St James Business Centre , leading Warrington business hub the 80,000 square foot hub for SMEs on Wilderspool Causeway in Warrington, enjoyed a spate of new lettings and space up-sizes in Q2.
5% of the building’s space has been snapped up by new and existing tenants as the town’s economy evidently continues to demonstrate its inherent strength. Following data from the influential Centre for Cities thinktank shows Warrington to be one of the north’s most entrepreneurial business locations.
Building Manager at St James Business Centre, Laura Moore, said:
“The breadth of businesses in St James continues to grow and it’s something of an entrepreneurial hot-spot,”
“Our latest lettings show existing tenants expanding and new tenants arriving, both equally solid indicators of the strength of the local economy and the quality of our offer in the building,”
The new deals include:
KN Circet, a leading telecoms network engineering and maintenance provider, which has increased its space to 1,000 square feet
Total Rail, providers of project management solutions for the rail sector – 235 square feet
Local care provider Acute Need – 409 square feet
ABL, which has increased its space to 900 square feet
St James business centre is a part of a joint venture, Wire Regeneration formed by langtree and Warrington Council.
Follow us and experience a day in the life at St James Business Centre, Warrington
The weather was nice today, which is a pleasant change for Warrington, so I decided to walk to the office as it’s only 20-minutes from my house, and my little girl loves riding her bike to nursery.
It’s handy having a nursery enroute to the office as it makes drop-offs and pick-ups much easier.
I sometimes take the car or catch the bus, but when it’s dry and sunny, I like to walk or cycle, so I can get fitter and do my bit for the environment.
Some colleagues like to get the train to Warrington Central or Bank Quay and then walk, as they’re both only 10-minutes away from the head office here at St James.
A good morning hello
After my usual quick hello and wave to the friendly reception staff, I pop into the onsite café (which is super useful) to grab a takeaway Costa coffee.
Is it a bacon sandwich day too? I’ll let you decide that one. Now, it’s off to the office to join the rest of my team.
The Office
The office we have today is slightly different to the one we had when we first moved in. There were only a few of us then, so we didn’t need many desks.
However, since being at St James Business Centre we’ve grown substantially and the office has, of course, grown with us.
As we grew, we decided to switch to a serviced agreement as everything’s done for us.
The conventional option was perfect when we used it too, and it was really straightforward to change over when we needed to.
The building team were really helpful and made sure we had everything covered, so we got exactly what we need from both the building and overall offering.
Our office is on the first floor of the building and is a lovely light and airy space.
Time to get to work
Once I’m at my desk, the first job of the day is usually to check my emails and calendar, review Google alerts, or monitoring reports around keywords and company PR, and any current campaign efforts.
I flag some for sharing on the company social media accounts and pass on any relevant links. Can you guess which department i work in?
Office Perks
Another nice perk of St James is the speed of the wi-fi, we have a managed provision through St James that we utilise and it never lets me down.
I can download documents clients have sent to us easily and send invoices and presentations to them as quickly and securely as you’d expect.
Mid-Morning Adventures
Mid-morning, I need to get everyone together for a team briefing, where I run them through the plans for the week, go over KPIs and next steps to make sure we’re all on track.
We use the on-site meeting and conference rooms for meetings as they come with screens and projectors and we can use the conference phone too, so anyone working from home doesn’t miss out.
With the mid-morning team briefing out of the way, it’s time for another cuppa. I head to the communal kitchen, where I also sneak a quick snack from the fridge.
Then I get my head down for the next few hours working before lunch, going through strategy plans, presentations, and 1-1s with the team.
Talking of lunch, we’re lucky to be able to use the on-site café, rustle something up in the kitchen, or opt for one of the nearby restaurants when hunger strikes. It’s great being situated right by the centre of Warrington, because it’s only a 15-minute walk to the Warrington Food Market with its wide selection of places to eat.
Connections
Once I’ve had my daily lunchtime walk (usually to grab some food), it’s time for a meeting with one of the other tenants.
It’s fantastic having connections with, and access to, an array of like-minded people under the same roof as yourself.
We normally do these meetings in one of the breakout spaces as they’re bright, airy, and informal, so they always make me feel more relaxed and creative.
Energised by my meeting, I attack my afternoon’s work with gusto until I get a message from reception telling me I have a package – the team are brill for signing for packages when we’re in meetings.
This also reminds me to take my own package to be delivered to a client down to reception as I pick the one waiting for me up.
Hometime
As home time looms, I think how lucky I am to have this as my place of work. I can just log off, pack my stuff up, and go home.
When I come in tomorrow, I know the same familiar routine will start again, and I can have another productive day, but it is important to switch up the routine once in awhile to keep me on my toes.
While most people have now returned to work post-Covid, the need for office collaboration is greater than ever.
Over the last two years many of us have successfully transformed parts of our home into temporary offices, however, many have also missed the buzz of the office.
