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.

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.

Business owners currently looking for leasehold office space have a tricky decision on their hands. Do they continue to look at longer term leases or move to a more flexible solution? Some of our clients have already decided it’s not worth waiting any longer to see what plays out and have taken workspace. Many others are now seriously considering this type of space due to its flexibility. We have documented in a previous blog about the huge rise in serviced office space across the UK with the industry set to be worth up to 126billion in the next 10 years.

It’s no surprise that flexible workspaces are popping up everywhere, due to their affordability, flexibility, networking ability and locations.  It’s fair to say there is no worse time for businesses to commit to long term office leases. No one can predict the impact of Brexit on property values across the country, so purchasing or leasing office space is risky business. As we have experienced in past recessions we have to maintain a lean business plan making as much profit as possible and riding the wave.  Tying businesses into 5 – 10 year leasing deals makes no commercial sense at all.

Experts are predicting the UK to develop relationships globally, outside of the EU when we finally leave– will such relationships require businesses to adapt their global footprint?

It’s clear we all need to think more flexibly about location, accessibility, business growth, overheads and workspace requirements. The main reason for the rise of co-working spaces and serviced offices is because there is less commitment involved.  You can often break a contract with 4 week’s notice without any penalties.  The traditional model is restricting business growth, strategy and has been called old fashioned. Along with increased lease rates this solution is no longer attractive.

Along with the 9-5 model, the hours people are working and level of freedom and flexibility needed to keep people motivated, balance work and life means serviced offices are a great support mechanism for this. The latest generation of millennials see flexible working options as a must-have. It seems the Brexit vote is the catalyst to further speed this process.

The current climate makes strategic business planning difficult. Having the choice and ability to flex workspace is key as businesses move with the times.  Often scaling up and down on a regular basis. Forward-thinking businesses want to position themselves to flexibly ride out the current storm and see light at the end of the tunnel when the economy is more stable

 “While it seems that no one knows the long term implications of Brexit it’s fair to say that the uncertainty and the lack of a clear plan (or at least the communication of one) has caused a fair bit of chaos. Add to the mix, ever evolving technologies and ‘disruptive’ companies, it’s becoming increasingly more difficult for companies to plan for the next 5 to 10 years which used to be the norm. Companies, now more than ever, need to be agile and able to adapt quickly to market conditions, trends and new technologies. A flexible workspace solution is just one of the ways that companies can mitigate risk in an uncertain time. It will allow them to adapt quickly to evolving market conditions, whether that be upscaling or downscaling. Occupancy rates in serviced and managed offices have been increasing faster post referendum so the evidence suggests companies are taking a more flexible approach to their workspace needs pre Brexit” said Lee Grodent, MD Loc8 Commercial.

If you are looking for office space pre Brexit and want to discuss how a flexible office solution could be the ideal solution then please do give our consultants a call on 020 3031 8563.

The post A flexible approach pre Brexit 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.

So whether it’s when we are using our smartphones or doing work at home on the days when you don’t go to the office, you need a good connection you can rely on. But one thing is very obvious when you get back to the office. Your office connection is more likely to be faster and more reliable than at home or on your phone.

Those internet blackspots when you out and about are always a problem when you are trying to send an important email or download an attachment. And how often when you are working at home do you lose your connection?

Investment in bandwidth

With download speeds a big topic of conversation amongst internet providers it should be no surprise that many serviced office providers in London and across the UK have invested heavily in the latest technology to provide a seamless internet connection.

So what can you expect to find from a typical serviced office provider? Well, when you sign on the dotted line you want to feel re-assured that each member of your team will have a robust internet connection.

So it’s best to check with your provider what bandwidth they offer. Many will have a number of packages to provide the right download speeds you need. Typically, most will provide about 1mb per person, but this could vary.

With award-winning tech providers like Virgin Media, Essensys and BT providing the infrastructure in many business centres, reliability can be assured with down time kept to a minimum.

So what should you ask about business internet when taking an office?

We think it’s important to ask the right questions when you shortlist your ideal office space. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

1. What bandwidth can I expect and can this be upgraded?

It’s important to understand what they provide, what the costs are and what upgrades are on offer.

2. What is the upload speed?

Important for video users and creatives, too slow and it will impact your business.

3. Is the internet connection an uncontended line?

This means you won’t be impacted by other users in the building.

4. Can I see the internet tech?

Good quality providers will have a communications room. Your provider can explain what tech they have and it’s a good way to see if the room is kept in good order.

