Tag: Office

Can you tell me about Cloud2?

Cloud2 is a Bradford based company, we create industry solutions that solve real business problems.

As a leading Microsoft Gold partner in the UK, we look to create solutions that are unique to Cloud2 with intellectual property in 4 key areas: collaboration and compliance, process automation, intelligent insights and guided decision making.

As an example of intelligent insights, in healthcare we helped Rotherham Hospital significantly reducing waiting times for patient appointments by 65% within 6 months.

For companies, we help automate traditional processes and see how their business is performing in real time from any location.

Our expertise includes technologies such as Microsoft Teams, Power Apps, Flow, robotic process automation, Power BI, artificial intelligence and machine learning.

What challenges were you facing that made you decide to choose Hope Park Workspaces?

When we started Cloud2 11 years ago, the Microsoft technologies we worked with changed every 3-4 years, nowadays they change every month, and are almost entirely built in the cloud. So we wanted a working environment for our team that was modern and forward looking, with good internet infrastructure and the ability to adapt to our needs and to support the rapid pace of change and growth we’re seeing at Cloud2.

Location – love the fact it’s right off the M606 motorway, didn’t really realise how easy it would be for everyone in the company and visitors to get to and from.

How did you hear about Hope Park?

Word of mouth, from another company, Z1 Telecom that were already a tenant and kept saying how lovely it was here.

What has been your overall experience like with us?

It’s been great so far, we love the ethos of Hope Park. Since they are owned by a charity, it aligns well with Cloud2’s values, particularly the one where we look to contribute something back to the community.

We enjoy using the full size sports hall in the building where we play table tennis and badminton at lunchtimes.  The support we get from the Hope Park admin and management team has been really good, they do request and take feedback on board and in the time we’ve been here we’ve seen an ongoing programme of investment. We do feel more of a partner than a tenant and so many of our visitors comment positively on the site. Finally, there is superb food from breakfasts to lunch and great coffee available onsite at The Sugar Snap Kitchen so we don’t go hungry or thirsty!

What’s next for your company?

Our team has grown by over 50% since we moved in just over a year ago. We have ambitious growth plans and are looking to continue to grow within the Hope Park facilities and to proactively support the Northern Powerhouse Partnership. We’re excited to be in the middle of delivering a number of groundbreaking projects and look forward to sharing these in a future update.

For more information about Cloud2, visit their website www.cloud2.co.uk

Flexible working spaces are set to grow by up to 30% annually for the next five years across Europe, according to property giants Jones Lang Lasalle (JLL). Typically, flexible workspace operators tend to operate by offering shorter term licences as opposed to the traditional office take up strategy of longer term leasing. As a business developer for Hope Park Workspaces which offers both types of commitment, I’m often asked what the difference is. Each business’s requirements and needs are different so it’s important to know the Pros and Cons of both. 

 

What is a licence?

A licence is an easy to understand legal binding contract which gives the customer permission to occupy on easy in easy out terms and does not require a solicitor. A Licence is typically used for shorter term periods from rolling monthly agreements up to 2 years. A licence can be drafted and completed quickly resulting in a quick move in to your new premises. These are predominantly used for serviced office spaces whereby the monthly cost is inclusive of most features needed for a business to operate in an office environment i.e Internet, Furniture, all utility and maintenance bills etc. This makes the monthly cost easier to account for.

 

Pros

Licences tend to be much shorter agreements including shorter notice periods, this gives your business the opportunity to scale up and down to a larger or smaller office in the building and poses less risk of long term financial commitment.

Extremely short move in periods which mean on some occasions, you can move into your office the same day that the licence is signed.

Tend to include everything you need in one monthly cost which reduces variable costs and makes budgeting easier.

Cons

Doesn’t give exclusive possession to tenant meaning less freedom to make your space your own

No long term commitment to space which gives less security for your business.

Landlord can serve notice

What is a Lease?

A lease permits exclusive use, solely to the tenant, for a set period of time. The tenant assumes control over the property during that time. Usually, a lease tends to be a medium to long term commitment and are more difficult to terminate unless break clauses are agreed.

