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Setting up a London Office with confidence
Press Release - October 2007

Establishing a commercial base in London comes with a plethora of issues that require careful management and prioritising.

A few basic rules should be observed, most importantly where and how the company is going to operate, what staff will be required, and what growth is expected over the ensuing 24 months. Equally important are matters of culture change, work practice and staff retention. Good design costs little and often opportunities are missed by failing to employ a designer to maximise the potential of a limited budget.

A thorough knowledge of property availability, rentals, service charge and rateable values can radically alter a decision as to where an office should be sited, as do transport routes and staff perception of the selected areas chosen. Often companies do not explore the equation between higher Fit-Out costs verses lower long term rentals and opt simply for desirable space with the attached premium rental charge.

Fit-Out costs and the cost of the actual move are often underestimated. A building will rarely be suitable to move straight into. Mechanical and Electrical Services will require some form of adaptation, reception and general office space will require branding, IT Communication rooms will usually require alteration and meeting rooms may require attention. Finally, Equipment, fixtures and fittings will require moving into the new accommodation with minimum downtime.

Time scales for the actual move are often under estimated and have increased dramatically as the office leasing market has become more bullish. Landlords are currently enjoying a strong market and capitalising on the upward trend in rentals and minimum lease periods. Strong tenant covenants are required with increased leasehold periods and a longer period before first break.

Offices are now heavily reliant on IT, and a new move is often an excellent opportunity to upgrade systems and improve efficiency. Careful design and co-ordination of IT and furniture can result in less space being required, with identifiable costs savings in terms of space required. Early consultation with telephone service carriers can avoid delays on occupation.

Building Control Regulations, new Disability legislation and Health and Safety matters must all be addressed during the planning stage. If approached in a co-ordinated fashion these matters will dovetail neatly into any planned office move.

Good planning, combined with a good experienced team will alleviate many of the problems that will be experienced and invariably result in a successful move.

For further information contact Kim Ridge on 020 7368 6868

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