So to get started talk to us about what you need to get your business up and running. We can help you shortlist the right locations to suit your needs.

Start searching for your office space here

Find out more about serviced offices here

The post Business Internet – Data hungry customers appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.

During the downturn in 2008 many businesses looked for more flexible solutions for their office space. With long leases coming under significant pressure from serviced office providers able to offer flexibility in uncertain times, many businesses opted for short term solutions.

It meant that there was an explosion in growth in the serviced office sector that bucked the trend and saw the start of consolidation in the serviced office market. The clear winners during this period were the clients of serviced office providers. With more choice from the new centres and refurbishments, clients could choose their ideal office space solution.

But with office availability in many areas of London coming under pressure in recent years, the post Brexit economy still faces limited choice and serviced office providers are set to see demand continue to rise in the long term.

So what are the hidden benefits of serviced office space? Well more than you would think…

The Power of Your Network

One of the key benefits of any serviced office business centre is the ready-made network of businesses. Co-working locations are built around the network of people who use them and so are serviced office business centres. Many have regular networking events around breakfast or lunch times and also in the evening.

Transparent Pricing

One of the most significant benefits of a serviced office location is the ability to budget every month. Allowing you to fully understand the costs you can expect when you get the regular invoice.  Generally with all those additional costs included like security and utilities, it’s easy to see how serviced offices are a popular choice.

Luxury without the Financial Commitment

Affording your first office space shouldn’t mean you have to compromise on quality. Whilst there is an abundance of budget office space in key locations, many serviced office providers provide high-end office space that’s remarkable value for money when you consider the many added benefits.

Your clients will be impressed with the quality of the beverage kitchens, break-out spaces and meeting rooms at your disposal from providers like Landmark PLC, BE Offices and Leo. These companies have invested in luxury interiors with many unique and interesting features so you don’t have to. The impact they have on your clients can be huge and the benefit to your business can be considerable.

Secretarial Support on hand

Many business centres can offer a number of support options like printing and copying and even binding for that important business report.

But they also offer secretarial support to get typing completed, saving you and your team hours of additional time. This can be a highly useful benefit that can get lost amongst all the many others when you sign up for your new office space. So ask your centre manager for more details. It’s not just about answering your calls and greeting your visitors!

Flexibility to move locations

A serviced office provider with locations across London and the UK can provide a useful hidden benefit. But could provide a cost effective lifeline should you need to relocate. With exit fees and moving costs to consider a better and more cost effective solution would be to relocate to another business centre with the same provider.

The upheaval of moving offices can be difficult enough. Changing your business address on everything can be time consuming and expensive. So anything that makes the process of moving easier should be grasped with both hands.

There are many more hidden benefits of serviced office space in addition to these we’ve mentioned here. The ability to move in quickly with very little inconvenience is perhaps the most obvious benefit. But take a moment to consider all the others that take the headache out of new office space.

To talk to a member of our team for free impartial advice and to discuss the many hidden benefits of your next office space call 020 3031 8563

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 The hidden benefits of a Serviced Office appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.

When you think about it, service is what brings your customers back because they liked buying from you. So why would you not place it as a priority for the development of your business?

One of the first things to get cut during any economic uncertainty is training and the investment in people. Those businesses that continue to develop their teams and don’t cut training budgets find they come out of a downturn in a stronger position than their competitors. With the post Brexit mood looking like an economic slow-down could happen in the last quarter of 2016, businesses should start to look forward and plan accordingly.

The general view has suggested a slow-down could be a short term one. Good news then for the UK’s businesses looking for some positive signs amid the negative headlines.

A Smile is Priceless 

As you walk in to a serviced office reception for the first time one of the most important things that will happen will be the welcome you receive from the person at the desk. The single most important role in any business centre is probably the receptionist. They are generally the first and last person most people visiting or working there see and interact with. So why would you have anyone who wasn’t fully trained in the role? The short answer is you wouldn’t.

For most locations across the UK the receptionist can be the reason why clients leave or stay. Investment in front-line staff training could therefore be the difference between low or high occupancy rates. With many locations welcoming meeting room clients as well as their office clients, receptionists can be very busy. Maintaining that important smile can become difficult when people are placed under pressure. Retailers have long understood the importance of increasing staff numbers at busy times to cover the tills and fitting rooms. Answering customer queries at busy times is often given priority over other tasks.