Pros

Prices are considerably lower although the price excludes all the extras that come as part of a serviced office package.

With exclusive occupation of the space, there is more freedom to brand the space and make it your own.

Longer term agreement mean more security for the tenant

 

Cons

Can be a long and intricate process. Involving ironing out details on  fit-out costs, dilapidations, service charges, other inclusives, break clauses and in some cases , agents fees

Can be long time to move in date

Whilst price is initially cheaper, when service charges, fitout costs, cleaning and maintenance as well as spending the time managing said charges. Prices can potentially be higher in total including the hassle of maintaining this in house.

 

What does Hope Park Offer?

Hope Park offers businesses completely bespoke workspaces. whether you require a private 1 person office or a whole floor we have a solution offering both licences and leases depending on the requirements of your company.

Get in touch to find out how we can support your business.

With the increasing availability of flexible serviced offices in the market, choosing the right space can become complicated and confusing when in reality, it should be an exciting process. Here are some questions that you should always ask your potential new office provider to help you get a better understanding of the value that they’re offering and to show them you know what you are talking about.

1. How many square feet are allocated to each desk space?

You may have heard office providers mention that their serviced office spaces are only X? amount per desk. Using a price per desk rate is now the most common way to advertise rented office spaces, and is a simpler way to work out how much you will pay for your space. However, It’s up to the office space provider to decide how many square feet (sqft) they allocate per desk meaning you could be comparing a selection of very similar  12 desk offices at the same price per desk, yet the actual size of the office can be completely different. Here is an example of how 2 different office space providers might vary;

Office space provider 1

Advertised desk rate: £200 per desk

Advertised office size: 12 desk office

sqft allocated per desk: 25 sqft

Actual office size: 300 sqft

Office space provider 2

Advertised desk rate: £200 per desk

Advertised office size: 12 desk office

sqft allocated per desk: 50 sqft

Actual office size: 600 sqft

As you can see from the breakdown, whilst they both advertise a 12 desk space, one office is half the size of the other. As a guide, anything below 40 sqft per desk would start to become quite tight and uncomfortable. 50 sqft per space is a healthy amount per desk to go by although the provider should be listening to your requirements which may differ from their default office set-up. To save time, always ask for the total sqft and the floor plan of the office so you can make direct comparisons.

2. What’s included in the monthly price?

This may seem like an obvious question, but that’s down to it being the most important one. For any business, variable costs pose a risk to their growth and make budgeting difficult. Make sure to get a full breakdown of what is included and whether the inclusive monthly price is fixed. If there are any variables, be sure to find out the exact costs. Certain items could or could not be included for a variety of reasons. This choice is down to the office provider. Ask whether the following are included for a full picture;

  • Internet
  • Furniture
  • Service charges
  • Parking
  • Heating/air conditioning
  • Cleaning
  • Kitchen facilities (tea, coffee, sugar etc)
  • Meeting rooms
  • Maintenance
  • Telephony
  • Business rates
  • 24-hour access
  • Security
  • Building insurance
  • Contents insurance

Some of the above won’t always be expected to be included in the monthly price (contents insurance, business rates, meeting rooms) but the provider should always be open to sharing and give a full breakdown so that you can evaluate and make an accurately calculated decision.

3. What are the benefits to my employees?

Any forward-thinking business will know that its most valuable asset is its employees. This means that they will want their team to enjoy where they work as well as have a workspace that will attract new talent. Always ask what’s in it for your team. Is there a gym on-site or nearby where tenants get preferable rates? Parking? Cafes and coffee shops? Breakout areas? Does the workspace put on events that would be beneficial for investment in your employees? Your business should have a home which your team love.

