Flexible offices are becoming increasingly popular among businesses of all sizes and industries, and for a good reason. They offer many benefits, from cost savings to increased productivity and employee satisfaction. But why should flexible offices be a part of any organisation’s real estate strategy? Here are just a few reasons:

1. Cost Savings: Traditional office spaces can be expensive, especially in prime locations. But with flexible offices, businesses only pay for the space they need, whether that’s a few desks or an entire floor. This can lead to significant cost savings, especially for startups and small businesses that may not have the capital to invest in a traditional office space.

2. Increased Flexibility: One of the most significant advantages of flexible offices is their inherent flexibility. They can be used for various purposes, from temporary project spaces to long-term offices. And because they are often equipped with multiple amenities and services, businesses can quickly scale up or down as needed without long-term commitments.

3. Improved Productivity: Flexible offices are designed with productivity in mind. They often feature open floor plans, comfortable furniture, and access to amenities such as coffee shops and fitness centers. This can create a more relaxed and collaborative working environment, increasing productivity and employee satisfaction.

4. Access to Talent: By having a presence in a flexible office, businesses can gain access to a broader pool of talent. Many flexible office spaces are located in prime locations, making attracting and retaining top talent easier.

5. Increased Agility: In today’s fast-paced business environment, agility is critical. Flexible offices allow businesses to quickly adapt to changing circumstances, whether that’s a new project or a shift in business strategy. This can help businesses stay ahead of the curve and remain competitive.

   

In summary, flexible office space is essential to any modern business strategy. It offers a wide range of benefits, from increased agility and cost savings to improved productivity and access to talent. So if you’re not already embracing flexible office space, now is the time to start. Your business and your employees will thank you.

We help you find the perfect flexible office based on your requirements. Give us a call to discuss on 020 3031 8563.

#flexibleoffice #agility #costsavings #productivity #talentaccess #flexibleworkspace

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Melbourne Server Hosting

If you are looking for ways to differentiate a typical office floor, why not stick a library room in the middle? All of sudden, office meetings feel more like the start of a murder mystery tale set in an English manor house.

Couchsurfing

Living up to its name and business, Couchsurfing’s office space is seriously cool and laid back. Looking more like a teenager’s basement than the office space of a global business, Couchsurfing employees enjoy sofas, swings and plenty of open space.

Inventionland Design Factory

This office is like nothing you’ve ever seen before. This office is designed with 15 different sets, ranging from pirate ships, race tracks, faux caves, red carpet walkways, a castle and a giant robot. Not only does the space have fun, creative decor, but the facility also has a state-of-the-art sound/video/animation studio and fully-equipped workshops for creating working prototypes of inventions.

Dropbox

The mission of the popular file hosting and sharing platform Dropbox is to make it easy for people to work comfortably from anywhere. So when it came time to design office space, Dropbox wanted the space to do the same thing. It’s an office that Dropbox likens to a city plaza: a mixture of public and semiprivate spaces that encourage workers to find their own personal bliss.

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So here are the best reasons to work in Bristol:

1. Food:

Bristol is not short of good food, drinks and atmosphere. One of the best brunches around is the bottomless brunch at Brace and Browns and is only £28 for two hours! Food and unlimited drinks, we will definitely be signing up for that!  www.braceandbrowns.co.uk. Alternatively if it’s a cheap but tasty work lunch you are looking for Chomp is the way to go with yummy burgers and including a seriously delicious veggie option!

2. Creativity:

Recently, Bristol was in the news for a creative crowd funding project. This was to build a huge water slide on Bristol’s Park Street to encourage a park and slide scheme. Bristol are open to new technology and creative ideas to build and create their city for today and the future. The creative sectors of business are also booming which means it is now prime time to work in the city if you want to reap in the benefits.

3. Natural Views:

The River Avon or now known as the Bristol Avon runs through the city and is the 19^th longest river in the UK. The benefits of this are that it makes you feel as if you are in the country side and not caught up in the industrial big city building life. It can be good to get away from the stresses of the day just by seeing some natural beauty! To get the best views along with some food and drinks, visit the White Lion Pub and go out onto the terrace!