The same is true of serviced office business centres in London and across the UK. There are peaks and troughs throughout the day. How someone see’s the service you provide could be down to something as simple as waiting for several minutes to sign in without being acknowledged. That’s why a smile is priceless. Receptionists can say a lot to waiting clients without uttering a single word.

The Power of a Warm Customer Service Welcome

Any business will tell you that assumptions are made in the first few minutes, when someone makes contact for the first time. Businesses are only as good as their people. Generally, we form an opinion about people that we meet from a business in a few seconds.  We have a view about the business based on that one individual. So the power of the warm welcome is vital to set the right first impression.

According to the Institute of Customer Service, customer service is at its lowest point since 2011, which means clients and customers are keener than ever to receive great customer service. With expectations high, many customers often feel disappointed when businesses they engage with just don’t understand their needs. So getting team members to be able to ask the right questions to provide the right service is more vital than ever before.

(Read the Institute of Customer Service article HERE)

A positive Brexit Outlook

As business confidence wobbles across many sectors, companies need to hold on to their current clients and customers by investing in training to help protect client retention. The quality of the service and how their calls are answered, can make all the difference when clients look for cost savings themselves.

The difference they see in costs between their current office space and a new location could be down to the quality of the staff. Business centre’s who continue to train their teams to a high standard could be less likely to see retention rates decrease as Brexit starts to bite.

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 Why Customer Service is important to your business post Brexit? 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.

Great views are often hard to come by in big towns and cities with many offices overlooking the buildings they are next to. A view of water can be quite difficult to find in a busy business district, but we know there are a number of locations that offer waterfront views, with everything from the river Thames to the quayside developments around Canary Wharf and Media City in Manchester.

Here are five brilliant office locations with waterfront views to die for:

Clipper Quay in Salford

The waterfront in Salford, Manchester has been revitalised in to a leading tourist destination as well as a busy new business district in the North West. Boasting its own Imperial War Museum it also has the Lowry Outlet Mall with many top designer brands. There are also many places to eat and some great bars with views across the water.

The waterfront has attracted many top businesses like the BBC who famously relocated here from White City in London.

Our featured serviced offices offer 32 office suites for 2 to 8 people and have beautifully crafted British made furniture. Along with outstanding IT, this location is ideal for any business looking for a truly impressive business address.

TAKE A LOOK HERE

Harbour Exchange Quay

There is a lot to be impressed about in Canary Wharf. The area is now London’s second financial district with several of the UK’s tallest buildings which includes One Canada Square that can be seen as far away as Harlow and the M11 motorway.

Canary Wharf has several shopping malls with a variety of stores including Waitrose and Monsoon as well as a wide variety of places to eat. There are many great bars and restaurants right on the waterfront and even an interesting museum is located here too, dedicated to the history of the docks.

The serviced offices at Harbour Exchange Quay is an impressive office location providing a great address for any business. It boasts great views across the water and a pretty outdoor terrace and breakout areas.

TAKE A LOOK HERE

Cardiff Bay

Cardiff Bay has undergone a considerable redevelopment and is now home to the Welsh Assembly building, shops and bars as well as many residential properties and office space.

This waterfront area is impressive to say the least. There is an array of small boats that come and go and the area is a popular tourist location with many activities going on throughout the year.

Our featured office here is a striking building that’s been well designed and takes full advantage of the bay views. These stylish offices are complimented by a number of well equipped conference facilities and boasts on-site parking which is a real plus in this part of the Welsh capital.

TAKE A LOOK HERE

Temple Quay, Bristol

Bristol is a thriving and busy city with a number of interesting locations like Queens Road with its shops and close proximity to the university and Temple Meads which has easy access to road and rail links. One of the prettier areas is the waterfront which has seen extensive redevelopment and now boasts several top restaurants, hotels, bars and places of interest.

Our featured serviced office location has an enviable waterfront position and great office space options for any size business. One of the great benefits of this location is the excellent in-house canteen serving delicious hot and cold food throughout the day. It also boasts lots of the usual services you should expect, like 24/7 security and access as well as comfortable office space and meeting rooms.

TAKE A LOOK HERE

Savoy Street, London

London riverside office space usually comes at a premium but our featured office space here has a lot of excellent facilities and enviable views across the Thames.

