With no end in sight of the current financial uncertainties, there has probably never been a more appropriate time to highlight the benefits of serviced office space over conventional leased space.

The overriding benefit has to be the flexibility that you get with a serviced office. You will not be locked into a long full repairing lease, but instead occupy an office, the size of which suits your specific needs, on a license basis. This will allow you to concentrate on your business, rather than trying to manage the everyday maintenance of a building that you don’t own. You will also have the ability to upsize to a larger office as your business and staff levels grow.

The only extra items that you will need to pay for are telephone and internet charges, everything else in the standard package is included in the monthly license fee. Each office is fully furnished, which helps to minimise the costs normally associated with setting up a new business or moving premises. Additional services such as the Conference Facilities, Secretarial Services and Call Handling all contribute to the professional feel and image of your company.

Each of our centres has a real community feel to it and being surrounded by like minded entrepreneurs provides great networking opportunities and a special working environment.

Why not call into one of our centres for a chat and a coffee and see what we have to offer? I am confident that you will like what you see and quickly see that we can provide you with the perfect office solution for your business.

Research In Motion’s shares had already been hit quite hard during the last twelve months and this latest problem has done nothing to appease the investors that feel that all or part of the company should be sold.

While the company continues to do well in the Middle East and Africa, it may not be enough to keep the sceptics at bay and the company on its feet.

If nothing else, this relatively short break in service has again highlighted how dependent we all are on our mobile device of choice.

The HMRC advise that they only ever contact customers who are due a tax refund in writing by post. They do not use telephone calls, e-mails or external companies. If anyone does receive an e-mail claiming to be from HMRC, the advice is to forward it to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk before deleting it.

Home baked and hand decorated cakes were sold to clients and visitors to the centre on Thursday 17th and Friday 18th November 2011, with a suggested minimum donation of 50p per bag of assorted sugary delights.

With your help Minal and Komal raised a fantastic £237 for the appeal. I think that they should be very proud and hopefully they are already checking out recipes for mince pies.

That means if you’re looking for your next role and have a PR or communications agency background, a good degree or have just finished an internship with an agency, Fresh Connect could help you to get a new PR or communications role! Medical science graduates with good degree results are especially encouraged to get in touch.

The team at Fresh Connect is friendly, approachable and the recruiters are experts in their field. You can visit the website: www.fresh-connect.co.uk or follow them on Twitter by clicking here now.

As Spark Creative, we are running Basic Online Computer Courses for the community for free. Spark Creative is accredited UK Online Centre, BBC First Click Centre and also an Official Partner of Race Online 2012.

It is a government project aims to everyone to get online free; Spark Creative will support everyone throughout their learning journey with free computer usage, free courses and free professional tutor support. It is completely free.

UK Online Centres are managed by UFI, organisation who also behind Learndirect and LIUK Test.

Some of the modules this Programme covers:

Keyboard and Mouse Basics

Using E-mail

Using Internet Safely

Using Online Searches

Public Services

This programme constitutes of other free courses such as: Using a computer, How to search for job online, CV writing and interview skills, Understanding shopping online, Using a mobile phone, Photos online, Facebook, Socialising online and How to volunteer.

Website: www.sparkcreativegroupltd.com

It can also be stressful just moving within an office! After all, it’s the little things that make a big difference!

Deborah Barnett has recently moved around in the Oasis Serviced Offices at Camden – we were able to move an internal wall to give Essential Escapes a larger office, while still providing us with an adjoining, albeit smaller lettable office. In fact we let the space to a new client before it was even finished!

We are delighted with our newly expanded office. The whole process of moving the wall was very smooth with minimal disruption to us. We particularly appreciated the extra hours that James put in over his weekend to ensure that the works were done accurately and on time. We now have much more space and a more pleasant working environment and consequently, a happier team.

Thanks again.

Deborah’s company, Essential Escapes specialises in the best selection of luxury spa holidays worldwide. They focus on exemplary customer service and repeat clients who love what they do. Their Facebook page often has interesting articles, tips and links, so well worth a look!

Deborah also runs TotsToo, handpicked luxury family hotels and villas with outstanding facilities for children, from tots to teens. This is an area of the travel industry which is growing rapidly, and their team has a treasure trove of information about each 5 star resorts able to advise you on every detail.

Professional Indemnity Insurance covers a whole range of professions; Accountants  to Wedding Planners. If  you are in an industry where you give advice to your  clients, you need to ensure you are fully protected against any financial losses your clients may hold you responsible for.

Public and Products liability will not respond against any financial losses your clients could suffer.

Examples of claims

Accountants – Personal taxation – A failure to lodge their tax returns led to the client losing tax repayment and interest. The total cost to the company amounted to £14,000.

