officebroker.com Blog

Serviced office provider to break into central London market

2009-11-20T13:24:00Z

A serviced office provider has appointed property specialist Alex Peers to aid its expansion into the central London market.

Established in 2000, Orega aim to extend their portfolio of serviced offices in parts of Greater London, Birmingham and Manchester, and have enlisted Peers as a consultant for his expertise in London property, as well as his ability to identify suitable sites and negotiate deals.

Peers has over 20 years experience in the London property market, having worked at Allsop & Co, Farebrother, Maris Midtown and Asset Interiors, as well as running his own surveying business.

Founder Zach Douglas, joint MD of Orega, said:

"In order to satisfy our growing portfolio of corporate clients, we are now seeking good quality, well-located office space in central London and expect to see the first of many Orega branded business centres in the capital soon."

For more details of serviced office space to rent in central London, search online at officebroker.com.

Scotland serviced office take-up boosted by popularity of local towns

2009-11-20T12:17:00Z

In a report based on statistics from serviced office specialist officebroker.com, Scotland has shown a significant 146% increase in new occupier take-up in October 2009 when compared to the same period last year.

This is despite falling enquiry and take-up figures across the year to date for the main cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, which usually contribute the majority of interest for Scotland.

Instead, the report identifies an increase in popularity for the smaller towns of Inverness and Aberdeen, which have both experienced a surge in take-up which has boosted Scotland's overall level of new occupiers in October.

For more details, view our report in full here: Scotland 146% up for serviced office take-up in October.

For more research in relation to serviced office space in the UK, and to request additional figures for free, visit our Stats & Facts Resource Centre.

Video produced of Glasgow serviced office property

2009-11-20T10:45:00Z

In a bid to create a more user-friendly online experience for business owners seeking office space in the UK, officebroker.com have produced and published a video tour of an office in Glasgow.

Glasgow office space video - West Regent Street

This stunning Georgian townhouse in Glasgow, which has been converted into serviced office space, benefits from a video tour created by the team at officebroker.com.

The video is just over two minutes in length and includes coverage of the building exterior and immediate surroundings, as well as a more in-depth tour of the interior.

In order to deliver as much detail as possible, the video includes shots of the entranceway, stairwells, reception and waiting area, as well as other communal spaces such as lounge and kitchen amenities.

The video shows the office space available along with essential factors such as furniture and natural light, as well as coverage of meeting rooms and video conferencing facilities.

To watch this video or to find out more about this office, visit the following page: Glasgow office space video - West Regent Street

For details on having your own office video produced, send us an enquiry or contact our Business Development team on 0870 112 3667 (option 3).

Green office buildings make business sense, claims KPMG report

2009-11-19T17:35:00Z

A report by KPMG states that cutting energy consumption by 'greening' office buildings makes commercial sense, with businesses set to gain a significant positive return on investments.

Aside from the environmental benefits and the cost-saving advantages of measures such as properly insulated buildings, businesses are also said to gain from reduced tax, and potentially lower insurance premiums.

Phil Ludvigsen, Director of Carbon Advisory Services at KPMG, said: "Going green is not just good for the environment, but can also make solid business sense." He also claims that eco-friendly measures in commercial property will become increasingly important.

GreenandSave.com states that larger companies such as Dole, Walmart, Holiday Inn, and the New York Times are switching onto the benefits, by installing measures such as energy efficient lighting.

Find out more about green offices on our BREEAM article. For details of serviced office space to rent in the UK or internationally, go to officebroker.com.

officebroker.com adds new offices in Liverpool city centre

2009-11-19T10:07:00Z

officebroker.com have added another building to their online database. This week, the new arrival is a property offering serviced office space in Liverpool city centre, just a short walk away from the Lime Street train station. Find out more below...

Offices to rent in Liverpool, Seymour Terrace

This property has been recently refurbished, and provides serviced office space to rent on flexible, manageable terms. All office space is furnished and comes complete with a number of facilities, many of which are already included in the agreed rate.

Meeting rooms, on site car parking, broadband internet access, air conditioning and a staffed reception are just some of the benefits available at this property.

In terms of location, the offices are just a short walk down the street from the Lime Street train station, and are also within walking distance of Liverpool Central and Moorfields Train Stations. A number of major road networks are also within easy reach, starting with the nearby A5080 and A57, which lead to the M62 and M57 motorways respectively.

Being in the city centre, the offices are also close to a good range of restaurants, cafes and retail outlets.

For more details in relation to this office and for up to date pricing and availability, submit the orange form on the dedicated office page for immediate call back from our team of consultants. For details of alternative offices to rent in Liverpool, search online at officebroker.com.

High-tech business park development to create jobs and office space in Coventry

2009-11-19T09:35:00Z

The former Browns Lane site in Coventry, previously owned by Jaguar, has been earmarked for a significant redevelopment that will create a high tech business park, office space and new homes.

Now renamed Lyons Park after Sir William Lyons, one of the original founders of Jaguar Cars, the scheme is set to attract high-tech companies and bring new jobs to the area.

Property company Goodman and Advantage West Midlands (AWM) have secured full planning consent for the 30-hectare site, which includes the development of 75,000 sq ft of office space along with industrial and distribution space, and 172 new homes.

According to online reports, Graham Pardoe of AWM said:

"Lyons Park will provide the opportunity for organic growth of this heritage, offering the opportunity for small to medium businesses as well as national companies to locate to a first class development.

"In re-branding the site we were determined to create a new identity while recognising the site's heritage. We feel that Lyons Park is a fitting name which gives the development a strong identity."

Work has already started on the new site.