This prestigious WC2 postcode is well placed and has been refurbished to take advantage of the natural light. The views are what set this location apart from other locations that are close by. The transport links make this office space easy to get to and it’s close to the many shops and restaurants of Covent Garden and the West End make it ideal for any business. It’s also within easy reach of the vibrant Southbank with its riverside restaurants and bars, the BFI and IMAX cinema.

TAKE A LOOK HERE

The choice right across the UK is breathtaking. So whether you need to be in the South West, Central London or the North West there is a great choice of office space with great views of the water.  If you haven’t seen a great location here, get in touch with a member of our team who can talk you through the options.

Then sit back and enjoy the view!

Looking for office space that’s a little out of the ordinary? Read more HERE

The post Finding the ideal Waterfront Office Space appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.

We set about looking at our extensive portfolio of office locations and came up with five really outstanding and unusual serviced office locations.  Each one has many unique features that set them apart to make them a very unusual home from your business. They will certainly strike up an interesting conversation with your clients.

Alice through the Ceiling

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a meeting surrounded by the Mad Hatters Tea Party? No? Well I bet we’ve made you start thinking.

Tucked away in Waterloo, a busy and popular business district on the south side of the Thames is this business centre on Boundary Way, SE1. From the outside you would be forgiven for thinking it looked like many smart and professional office buildings. But wait until you go in the front door. Just like Alice, you will be transported to a wonderland that’s a world away from the usual office space you may have expected. And just like Alice in Wonderland, this serviced office centre has a new surprise around every corner. From the smart white corridors to the Alice themed meeting rooms and break out spaces, there is never a dull moment here.

Take a peak in to Alices world HERE

Upcycled Shipping Containers

There has been a huge surge in the use of unusual materials in the construction of offices in recent years. With everything from living garden walls in South London and huge screens showing waterfalls in the Salesforce Tower, it’s no wonder that something as unusual as old shipping containers should find a second use as the inspirational home to new businesses.

After the success of the Container City development in London’s Docklands in 2005, there is a new and exciting location using shipping containers, opening in 2016 in Loughton, Essex. Cr@te has developed an idea to create an environment to inspire entrepreneurs out of their home office and in to a small business community. It’s a bold plan that will see 36 former shipping containers transformed with full height doors and windows and dynamic interiors.

Get a taste of the future HERE

A Victorian Gem

When a building can successfully combine its historical heritage with the requirements of modern living you get to enjoy the many benefits of looking at great design and craftsmanship every day. In 1871 this building opened in Deansgate in central Manchester and featured a wealth of outstanding wrought iron work that was integral to many great Victorian buildings of the time, like the cathedralesque train stations at Paddington and Liverpool Street, for example.

The Deansgate building is an inspiring space, restored in the 1980’s and retaining all of its Victorian splendour coupled with modern office space and all the usual things you would expect like good Wi-Fi.

Take a step back in to Victorian splendour HERE

Impressive Palladian Columns

Grade one listed buildings don’t come more impressive than the Royal Exchange, opposite The Bank of England in the City of London. This outstanding building not only occupies a prestigious location it also has great transport links across London and Canary Wharf.

Home to a wide choice of designer stores including Hermes and Mont Blanc, this building dates back to the 16^th century when it was designed by Thomas Gresham as a centre for commerce in London.

So this serviced office business centre offers both private offices and Co-working space and is popular with start-up’s and entrepreneurs looking for a great location for their businesses.

Find out about The Royal Exchange HERE

It’s all in the detail in Farringdon

We’ve been impressed over the years by many buildings we have featured here at Loc8, but only a few really capture the spirit and feel of a period building like 24 Greville Street near Farringdon. This impressive Victorian building has been meticulously restored to make a feature of the grand high ceilings and the original wooden floors. It’s like walking back in time but the give-away is the stunning interior design. This is not a stuffy Victorian interior! It’s bright and airy and the whole feel of the place has created a very exciting workspace.

So it fits well in to the area too. Just a stone’s throw from Farringdon station, this location has a real buzz about it and has attracted businesses in the creative sectors as well as start-up’s and growing small and medium sized businesses looking for a little inspiration.

Check out an eye for the real detail HERE

As part of our series of features on stand out office space we will be looking at waterfront properties next. You can catch up on our previous articles that have covered everything from interiors to the debate over period or glass buildings, as well as the rise of Co-working spaces. Click the links below:

Period or Glass? The big office space question

What Makes the Perfect Office Space?

Why Workspaces Can Inspire Creativity and Collaboration

Happy Reading!

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