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

The post Top reasons to work in Bristol appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.

It’s estimated that the current market is worth £16 Billion, so in another 9 years, could we really be looking at a valuation of £126 Billion?  Some have even said this could be undervalued by 20%. It wouldn’t surprise us!!  It’s been regularly reported that The Flexible Office Industry is the fastest growing within Real Estate and it doesn’t look like slowing any time soon.

This success is one that the British are proud of and property professionals are pleased to read positive UK property sector news in the media. This growth is attracting investors around the world. A recent report between the Economic Research Consultancy Capital Economics and Property Academics, Professor White and Professor Dunse:-

Report highlights:

• UK is the leading global serviced office sector, with the largest and most mature market, accounting for over a third (36%) of the worldwide serviced office footprint
• Three key drivers are fuelling this growth: increasing numbers of growth businesses, expansion of key sectors that use serviced offices the most and the trend towards more flexible working
• Sector’s growing appeal and strong returns have seen its increasing attraction to institutional investors and its emergence as a distinct property asset class
• Yet the serviced office sector still lacks a dedicated market-accepted valuation methodology, which would further spur its growth
• Using a conventional office model puts a £16bn value on the UK serviced office sector, but it is likely undervalued by close to 20% if it were appraised using a dedicated valuation approach
• Modest projections for the key drivers and using a dedicated valuation approach values the UK serviced office market at £62bn by 2025, whilst more optimistic projections set it at £126bn
• This report, for the first time, puts forward a specific valuation model to help the sector fulfil these projections and assist institutions in reaping the full reward of investing in serviced offices 

The service office industry is growing faster than European and American counterparts and has been quoted as being a “Recession busting solution” to the property sector. The rise of flexible or alternative workspaces for more agile businesses have helped the serviced office popularity.

One of the biggest factors of this rise is the ease and convenience for businesses of all sizes. The fact the majority of them are fully furnished and ready to go means less disruption to employees when they move in. Fast broadband, open space, clean toilets, cloud data storage allow networking and faster business growth, collaborations and developments.  Lack of time is something most businesses suffer from in the UK so the immediacy that serviced offices offer are hugely attractive. 

The financial model of cost per desk works well for both people starting up in business and huge blue-chips that offsite departments with multiple temporary workers.  Across the UK you can come across desk costs ranging from £50 per desk per month up to £1400+ per desk per month.  Location and accessibility plays a part in this with London being the most expensive place in the country to rent desks in. However, you can still find good deals and there are many places in London that are affordable and accessible.

It’s reported that the number of flexible workspaces has increased 31% since 2008 with London accounting for 34% of the serviced office footprint.  Demand for area’s in Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, Bristol and Edinburgh are growing quickly too

Lee Grodent, MD of Loc8 Commercial says “It’s no surprise to me that the flexible office market is going from strength to strength. We have seen a huge uplift in enquiries over the last 2 years. Companies, whether they be Blue Chip, SME’s or Start-ups from all types of sectors are now looking at serviced offices as a viable alternative to longer term traditional leases. Flexible working is only going to increase in the years to come and I believe the serviced office market is well positioned for even more growth and innovation in the years to come.”

Early adopters of these spaces include companies from Media, Finance, Healthcare, Charity sectors with projected movements from Information, Data, Communications and Professional Services in the next couple of years.  With the ever increasing speed of broadband and technology in the workplace it’s no wonder this sector is going to keep growing from strength to strength.

Social Media Agency Owner Marc Shelkin, says “We have been operating for 3 years and although not a start-up anymore we are still small and nimble enough to rely on flexible office spaces.  We are based in the heart of Old Street which is prime space for Digital Marketing and Technology companies.  We are very lucky to have found a space that is not only affordable but allows us to scale up or down anytime without any hassle.”

If you would like to know more about serviced offices and if they are suitable for you and your business, please give one of our experts a call on 020 3031 8563 or search via our website www.loc8commercial.com

The post Could the Flexible Office sector really be worth up to £126 Billion by 2025? appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.

But what are the key things to consider before you commit to that nice new office you just looked at? Well before we go any further we’d suggest doing your homework before you even take a look inside an office location. You could just be wasting your valuable time if you haven’t defined what is important to your business.

So what are the top office shopping list items you should tick off before you make that big office move?

Here is our serviced office space shopping list priority top six:

1. Size Matters

One of the biggest benefits of serviced offices are that they can grow with your business. In the good times and not so good times, a serviced office can flex with the success of your business. It’s this ultimate flexibility that makes them such a good bet for a new or expanding business. In these uncertain times after the EU referendum, flexibility is going to be vital to ensure you don’t over commit to long leases.

2. A Great Chair

Many people will tell you (and you’ve probably experienced it too) that a good chair pays dividends when it comes to employee well-being. We’ve all sat on hard and uncomfortable chairs over the years. Posture is highly important for people sat at a desk for eight hours every day. So a really great chair with excellent lumber support is a must. Test them out when you take a tour of any office space. Road testing the space should be a high priority. After all you could be working there. So it should be comfortable for you and your employees.

