You may have heard the term virtual office, and you may be fully aware of the advantages virtual office services can give you, but there’s another question we’re overlooking — who uses them anyway?
The answer is that there are many people and businesses out there that could take advantage of a virtual office service:
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Companies all over the world have long held the view that a sensible use of money is to invest in a property to call their very own.
Owning a property represents an extra expense which, on closer inspection, can come off as frivolous and unnecessary, especially when you see that renting can bring annual savings reaching millions of pounds.
When you buy property, you are also buying into a potentially disastrous lack of flexibility. The more flexible you want to be, the more property you’re going to have to buy. Renting spaces for office use, meetings, conferences, or other special projects means that you can take on more space exactly when you need it and where you need it and ensures you’re not wasting money on guessing what might be. It also brings advantages to your employees, often slashing commuting times and boosting productivity.
It was thought that a private building would speak volumes about a business’s strength and stability as a company. And what’s more, it was commonly accepted that buying a building was a solid long-term investment in a solid asset that could act as a safety net if more turbulent times came along.
However, the tides of change have come, and the waters are closing over this prized maxim. A new wave of property rental has swept the world, proving its worth to companies large and small. From global megalith Walmart and its mere cluster of buildings surrounding their central warehouse, to smaller companies like Yell in the UK, who have recently given up their privately owned branch offices, companies large and small are now feeling the benefits of renting office space instead.
Unless you are a property dealer, why tie up more and more of your money in properties? If property is what you’re after, then it’s better to deal exclusively in property. Renting will allow the valuable capital in your business to work for a much more favourable return. Make a smarter move and explore the myriad of rental options available that can save you a fortune.
Renting frees up funds, reduces exposure to unforeseen maintenance and repair costs (which fall to the landlord) and provides a safer, more adaptable workspace for your team. You aren’t locked into the location; renting makes relocation simpler. Letters aren’t locked into a sales process; you can simply exit the tenancy and move on.
If you do even the quickest search for ideal desk set-ups on Pinterest, you will be greeted by thousands upon thousands of inspirational ‘deskscapes.’ From minimalist Mac setups to multi-screen tech-heavy setups, there is a whole chorus of arguments all claiming to have the right answer.
But one thing that we’re certain of is this: the way you set up your desk will have a huge impact on your working day. The technology you can easily access, the comfort level of your seating arrangement, and how inspired your surroundings make you feel will all feed into how productive you are.
It’s probably fair to say that there is no definitive ‘perfect’ desk set up. The ideal desk will differ from employee to employee, so it may be wise to allow each member of your team a level of freedom and personalisation when it comes to setting up their own personal workspace.
Whether you’re preparing to set up your own workspace, a selection of meeting rooms or a whole fleet of office suites, we’d advise keeping the following three considerations in mind.
If you want your team members to be as efficient as possible, it’s important to consider their comfort. Badly considered desks and desk chairs could lead to aches, pains and even limiting health conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome. As many as a third of office-related injuries are believed to be caused by poor workstation set-up.
According to ergonomic principles, the ideal workstation should place the top of the monitor at eye level or just below, with the monitor about an arm’s length away from the body. The chair is arguably the most important element to the whole thing, since it is the chair that needs to support you properly throughout the vast majority of the working day.
It needs to be easily adjustable in case others might need it too, and it should provide support to the whole body when it is seated in a variety of postures. You know that a chair is ergonomically sound if it allows good circulation in the thighs and allows the posture to be maintained with little physical effort. But possibly the most vital consideration when choosing the chair is to ensure that, in height and overall dimensions, it is suited to the type of desk you have opted for.
The twenty-first-century office runs on technology. Your team will constantly be using digital equipment such as a laptop, smartphone, tablet, webcam, microphone, scanner, printer and smart screen. If you want your employees to be as productive as possible, it makes sense to ensure they have vital tech equipment to hand.
Keep the computer monitor between 20 and 40 inches from your face to minimise the risk of eye strain. Also, adjust the monitor so that the centre sits nicely at eye level. Or, if you are a wearer of bifocals, set the monitor around 15 degrees below eye level so that you can see it comfortably when you tilt your head back slightly to look down at it.
We humans are generally visual creatures. Simply put: we like things to look nice! The way a workstation looks will most certainly have an impact on how productive your team members are on a day-to-day basis. And from files to bottles of water, the general clutter of an office desk can be extremely distracting. Even something as simple as having computer wires on your desk can impact productivity.
Although there’s no specific ‘perfect’ desk set up, as you can see, there are plenty of things you can do with your desk to create a more positive impact on your employees.
The serviced offices at WorkWell are fitted out with high-quality and compliant furniture meeting all the above requirements. Taking on serviced office space here removes the worry of having to meet the requirements yourself! If you’re hoping to rent an office in Leeds or Harrogate, why not find out what WorkWell can offer?
A home office — no more getting up at 6 am, no more commuting, no more traffic jams, no more office politics.
