Success in the City – Big City Relocations

Locating your business in a big city has several benefits. The hustle and bustle of a large metropolis seems to transfer its energy to the businesses and its residents, in this blog we are going to explore some of the other benefits to you and your business to relocating to a city.

A city workforce has more workers than a small city or town, thus you have access to a larger quality labour pool with a more varied skill set. A city environment offers businesses a variety of different target employees from different backgrounds bringing diversity to your business.

As well as accessing a diverse employee base, a diverse customer base is also available. Businesses are able to target a certain segment of customers, more prospective customers and higher visibility, especially great if you are in a niche market.

City infrastructures also offer great public transport links such as tubes, trains and busses that are easy and cheap for people to get to work, and for your customers to get to you. Locating in a cluster of innovation, as we have previously mentioned is great for businesses to thrive. Location can create synergy benefits via collaboration between businesses.

A city location also creates greater diversity of professional services to choose from to supplement your business such as accountants and advisers etc.

Not forgetting quality of life – Enabling your employees to access to a wider range of leisure activities such as theatres and shops.

Cities have a totally different set of assets, cultures, values, demographics and aesthetics and opportunities, so find the city that matches your business values and watch it prosper.

Edward Baden are relocation experts with a great wealth of experience in relocating businesses to cities where they can benefit from all these advantages. Get in contact today to find out more about our relocation service and speak to one of our industry experts.

Top Tips for a Seamless Office Move

Spring is in the air and it’s that time of year again when many of us are contemplating a move during the more forgiving summer months, so here are some top tips to ensure your office move is as pain free as possible – let’s face it we could all do with some advice in times of change!

First things first, if you fail to plan, then prepare to fail - we love this saying here at Edward Baden! Come up with a clear set of goals for your relocation. Have your goals agreed upon and finalised and don’t forget a contingency plan as it’s always best to have a plan B, just in case.

Ensure your figures are correct – set a budget and stick to it. Again, a contingency fund would be sensible for any overlooked and unexpected costs. This will enable you to take control of your spend. Edward Baden can cater for a range of budgets and has a multitude of experience in managing public sector relocations so has a plethora of experience in accommodating the most stringent of budgets.

Prepare a time plan – this will help you imagine the process and tick off any goals as they are completed; great for morale and keeping an eye on your critical path.

Prepare staff and facilities – let staff know way in advance you intentions for relocation, the importance of having your workforce working with you, not against you is paramount. In terms of facilities work out what

furniture and equipment will be going with you, what is redundant and what needs to be purchased for the new location, this will allow less lead time in the changeover.

For more top tips regarding your office relocation get in contact with one of our industry experts at Edward Baden today for a free consultation.

Keeping Positive when Relocating

They say moving house is stressful – not to mention an office move with numerous staff and equipment to coordinate! Because of this we have devised some handy tips to advise you how to de-stress in times of change.

Think positive: Keep positive, a positive mental attitude is key when embarking on an office location, think of it as a fresh start, something to be excited about; your business is hopefully moving somewhere more suitable and with better business prospects -  to do not become overwhelmed by change and worry.

Office politics are not something to be indulged. Let your workforce know the plans for relocation and any implications to them way in advance – they are your greatest asset, you need them on board, working with you, not against you and they will appreciate your honesty.

Make life easier for yourself and plan well in advance. Do your research so you feel confident in your actions and decisions. Also, have a contingency plan! Plan for those little hitches and snags along the way that could jeopardise the smooth running of your move.

For more tips and advice regarding your office relocation and to unload some of your stresses onto our industry experts get in contact with Edward Baden today for a high quality and bespoke office relocation service.   

Don’t Gamble when it comes to Office Relocation

Most people are partial to a flutter on the horses and here at Edward Baden HQ we are not ashamed to admit that Grand National fever has hit hard! (Our office sweepstake is hotting-up!) But - we are not advising you to gamble when it comes to office relocation.

 Your office relocation needs time, dedication and planning and is not something to venture into lightly. You cannot underestimate the amount of specialist knowledge needed to complete a successful relocation.

With many years experience and a highly skilled workforce Edward Baden is your sure bet, we understand that careful management, the ability to prepare for the unexpected and a strategic approach whatever the project are essential when implementing all aspects of corporate relocation.

From the specialist work of full officemoves, records management, Fine Art shipment and personal possessions storage, here at Edward Baden we will attend to the smallest detail and the most complex operations to ensure your challenges are met, and your expectations exceeded.

So good luck for Saturday’s Grand National, we hope your bets come in! But remember when it comes to your business, taking a risk it not advisable; put your money on Edward Baden, Contact us today. 

Employee Relocation – HR Issues

Where your employees are vehicles of valuable knowledge embedded in your organisation it is of paramount importance to make any office relocations as pain free as possible for your workforce.

There is a plethora of information regarding managing change within a business but nothing can compare to managing in action and something as big as relocating. To fully embrace the benefits of your business relocation your staff must be 100% on board.

An office relocation can be stressful for staff and create a multitude of changes for any organisation. There are a number of things to consider including staff consultations, employment law and changes to employment contracts. An office will usually create a massive task for HR managers who will play a central role in fully preparing staff for a myriad of changes.