4. Proximity:

Bristol is only a 40-minute drive away from bath! Bath is known for its natural Hot Springs and beautiful and historical architecture. A famous attraction here is Bath Abbey which is known for its coloured stain glass windows. See here for more: www.visitbath.co.uk

5. Digital Technology:

A new £12 million national express depot was said to bring 120 new jobs to the region. In addition to this, digital technology in the city is rising. According to Tech City UK, Bristol is leading the way in the digital technology echo system. Bristol has the highest turnover per worker in digital tech firms in the country. Both Bath and Bristol are hotspots for this industry.

If your looking for office space in Bristol then please don’t hesitate to contact our team on 020 3031 8563 or click on the following link www.loc8commercial.com

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The famous New Street station has been redeveloped and ‘Grand Central’ a new shopping centre has been developed just above the station, this was one of the first stages of expanding Birmingham’s spaces to become bigger and better. Being only just over a one-hour commute away from London, Birmingham is easy to get to and is also becoming a popular commute for London worker’s.

So let’s have a look at the top reasons to work in Birmingham!

1. Workspace and developments.

A development called Paradise is being set to open with space for offices, retail and leisure. There are so many new and modern spaces to be both working and living in making Birmingham the place to work! There are also developments that have already been completed. The Big City Plan was created in 2010 with an aim of sustainable regeneration including workspaces, public spaces and retail. More than 1.4m square foot of office space is currently under construction: https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/data/office-construction-surges-in-birmingham/10016915.article

2. Food

Birmingham celebrates different cultures and tastes, giving itself a name in the food and restaurant business. Whether it’s a curry, a traditional British fry up or fine Italian dining it’s all on offer in Birmingham. The jewellery quarter, The Mail Box and Victoria Square are a few of the places you can find excellent restaurants. The Digbeth Dining Club is also great if you are looking for street food.

3. Night life

There are numerous bars and clubs to entertain you if you are going for after work drinks or even a night out! Brew Dog and the Jekyll and Hyde being a few of them famous for their unique cocktails with outstanding presentation! Have a look at this website to get a few ideas: http://visitbirmingham.com/what-to-do/nightlife/ Another cool thing in Birmingham is you can go on a night or afternoon cruise on the Canal and have drinks taking in the beautiful view in the summer. This is definitely something different and would be good for entertaining clients from over seas or even from around the UK. See here http://www.canaljunction.com/canal/trips.htm for information!

4. Redevelopment of New Street station – easy access to London

The station and travel access in Birmingham is excellent and it is just over an hour to get to London! New street station has been redeveloped and is full of restaurants, shops and the architecture is all completely refurbished.

5. Shopping

The bullring is a huge shopping centre with almost every shop you could think of and a huge variety of restaurants, bars and cafes. In addition to this, you now have Grand Central and The mailbox to shop at. The Mailbox is slightly more upmarket where you will find trendy designer shops.

6. Culture

Theatres, museums and galleries are at the heart of Birmingham. Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and the Ikon Gallery are a few of the most famous. If you are an underwater fan, the National Sea Life Centre is the place for you to visit in Birmingham. For tickets and more information visit https://www2.visitsealife.com/birmingham/

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There are so many incredible coffee shops in London and Soho is certainly not short of these. Coffee is actually an extremely important part of most of our work days, whether it be the morning wake up coffee, or the afternoon pick me up coffee! Tap Coffee has a great atmosphere and serves brilliant cakes and pastry’s too, perfect for a Friday breakfast!

2. Food

FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD! There are so many amazing restaurants in Soho, which gives you a reason to go for a filling work lunch! One of our favourites is Balls and Company, specialising in different type of meat balls and even vegetarian balls. They also have a brilliant cocktail bar for after work drinks! Another favourite is Bao, small but TASTY and affordable making it perfect for work lunches.

3. Art

Soho is famous for it’s art galleries so if art is your thing, you’re in luck! The Photographer’s Gallery is famous globally located in an Edwardian Warehouse.

4. LGBT COMMUNITY

Soho is famous for it’s variety and culture. The LGBT community is huge in this area and is known for celebrating in some lovely bars and clubs. G-A-Y is a famous club that has many celebrities perform on stage.