We have all become used to meetings over Zoom or Teams, they have made working from home much easier but simplifying the sharing of documents and projects online.
However, you’d probably agree it doesn’t compare to doing things face-to-face.
The office can play an essential role in influencing and facilitating collaboration and innovation.
It is a place where ideas are shared, solutions found, and relationships are built, which in turn increases productivity, efficiency, motivation, and helps to create a working environment that cannot be replicated at home.
It allows employees to work faster and more effectively, think differently, and learn from others to improve their skills and develop the business.
It’s often said two brains are better than one, and this is never more true when it’s to do with work.
Tricky tasks can be easier to solve together, and creativity can thrive when you’re able to talk directly to someone else who’s working on the same project as you.
It can also save time too, you don’t need to do things by email and the workload can be shared.
Enhanced feedback
Collaboration is a two-way process, where both parties can feel comfortable providing feedback to each other, good and bad.
It’s easier to come up with ideas together and it’s easier to give meaningful feedback face-to-face.
Things like body-language, facial expressions, and getting difficult points across can be more successful on a face-to-face basis.
Improved (head)space
A lot of offices have spaces designed for face-to-face collaboration.
This might be a meeting room, breakout space, or even a section of the office with sofas or beanbags where you can go and meet someone away from your desk.
Areas like this can make you feel more creative and energised – especially if you grab a coffee at the same time and put you in a different headspace to sitting at your desk.
Team building
Another benefit of collaboration in the office is how well it can build teams.
Being in the same location means you can get to know and understand each other well.
Simply seeing and working with someone every day makes forming a relationship much easier, and, of course, team building activities work much better face-to-face in an office than they do online.
A shared purpose
Employees who share a workspace often share a sense of place too. Their office is where they feel at home when they’re away from home.
If they share a sense of place, they’re far more likely to have a shared purpose about the work done at that place too, leading to a willingness to collaborate and work together effectively.
Happy new year! Do you have any new years resolutions planned?
What about a new office? New year can be a great time for change.
Whether you’re looking for something new, lowering your costs, looking for something more convenient or maybe looking for office space with better facilities.
Making change can be a great way to improve your productivity.
A change is as good as a rest
Okay, this old proverb might mean literally changing your job is as good as rest, but it can equally be applied to a change of where you work too.
Having different surroundings can give you meet new people and gain new perspective.
These will all have a positive impact on your mind, body and business.
Clearly, not everyone needs an office full-time or wants to use all the facilities all the time.
If you’ve just started your business or would like a bit of flexibility around when you come into the office, a co-working space could be what you need.
Work in the office as often or as little as you like and take advantage of all the extra services everyone else working here can. That’s the great thing about flexibility – you can make it work for you.
Close to home
A long journey to work isn’t something anyone looks forward to especially on Monday mornings, so why not look for an office closer to home, or convenient to get to?
That doesn’t mean it has to be within walking distance, but close to a motorway junction, train station, or bus stop is ideal.
Less time travelling to and from work means you’ve got more time for yourself to spend with your family, practice your hobbies, or simply doing whatever you like. And what’s not to like about that?
If you’re looking for office space for your business, one of the decisions you might be facing is whether to choose a serviced or leased office. To help you see which one’s right for your business, we’ve put together everything you need to know in this short and helpful guide.
Convenience or freedom
The first thing to consider is which of these is most important to you. Serviced offices are generally more convenient as more or less everything is done for you. All of the important stuff is there, including chairs, desks, and storage. And the essential infrastructure will be in place too. Many serviced offices will have ready-made break out areas, meeting rooms, and cafes or restaurants onsite.
With a leased office, you’ll need to sort out the fixtures and furniture yourself, as well as many of the services. This can take much longer to organise than you might think, so many businesses prefer the convenience of a serviced office. However, you can configure your office space however you like, so you can put your brand stamp on it more than with a serviced office.
Long-term commitment
Leased office spaces are usually a longer-term commitment than serviced office agreements. It can also take time to agree contracts, especially when compared to serviced office agreements. You can usually have more flexibility in the term if you take a serviced office agreement too. This is useful if you’re not sure how long you want to stay in a premises or if you need to move to a larger space as your business grows.
Costs
One advantage of a long lease is that you can sometimes control your overheads, as you can negotiate costs for services, and you know the price of your lease won’t change over the length of its term. With a serviced agreement, you can budget easily as you know what your monthly or annual costs will be, however, you won’t be able to save on overheads as you can with a lease. There’s also no guarantee your costs will be the same if you renew your agreement either.
As with all business decisions, understanding the numbers is vital before you sign anything, so it’s important to make a business plan that includes your projections for the future. This will help you decide which type of office space will suit your needs now and going forward.
