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/

The post 5 reasons to work in Birmingham appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.

It’s easy to assume that the majority of office’s here still look something like the following:

But you would be wrong!

There are of course still many trading floors that operate this way with tonnes of paperwork and multiple screens on each desk. However, London like many of cities around the world are moving to a more collaborative working model.  It’s not unusual to see a corporate workplace like this in The City today.

What are the main differences apart from a few bicycles hanging from the ceiling? 

Gina Lassman, ex HR Manager at International Law Firm Simmons & Simmons says: “Everything has moved online, for example invoices, personnel records all used to be paper based but now everything is scanned and saved to the cloud.  More people started working from home and staff were given ‘Vasco Tokens’ which gives them the ability to log on from their home PC enabling people to work remotely when required.

More part time and flexible working arrangements were put in place and women were given the opportunity to work part time particular after coming back from maternity leave.

Open planned offices became more popular with the firm.  Offices used to be more enclosed with a few people working in each room.  Over the year’s office space changed with much more open planned structure leading to more collaborative working”.

In addition, the concept of community is very central to this theory. Working together, having a more laid back environment and being encouraged to bounce off of each other for ideas is extremely common and celebrated rather than frowned upon. People are more accepting of new technology, culture, design and the possibility of new and exciting endeavours.

Boardrooms are quickly changing from this:

To this:

Today, it’s common place to see a mixed boardroom of all ages from all backgrounds in a corporate workplace.  Staff bring their own laptops, mobiles and tablets. Tables could be made from metal, Lego, plastic, glass and many other materials. Chairs, lighting, wall design and technology all play a part in the evolving modern boardroom.

“Recent findings by index provider MSCI have found that organisations with a strong female influence on their boards perform 36% times more effectively than those without.

According to MSCI,  a “strong-female influence” is defined as having three or more female directors, or alternatively, a female CEO and one another female director. Average numbers of female board members vary dramatically around the world, with the likes of Jordan, where only 4% board positions are occupied by women, while in the UK, on average, 25% of board members are female” Source: http://www.sri-executive.com/news/females-in-the-boardroom/ 

The post Collaborating in a Corporate Workplace appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.

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.

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.

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.

With the news that one of our operators has gone under offer to take space in The Shard, it clearly demonstrates that flexible workspace operators are now offering not only an invaluable level of service, but aesthetically, some of the best office spaces in London and across the UK. London has various commercial skyscrapers with many of them now offering flexible serviced offices, with exceptional design and breath taking views. With the advent of flexible working, they’re rapidly becoming more and more popular for SMEs as well as large corporations. SME’s are increasingly looking for Grade A, iconic space on a flexible basis and our operators now have space in The Shard, The Gherkin, Heron Tower, The Leadenhall Building, Broadgate Tower, Tower 42, CityPoint, 1 Canada Square E14, 40 Bank Street E14, Euston Tower and Millbank Tower, all of which are among some of the best serviced office spaces in London.

Not so long ago lavish office spaces were only available to huge corporate clients. That’s gradually changed in the last few years as flexible workspace operators identified a need by SME’s and Corporates for Grade A space in Iconic buildings, on a smaller scale and on a more flexible term than traditional longer term leases are able to offer. Having to take 10,000’s of sq ft in these iconic buildings is not realistic or required by the majority of Start-ups and SME’s so serviced office providers are taking advantage of this by taking 10,000’s of sq ft themselves and offering suites to accommodate 1 person up to 100 people +. Businesses in all industries are taking full advantage already with operators experiencing record occupancy rates across central London. In the past, these spaces were seen as a short term solution however Serviced offices in Central London have become a practical longer term solution for smaller companies due to their many benefits and the changes the office industry has taken.

Today, in any of these serviced office spaces, you’ll find many different types of professional, creative, established and growing enterprises. After all, the best companies want to be based in the centre of the City. You’ll find yourself in a hive of passionate people working on huge projects. That can only be helpful for the growth of your business. They’re all taking advantage of the fact that these Grade A iconic spaces are now open for hire. Working in any of these luxurious offices spaces is an opportunity that potentially can take your small or medium sized business to the next level………the Sky is the limit!

From Iconic to Economic we have offices to suit all budgets. If you are looking for office space and want to discuss your options in more detail please don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We offer Free impartial advice covering the Serviced Office, Managed Office, Co-Working & Virtual Office market in London and across the UK.

The post The Sky’s the limit for SME’s appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.

Growing marketplace
Leased spaces have historically been the preferred option for small and larger businesses. Yet things have gradually begun to change and Serviced Office spaces have come into the frame. The technological changes we’ve been dealing with have morphed into changing the dynamics of the office space industry. Serviced offices are becoming more popular, for several reasons which we will explore.
Flexibility
Leasing your own office traditionally means being forced into a long term contract, often between three to five years. Landlords will often ask for a minimum deposit equivalent to 3 to 6 months rent – plus another 3 to 6 months’ rent in advance. You will then have to fit-out the space, buy furniture, cabling, phones, arrange security etc etc. It all adds up into hefty setup costs, especially for a business that’s constantly growing and changing. Serviced spaces tend to have a minimum contract of just three months, which favours those who might be likely to change location or staff numbers in the near future. Deposits are usually more in the area of 2 months’ rent, with just one more month paid in advance. It gives you, and other business owners, more flexibility and freedom. You can’t be 100% sure how much your business might grow, you may even have a business that fluctuates in numbers, and you might eventually realize you need more/less office space. That’s the primary reason why serviced spaces are advantageous. They are more suited to the dynamic changes businesses experience.
Cost-effective
Furthermore, serviced spaces are cheaper on average over the first three years of occupancy compared to lease spaces, less stressful and easier to manage. After all, the majority of serviced office providers have invested heavily in their fit-out and infrastructure having existing phone facilities, on-site security, and cleaning services provided. They include furnishings and inclusive bills, as well as fully equipped conference rooms you can hire by the hour – meaning you only pay for the space you’re using, if and when you use it, which leaves more of your budget to funnel back into your business. Serviced offices often come with highly trained receptionists and centre staff to handle messages, calls and guests – so you effectively have a full team working for you without the usual expense. With all that thrown in, it’s clear: you’ll be paying less, and getting more.
Other advantages
Besides this, your business could do without the headache of managing a leased office space. Not only will you be saving money, you’ll be saving yourself from extra supervision, so you’ll be able to focus more on what’s important and work on your business without worrying about external trivialities. So many features of renting a leased space have to be continually taken care of, from extra bill expenses to hiring cleaners, setting up an office internet connection, installing a phone system and buying the desk space and seating. All of that is automatically taken care of with serviced office spaces.
Considerations
Timeframes are a key factor with Serviced Offices able to have your business up and running within 24 hours. Sure, you’ll have to share your building with other companies. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. You’ll each be working within your own headquarters, and you won’t suffer from any disturbances. You might even see it as a positive – with different businesses sharing the facilities, you might just make an excellent business contact while you’re making a coffee. A number of the Serviced office providers run networking events and actively encourage collaboration between tenants via their own intranets.

The post Benefits of Serviced Office spaces against Leased Offices appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.