5. Soho Nightlife

Looking for something to do on a Thursday or Friday evening after work? Soho is the perfect place for a drink (or five). The Box Soho is a private members club and pretty hard to get into but If you do you are in for a treat! Company Below is also a pretty great bar in a basement offering one of a kind creations in an intimate setting.

6. Flexible Offices

You have an abundance of choices with regards to flexible office options. Have a look through the options – OFFICE SPACE – or call us to discuss your requirements in more detail and we’d be happy to point you in the right direction.

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Whether it’s the coffee, the atmosphere, or the actual shop design, the coffee shop industry in London is growing and there are some absolute gems to visit for your daily intake! Not only this, new recipes are also being introduced into the coffee world. Healthy ‘Matcha lattes’ are making a huge entrance (although a green tea) and coffee is being served in more than just cups!

So, here are our top 6 places for coffee in London!

1. Look mum, no hands!

   From the outside a bike/cycle shop, in the inside a lovely and quirky place to enjoy your coffee! They also do some awesome food if you are feeling a little peckish!

2. Kaffeine:

   The reviews speak for themselves: ‘Top Notch’ ‘Coffee Hideout’ ‘Place For Coffee Addicts’ ‘Best Cortado Outside Spain’

3. Prufock:

   Also a coffee school in Clerkenwell, Prufock has a brew bar giving customers the chance to engage with baristas who choose the best coffees of the week for you to sample!

4. Shoreditch Grind:

   Music, atmosphere, friendly waiters and amazing coffee. Alongside a lovely and healthy breakfast menu and cocktails! Amazing outside area for the summer too.

5. Monmouth:

   ‘World Famous Gourmet Coffee’ With coffee from all around the world and not at an expensive price, this place is extremely popular and located in borough Market.

6. The Good Life Eatery:

   Healthy food, juices, smoothies, coffee and Matcha lattes. The ultimate healthy foodie’s dream!

Feel free to leave comments and let us know your recommendations for the best spots in London.

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Start-up businesses by new and serial entrepreneurs are one of the most exciting things happening to our business economy. We have seen a huge rise in new companies forming over the past couple of years. Most aim to keep their overheads low and often launch from the comforts of their own home or coffee shops.

Most start-ups are self-funded but a lucky few are heavily backed meaning they can grow from a bedroom business to having a global presence in no time.

Start-ups used to mainly appear in industries like Tech, Media, Product and Fashion but we are seeing a pattern towards Property, Finance, Education and Healthcare.  The rise of Virtual Reality, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Wearable tech, Automation and mobile means that these industries are growing quicker than ever before.

It’s easy to be intimidated by bleak statistics where 8/10 start-ups fail in the first 18 months.  This is evident in the lack of start-ups that IPO in 2016 but we expect a huge number of new start-ups to go public. Who could they be?

1.    AppDynamics

2.    Snapchat

3.    HotelTonight

4.    Spotify

5.    Qualtrics

6.    Cloudera

7.    Dropbox

8.    Blue Apron

9.    Stich Fix

10. Airbnb

It’s public knowledge that AppDynamics and Snapchat have already filed to go public this year and we are confident of many more.

These companies fill many different office spaces with some having more than one office. Take a look at these offices we have available for you to rent and experience working in a similar environment to these great start-up –

The Shard, SE1 – https://loc8commercial.com/office/serviced-office-to-let/976/london-bridge-street-london-se1

Shoreditch/Old Street – https://loc8commercial.com/office/serviced-office-to-let/1493/westland-place-london-n1

Kings Cross – https://loc8commercial.com/office/serviced-office-to-let/750/east-side-kings-cross-station-london-n1c

Soho – https://loc8commercial.com/office/serviced-office-to-let/1029/sheraton-street-london-w1f

Chelsea – https://loc8commercial.com/office/serviced-office-to-let/1536/fulham-road-london-sw3

The City – https://loc8commercial.com/office/serviced-office-to-let/1028/devonshire-square-london-ec2m  

Whether you are a start-up, SME or a more established company we are sure to have an office solution to suit you. Please give us a call to discuss on 020 3031 8563 or alternatively search online via www.loc8commercial.com

The post 10 Start-Ups – Watch this space appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.

After noticing a gap in the market for a social media marketing agency for SME’s, I launched The Social Shop late in 2013 after spending 8 years working my way up recruiting for the marketing and advertising agency sector.

