Location, Location, Location

Location is becoming a premier consideration for businesses across the UK, as the right office premises can help improve productivity, attract and retain employees and give a positive impression of the business to your customers. However, research conducted by HSBC bank has indicated that one in five businesses believe its premises or location is holding it back from future success.

Enterprise North East (Enterprise) provides business support and operates a number of fully serviced offices in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire has some important steps for choosing the right location for your business.

Karen Pugh, facilities manager of Enterprise says, "Your business location is one of the most important factors to consider when setting up a company or relocating to another space. The right location will ultimately depend on your business needs - will the premises provide you with easy access to your target market, are there appropriate communication channels and adequate transport links? These factors can play a large part in making your location decision and can form the basis of an office property checklist.

Karen continues, "With careful planning and a clear idea of what you need from your business setting, choosing your organisation’s location need not become a headache."

Karen advises considering:

Moving location may mean finding a new network of suppliers, for some organisations this may not be a problem but some firms subcontract work to other companies; something which can require close monitoring. Therefore it helps them to be located close to the supplier company. Customers are also a key consideration when selecting your location, retailers require a position that allows for footfall, access to markets and good transport links. As a result many retailers are based in city centres or retail parks located just outside the city on major roads. The internet has also allowed many companies to operate from any location. For these companies selecting their business location will depend on their access to good communication channels.

The size of office space that you are looking for will largely depend on the type of business you are operating. If you are a new start business, it is likely that you will only require a small office space, but as the company becomes more established, your office needs may expand. Business centres can offer a flexible solution as companies can taken on a small office unit initially and as the business grows, move from one office to another – larger or smaller depending on your needs. Moving your office within a business centre can also help to minimise any disruption to your working environment and can keep costs down, as your office space is billed at a fixed all inclusive monthly cost.

Cost is invariably the most important factor when choosing your office location. Conventional leases are often more expensive as businesses have to outlay for additional extras such as heating, electricity, rates, security and cleaning. Similarly local authority charges and business rates for services including waste collection can also vary depending on the area that you are located. To be able to predict cashflow it is important that new start businesses can forecast monthly outgoings in order to project their future budgets. With a conventional lease this is often not possible as the rates will rise and fall, yet locating in a Business Centres can help to minimise initial start up costs as companies pay the same fee every month. This takes into account all extras and can help companies to set up in the city or out of town.

There are advantages and disadvantages to choosing to locate in either the city centre or in a rural setting, therefore you have to weigh up the pros and cons of each setting to decide which location best meets your business’ needs.

A city centre location can be very appealing to most companies, as this setting offers increased visibility to your potential market, good transport links and easy access to facilities such as post offices, banks and print shops. However, locating in a city centre can often be more expensive than setting up in an out of town office. To secure space within the city, you may have to settle for less modern office space, as demand for premises is likely to be high and parking may also be a problem. For new start businesses or growing companies looking for a city centre office, locating in a serviced business centre can be the solution. Space is rented at an all inclusive monthly fee, which can be beneficial for companies in the start up phase and you can tailor the office space to meet your needs. Serviced accommodation also offers the added benefits of high specification offices, meeting rooms and communal areas, access to administrative support, reception services and car parking facilities, all of which are included in the monthly fee. Alternatively, more and more businesses are choosing to avoid the daily traffic jams and set up in office developments out of town. Parking is often plentiful and rural areas offer a tranquil, attractive setting for your business. However, accessibility may be a problem, without good public transport links, staff that cannot drive may find it difficult to get to work and similarly suppliers may find it difficult to deliver to your area. Business centres again offer the solution for rural office locations; many are situated on main motorways or in the main thoroughfare of the town or village on main city centre bus routes.

It is worth considering what your potential client’s first impressions of your office location and building would be, if the office building is untidy or dirty in appearance it can form negative perceptions of the company from the outset. Similarly, if the office is located in an area that is run down and unsightly, potential employees may be put off taking employment with your firm and you might also lose potential customers before they have even set foot over the threshold.

Spend time sourcing a location that is pleasant and tidy, if you find an area which has plants or grass, make sure that these are regularly tended to and if the building works look unclean, make it shine by enlisting the help of some professional cleaners. On entering the building your clients should be greeted by an uncluttered reception desk and presentable waiting area, you can brighten up the area by dotting around some plants or putting artwork on the walls. The offices should allow for plenty of natural light as dark offices can lead to sickness and low productivity. Taking these factors into account can help to build positive first impressions of your company to prospective clients. Also, if the surroundings are pleasant and appealing people are more likely to want to take up employment in your company and employees will be more productive and efficient, if their work environment is clean and organised.

Enterprise North East Trust manages ten fully serviced business centres in Aberdeen city and Aberdeenshire, including the flagship Riverview Centre in the city. Enterprise Business Centres offer high specification office space, workshop units and meeting rooms for an all inclusive monthly fee.

The all inclusive monthly fee includes rent, rates, utilities, telephone answering, secretarial support and access to professional meeting and conference rooms.