For more details of serviced office space to rent in Coventry, search online at officebroker.com.

Energy group Centrica signs for serviced office space in Staines

2009-11-18T17:10:00Z

UK energy company Centrica has signed for over 100 workstations at serviced offices in Staines, Middlesex. The agreement is the largest yet for UK provider of serviced and managed office space, Orega.

The business centre in Staines is a modern landmark building located at the eastern end of the town. Centrica tailored the space to suit their needs, which is a typical feature of serviced office space and a significant attraction for many businesses.

In a press release, Zach Douglas, joint managing director of Orega, says:

"A big draw for Centrica was our ability to customise the business centre space to suit their very exacting requirements within a short timeframe."

Part of the requirements included complex connections to the company's main server in Windsor to enable the team to work remotely.

"This effectively involved a completely new fit-out," continues Douglas, "with the contractors working nights and weekends to enable the project team to move in at the earliest possible time."

Along with the option of tailormade office space, other popular features of serviced offices include their flexible rental agreements, which can start from just one desk for a couple of weeks, up to several years or more.

Serviced offices typically offer easy-in, easy-out agreements which are ideal during a difficult economy. As a result, a growing number of larger businesses such as Centrica seem to be turning to serviced offices, for the flexibility they can't find in a conventional lease.

For free help and advice in relation to finding serviced office space anywhere in the UK, speak to one of our expert consultants. You can also find out more about this office in Staines online at officebroker.com.

Networking opportunities for Edinburgh businesses

2009-11-18T11:52:00Z

A stunning business centre near Bush Estate, based in acres of parkland just a few miles south of Edinburgh, boasts a long association of providing networking opportunities for local businesses.

For several years the property has provided the location for monthly business briefings for the occupiers of Edinburgh Technopole, as well as for surrounding companies on the Bush Estate.

The property typically hosts around 100 conferences and events per year, and has previously set the scene for high-profile organisations including the Scottish Enterprise, the NHS, and the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

Previous events have included a seminar on intellectual property for technology businesses, and a briefing on how to achieve success and deliver value through structured marketing tactics.

Aside from offering regular business briefings, the property occupies quality serviced office space and offers a number of top-class facilities.

Space is available to rent for a fixed price, which includes rent, telephone infrastructure, broadband internet connection, furniture, and 24-hour Service Centre support. Other facilities such as meeting rooms and admin services are also available on a simple 'pay as you go' scheme.

To find out more about these business briefings or for details of office space to rent at this property, visit the following page or contact one of our consultants direct for free help and advice.

Serviced office space near Bush Estate, Edinburgh.

Sir Richard Branson steps up to improve Britain’s worst train stations

2009-11-18T09:38:00Z

Since Lord Adonis blew the whistle on some of the UK's worst train stations, Sir Richard Branson has called for the private sector to step forward and address the problems faced by thousands of public transport users every day.

Virgin Trains manages five of the ten most critical stations that have been named and shamed, and has now reportedly pledged £100 million to upgrade the premises.

According to The Times, Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, said:

"Stations are clearly in need of major overhaul and, with public finances under constraint, the time is right for the private sector to be even more heavily involved in pioneering projects that would radically change public perceptions."

The issues have been brought to light by a Government inspection, spurred initially by the Secretary of State for Transport Lord Adonis' national rail tour, which saw 'mystery shopper' style assessors scrutinise stations around the country.

Manchester Victoria and Clapham Junction were named as the worst stations, followed closely by Crewe, Warrington Bank Quay, Barking, Preston, Wigan North Western, Luton, Liverpool Central and Stockport.

The report, published yesterday, called for the launch of an emergency rebuilding programme and the immediate injection of £50million from the Government.

Following his national tour of the UK’s stations, Lord Adonis was reportedly "appalled" by the state of some of the UK's stations.

Speaking to The Times, he said: "The whole impetus to improving stations came from my national rail tour, when I was shocked by the state of many stations and was struck by the contrast of the improvement in quality of trains and train services and the shoddy state of many stations," adding, "There are far too many cases of stations which are offering inadequate service and are in desperate need of modernisation."

Lord Adonis said that the £50million would be released, and has now appointed non-executive director of Network Rail Chris Green and Sir Peter Hall to advise the Government on station improvements.

officebroker.com help renewable energy company find green office space

2009-11-17T16:23:00Z

Forward-thinking environmental company EnergyBox, who provide and install renewable energy and Solar Photovoltaic systems, have recently acquired a new office with the help of officebroker.com.

Based at The Bridge in Dartford, Kent, the offices are located just inside the M25 circular and provide an excellent base for the company, who specialise in fitting renewable energy systems in North and Central London.

With environmental sustainability at their core, EnergyBox - who work in partnership with MAP environmental - were keen to find a property that shared this ethos. And it wasn't long before officebroker.com delivered the goods.

Their new offices have been designed to reach a minimum BREEAM 'Very Good' rating, with features that can upgrade the rating to 'Excellent'. Other green-friendly qualities include re-cycling centres, and a masterplan devised to encourage tenants to walk, cycle or use public transport.

The flexible, low-cost terms of the office space were also a top priority for EnergyBox.

Andrew Crump of EnergyBox praised officebroker.com's consultant Marcus for his assistance:

"Marcus Shelton of officebroker.com made finding our office space extremely easy and hassle free. He also enabled us to get the best possible deal, that we would have not otherwise have been able to achieve. Thoroughly satisfied."

If you're interested in renewable energy solutions and solar powered systems at home, or for commercial building developments, find out more online at EnergyBox.

For details of serviced office space to rent in the UK, search online at officebroker.com.