Knowing I had 3 month’s wages in the bank to support me whilst I got the company off the ground, my first aim was to make sure I could cover my mortgage. I did what I knew best and used LinkedIn as a new business platform; luckily my first client came in the shape of a well-known restaurant in Camden. 

As one client turned into two, then five and then ten, I had to make a decision on an office. My overheads had to increase and in order to be taken seriously, I needed an office space. I moved into a space that my first client owned which was helpful as I didn’t have a clue where to find available office spaces! This first space in Camden was great as I was working alone. However, as I hired my first employee and my client base was growing, I needed to move somewhere neutral so all of our clients were treated equally. 

I was paying a lot for this space but had nothing else to compare it to, the 3 month notice period also didn’t seem a problem when I signed up. I quickly realised that as my cash-flow was forever up and down, being tied down to a contract with anyone was a commitment and I couldn’t stick to it for too much longer.  Therefore, we went from our own office space to a co-working incubator in Camden by a start-up called ‘Work.Life’. https://work.life/ 

‘Work.life’ was great; We were one of the first businesses to move into their first office. We were suddenly in a creative working environment with others in similar industries which was quite motivating. In addition, this space came with free tea, coffee and biscuits! Those that know me know I like to eat a lot of biscuits and drink a lot of tea, so the saving alone was fantastic!

We had access to free talks, events and were networking with new companies on a daily basis. However, I slowly realised the flexible work space in London was becoming hugely popular and there were other options that were not only more affordable, but more accessible than Camden. We were only there for 6 months but it supported 5 of us including interns. We met lots of SME’s that were in the same situation as us and the flexibility of being able to cancel our contract with 4 weeks’ notice was great.

We were very close to moving into Work.Life’s second office, a new space in London Fields, Hackney, as this was closer to where I lived. However, the desk cost was the same and contract restrictions were the same which wasn’t beneficial.

Whilst I was looking for a new flexible working space, I attended a networking event at a small incubator in Old Street which had a big personality; It was called ‘Launch 22’ based in Corsham Street. http://www.launch22.co.uk/

This place was just as cool, albeit with less capacity and free biscuits. However, it was slightly more affordable and in the heart of Tech City; A location that adds a huge amount of value to our credibility. Launch22 is a registered charity with 2 branches in Liverpool and London. Since joining we have become part of the family, a group of small businesses looking to grow with free mentorship and support from the large network of people associated with the incubator. The best thing about Launch22 for us is that we can cancel our monthly rolling contract anytime with 1 weeks’ notice. Being a small company, things can change for us on a monthly basis so this level of flexibility being in the heart of the city is awesome!

I have seen the pop up of many new but more expensive flexible workspaces around me over the past few years. I now understand there are office brokers like Loc8 Commercial, who are the best people to speak to about finding a suitable office space for your business. Speaking to office brokers reduces the timeframe and personal stress of finding somewhere new. Loc8 provide a free and impartial overview of the market and is very helpful in the way that they can give us new options that we may not have known previously. Add to the fact they gave us an insight into the workspace industry then it’s a win win.

If we were currently looking to move offices we would want to view the following 3 options from looking at Loc8’s website:  

Serviced Office to let: Curtain Road, London

https://loc8commercial.com/office/serviced-office-to-let/1682/curtain-road-london-ec2a

Serviced Office to let: Westland Place, London

https://loc8commercial.com/office/serviced-office-to-let/1493/westland-place-london-n1

Serviced Office to let: White Lion Street,

https://loc8commercial.com/office/serviced-office-to-let/1033/white-lion-street-london-n1

The post Guest Blog: Why we chose to work in a flexible workspace appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.

In truth the “back to work” process in September is one of the most important periods in the business calendar. So with most of the team energised after their summer holidays it’s a great opportunity to harness the positivity in the office.

A tidy office

The quieter period over the summer months can provide an ideal time to spring clean the office. Public areas can benefit from a lick of fresh paint and carpets can even get a deep clean from all that heavy traffic from the previous winter and wet months in the spring.

When the team returns they will really appreciate the improvements to the office. With tidy communal spaces, clean kitchens and a fresh working environment, teams will feel revitalised for the busy months ahead.

