Business in Oxford

Posted on November 23, 2012

The city of OxfordThe city of Oxford is located in the county of Oxfordshire, in the Thames Valley region. Oxford is situated in the heart of the UK, less than ninety minutes from both London and Birmingham. There are approximately 3,400 businesses in Oxford, employing 106,000 people. The service industry accounts for 89% of employment, with half of workers commuting into Oxford daily.

Academics and tourism are key drivers in the economy and Oxford is famous for its University, which is the oldest in the English speaking world. The tourism industry brings in around 9.3 million visitors annually. The bioscience sector is also a key feature along with software and IT, creative media businesses and research and development. Motor manufacturing is another important industry in Oxford, with BMW recently investing a large amount into its Cowley production plant.

The Oxford Business Park is set over 88 acres, providing a large number of offices in Oxford, and benefits from fast links to Heathrow, London and the Midlands. The Oxford Science Park was developed as a true Science Park and is home to more than forty science and technology companies.

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Corporate Christmas Gifts

Posted on November 20, 2012

Man in suit holding a gift wrapped presentChoosing the right Christmas gift is never easy, especially when it comes to finding presents for staff or clients. In this article we look at some useful suggestions and guidelines to consider when shopping for corporate Christmas gifts.

Corporate gift ideas for clients

Fruit baskets are a very common corporate gift, but you could give them a special touch by including sweet treats, speciality teas, or a product that your region is well known for. Flower bouquets are another option, although if you are planning on sending flowers to an international client do some research first to ensure that you are not sending “unlucky” flowers.

Another popular option is to give your clients tickets to events (theatre plays, sporting events, etc.). However, it is advisable to avoid giving tickets for events that take place in December, as your clients may already have plans or may be busy attending other social events.

Other original ideas include tea or coffee growing kits, eco-friendly gifts (like organic goods, fair trade leather photo albums, or no-electricity espresso makers), artwork, personalised paper weights, or decorative items.

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Listed Building Office Space

Posted on November 16, 2012

Listed building in Edinburgh converted into office spaceFormer farm buildings, historic churches, sprawling industrial buildings and other listed buildings can find new uses with careful restoration. Finding new uses for listed properties can help preserve them for future generations, while ensuring they are not left to decay because of neglect or disuse. Listed office buildings are also being maintained and preserved thanks to ongoing use as office space. Although heritage and listed properties can pose unique challenges in terms of developing them into office spaces, they evoke memories of a bygone area and provide companies unique spaces to do business.

About Listed Building Office Spaces

The hallways and offices of listed buildings in towns and cities throughout the UK have seen businesses grow, disappear and prosper over the decades. Their preservation ensures a historic tie to centuries of economic and business development. As the same time, developers in communities across the UK are preserving the country’s built heritage by transforming and re-purposing listed properties into office buildings. Listed buildings are often attractive for developers because of their location. In many cases, listed and heritage buildings are found in city centres where space is limited for development of new properties.

While maintaining their original character, listed office spaces can provide tenants with modern services and amenities found in any contemporary office space. These amenities can include virtual meeting rooms and state-of-the-art telecommunications. Office space in heritage and listed properties also provide tenants with one-of-a-kind character that offers a unique work environment for their employees.

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Business in Basingstoke

Posted on November 12, 2012

Basingstoke Eastrop ParkThe market town of Basingstoke is an economic centre located in the Thames Valley region, less than fifty miles from the city of London. IT and communications, insurance, pharmaceutical manufacturing and electronics are all important industries in the Basingstoke economy. A number of large corporations have chosen to open head offices in Basingstoke, including ST Ericsson, Sony Professional Solutions and The Automobile Association.

The local Borough Council is Basingstoke and Deane and Hampshire County Council is also part of the town’s government structure. Basingstoke and Dean Council promote investment in the area through a variety of means including providing business events and training courses, free business start up workshops, borough business partnerships and through funding social enterprises.

Basingstoke is also popular as a conference and meeting venue and the Basingstoke Business Club provides members with networking opportunities, support and advice for both new start and established businesses along with valuable connections. The Rotary Club of Basingstoke is comprised of community leaders and business professionals with the common goal of supporting and promoting the local community on a voluntary basis.

