Avanta has 96 meeting room options, ranging in size from a two person interview room to a 150 theatre-style conference room. Each business centre can provide facilities and support personnel to meet most requirements and anybody booking for five hours will get the sixth hour free!

“All rooms are available by the hour, half day or full day and there is a day delegate package available too”, comments Avanta’s dedicated meeting room sales manager, Kristen Honeycombe. “In addition, we can make special arrangements for bespoke requests, such as showrooms for fashion collections, filming or product launches, to name a few.”

With prices starting from just £19 per hour, per room in London, Avanta meeting rooms are available with a range of layouts, furniture and technical equipment. Additional equipment and catering is also available and support personnel are on hand to manage the process, leaving clients free to focus on their meetings.

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Abbey Business Centres Marketing Manager James Fairlie said: ‘We wanted to make our website much more interactive and ‘sticky’, encouraging visitors to stay longer and engage with Abbey. Meeting room enquiries were hit by the recession in 2009, but the online availability and price tool has significantly improved interaction with site visitors and boosted bookings as a result.’

Meeting Rooms Online is designed to provide a ‘plug-and-play’ solution to business centres operating CentreCharge, enabling them to manage their meeting room bookings, availability and take payment online. Meeting Rooms Online can be tailored to display bespoke branding and colour schemes, creating a professional image and ensuring brand recognition.

 RJmetis Managing Director Justin Harley said: ‘We are delighted that Meeting Rooms Online is showing a tangible return for Abbey Business Centres. Customers used to functionally rich websites in a consumer environment are increasingly demanding the same levels of ease of use and responsiveness from B2B websites; Meeting Rooms Online enables them to offer just that.’

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Commenting on its global uptake, Justin Harley, MD at Metis said; “We were confident that there would be a demand for this type of app in the UK and European serviced office market, but the high level of international interest has been a real and pleasant surprise. We now believe that there is a definite opportunity for the company to look further afield and to see how our products can be supported in a truly international marketplace.”

Pro Rata Calc for i-Phone and i-Touch is a free download that helps business centres calculate pro rata licence fees for part-month rentals. Pro Rata Calc is available to download from the Apple i-Phone apps store.

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Julie Calder, chair of the BCA, told the audience it had been both an exciting and challenging year for the BCA with another 130 locations added to its membership and an effective lobbying campaign that had resulted in the average business centre saving £13,000 per annum in empty property rates. She urged members to maintain the campaign by writing to their MPs.

Julie said excellent progress had also been made on a Consumer Charter and online Broker Code of Conduct, and work had begun on lobbying government on a new voucher scheme to support SMEs and eradicate uncompetitive local authority–run business centres. She also highlighted the launch of the new BCA website, the outcome of the first ‘Vision Day’ for many years and the extraordinary work that Jennifer Brooke had undertaken in working with the Metropolitan Police to prevent fraud.

Two new BCA board members were announced at the conference, following the AGM on the first day. Simon Rusk, finance director of Business Environment, and Simon Eastlake, MD of the Serviced Office Company, both join the board.

At the conference dinner on Monday evening, Jennifer Brooke announced the recipient of the inaugural David Poole Memorial Award, established in memory of the BCA’s treasurer who passed away in January 2009. The award – in recognition of an individual or organisation who had made an enormous contribution to the industry – was presented to Tom Stokes, managing director of Evans Easyspace and past chair of the BCA. Jennifer praised Tom’s outstanding skills, particularly in his tireless lobbying on empty property rates which made him a deserving recipient.

Other highlights of the conference included panel discussions on the second day. The first, facilitated by Centrix chair Ian Calder, looked at the changing role of the internet in relation to the flexible space industry; the second, chaired by Giles Barrie, editor of Property Week, debated how internet brokers added value to the sector.

Communications provider Essensys, the conference’s main sponsor, used the occasion to promote its new virtual office company t(v)oc, as well as showcase its TV production system, which was a lively focal point of the exhibition area. “It’s one event where there’s value to be an exhibitor in terms of a definite measurable and immediate return,” Essensys chief executive Mark Furness commented. He said their decision to sponsor the conference was partly because “in terms of outward activity, the BCA is second to none”.

