The MOST important question in our business: Does size matter?
Monday, 09 May 2011
The MOST important question in our business: Does size matter?
There are many benefits of being in serviced or managed offices: minimum terms, as opposed to long tenancy agreements; inclusion of service charges, so you can budget properly for company spend, and the knowledge that the facilities and services are managed for you. Put simply, they are somebody else’s headache, not yours! But when considering moving into a managed or serviced office, there are lots of things you need to ask to satisfy yourself that you are moving into the right office for you and your business.
Some of the factors you need to consider include the kerb appeal of the building, especially if you are inviting clients into your offices. Also, is the décor and ambience right for your business? Does it feel like the right home for your company, much like a new house needs to feel ‘like home’ for your family? The size and quality of the office, the furniture, the lighting, the outside space, the parking arrangements, and the temperature....all of these could prove fundamental to your ongoing satisfaction and performance in the space you finally choose.
And what about the staff who are there to look after you? Are they on the same wavelength as you? Are they polite or dismissive? Do they have common sense and enough authority to deal with any issues or even answer basic questions? And does the cost represent value for money, or does it seem ‘too good to be true’? What’s going to be included in your monthly rent? What additional services can be added, should you wish to use them from time to time? What facilities and services are in the area and what are travel links like? And finally and perhaps most importantly, are you able to speak to clients who use the centre? Can the manager supply testimonials of current satisfied clients?
Some companies may decide that being part of a large chain of centres is right for them, offering links to other centres in other towns, especially if lots of travelling is involved. But what if you are usually based in one location? Will you really take full advantage of this network? What sort of personal service will you receive elsewhere?
At The Oriel we think size does matter and we like to keep it small. We like to ensure we have the time to support our clients. We like to take the time to get to know their business so we can support them when they are in and out of the centre. We think of ourselves as a team; our client’s own team of dedicated professionals here to help. We like to provide a quality of service, in a corporate environment, but where (a cliché I know) everyone knows your name! We know you will love your office here. It will be light, roomy, beautifully furnished, have a comfortable temperature and will be maintained and cleaned to a high standard every day. We believe we offer value for money, but moreover so do our clients.
Don’t take our word for it. If you’re in Slough on business, drop in and see us sometime.
Anne Marie Howe, Centre Manager