Things to consider:

• Announce the move – Staff will not appreciate secrecy, be clear for reasons. Communication is key.
• Employment Law – Your staff have certain rights when it comes to relocation. When an employer moves, employees with a mobility clause in their contract have to move unless they can prove the request is unreasonable. A mobility clause says that employees have to move within certain limits, unless completely unreasonable.
• Hold forums – Allow staff to let their views be heard and this will enable any problems to come to light to be overcome.
• Reluctance to change – There will inevitably be those staff members, usually those who have been at the organisation the longest, who will not be willing to change or will find it harder to adapt to a new environment and perhaps new ways of doing things, allow extra consideration for these employees.
• Settling-in Period – There are bound to be a few hurdles in relocating, once everyone is in the new premises some staff may take longer than others to settle in. It is important to allow your staff time to settle in and act upon any feedback and suggestions from staff to make their working lives as easy as possible.

To speak to one of out industry experts about your business relocation, get in contact today.  

Office Space to Motivate

The power of your office space cannot be underestimated. The office environment is a very important factor contributing to output; remember a happy workforce in a productive workforce!

The best offices are the ones that are able to keep workforce's motivated, inspired and applied, on the other hand a dull and drab office environment has the power to stifle your workforce, making them resent their jobs resulting in low job satisfaction and low productivity.  

It is critical to promote an environment of freedom and creativity in our modern day environment which is rich in stimulants. Google provides the perfect example with their campus style Mountain View headquarters in California, they attract only the best fresh young talent and perhaps one of the reasons for this is that they have been successful in creating a conducive office environment.

Tips to create a motivational office space:

·         Colour: Forget dull drab office spaces, create a colourful office to brighten up the place and make things more cheerful and stimulating.

·         Personal Touch: Let employees make their own mark; bring in photos, and other personal items, let them be comfortable to be creative. Everyone is different so encourage people to do what they need to do to get the best out of them.

·         Space: Workers need space to feel free to experiment, to get creative and to be organised.

Zoning: Let people chat, bring different people together that wouldn't usually be able to. Create energy to let people talk and create a buzz about the place to rally morale.

·         Light: Allow natural light to flood your office or create interesting and effective lighting solutions.

If you are considering an office relocation to motivate and stimulate your workforce then get in contact with Edward Baden relocations today, we provide expert advice in every aspect office relocations including IT relocation and Public Sector relocations. 

Why Relocate?

There are numerous reasons why companies decide to relocate; we have explored just a few in our most recent blog:

1.       Cost: The primary reason why many businesses consider relocation is due to costs, these may be labour, operating, property or costs in adhering to environmental regulations.  If costs are too high businesses will look for a more favourable location.

2.       Space: Many businesses inevitably outgrow their facilities; taking on a larger unit with better, more modern facilities with room to accommodate future growth is sometimes the only option. 

3.       Market Presence: To increase your presence in the market or to become closer to suppliers/resources.

4.       Labour: To acquire employees with a more specialised labour skill set.

5.       Innovation: Closer to similar companies, entering a cluster of innovation (see previous blog entry)

6.       Quality of Life; It may be the case that it is just the preferred location of the directors.
 

 

Edward Baden are relocation experts, we have the expertise and resources to plan and manage moves of all sizes and complexities, so get incontact now to speak to one of our advisers today.

Location Location Location - Find your Innovation Hub

In this fast paced, technological age academics and business people alike are continuing to stress the importance of location for encouraging innovation and business development – and we think it’s time you took notice too. 

Locating your business in a cluster of innovation means that you can access a rich pool of specialised labour, benefit from knowledge spillovers, and local rivalry can create conditions for specialisation and innovation – All factors that are essential for a business to flourish!

Take Silicon Valley for example– a large number of computer companies relocated here just south of San Francisco in the 1950s, the technological benefits sprouting from their location were plentiful!

So why not consider a relocation for your business to ensure you are where you need to be - Here at Edward Baden we can help you and your business relocate to your innovation hub. We have a dedicated and highly skilled project team to plan and execute your move, facilitating timing and relationship building at every stage which we feel is critical.  Get in contact now to ensure your business location is not holding you back!

This One’s For Chestnut Tree House

Chestnut Tree House exists as the only children’s hospice in Sussex. They care for children and young adults with progressive life limiting conditions in a home away from home environment. The government only funds 8p in every pound, so the hospice relies largely on public support to continue the incredible work they are doing without a charge to the patients.

So we decided to raise some money here at the Edward Baden offices by taking part in Chestnut’s £50 challenge. The idea behind this challenge is to take £50 from the charity and see how much you can add to that within four months. We managed to raise £400! And how did we do this? We bought lots of goodies to fill sweetie trays in the office and then sold them on to staff and customers. It was a cheeky way of enforcing a small donation to the hospice and encouraging larger donations. Satisfying sweet tooths all around the office, whilst donating to a very worthwhile cause really was a no brainer.