Back to Work News and updates

September is an important month to make sure teams are well informed and reminded about targets and the business strategy. Any target shortfalls over the summer need to be communicated to make sure everyone knows what the autumn and winter objectives are.

Notice boards can be updated with fresh content to ensure everyone is up to speed.

Re-contacting those old leads

After what can be months of radio silence it’s important to prioritise time to re-contact old or lapsed leads and not just the new ones coming in as everyone returns to work and things get busy. Therefore, communication is vital to ensure teams understand the importance of the older leads but also to prioritise the new ones too.

Re-energising your marketing

The post summer holiday period is a good time to make changes to your Adwords campaigns. Refresh your online adverts and add new content to your website to engage new visitors. This will require some planning but the quieter months during the summer holidays are a good time to make the changes your business needs.

And finally…

Remember to polish those shoes. A good first impression in business is just like that first day back at school.

About the Author

Stephen Moore is a writer and marketing consultant supporting businesses in the commercial property sector. Find out more about Stephen at Google+.

The post It’s September! Back to Work is a little like Back to School appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.

Here are our top seven things to look out for that will help your business have a better environmental impact.

Recycling everything in green offices

There is recycling and then there is recycling. In short there is a big difference in what office buildings recycle. Take a moment to look at how the rubbish gets recycled in your current building. Often there will be recycle bins in public areas but in many cases the waste generated in the offices all goes in to one bin. Check to see if the office space has the facility to separate recyclable waste from general waste and food waste.

The ability to split the rubbish in both individual offices and public areas really separates the men from the boys.

Cycle Bays

The Mayor of London gave the go-ahead for the cycle super highway to cut through London passing along the Embankment and making cycling a whole lot safer for London’s growing army of cyclists.

It’s now easier than ever to cycle with Boris Bike bays (The Santander Cycle Hire Scheme) dotted right across the entire Central London area. This drive to get more people to cycle goes some way to help reduce emissions. Many serviced office business centre’s have introduced cycling bays to help secure valuable bikes. With many costing several thousand pounds, it’s important to make sure they don’t get stolen.

Energy efficient lighting

It’s been widely reported that offices are a huge part of the wasted energy problem. You’ve heard the messages that if each of us turn off a light we help save the planet. Well look around at night to see how many office lights are left on when everyone has gone home.

Office spaces that have movement sensors to turn off lights if the office is empty help save thousands of kilowatts of energy every year. Not only does it help reduce energy waste but it also helps reduce costs.

 Air cooling versus air conditioning

How many of us have assumed that air cooling is the same as air conditioning? It’s a common mistake. Air cooling pushes naturally cooled air around an office to maintain a comfortable room temperature of under 21 °C. Unlike air conditioning which uses harmful gases, air cooling uses recycled air and is less harmful to the environment.

Zero landfill from Green Offices

Recycling is now widespread but where does it go. If general waste goes to landfill the impact on the environment is higher than if it’s burnt. Many offices with zero landfill policies are actually selling energy, created by burning the waste, back to the national grid. It’s a win win scenario.

The average ten storey office building can generate enough waste to cover a football pitch every year. That’s a lot of waste. With about 60% of the average waste created by all of us being recycled, there’s still 40% that can’t be. However, what happens with this waste is important. Minimising the impact on the environment is important for all of us.

Recycled paper

Using paper is almost unavoidable these days. From printing paper to toilet paper the quantities we use at work are huge. It’s not always possible to use recycled paper especially for printing but office providers can use ethically sourced paper from sustainable sources. Providers like BE Offices have been using ethically sourced paper for a number for years.

Chemicals have gone green

We all know about COSHH regulations (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) in the workplace. But chemicals used in areas of offices like toilets are still caustic. Therefore there has been a move towards the use of environmentally friendly chemicals that do not affect the water table and are kinder to the skin. Brands like Clover and Ecover have improved the reliability of these products and gone a long way to dispel the belief that they are not as effective as their less kind cousins.

With so many different ways to help the environment your next office space could seriously raise your businesses green credentials and help your company do it’s “bit” to save the planet.

You can find out more about green offices by talking to one of our property consultants.

About the Author

Stephen Moore is a writer and marketing consultant supporting businesses in the commercial property sector. Find out more about Stephen at Google+.

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