3. Water Cooler Moments

It’s great to have an open plan office but some thought should be given to spaces that promote team interaction. We’ve all heard the typical examples of the meetings around the water cooler so try and create spaces for people to meet. A kitchen to make beverages or some soft seating creates spaces where employees can make calls and catch up with colleagues. However, it’s not always possible to have these areas in an office for just three or four people so make sure there are similar spaces located in the serviced office centre.

4. How good is the Broadband?

We’re all connected 24/7 these days so it’s easy to just expect everywhere to provide good Wi-Fi or connected broadband. If you are a creative business upload speeds could be an important consideration so make sure you ask about bandwidth limits and charges for additional bandwidth. You certainly don’t want any unexpected surprises when you move in.

5. Journey times

Who wants an overly long commute? In these days when flexibility in the workplace is an important consideration for people taking a job one of the vital things to consider when looking at office locations are the local transport links. The more options the better really. For example, if you look at Bank in the City of London, it boasts several mainline train stations within a ten minute walk, the Docklands Light Railway linking the area to Canary Wharf and the City Airport, five Tube lines and half a dozen bus services. It’s one of the reasons this location is highly desirable.

So check what’s available at the offices on your shortlist. We can advise you and you can always ask at each location. Some may even have car parks, but always ask if this is included or an additional charge.

6. What’s for lunch?

It’s easy to think there will be somewhere close by to get lunch or even a local bar for after-work drinks. We would always suggest looking at the amenities in the local area. Some office locations have their own cafes and even a “sandwich man” or sandwich lady”. Never under estimate the many benefits that a choice of local shops, supermarkets and cafe’s provide for your employees.

This is just six of many things to consider. We could go on but our “office shopping list” will provide you with everything you need when you look at your next office. It’s also good if it’s your first office space too.

Download our SERVICED OFFICE CHECKLIST MARCH 2016

The post What should be on your Office Space Shopping List? appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.

Here are our top tips for 2016 to help you navigate the office space minefield.

1. Location, Location, Location

It comes up time and again. There is even a TV programme about the importance of location to your property search. And whilst it’s a popular show about house buying, the saying is just as important to your office space search.

The right location is vital to keep your business close to your potential customers. It also has an impact on the cost of office space.  This means you need to compare locations based on cost versus the impact on your business. For instance an office near Bank could cost more than one nearer to Liverpool Street. If budget is important, consider the relatively short distances versus the varying costs.

 2. Getting there

One of the key things to consider before signing on the dotted line is the proximity of the office space to local transport links. Both your customers and employees need to be able to reach you. So consider the distance to the nearest train or Tube station. Many serviced office centres have on-site parking but this may be an additional charge.

 3. The Work Life Balance

Most London serviced office business centres are often right in the middle of a wide choice of local shops, cafes, restaurants and bars. But you would be surprised how many lack a wide variety of things to do on their doorstep. If it’s not high on your priority list it might be for employees who look for places to get their lunch or a location for socialising after work.

Our area guides provide details of local amenities in the most popular locations. One of the questions to ask on an office space viewing would be about the proximity to the nearest coffee shop or cash machine.

 4. What’s included?

Once you have decided on the ideal location, one of the most important things to consider is what’s included in the office rent. Don’t assume everything is thrown in.

Generally the office space rent includes the furniture, storage and the use of the communal areas.  Internet connections and telephones are often an additional cost. Some providers include them along with services like photocopying and printing at no extra cost. But it’s best to ask early on.

 5. There’s broadband and there’s broadband

Often referred to as “the oxygen of business”, broadband differs throughout the UK and many serviced office providers have different quality connections. Some provide a standard broadband connection with upgrades to increased bandwidth. Others provide business broadband using what’s referred to as “dedicated lines” that have higher bandwidth.

We suggest you ask the provider to explain their broadband connection offer so that you have the right one for your business.

 6. Meeting your clients

Meeting your clients in a professional environment is vital to help you portray the right image for your company. Sometimes coffee shops are an easy solution when you are on the go but nothing offers a better impression than a well equipped meeting room. Nearly all business centres provide one or more meeting rooms for their clients to use. Rates vary depending on location but they offer great value and usually beverages, water and catering are all available to make the meeting go really well.

 7. When you need more than one location

If your business keeps you on the move a more flexible solution might be an option to consider. Something like a Regus Businessworld membership for instance would provide a  number of options that allows you to work in a local business centre where your clients are. Many serviced office space providers offer flexible working solutions. So it’s easy to ensure you get the right solution for your business and at the right price.

8. Networking with your neighbours

Business centres are large hubs housing a number of diverse businesses across a wide variety of sectors. So wouldn’t it be great to network with the company’s right on your own doorstep? Many serviced office providers have set up monthly networking meetings, providing a relaxed and informal way to set up potentially beneficial relationships with businesses that need your services or products.

There are many benefits of using serviced offices for your business and these are just eight examples of how they could benefit your business. Talk to us for an informal discussion and let us help you secure the right deal for your new office in 2016.

GET IN TOUCH 020 3031 8563

The post Top Tips for Choosing your New Serviced Office Space appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.