Following their transformation of a former Vauxhall car servicing building (now known as Grangewood House) to create outstanding new flexible workspace, the team are hoping this new concept that will open in Q4 2016, will be an industry leading concept outside Central London. The Cr@te development is set to inspire entrepreneurs and new business owners in an unusual workspace that benefits from great transport links.

The concept of using shipping containers first emerged around 15 years ago as far afield as Tokyo, Australia, Rhode Island and even in Docklands where the Container City project first opened in 2005, closely followed by the impressive Riverside Building Offices. Home to 24 individual offices near the Thames, they quickly filled up.

Grangewood have put together a clever scheme that uses 36 shipping containers to create 36 unique and individual workspaces. Loughton is already a highly popular business destination, helped by easy access to the M11 and two Central line stations linking Loughton with Stratford and Liverpool Street, which will have the added benefit of Crossrail from 2018.

An important benefit of the Cr@te development is the creation of a thriving business community. With attractive rates, Grangewood believe they have created an ideal solution to coax entrepreneurs out of their home offices and bedrooms and in to a workspace that allows them to network with like-minded business owners.

Furthermore with design now an important factor in the development of new workspace, the team at Grangewood have taken time to design spaces that will provide inspiration to the businesses that use them. Each Cr@te benefits from lots of light from the use of full height windows and doors. There are also some great amenities like on-site Costa Coffee, great Wi-Fi and really useful services like bike storage and showers.

Adam Walker, director at Grangewood Investments Ltd, commented, “Cr@te is rapidly becoming a destination for innovation and those priced out of Central London. Cr@te is not your usual sterile office block. We are seeking to pack in talent, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit, all with a buzzing social soul”.

In addition Lee Grodent, Founder and CEO at Loc8 Commercial supported Grangewood offering advice about the local market. Commenting on the Cr@te concept Lee said, “Loc8 are delighted to be helping Grangewood fill their exciting new development. Back in 2014 we helped to identify a lack of serviced office space in Loughton and the surrounding areas and advised Grangewood to create a number of office suites to offer Start-Up’s and SME’s good quality serviced office space. Following a £2 million pound refurbishment, Grangewood House opened in June 2015 and was 100% occupied within 3 months. We advised Grangewood on a number of factors including licence agreements, office sizes and I.T. Their latest new development will create a very unique workspace which is just thirty minutes from the City”.

Finally, as the development progresses, Cr@te will be releasing updates and sharing details about the newest business community in Essex as it takes shape. Find out more here:

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About Loc8 Commercial

Loc8 Commercial help businesses by working with worldwide, national and independent providers of serviced offices, managed offices, virtual offices and the growing number of Co-working locations to find the right flexible workspace solution for you. We’re impartial so you’re guaranteed to get the right advice to suit your budget, location requirements and business needs. Loc8 Commercial has over 20 years of experience in the global office space market.

Press Contacts

For further information about Loc8 Commercial or this press release please contact the Loc8 Commercial press team at AIM.

Stephen Moore – Telephone: 07984 077838 or 020 3053 8670 Email: Stephen@adventuresinmarketing.co.uk

The post PRESS RELEASE: Changing Workspace Design in Essex appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.

Would Brexit be a good thing for your business?

The results of the Loc8 Commercial survey show that SME’s are split when it comes to whether leaving the EU would have a negative impact on their businesses, with 46% in favour of a British exit from the EU and 46% wanting to stay and just 8% undecided either way.

Will the UK be better off out of the EU?

When asked “would the UK economy be better off if the country left the EU?” businesses responded by saying yes, with just over 50% compared to the 43% that said no.

Do you think a recession is more likely of the UK left the EU?

The Loc8 Commercial survey had some mixed results which could support the theory that many people are simply not sure what impact Brexit will have on the wider economy. For example, 38% of businesses thought a recession would be more likely despite more than 50% agreeing Brexit would be good for the UK economy.

Would there be job losses if the UK left the EU?

Brexit campaigners have said that there could be some short term growth issues but the long term forecast would be generally positive. Ian Duncan Smith said he believes the downward impact on wage growth is due to European migration, something that has been mentioned throughout the debate. But what is not clear is the impact of wage inflation on UK jobs if the country votes to leave, especially as productivity is not rising at the same rate as other European countries according to the Office of National Statistics.

The Loc8 Commercial survey found that just under 40% of UK businesses think there would be job losses if the UK voted to leave, with 31% feeling confident there would not be any immediate increase in unemployment figures. This question had one of the highest levels of respondents who were unsure, with just over 30% not clear either way.

The immediate impact of Brexit on the UK Economy

Last week the head of the World Trade Organisation, Roberto Azevêdo, said in an interview with the Financial Times that the UK would find negotiations for trade deals slow and time consuming following an exit from the EU. As a result there would be an impact on the UK economy which could lead to a recession in the short term. The Loc8 Commercial survey supports the views of Mr Azevêdo with 38% believing a recession was likely. However, there is an equal number between those who are unsure and those that believe a recession is unlikely.

Lee Grodent, CEO and Founder of Loc8 Commercial said, “Our quick survey has thrown up a number of issues that are concerning UK SME’s. With the arguments on both sides being clouded by negative headlines it’s easy to understand why the respondents of our survey are uncertain about the affects of Brexit on the wider economy. It’s clear from these results that the referendum could be close either way.”

What issues have the greatest negative impact on UK businesses?

Both sides of the debate have argued that there is either too much or very little EU red tape. These confusing arguments haven’t helped to clarify the debate. Last month The Treasury cited the LSE Centre for Economic Performance report which stated, “It is unclear whether there are substantial regulatory benefits from Brexit”. Businesses that took part in the Loc8 Commercial survey however, think red tape is the biggest issue affecting their ability to do business easily with 58%. In addition, the regularity of new EU regulations is the second biggest issue with 35% citing this as a concern, well ahead of immigration, which had a zero score from the businesses that took part in the survey.

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About Loc8 Commercial

Loc8 Commercial help businesses by working with worldwide, national and independent providers of serviced offices, managed offices, virtual offices and the growing number of Co-working locations to find the right flexible work space solution for you. We’re impartial so you’re guaranteed to get the right advice to suit your budget, location requirements and business needs. Loc8 Commercial has over 20 years experience of the global office space market.

www.loc8commercial.com

Press Contacts

For further information about Loc8 Commercial or this press release please contact the Loc8 Commercial press team at AIM.

Stephen Moore – Telephone: 07984 077838 or 020 3053 8670

Email: Stephen@adventuresinmarketing.co.uk

The post PRESS RELEASE – What do UK SME’s really think about Brexit? appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.