4. What’s the deal with termination?

I’ve heard horror stories of clauses that have forced businesses into additional 12 months, so make sure you ask this question and read the small print before you sign. It goes without saying but what is said to you in person should be honoured in the lease or licence. A fair agreement would be a month or two written notice before the end of the agreement which means the client can leave on their expiry date. Watch out for terms that state you can only hand in the notice after the agreement making which would make what was agreed as a 12-month agreement, in reality, a 13 or 14-month agreement. In the case of a flexible rolling monthly agreement or long term lease, double-check how many months’ notice you have to give, typically you should only have to give a month’s notice.

5. What’s your parking ratio?

This question isn’t applicable to all workspaces, just those that have onsite parking. The office provider should be able to tell you how many spaces you will get with your chosen office, although this depends on how they manage their parking system. Some prefer to open parking on a first come first serve basis, however this only benefits the tenants that start work earlier than others. In terms of assigning a number of parking spaces per office. This means that you always are guaranteed your assigned parking spaces. All providers will have a parking ratio which is calculated by the maximum amount of people against the number of available parking spaces. For most outskirts and out of town locations anything above 3:1 is a healthy amount of parking (2 people per 1 space). this may not sound healthy but due to most companies not having all their employees in at one time, you’ll tend to find that this should allow for parking to be available for you and your staff.

Can you tell me about Singularitee? 

We are a fully outsourced IT department, working with small to medium size businesses to look after their IT. Our IT services focus on ensuring your infrastructure performs to its optimal capability. Our role is to make sure that your IT goes unnoticed; securing, monitoring, identifying trends, predicting failure and intervening at the appropriate time with automated remediation, changes, update and maintenance. We are all about delivering a  great service to our clients and create partnerships with them that go beyond just IT.

What challenges were you facing that made you decide choose Hope Park Workspaces?

We had grown to the stage where an office was required to carry out our daily operation. Our team was growing and we also wanted to create a space where our clients could pop in and visit us. Hope Park ticked all the right boxes.

How did you hear about Hope Park?

We got to know Hope Park through a networking event that we attended. When we decided it was time to get our first office, the Hope Park team were happy to show us around the centre and explained everything that was included in a fixed monthly price.

What has been your overall experience like with us?

It has been great and we have made ourselves at home in the office. The staff at Hope Park are very friendly and helpful, nothing is too much trouble. We have got to know other tenants in the building too which is a bonus. Having free parking on site is a huge benefit for both our staff and visitors.

What’s next for your company? 

We are looking to grow our client base and our team. We are keen to build our network in Bradford and support more local businesses.

Fore more information about Singularitee, visit their website www.singularitee.co.uk

Managing Safely is unlike any other course. You’ll find a practical programme, full of step-by-step guidance, and a sharp business focus. But you’ll also find that the highly innovative format and content engages and inspires your staff – critical to getting safety and health embedded across the whole organisation. Who is Managing Safely for? Managing Safely is designed for managers and supervisors in any sector, and any organisation worldwide. They won’t suddenly become safety experts – but they’ll get up-to-speed on the practical actions they need to take, and gain the knowledge and tools to tackle the safety and health issues they’re responsible for. Importantly,  Managing Safely makes a powerful case for safety and health being an integral part of day-to-day management and business

 

What does the business get?
– Peace of mind from training that’s designed and quality-controlled by the Chartered body for safety and health professionals.

– Flexibility – the programme can be delivered flexibly so that it suits your business

– Efficient and effective learning

–Health, safety and environmental basics are covered in a single programme

– Globally-recognised, respected and certificated training for your managers and supervisors Memorable and thought

– Provoking facts and case studies from across the globe help drive the points home over the whole course. Each module is backed by crystal-clear examples and recognisable scenarios, and summaries reinforce the key learning points.

Managing Safely covers…
– Assessing risks
– Controlling risks
– Understanding responsibilities
– Understanding hazards
– Investigating incidents
– Measuring performance

Successful delegates are awarded an IOSH Managing Safely certificate.

What results can I expect?
– Greater productivity, from fewer hours lost due to sickness and accidents
– Improved company-wide safety awareness culture and appreciation of safety measures
– Active staff involvement to improve the workplace
– Enhanced reputation within your supply chain

Price: £375 per person for the 3 day course

If you would like to book a place for you or your staff, please contact Alison on 01302 288044 or
email – training@amsafetyservices.com

 

Can you tell me about Raise Digital?