The people who work at St James Business Centre are really important to us. Our team come from all sorts of backgrounds and bring their own characters to whatever job they are doing. They’re positive, good organisers, great communicators, real team players and are proud to say ‘we work at St James Business Centre’. Meet Carole Williams, our Assistant Building Manager…
If you could write your own job title that best describes what you do at St James Business Centre, what would it be?
Assistant Building Manager
When did you start at St James Business Centre and what was your first role?
November 2011 was tupe’d over when Langtree bought the building. My first role was Executive Suite Secretary.
What led you to this career and wanting to work at St James Business Centre?
Joined the previous company in 2007 so that I could work closer to home.
Name a work-related accomplishment that you’re really proud of achieving at St James Business Centre?
Promotion to Assistant Building Manager.
Tell us some of your previous experience before working at St James Business Centre?
I was a legal secretary for over 20 years covering all aspects including conveyancing, probate, personal injury, and criminal law.
Sometimes we all need a little bit of advice, what is the best advice you were ever given and who was it from?
Enjoy every day as if it was your last. My mother.
Tell us one thing you saw recently that made you smile?
My grandchildren.
How do you unwind after a busy day or what is your favourite way to unwind at the weekend?
A glass of wine and a good film.
Everyone loves a good movie, what are your top 3 favourite films?
Miss Congeniality – Practical Magic – The Holiday
What’s your favourite place that you’ve ever visited?
Crete.
For any support around the building contact Carole. As assistant building manager Carole is on hand to support you with all your building needs.
St James Business Centre a key asset of town’s Southern Gateway
More than 7,000 sq ft of business space at St James Business Centre – Warrington’s largest hub for small-to-medium enterprises points to the robustness of the town’s economy, say its owners.
Wire Regeneration, the joint venture between Langtree and Warrington Borough Council which operates the St James Business Centre on Wilderspool Causeway, says that the post-pandemic upturn is “real, sustained and indicative of the resilience of local businesses.”
Six new tenants have signed deals at St James Business Centre. The largest deal, for recruitment specialist Lignum, is for almost 3,500 square feet.
“SMEs are the bellwether for any economy and the response of our tenants since the pandemic eased suggests we’re set fair for a period of sustained growth,” says Jayne Furnival, group property director at Langtree.
“An asset like St James is vital to any town wishing to grow a diversified stock of businesses and whatever a firm’s place on its growth curve, we have the office space and lease terms to suit them.”
More than 250 staff now work on site at the thriving centre.
Commenting on their new lease, Sally Dunne of Lignum Group, said:
“We were on the look-out for modern, comfortable space for our growing team that had the benefit of a central location with parking and St James fitted the bill perfectly.
We’re fully geared up to help match employers and candidates as the economy hits its stride.”
The people who work at St James Business Centre are really important to us. Our team come from all sorts of backgrounds and bring their own characters to whatever job they are doing. They’re positive, good organisers, great communicators, real team players and are proud to say ‘we work at St James Business Centre’. Meet Laura Moore, our Building and Facilities Manager…
If you could write your own job title that best describes what you do at St James Business Centre, what would it be?
My role at St James Business Centre is Building and Facilities Manager, the work i do at St James includes looking after the tenants of a multi-let building ensuring all their needs are met. This also includes all soft and hard FM, maintenance, customer service, dealing with all aspects of leases and service charge.
When did you start at St James Business Centre and what was your first role?
My first role at St James Business Centre was Building Manager and i have remained in that role ever since i first began in November 2018.
Why did you want to work at St James Business Centre and what led you to this career?
I began working was at another building service role previously where I had worked my way through and up the company and i felt that it was time to work for a more competitive business who had great knowledge and expertise within the industry i have such a passion for.
Name a work-related accomplishment that you’re really proud of at St James Business Centre?
Refurbishing offices is one of the things i love most about my work and i also enjoy seeing the project through from start to finish.
Being able to see a project through from start to finish provides me with a sense of accomplishment and pride for my work.
Tell us some of your previous experience before working at St James Business Centre?
Before coming to work at St James Business Centre i have previous experience running restaurants in Manchester city centre before i then made the move across to building management which was great fun! I feel i’ve found my passion and i will continue to thrive and grow my career at St James Business Centre where i am able to but myself right at the forefront of the customer journey and support people and businesses alike who come to base themselves at our modern, high-quality space.
What’s the best advice you were ever given and who was it from?
The 6 P’s – Perfect, Planning, Prevents, Pretty, Poor, Performance. I am still an advocate of this today. From my dad.
Tell us one thing you saw recently that made you smile?
My little girl waking up this morning.
What’s your favourite way to unwind after a busy day or at the weekend?
Going for a run.
Everyone loves a good movie, what are your top 3 favourite films?
The Notebook, Shaw Shank Redemption and Cruel intentions for a cheesy chick flick.
What’s your favourite place that you’ve ever visited?
Australia, The Whit Sunday Islands in particular – I would love to live there one day.