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Converting Office Space

Posted on November 9, 2012
A warehouse in Castlefield (Manchester) converted into apartments and offices

A warehouse in Castlefield (Manchester) converted into apartments and offices

Throughout the United Kingdom, developers are finding new uses for disused buildings and spaces. From hotels and farm buildings to warehouses and factories, properties are being transformed and refurbished into state of the art office and commercial space. Similarly, former office and industrial properties are being converted into residential spaces. One of the most famous conversions in the United Kingdom is the adaption of the Bankside Power Station in London into the Tate Modern.

About Converted Office Space

Converting existing buildings into new uses can help redefine a space, as well as the character of the neighbourhood it occupies. Converted office spaces are found in barns in rural areas, former industrial buildings in city centres, and converted churches. While the character of the structure can be maintained, converted office spaces provide tenants with the same amenities and services as a new build. For example, developers can introduce new information and communications technology, reliable security systems, and interiors with modern office services including meeting rooms and employee services such as cafes.

The Advantages of Converted Office Space

Converting barns, churches, hotels, industrial buildings and other properties is often an alternative to demolition. Reusing and re-purposing properties also provides an opportunity for developers and communities to preserve historic structures. Many times, historic buildings that are ideal for office conversion are found in city centres and can offer tenants convenient locations for doing business. They also provide developers unique opportunities to infuse heritage features with contemporary designs, often leading to landmark properties that convey innovation and creativity.

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Focus on Reading: Business Information

Posted on November 8, 2012

Office Building in Reading, UKThe town of Reading is a key commercial centre situated in the Thames Valley region, in the county of Berkshire. Reading is a popular commuter town due to its location forty miles from London. The information technology industry is a key player in the economy, and a large number of companies have opted to open offices in Reading. These include major corporations such as Deloitte, KPMGm PepsiCo, Wrigley, ING Direct, Ericsson and Holiday Inn. The service industry dominates much of the economy of Reading, while the retail sector is going from strength to strength.

Reading Borough Council provides information and advice for new business start ups as well as established enterprises. The council also aims to promote Reading’s economic development and assist with trading standards information, commercial and industrial property schemes, planning applications and licensing.

The Reading Chamber of Commerce is the oldest in the Thames Valley group and aims to connect businesses professional across a range of industries and promote growth in the Reading area. The group hosts regular meetings in Reading, specifically addressing policy issues affecting businesses in the district.

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Free Office Space

Posted on November 7, 2012

For the majority of businesses, finding appropriate office space is one of the most important aspects of business planning. Of course, financial considerations come into place when it comes to renting office space, as the price of commercial property has experienced a slight increase even amid the financial crisis.

Nowadays, the average cost of office space stands at around £349/m2 in the private sector, a price that undoubtedly represents a large percentage of a company’s monthly expenses. The high costs of office space may deter some entrepreneurs from starting up a new business. However, there is no need to let this factor interfere with new business ideas, since under some circumstances UK businesses can benefit from a number of rent-free schemes.

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Thames Valley Business Park

Posted on November 2, 2012

The Thames Valley Business Park is one of the most notable of its kind in the South of England and one of the United Kingdom’s premier business addresses. Covering an area of approximately 200 acres, this business park provides jobs to more than 10,000 employees. The Thames Valley Business Park is located on the outskirts of Reading, a prosperous town known for its active job market.

Location and surroundings

As its name suggests, the Thames Valley Business Park is located very close to the banks of the River Thames. This venue combines modern architecture with the idyllic landscapes of Berkshire, as the business park enjoys a privileged position in a quiet area between the Marina, Christchurch Meadows, and the Sonning Cricket Club. Ali’s Pond Nature Reserve is also nearby.

Onsite facilities

As one would expect from such a prestigious venue, the Thames Valley Business Park offers prospective tenants everything they might need to run their business activities from a pleasant and modern location. The business park management offers a range of office space solutions that range from virtual offices to serviced office space, including meeting and conference rooms, business lounges, business centres, day offices, and flexi-space. Individual offices range from 4,000 to 8,000 square feet.

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