Information Technology Consultants – A small IT consulting firm recommended a particular piece of hardware and  a specific software package to a manufacturing company. The manufacturer then claimed that the software failed to perform as the consultants specified in their original recommendation for the project. The consulting firm successfully defends its position after incurring legal defence costs (covered by the PI insurance)..

Hamilton Fraser are friend’s of ours and we think it would be well worth speaking to them to see if they can help you

To speak to one of our experienced commercial brokers phone 0845 310 6300 or visit  www.hamiltonfraser.co.uk for more information.

1. What are Oasis Serviced Offices?

Oasis Serviced offices are office spaces/units which come fully furnished and with added services such as telephony and internet. They offer absolute flexibility – you can move into an Oasis serviced office within days of viewing the space (faster if necessary), subject to agreeing contract terms. You also have the flexibility to increase or reduce the amount of space you require, at any time, according to your business needs.  Licence agreements are typically offered from periods of just one month upwards.

2.  How do you pay for a serviced office with Oasis?

Unlike conventional office space where you pay the landlord a rental charge that covers the tenancy of the building and you are left with the expense of furnishing it, installing your own telecoms and internet communications, dealing with the local Council and utility companies to pay your business rates and utility bills, maintaining the building, sorting out security, etc  – the list goes on.  As a client of Oasis you would simply pay one regular monthly fee which covers all the above – see point 3 below.  Any other expenditure such as telephone calls, meeting rooms, photocopying, mailroom services, etc would be charged to you monthly in arrears on an as-used basis.

3. So what is included in the monthly Oasis licence cost?

Rent
Facilities Management
Buildings Insurance
Utilities (Gas/Water/Electric)
Furniture – (Workstations – see below)
Business Rates
General Reception Services
Kitchen Facilities/Communal areas
Office Cleaning
Building Maintenance

4. What are the main benefits of an Oasis Serviced Office?

• No set up costs (only a deposit equivalent to 2 months’ rent upfront plus 1 month’s rent total payable on signing of contract)
• Flexibility – one full calendar month’s notice is all that is required should you wish to terminate your contract
• Much quicker transaction and less hassle than taking on conventional space
• Lots of opportunity for networking

5. What sort of businesses use Oasis Serviced Offices?

The type of companies that are clients of Oasis range from small, one or two-man businesses up to established corporations, but in general Oasis clients are -

• Start ups
• Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
• Companies needing to downsize or expand
• Companies needing temporary space
• Regional or satellite branches

6. What is a licence agreement?

A licence agreement is an easy to understand document that does not require a solicitor. It sets out the terms of your occupation of the space and what is included.

7. How long are Oasis licences?

Oasis licence terms can vary from 3, 6 or 12 months on top of which you will be required to pay a deposit equivalent to two months’ licence fee .

8. Does all Oasis serviced office space have broadband or wi-fi?

Oasis offers a superior internet connection which is a Direct Internet Access (DIA) as opposed to DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) technology.   This gives our clients the same speeds on upload as it does on download – home broadband (DSL technology) has a much slower upload speed than the download and it is the faster download speed that is always quoted in the marketing material.  Our internet service  is not contended with any other users outside of the Oasis centres (unlike home broadband which often slows down at peak times of use) , is fully managed and comes with a Service Level Agreement (unlike DSL lines).

Although Oasis centres do not currently have any specific wi-fi areas it is possible for you to work wirelessly within the buildings if you bring in and set up your own wireless routers.

Oasis Serviced Offices can offer a variety of packages ranging from dedicated high-speed bandwidth connections to standard internet packages – whatever suits your requirements and budget.

9. Are there any additional charges to the monthly licence fee?

These are known as variables and are charged on an as-used basis, monthly, in arrears.  They include services such as telephone calls, photocopying, meeting room and audio visual hire, refreshment service charges, mailroom services, etc.

10. Will I need to provide my own computer?

Yes, but that is all you really need to bring with you.  Once all the formalities have been completed and payment received you can literally move in, plug in and start work!  Oasis will take care of all your office needs whilst you take care of your business.  We pride ourselves in Helping Your Business Succeed

11.  Do Oasis Serviced Offices have IT and Technical support?

Most technology issues are usually simple and straightforward to resolve and Oasis can help you with these. However, if you do require specialist technical support, Oasis can put you in touch with their preferred suppliers so that you can be confident that your business network is in good hands.

No doubt about it. We are spending more time online, and using many more devices to do so.

Our home and business habits are changing with the web, how we use the home phone, and also the way we consumer media.

Well, it’s now time for you to give your thoughts, and you could win an iPad!

The Digital Survey is rolling out across the UK, and wants to know what YOU are doing online, and what technology you are using. All you need to do is go to:

>>> The Digital Survey <<<

It takes about 2-5 minutes depending on how much you write, but just think about that opportunity to win an iPad!