Barclays Corporate, who hosted the business breakfast on the first morning, saw the conference as a good opportunity to further strengthen its relationship with the BCA and its members. Terry Myatt, relationship director at the bank, said they have a mandate to grow their support services business in 2010, which includes a steer towards serviced offices. “It’s a very capital intensive industry,” he added. “We look to lend against current and future cash flow and prefer a multi-site operation where the risk can be spread.”

Speaking after the conference, Jennifer Brooke said: “We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees who commented that the content was totally relevant to every aspect of the industry, no matter the size of company. Delegates praised the fantastically high standard of speakers who consistently kept them entertained and held their attention throughout.”

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‘Business centre managers can use the i-Pad for a wide range of applications, including virtual tours and even creating a licence using CentreCharge Mobile whilst on tour with a prospective client,’ said RJmetis MD Justin Harley.

CentreCharge Mobile was unveiled as Google addressed the BCA conference on the importance of mobile devices for marketing and communications, with recent research revealing that 42% of people even take their mobile devices to bed at night.

CentreCharge Mobile is the latest innovation in RJmetis’s Apps for Business Centres range, the first of which was the Pro Rata Calc for i-Phone and i-Touch. Visitors to the RJmetis stand at the BCA conference were given an exclusive preview of CentreCharge Mobile on the i-Pad and a taste of further pioneering apps in the pipeline.

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This is the vision of a new initiative from Rjmetis to harness the power of mobile devices such as i-Phone and Blackberry, developing a suite of applications to integrate these and other user-friendly devices such as i-Pads and touch-screen kiosks to make life easier for business centre managers, clients and visitors.

Rjmetis MD Justin Harley said: ‘Business centres have for too long lagged behind other sectors in terms of maximising what new technologies can do for them and their clients. Our vision is to integrate web-based, mobile and touch screen devices in particular, leveraging CentreCharge as a single platform for billing and customer service systems. This will not only significantly enhance customer service, but will also reduce admin through automation and open the doors to a wealth of new applications and services to the benefit of business centres and their clients alike.’

Pro Rata Calc for i-Phone – free download

The first app to be launched is the Pro Rata Calc for i-Phone and i-Touch, a free download that helps business centres calculate pro rata licence fees for part-month rentals. Pro Rata Calc is available to download from the Apple i-Phone apps store. RJmetis will demonstrate Pro Rata Calc for i-Phone and other innovations at the forthcoming BCA annual conference in London on May 17 – 18th.

Source: Mexia Communications

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The BCA says such moves would encourage more private sector development of business centres in the UK to support the burgeoning SME (small and medium-sized enterprises) sector*, which would in turn create greater employment and regeneration opportunities. They could additionally attract more inward investment through the provision of flexible satellite office space for new or growing SMEs from overseas. 

These moves would also help facilitate the BCA’s proposed Flexible Space Voucher Scheme under which SMEs would be entitled to receive BCA-accredited office or workspace accommodation for an initial one-year period at no cost, and at a reduced rate for a further two years. Under the proposal, the vouchers would be funded either through profit share management agreements between local authorities and private sector operators or from the sale of local-authority run business centres.

The UK scheme will be presented by the BCA to the government early this year. The initiative is part of a wider plan by The European Confederation of Business Centre Associations – representing operators of serviced office/flexible space in Belgium, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Spain and the UK – to roll out a cross-border voucher scheme, which would provide inward investment opportunities to participating countries. The associations representing each country are discussing the scheme with their respective governments which will be followed by meetings with MEPs to explore European-wide implementation.

Tom Stokes, past chair of the BCA and managing director of Evans Easyspace, who is tabling the voucher scheme in the UK, says: “The sale of local authority assets will not only raise capital for the government but will take business centres out of public ownership into the private sector, removing the feeling of unfair competition and resulting in more private sector business centres being developed.”

Jennifer Brooke, executive director of the BCA, points out that workspace centres managed by industry specialists have a number of advantages over those managed as part of the local authority portfolio. “Among other attributes, BCA members offer a higher level of ongoing workspace support, greater investment in services and new technology and generally create a more commercial working environment with fewer resultant business failures,” she says. “The voucher scheme also provides a springboard from which start-ups can develop their business, encouraging in turn a strong entrepreneurial spirit within the UK economy.”