For any support around the building contact Laura. As building manager Laura is on hand to support you with all your building needs.
Not sure what to you need to look for in a meeting space? You might be looking to get your staff back together, say hello to new clients, or want to run a training session, so what do you need to know about before booking a meeting space? Here are our top tips to help you find the right space for your needs.
Size is important
Is the space big enough for you to fit everyone in comfortably? Are there enough chairs or desks if need be? If you’re unsure exactly how much space you’ll need, always go for something bigger rather than somewhere that’ll be cramped and uncomfortable for everyone.
Heating and ventilation
These are both vital to keep people warm or cool enough during your meeting. Too hot and people will be distracted, and you’ll struggle to hear yourself over the chattering of teeth if it’s freezing in the room. If there are windows, check if you can open them or if you know how to operate any blinds they might have.
Tech to help you present
A big screen always comes in handy for a PowerPoint presentation or two. And don’t forget phone conferencing equipment, flip charts, and anything else you and the others in the room might need. A good tip is also to make sure you know where the plug sockets are in the meeting room too, as you might need to plug your laptop and possibly a projector in.
Test everything, including the wi-fi
It’s always a good idea to give everything a quick try before you use it for real on the day. Check you understand how to use any equipment in the room, that you can connect to the wi-fi okay, and that you’ve got everything you need with you.
Separate break out facilities
If your meeting is more than an hour or so, you’ll all need to take a break. Having somewhere separate to grab a coffee and/or a bite to eat is a must to keep people focused and hanging on your every word.
Location, location, location
Where you hold your meeting is important too. Make sure it’s somewhere with good parking and transport links that’s easy to find. Ideally, your meeting space should be no more than 15 minutes walking distance from the nearest station, and not too far from a bus stop if possible.
Cost
It goes without saying that finding a meeting space that’s good value for money is vital. Look at what you get for your money and what’s included in your price. Ask for a tour beforehand too, so you can see exactly what you like – and don’t like – about individual venues.
Security
How secure is your venue? Will strangers be able to wander in unannounced? Choose a meeting space with security features like keypad or card access to stop unexpected visitors barging in. Some meeting spaces have staffed reception areas too, which can make things more secure.
Covid-19 has really shaken up the way we do things in almost every aspect of our lives. And one of the areas where things have changed the most is work. So, as we start to slowly ease our way of the pandemic, and return to workplaces, what will the future hold?
Hybrid is here to stay
Of course, none of us can see into the future, but one thing that’s likely to be a feature of the workplace is hybrid working. This means fewer people all in the office at the same time, with most people working a mixture of being in the office and remotely. That might be on a rota basis or with employees choosing what day – or days – to come into the office and larger get togethers for team meetings or to brainstorm projects, for example.
Collaboration and community
Working from home can be an isolating experience and many workers will want to feel like a part of something when they return to their workplace. They see coming into a workplace as a chance to work together and share ideas with others. Equally, a shared sense of belonging will be important to employees too, as the often-solitary experience of remote working will have heightened the need for a work community and being with other people.
‘We’ not ‘me’
The pre-Covid attitude of having your own personal desk and space will be a thing of the past. Hot-desking or sharing your workspace with other people when you’re working remotely will be the norm. Individual work areas might be bigger – you’ll have more space, but just don’t think of it as yours. And, as we said earlier, the focus will be on collaboration and team working, so thinking as a ‘we’ rather than a ‘me’ will be important.
Your workplace might no longer be on your doorstep
Many businesses have cut the amount of physical office buildings they own or lease, especially smaller satellite offices, and are only keeping larger ‘hubs’ or something similar. Consequently, some staff might now have to travel further to their nearest hub than previously and will have to adjust their travel plans on days they come into the office.
Video conferencing has replaced business travel
Travel between sites or to customers and suppliers’ premises for meetings are either a necessary measure or a treat to look forward to, depending on your point of view. However, with the reliance on video conferencing and calls being so vital in lockdown, remote meetings are probably here to stay. There may well be some business travel, but its frequency will definitely drop.
It’s a brilliant location with plentiful parking, easy to reach by road or public transport.
The range of small, medium and large office suites has provided us with the flexibility to tailor the space and cost to meet our requirements without moving away from the building.
As a small business, the convenience of helpful support staff to greet visitors and send a receive mail and parcels is a real bonus, as is the availability of dedicated meeting rooms and available at short notice for customer meetings and product presentations.
A365 LIMITED Tenant at St James Business Centre since 2013
Since moving into St James Business Centre, we have found the team to be extremely friendly, helpful and accommodating. They have supported us on our journey from our start-up phase where we initially needed a small serviced office space through to us moving into our new larger offices. As the business continues to grow, it’s reassuring to know we will be able to remain at the business centre for the long term as Langtree gives us the flexibility to move into larger office space and when we need it.
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