We are a software development company who specialise in the creation of mobile applications and web-based systems.

We use the latest technologies to provide bespoke digital solutions to real-world problems. This could be to automate and streamline processes, improve efficiency and aid communication.

Our speciality is integrating different systems together to allow processes to run smoothly. Sometimes the smallest interlinking solution is all that’s needed to unlock massive potential.

All our work is carried out in-house at Hope Park @ Rooley Lane.

What challenges were you facing that made you decide choose Hope Park Workspaces?

The company’s client-base has grown considerably in recent times meaning we needed some office space where we could grow. As we were already based on the edge of Bradford it made sense to find somewhere in the local vicinity. Hope Park has proven to be the perfect location as its close to the motorway allowing easy access to our clients who cover the whole West Yorkshire area.

How did you hear about Hope Park?

I was introduced to Hope Park through networking. However I was already aware of Hope Park’s existence having done some work with tenants of Hope Park @ City Gateway and even completed a project for TLG, the charity which they support in 2015. A few months after our meeting it became apparent we would need some serviced office space so I got back in touch to arrange a viewing.

What has been your overall experience like with us?

Hope Park is an excellent place to house and grow our business. Being able to take a fully furnished office for a simple monthly fee makes it so much easier. The facilities are excellent with so much included (tea, coffee, cleaning etc) and that makes a massive difference for a small business trying to grow. The community within Hope Park also helps greatly. All the tenants get on well so there’s always someone to chat to.

What’s next for your company?

We’re just in the process of growing our team to help provide a better service for our clients. Hopefully over the next 18 – 24 months we’ll be able to grow into a bigger space in the building.

 

Turning your office into a place employees love

If you’re in the position of making sure your office meets the needs of the people who work in it every day, you’re responsible for creating an office space that people want to go and work in.

What does it take to turn an office into a space that people love to go and work in? It turns out, not that much. Here are just a few tips for turning your office into a better and more productive environment for employees.

Get the temperature right
If you want to ensure that your employees are happy in the workplace, there are lots of conditions that you need to consider; one or two changes isn’t going to revolutionise your office and turn it into the perfect workplace.
One of your biggest concerns for your office should be the temperature. It doesn’t seem too important immediately, but the temperature of the office can become a big problem over time.

If your office is too warm, it’s going to be uncomfortable for employees who work there. In fact, it’s going to end up distracting them from the task at hand as they try to cool down the office to make it more comfortable. Essentially, this means that productivity is impacted if the office temperature doesn’t meet the needs of everyone. On the other hand, if the office is too cold individuals aren’t going to be able to work effectively. Again, this is going to mean that productivity will take a hit. You can avoid these problems by making sure that your office is the right temperature.

Provide employees with everything they need
To complete tasks effectively and productively, employees need to have everything available to them that they need to complete those tasks. Otherwise, the tasks will not be completed; or they won’t be completed quickly, anyway.

If you want your employees to be completing all the tasks that you set them in a timely manner, you need to make sure that all they could possibly need for their tasks is provided. This includes things such as the information, but also the technology or tools that they need.

Comfy furniture
If you’re going to be sat at a desk every single day all day, it’s important to make sure that you’re sat comfortably. If you and your employees aren’t comfortable when working in the office, it’s going to cause major productivity problems that you might not be able to recover from.

There’s nothing worse than knowing you’re going to be uncomfortable when you go to work. Considering you’re going to be there for hours on end, sat at a desk, you need to be comfortable to be at your best, especially when you have lots of tasks that need to be completed. Comfy furniture, particularly chairs, can help with this; if you’re comfortably sat, that’s the first key to making sure that you can have a productive day at your desk.

Although these are just a few things that you can change around your office, everything that we’ve discussed here can make a big difference to the productivity in your workplace. If you ensure that you get all of these components right, it’s likely that you’ll be able to increase the productivity.