There are around 300 local authority locations that offer flexible managed workspace of varying size, service and quality, with a corresponding lack of consistency. As the vouchers would only be redeemable in BCA member locations – of which there are over 850 in the UK – all SMEs who sign-up to the scheme are guaranteed recommended industry standards as set down in the BCA’s code of conduct.  This consistency in standards would be replicated throughout Europe once the wider scheme has been ratified.

Tom Stokes argues that the public sector has an important role to play in the flexible workspace industry, by providing ongoing and consistent support through organisations like Business Link. These organisations would issue the vouchers through a screening process and help identify locations where they can be redeemed. He firmly believes that business support agencies should be encouraged to work more closely with private sector providers. “Business support should be linked to the business and not the property, with the private sector providing the premises and the public sector, the support,” he maintains.

*Records from the Office of National Statistics highlight that there are over 4.7m SMEs in the UK, with 95 per cent of these enterprises employing less than 10 people. In 1980, the corresponding number of SMEs was 2.4m.

Source: Business Centre Association PR

Serviced Offices Mayfair: This month’s “Unique Serviced Office” title goes to operator Business Centre who offers some of the most prestigious serviced office accommodation in London from a stunning Edwardian building, situated in the heart of Mayfair!

Recognised as one of the most exclusive areas in London, and indeed the World, Mayfair provides a truly sought-after business address. Populated by exclusive shopping, world class hotels and luxurious restaurants, Mayfair attracts both British and Global companies eager for the recognition factor of trading from a prestigious London location.

In keeping with Mayfair’s high-end status Business Centre offers some top of the range serviced office accommodation here.  Located along the famous Piccadilly stretch, the property is a listed Edwardian Building from where offices enjoy views over the vibrant street below.  Offering a discreet and unbranded working environment, offices are elegantly furnished and situated opposite the prestigious Burlington Arcade and The Royal Academy.

An attractive building and esteemed business address make these serviced offices exceptional, but perhaps their most unique selling point lies not within the building itself but rather its internal management team.  Now with nearly 30 years experience within the serviced office sector the Business Centre team have become one of the most long-standing and well-respected operating groups within the industry.  Offering a high level of one-on-one customer care matched by few, the team’s philosophy revolves around providing excellent client hospitality which is second to none.  This British secretarial team knows each client’s individual needs, from mail handling, telephone answering through to secretarial support, ensuring that requirements are met time and time again and helping each business to project the most professional image possible.  

Although one of the smallest operators in Mayfair, Business Centre should not be overlooked in favour of its larger competitors based on size alone.  In fact, it is the company’s identity as a smaller organisation that provides the onsite team with the ability to show each client the greatest level of customer care possible, something that small companies so often excel at, and proving that bigger is definitely not always better!

You can arrange a viewing at these fabulous Mayfair Serviced Offices on 0800 085 5050

CLICK HERE to view the prestigious Serviced Office property in more detail

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First up, the UK’s largest serviced office operator offers no less than four top of the range serviced office business centres located on Pall Mall, Stratton Street, Hanover Square and finally one of the company’s flagship properties on Berkeley Square.  All of these centres offer the highest standard of serviced office accommodation fully furnished and equipped with the latest in IT and telecom technology.  A full range of secretarial and admin support, as well as conferencing facilities, are on hand to help your business flourish.

Alternatively, competitor MWB also offers two of the company’s most prestigious business centres located on Cavendish Square and Berkeley Street. Like Regus, MWB offer some of the highest quality serviced offices on the market and present the full range of business support at both of its centres.  For those on a tighter budget MWB also offers its more competitively priced range of offices by City Executive Centres on Piccadilly where offices are housed in a striking grade II listed property. Also on Piccadilly are two further operators Business Space Ltd and Business Centre both offering good quality space close to Piccadilly underground.

As well as Regus two further operators can be found on Hanover Square.  Avanta has two business centres, option 1 and option 2 both offering good quality space with a much sought after business address.  Easydesk Ltd also offers serviced offices on Hanover Square at more competitive prices to suit all budgets.

Next, Harvard offers an attractive period building at One Heddon Street.  This property has been recently refurbished to provide high quality serviced offices with an impressive reception area and great conferencing facilities.  Alternatively Forsyth is located on Carlos Place overlooking the Connaught Hotel, close to Charing Cross station.