It sounds ideal to most people, but after a while, things can start to change, and one realises that perhaps their having a home office is becoming less and less a good idea. Below are several signs that it’s time to move on and change to a new office environment:
No matter how much you spruce up your home office, you still may feel uneasy or unprofessional inviting clients to your home to discuss work. Having a professional business address is an important step in building the confidence and success to expand and improve one’s company image.
In the beginning, you were so excited about being able to work in the relaxed atmosphere of your home; working from the sofa, having the stereo on, being free to take as few or as many breaks as you want. But there comes a time when things get too relaxed and you find yourself getting less and less done each day. This is the time to move on.
The idea of a quiet space for yourself to get work done sounded ideal initially. But as you get into it, you discover that there was a social aspect to an office that you now miss. Choosing a co-working serviced office space is a perfect remedy for this, as it gives you the chance to work alongside like-minded small business owners. Hey it might even allow you to do some networking.
One advantage of working in an office is that when you finish work, you leave the office behind and get some real downtime at home. When your home is your office, you can never get a real clean break from it, and sooner or later it will start to take over your life, and you’ll find it harder and harder to relax at home.
Business is booming and you need to take on staff to help out. You could allow them to work from their own homes, but in fact working in an office with them allows you to train them more efficiently and build up a closer working relationship. An office space with more people in also becomes a stronger ideas zone.
Are you currently working from home? Perhaps you’re already experiencing some or all of the above. Let us know your experiences and perhaps WorkWell can offer the solution you need.
Now that we’re in 2025, we can see that the business world has gone truly global, and with that comes stiff competition. It’s now more imperative than ever to keep employees as productive as possible, to give companies a fighting chance to survive in the new global market.
Company management will always devise new ways to boost productivity, whether it be through extra bonuses, days off, or even pizza vouchers! But there are other ways that you might not have considered — like taking a closer look at your office furnishing. Take a peek at this handy guide to furnishing trends designed to enhance productivity in your workplace.
This is a basic, but essential, first step to boosting productivity. Equipping an office with high-quality office chairs, and those with 5 points of adjustment, creates a more comfortable perch for employees to work effectively.
Have you seen how many gadgets the average employee has on them these days? Their whole lives are on charge! Provide access to power points at their desks, allowing them to charge their smartphones, tablets and other gadgetry. These are also useful in break areas.
Office life is no longer a case of “one has to be at one’s desk to be working”. Kit out a 3rd space where employees can get away from their desks for a time while continuing their work.
Artificial materials like plastics, nylon and polyester may save you money in the short term, but the fact is they’re pesky, uncomfortable and environmentally unsound. If we all got a penny every time they gave us a static shock… Woollen fabrics are more comfortable and sustainable, and hemp gives unbeatable durability. Finally, materials with woven-in nettle fibres have a natural chemical-free fire resistance
Give your employees more screen space so they can get more info up at once — they can get so much more done!
The above may as well have just been a direct description of the office spaces at WorkWell, more details of which can be found on our website. Companies coming to us enjoy furnishing to the highest possible standards, thanks to our steadfast furniture partner, Richardson’s – find out more about their innovative range at www.richardsonsoffice.co.uk
Auditel is a cost management consultancy that works to save finance directors and business owners time and money in an ever more competitive and financially demanding marketplace. We spoke with Lee Freeman from the overhead management specialists, who told us about how the support available at Carrwood has helped them develop since their move from Leeds City Centre.
Developing and growing our business at Carrwood has been fantastic. We get excellent support from Oliver and his team, who see that every little detail of the office space is seen to and finished to the highest quality. When we work, we never even have to think about doing anything other than the work task at hand. Everything else is handled by Carrwood’s superb support team – the offices are kept immaculately clean, and the grounds are all just really “well-manicured”. We feel every inch of the park is a space we can be proud of.
“We genuinely couldn’t ask for more.”
The support team really bends over backwards to help us whenever we need it. For example, when we were preparing to move in, all the important matters that needed sorting for our new space were done well in advance, so that on the day itself, we could just walk into our new offices, switch on our laptops and get on with our work. Besides the tremendous support we’ve received, Carrwood itself has given us a load of different ways we can meet with clients. We can use our own office space, or one of the meeting rooms, or even one of the many breakout areas within the atrium for less formal meetings. We genuinely couldn’t ask for more.
HCP Social Infrastructure is a company involved in the management of PFI projects on behalf of its investors. They have been based in the serviced offices at Carrwood for 5 years in total, and have occupied space in both Carrwood Park and Brookfield Court.
“The team have been extremely professional and supportive throughout.”
We talked to Mark Driver, Operations Director at HCP, who told us about how his company have developed within Carrwood Park.
Five and a half years ago, I was the single employee in HCP’s regional office here. But over the years, we have won a number of significant contracts in the area, and now work on 5 major education projects covering 52 schools across Yorkshire, and 1 major healthcare project. Our office now has 13 people in it.
We started at Carrwood in a 4-man office space, and since then have been able to move into larger spaces as we needed. We also make frequent use of the meeting rooms and conferencing facilities, and the complex is perfect for hosting our regional development days, where colleagues from all over the North West and Scotland – 40 or so in total – come to attend.
