroughs in order to push this agenda forwards. According to Kulveer Ranger, the Mayor’s Director of Digital London, his organisation is working with the other local government in London to bring about greater WiFi connectivity in the capital and to reduce pressure on the struggling 3G network. This, he said, includes the introduction of WiFi on the London Underground network which should enable Londoners to digital services online, even when they are travelling around beneath the city’s streets. Continue reading “Digital Business Guide”
Virtual Office Space – How to Secure a Premium London Business Address Without Paying a Premium Price
Choosing a virtual office is an effective way of securing a premium London business address without paying a premium price. Some of the key benefits of going for this type of service include:
– Having a virtual presence in a global city
– Being able to choose among various premium addresses without having to pay for prime real estate
– Having more time to focus on running your business
– Saving on the costs of software, office equipment, and staff
Virtual Offices in London: Services Included
Virtual offices provide a registered address that can be used with the Companies House and in company stationery, as well as mail reception and mail forwarding to UK addresses and in some cases abroad too. Mail can be also be scanned, faxed, or collected in person.
Another common service is personalised phone answering, message taking, and call forwarding. Remote access to voice mail may also be available.
If virtual offices are provided by business centre operators, access to hot desks and meeting rooms is usually part of the package. Where the service provider has an international presence, access to business lounges in other cities or countries and invitations to networking events may be included.
Other services include secretarial and admin support (e.g. transcription, translation, booking appointments, event management, making travel arrangements, etc.). These are often available on a pay-per-use basis.
Choosing a Virtual Office Address
When choosing a virtual office address, it’s important to bear in mind that certain industry sectors are clustered in specific parts of the city (e.g. creative and media in Clerkenwell and Shoreditch, finance and banking in the City, small IT operations around Great Titchfield Street, or logistics and distribution in West London).
Here’s a list of geographical areas popular with virtual office customers in London along with their respective postcodes:
Zone 1
– The City, St Pauls, Blackfriars, Moorgate, Liverpool Street, London Bridge (EC1A, EC1V, EC2N, EC3A, EC4N, EC4Y, SE1)
– Fitzrovia, Charing Cross, Covent Garden, Marylebone, Paddington, Euston, King’s Cross (W1T, W1B, W1W, WC1B, W1H, WC1X, NW1, W2, WC2N) Continue reading “Virtual Office Space – How to Secure a Premium London Business Address Without Paying a Premium Price”
London Commercial Property Fact Sheet and Infographic
The London commercial property market is one of Europe’s largest both in terms of size and worth. Below you will find a wealth of data that provide a snapshot of the market in the UK’s capital city.
Offices
London offices account for 20 per cent of the city’s total commercial inventory, with an estimated value of £173bn. The fastest-growing areas in terms of rental growth include Heathrow (which currently already has more office square footage than Birmingham’s CBD) and Shoreditch, a formerly industrial area which is now a hotspot for media and tech companies.
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The Ultimate Co-Working Space Perks In London
Over the past few years, London has emerged as the world’s capital of co-working. The five-year trend shows that 900,000 square feet of co-working spare (approximately 8 per cent of all new office space in London) are added or taken up in the city every year. Currently, it is estimated that London is home to 156 co-working spaces, and this figure is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years in a reflection of the how quickly the sharing economy gaining traction all over the business world.
Co-working space in London is not only the office accommodation of choice for start-ups, remote workers or freelancers, but it also appeals to large companies and corporates based in the City. KPGM, Microsoft, HSBC, Cisco, and Menlo Innovation are some of the blue-chip firms that currently use co-working space in the city.
Whether they are one-person start-ups or large corporates, co-working space occupiers are often attracted by the perks that this type of accommodation offers. These go beyond a strong entrepreneurial and collaborative spirit and a working environment specifically designed to foster creativity, and include flexibility, all-round support, spaces that foster a healthy work-life balance, and a strong sense of community.
Focus on flexibility and support
In co-working spaces, flexibility is not only evident in the terms of rental agreements, but also in space distribution, as some of these offices are arranged in open plan but also provide private working areas in work pods, or dedicated Skype booths used to conduct private meetings online. And lately, some co-working offices have even implemented a pet-friendly policy.
In terms of support, some of the top perks include:
– Free or discounted use of meeting rooms
– Free tickets to events focusing on entrepreneurial growth, such as those offered to members of Innovation Warehouse, which also offers access to its own incubator and accelerator Continue reading “The Ultimate Co-Working Space Perks In London”
North London Business Park
North London Business Park is a 16-hectare campus-style office development located in New Southgate. The park is accessible via Oakleigh Road South or Brunswick Park Road.
Commercial real estate at North London Business Park totals 382,000 square feet and includes dedicated office and educational space. Serviced offices are available at the Comer Innovation Centre, and units range from 250 to 80,000 square feet, making the park a suitable choice for local start-ups.
Office space at the North London Business Park is spread over six buildings, although not all currently offer office space:
– Building 3 is a three-storey structure surrounded by 40 acres of parkland that offers Grade A office space as well as serviced offices. Traditional office units are available as whole-floor units or in smaller suites of up to 125,000 square feet.
– Building 4: over 170,000 square feet with on-site security, a cafe, and close to public transportation. The building has open plan office space (sub-divisions considered) and meeting / training space.
– Building 5: a two-storey building that is currently fully let.
– Building 6: the smallest of all buildings at North London Business Park, also fully let.