Moving to Bruton Street we find Reflex, located above an art gallery.  City and London is at Stratford Place in a smaller business centre ideal for small requirements and start ups.  Dwyer Plc also has space on Park Street in an unbranded, grade II listed property. For those working to a tight budget MLS has two centres on Dover Street and Yarmouth Place, offering an efficient working environment at a very affordable price. 

Arrange a viewing at any of the above Mayfair Serviced Offices on

0800 085 5050

CLICK HERE to view these Mayfair Serviced Offices in more detail

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The W1 postcode area offers no less than 45 fully serviced office space business centres! So this run down is going to be a little bit faster than usual, here we go….

First up is the UK’s largest serviced office operator Regus Plc offering 4 serviced office business centres with the sought-after W1 postcode.  They can be found on Oxford Street, Portman Square, Berkeley Square and Hanover Square.  All of these properties offer fully furnished offices with high quality décor and fully equipped with the latest in IT and telecom technology.

Next another of the UK’s leading serviced office operators, competitor MWB also have multiple W1 buildings with no less than 8 properties in the postcode area.  All properties offer fully serviced accommodation with modern décor, onsite you can expect a high standard of customer serviced and on demand meeting and conferencing facilities.  The MWB properties are located at Kingly Street, Regent Street, Oxford Street, Soho Square, Cavendish Square, Tottenham Court Road, Bryanston Street and Baker Street.

For those working to a tighter budget you might want to consider the more economical office space provided by operator MLS.  They can be found at Noel Street in Soho, Yarmouth Place and Dover Street in Mayfair, Manchester Street and Grays Inn Road.  MLS tend to offer basic but efficient working space which is affordable.

Another widely established operator in the W1 area is Reflex with several business centres found at Wardour Street, Broadwick Street (there are two options here next door to one another and offering very similar space), Poland Street,  Lower John Street,  Percy Street, Bruton Street and finally Mortimer Street.  Reflex tend to offer “semi-serviced” office space which remains available on flexible lease terms but generally has offers no manned reception area. Clients are usually given the option to bring in their own furniture if they wish.

The Space is next with two business centres on Mortimer Street and Hallam Street.  Both of these centres offer fully serviced space which is unbranded to create the impression of clients being in their own office space.  Harvard has two fully serviced properties with prime positions with a recently refurbished, prestigious grade II listed building on Heddon Street and Regent Street located very close to Piccadilly underground.

Another well-known operator Avanta have a couple of high quality W1 options with some sought-after space on Hanover Square, Mayfair and a further option on Great Titchfield Street which offers a variety of office sizes, meeting and conferencing facilities and informal break out areas.

Going into the popular and bustling Piccadilly area now and here we have three business centres all in very close proximity of one another.  The first is from 35 Piccadilly, the second from Business Space Ltd and the last from operator Business Centre.  All three of these options offer a W1 postcode, immediate-occupancy furnished offices and close proximity of Piccadilly underground.

The recently expanding Forsyth Business Centres has two W1 London centres found at Carlos Place in Mayfair and Bolsover Street, opposite the Virgin Media Head Office.  Easydesk Ltd offers competitively priced offices situated at the popular Hanover Square and Heddon Street.  Both centres offer semi-serviced space for smaller company requirements.  Lenta can be found at Gloucester Place offering furnished offices housed in an attractive terraced property close to Marylebone station.

We are getting towards the end now and next up is Dwyer Plc with space at Park Street in a grade II listed, unbranded property.  Operator City and London Ltd can be found at Stratford Place offering some elegant space with onsite reception area. Alternatively eOffice is at Sheraton Street in the Soho area with some ultra modern and funky space offering a very contemporary style which may suit creative companies well!

Down to the last three and First Base are found on Harley Street, offering affordable fully furnished offices, London Management Centre is at Crawford Street  with neutrally decorated offices close to Marylebone.  Finally Serviced Offices London Ltd is situated at Nutford Place opposite the Marriot Hotel at Marble Arch with onsite conferencing facilities.

For more information on any of the above W1 Serviced Office Business Centres and to arrange viewings call 0800 085 5050

CLICK HERE to view all Serviced Offices in the W1 postcode area

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