Being based at Carrwood has made it easy for us to expand and occupy more work space as and when we require it. And the team have been extremely professional and supportive throughout. We’d used serviced offices in the middle of Leeds before, but traffic and parking were a constant nightmare. At Carrwood, we get the balance of proximity to Leeds centre, but also to the main road and motorway to get out and about when we need to.
After benchmarking what we have at Carrwood, we’ve found it nigh on impossible to find other locations that combine the same value with quality of service.
To learn more about HCP, go to their website www.hcp.co.uk
The Safety Maintenance Company is a health & safety and Electrical training company offering comprehensive training solutions to a myriad of industries and sectors, including construction, schools, manufacturing, museums and many more. Michael Havercroft is the Operations Director at the company, and currently makes use of Carrwood Park’s virtual office services. We asked Michael why the virtual office package was the best option for his company.
The Safety Maintenance Company is a small but thriving business based between Leeds and Bradford. At The Safety Maintenance Company, we know that flexibility is the key to our success. We use Carrwood Park’s virtual office to act as our reception so that we never miss a phone call from a potential, new or existing client. Missing one of those calls can cost us invaluable business relationships that would mean the difference between profit and loss for us. So we’re thrilled to have the professional and dedicated team at Carrwood on hand to ensure we don’t miss a thing.
Knowing the phone will always be answered gives us the freedom and flexibility to get on with what is important. Which is delivering the best training and overall service as possible. What we like is that the virtual office gives us the professional image we require when our clients call. There is nothing worse than an out-of-breath answer to your call, because the person picking up the phone has run halfway across the premises to answer. Our clients deserve to call and get an instant response and speak to someone calm, helpful and friendly.
“The quality of the service offered is absolutely first-class; and a definite asset to our business.”
At first, working with Carrwood Park was just a good answer to a problem we had regarding potentially missing calls from clients. But over time we’ve used them, the relationship between us has become so much more. The quality of the service offered is absolutely first class and a definite asset to our business. The team understands that every client’s call is vitally important, so through their work we convey the right message to all our customers, old and new.
Learn more about The Safety Maintenance Company at their website http://www.thesmcl.co.uk
Incident Support Group is a fleet and accident management company providing bespoke automotive solutions to the fleet, leasing and insurance industries. They moved into Carrwood Park in November 2011, and since that time have expanded their operations two-fold. We spoke to Sales Director, Veronica Whittingham, for her take on what it’s been like growing their business at Carrwood Park.
Being based at Carrwood Park has had a really positive influence on the growth of our business. As a property, we feel it gives the right professional image we want our existing clients to see, and also gives a fantastic first impression to prospective clients visiting for the first time. The prestigious address and Leeds postcode are a great boon to our business.
We get the flexibility we want, which makes planning for expansion a lot easier, and the space we occupy is the space we need, allowing us to operate with unbeatable efficiency.
“There is no’ selling’ required at Carrwood – the place sells itself.”
Veronica had more to say about the team at Carrwood:
There is no “selling” required at Carrwood – the place sells itself. I was charged with the task of finding flexible office space for ISG to accommodate our future growth, with state-of-the-art IT and telecom systems that would make any transition seamless and hassle-free. Oliver and his team at Carrwood tailored a package to suit our needs, and promised we’d get everything we asked for and more – they delivered on this promise.
We’ve been at Carrwood since November 2011, and the whole team have shown us that when you’re based in their serviced offices, the top-notch service continues even when the honeymoon is over.
Find out more about the work of Incident Support Group at their company website, which can be found here.
CTDS is a leading veterinary diagnostics lab, with facilities and offices based in Brookfield Court. In their time here, they have expanded from around 750 square feet of space to now using about 2,000 square feet. We spoke to Nick Carmichael, Founder and Veterinary Director at CTDS, and asked him about running his company at Brookfield Court.
“There are several important factors that have made Brookfield the perfect spot for us to run our business. From a logistical point of view, proximity to the MI has proved incredibly useful as we have a number of couriers coming to and from our offices every day, and our staff have found it useful too, as it has kept commuting times nice and low. Those in Leeds find themselves going against the regular rush-hour flow. It’s great.
Besides the excellent location, I’d say that for us, knowing that we can both expand and contract our usage of space according to our needs at the time is an important feature of using serviced offices at Brookfield. We always have access to meeting rooms without having to worry about the overheads needed to maintain our meeting room all the time. This level of flexibility is fantastic.
“When we have people visiting us, they are always taken aback by the sheer quality of the space we have here at Brookfield.”
Another thing we have found great about locating our business at Brookfield is the environment at the site itself. It’s great for our staff to come into a pleasant workspace in a semi-rural location. They get the greenery and fresh air of the country, combined with the relative convenience of being close to the urban centre of Leeds, but without having to be in some ugly office block somewhere. We’ve also made use of the large open outdoor space at Brookfield for having lunch or just taking a break from time to time.
Finally, the offices and facilities themselves are just very impressive. When we have people visiting us, they are always taken aback by the sheer quality of the space we have here at Brookfield. This is a real distinction at Carrwood and Brookfield, where employers are given the chance to show they really care about their staff’s working environment.