Reception is located in Building 2 and there is conferencing and events space available at the Emerald Suite, which is located on the side of the park facing Oakleigh Road. This venue has an approximate capacity of 590 people and has 7 meeting rooms. Continue reading “North London Business Park”
Overview of the London Commercial Property Market 1st Quarter 2017
Sustained rental value growth has been the predominant theme in the London commercial property market during the first quarter of the year. On the whole, Q1 2017 can be described as positive and with no significant changes with regards to the previous quarter.
London Office Market Q1 2017
Take-up rates in Central London doubled in Q1, reaching 1 million square feet in February. These were particularly high in Southbank, where vacancy rates dropped to their lowest point in the past 18 months, reaching 3.3 per cent. Central London take-up by sector remains unchanged, with media and tech occupiers on the lead, followed by the public sector, finance, and business services. Grade A vacancy rates ranged between null values in Aldgate to 15 per cent in Holborn.
Total availability increased by 4 per cent to 14.7 million square feet, although most supply is clustered around King’s Cross, Paddington, Stratford, and London Bridge.
Rental values grew by 0.2 per cent across the city. The lowest average rents are currently £40 / sq ft in Stratford and £47.50 in the Docklands, whereas the highest are in St James and Mayfair (£110 / sq ft), Soho, Belgravia, and Knightsbridge, ranging from £85 to £87.50.
However, the introduction of higher business rates in April may reverse the generalised upward trend. This will be most evident in the legal sector, which has also been affected by increases in annual rent costs, reaching 5 per cent over a five-year period. The business rates revaluation may lead to a decreased enquiry volume in sub-markets affected by the sharpest increases, namely Clerkenwell, Camden, Shoreditch, King’s Cross, and West City. Continue reading “Overview of the London Commercial Property Market 1st Quarter 2017”
How to Look Clever at Work
If you sometimes feel overwhelmed during meetings, terrified during presentations, and just a little bit slow during your day-to-day interactions at work, there are ways for you to appear smarter. Using a little science and a lot of research, the sociology world has found ways for you to look smarter at work.
Keep Your Language Simple
Think back to the last time you read an email that was laced with hyperbole. The chances are, you found it irritating rather than impressive. A study conducted by Princeton University in 2006 found that those who use grandiose language don’t appear smarter than their contemporaries who keep things simple. In fact, quite the opposite happens. According to the study, when you use overly complicated language, you disrupt the fluency of the overall conversation. Using language that you’re familiar with, and that others will understand, is far more effective.
Think back to the last time you read an email that was laced with hyperbole. The chances are, you found it irritating rather than impressive. A study conducted by Princeton University in 2006 found that those who use grandiose language don’t appear smarter than their contemporaries who keep things simple. In fact, quite the opposite happens. According to the study, when you use overly complicated language, you disrupt the fluency of the overall conversation. Using language that you’re familiar with, and that others will understand, is far more effective.
Smile to Look Intelligent
A study published in PLoS in 2014 found that walking around with a frown on your face will cause others to believe you are of low intelligence. In contrast, being smiley will lead them to believe you are smart. This study investigated the traits found in ‘high intelligence’ and ‘low intelligence’ faces. The majority of faces associated with high intelligence carried expressions of joy, and were often friendly. If you usually walk into work with a glum expression, take a little time to put a smile on your face.
Be Self Assured and Use Expressive Speech
A meta analysis carried out by Northeastern University found that those who appear self assured and use expressive speech are perceived as being more intelligent than those who do not. Expressive speech involves varying degrees of tone, with passion and no faltering. In other words, you need to be confident in what you say and how you say it. Clearly this doesn’t come naturally to everyone, and shyness or a lack of confidence in what you are saying doesn’t always correlate with low intelligence. If you struggle with public speaking or speaking up in meetings, focus on those topics you feel confident speaking about and take some time to practice talking to yourself at home. It can work wonders for your expressive speech skills.
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Chiswick Business Park
Chiswick Business Park is an award-winning commercial property development that offers first-class office and retail space along with multiple leisure amenities. This development has received numerous awards since 2001, the most notable of which include the 2002 British Construction Industry Award, the 2003 RIBA Award, the 2011 Best Business Award for Best Customer Focus, the 2012 Financial Times Top 50 Workplaces in the UK, the 2013 Queen’s Award for Enterprise and Sustainable Development, and the 2016 Green Apple Award.
Currently, the park consists of 11 buildings that occupy nearly 1.5 million square feet, although further development is expected given that the park’s developers have planning consent to build a total of 1.8 million square feet. Some of the features that characterise the space available at the park include floor-to-ceiling heights of 9.8 feet, open plan floor plates, VAV and air displacement heating and air conditioning systems, ample parking space, smart building automation and monitoring systems, and CCTV. Moreover, the park is known for its commitment to green practices, evident in the presence of sustainable washrooms and the recycling of food, green waste, and rainwater.
Amenities
This business park offers a wide range of amenities in addition to state-of-the-art commercial property space, including on-site coffee shops, restaurants, bars, and shops. On the leisure front, tenants have access to a Virgin Active fitness club, landscaped outdoor areas suitable for pedestrians and cyclists, dedicated outdoor space for corporate events, and annual sports events organised by the companies headquartered here. A miniature golf course is 1.6 miles away, and the park is only a few minutes’ walk from the Gunnersbury Triangle Nature Reserve, which provides tenants with opportunities to unwind in a pleasant natural environment. Continue reading “Chiswick Business Park”