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Offices in London - What to Look for

Offices in London are highly sought after – it’s a city that’s rife with opportunity. Finding the perfect office space in London can be tricky, though, and expensive! Whether your business is relocating down the road, or if you’re wanted to head out of London entirely, we’ve put together a list of questions to ask yourself ahead of an office move.

What effect will this location have on my employees?

If your current employees have chosen their housing based on ease of access to work, they won’t be happy if you suddenly pull up roots and add time to their commute. This could lead to losing key employees.

London is one of the easiest cities to get around, with Oyster cards and contactless payments available on buses, tubes and trains. London residents are also able to apply for a Freedom Pass.

On the other hand however, London during rush hour can be a nightmare, especially for people who are not accustomed to it (like me when I lived in Feltham and had to travel to West India Quay in 2007). The crowded tubes and the need to hustle your way to work around hundreds of people can be a bit overwhelming for people from outside of the city.

London is loved by many, but the lifestyle is not for everyone. With that in mind however, if the worst was to happen and some of your employees did not want to relocate to London, recruitment is usually a lot more straight forward than in more rural, and less built-up areas of the UK.

What if we grow?

It’s all well and good to have a cosy office to save money now, but it does no good if you suddenly have to add manpower. It gets old fast when you’re squeezing employees in like sardines. If you are located in rural part of the UK, then finding a bigger office might prove very difficult, even a ‘bottleneck’ for your business-growth. In London this is never an issue as long as your budget is expansive enough to pay for more space in this highly prestigous city.

Who’s next door?

Find out who else is in your neighbourhood. Not only can their behaviour affect your ability to run your business, it can have an affect on how existing and potential clients see you. On the positive side, similar local businesses can be a huge benefit to your business. London is one of the best cities in the World when it comes to networking and making & developing important business relationships.

Can we draw employees from the local area?

It’s great if you can keep your current employees, but they might leave in years to come. When they go, you need to know you can find suitable replacements whom can travel to your new offices.

Will this affect clients? Can I entertain them?

Consider how it will affect your clients’ ability to reach you. Does the new office space have the facilities to entertain clients in a way they’re accustomed to? Think about how it may affect your relationship with clients.

Will the business be secure?

It’s simple but vital – your business needs to be secure so you and your staff can work safely. Consider the physical safety of the building, and ensure it’s secure enough so that your employees feel comfortable spending eight to ten hours a day in the neighbourhood.

Are there any upcoming construction projects?

It might be easy to reach your new office right now but there could be a massive change to roads, tubes, or bus routes in the next few months which could affect your business’ ability to function. Check for any upcoming construction work.

Is the price right? Will it be right in a few years? Will it be right after I add amenities?

You need to make sure what you’re paying includes all the amenities you’ll need to function, including high-speed internet connection. You’ll also need to make sure the rent will be stable during the course of your tenancy.

Storage

Something that is simple to overlook but is incredibly important. It looks and feels shabby to work in an office without adequate storage.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Evans .