However this donation does not mark the end of our support for Chestnut Tree House. We will be continuing with the sweetie tray scheme and also getting our heads together to discuss new ways to raise money. We hope to be sending off another cheque very soon!

Going Green

We are the generation who must carry the burden of the various ecological issues from which our planet suffers and here at Edward Baden, we are doing our bit to make our world a greener place.

·         We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and run low emission vehicles.

·         We have close links with specialist environmental disposal agencies, charities and local education trusts that are able to redistribute and recycle unwanted furniture and equipment.

·         All our packaging materials are locally sourced with high quality materials and where possible produced using recycled materials. Accordingly after use, we endeavour to reduce, collect and recycle our packaging materials.

During a stressful office move, recycling is often the last thing on a long list of priorities. Yet we are also aware that during the moving process, departments are often requested to reduce the quantity of filing to be moved. So we try to help out where we can; through Cube we handle the supply and transport of your recycling sacks and crates. We provide sacks for recycled paper to our customers to encourage a green frame of mind. Alternatively if you do not wish to recycle outright, we offer archiving and a confidential document shredding service. After shredding confidential documents, we make sure they too are pulped and recycled afterwards. Recycling paper is important as it produces fewer polluting emissions, consumes less energy, uses less water and avoids the production of harmful methane gas which is produced when rotting in a landfill.

However it is not only paper we recycle here at Edward Baden. We are proud to be involved with Computer Aid International by providing them with unwanted PC’s and associated equipment that have been donated by our clients. Click here for more information on this and why data security needn’t be a concern.

So call us today on 0800 169 5309 to make sure you choose a company with green interests at heart when planning your relocation.

 

Love Is In The Air!

Here at Edward Baden, we never want to miss an opportunity to celebrate, especially when it’s in recognition of L-O-V-E! So please take advantage of our valentines offers!

 

1)  We will give you a pair of cinema tickets, absolutely free, when you recommend a friend to our company! We’ll hit two hearts with one arrow by helping your friend with all their relocation needs, whilst ensuring you have a great Valentine’s Day with a trip to the pictures on us!
 

2) We are also keeping the heat this February with twelve weeks for the price of six in our climate controlled storage facility. These units offer the ultimate protection against dust and damp and are perfect for those precious items such as fine art, sensitive technology and even fur clothing collections. The facility is run to strict specifications, so as to ensure the quality and timeless aspect of your possessions. Furthermore 24 hour CCTV and individual alarms add an extra degree of protection to help you keep peace of mind. No matter how many/ what objects you need storing, the offer of twelve weeks for the price of six stands the same... Courtesy of Cupid!

 

Contact us for more information.

Here at Edward Baden We Never Hit Snooze!

We might spend today screaming TGIF, but they were shouting TGIT in Gambia yesterday! The President of Gambia has decided to change his working week from Monday to Thursday and give public sector workers Friday off.  He wants to save Friday for prayers, social activities and agriculture.... and let’s not forget sleeping President Jammeh!

This sounds like a great idea but not so great for those who require their services in the much reduced working week. The workers will still have a 40-hour working week, since they clock in at 8am and clock out at 6pm. Yet I’m sure customers will struggle to come to terms with the change in the typically western working week.

 

Here at Edward Baden, we are not only available every Friday, but offer our services to you at the weekend as well. We are flexible to the individual requirements of each business and understand that Monday- Friday sometimes just isn’t enough... let alone Monday-Thursday!

 

Our 24/7 service allows you to relocate in company downtime whether that be on Sunday or at 2 am on Wednesday morning. We offer a service that is easy and convenient for you. Contact us here for more information!

New Year, New Start Thanks to an IT Audit

Sometimes in business things can get a little disorganised, despite your best intentions. When workloads are busy, it’s easy to let less important things slip so it’s easy to see how you might not know exactly what IT equipment your business has and where it is being used. This is where we may be able to help you. An IT audit from Edward Baden may help you gain control of your IT expenditure this year.

A full IT audit from us will help you identify all your equipment, providing detailed reports such as model numbers and other important information. It will also help you keep track of where everything is and how it is being used as our staff will tag each piece of equipment and provide you with a list detailing its location and use.

This IT audit will not only help you to identify what IT equipment is within your business, ideal for when considering new purchases but can also help with asset management and insurance purposes too.

To find out more information on our IT audits or to book one please contact us.

 

Offering you More for 2013

One of our New Year’s resolutions here at Edward Baden is to offer you a wider range of services for 2013, helping you to save time and money. Our strong links with our sister companies make this possible this year. As well as offering you our own relocation services and domestic removals, we can also offer you the following:

• Self Storage – thanks to our close links with Cube Self Storage, we can also offer you household and business storage in a fully secure storage facility.
• Document Archiving and Storage – our sister company Cube Record Management Services offer a range of services for document storage, freeing up space in your office.
• Reusable Plastic Crates – instead of using cardboard boxes for your office or home move this year, you can enjoy fantastic rates on environmentally friendly crate hire thanks to our relationship with EasyCrate.
• Art and Collections Storage – if you have any artwork, fragile items or collections that need storing during your move, our sister company Cube Fine Art offer a range of storage options including climate controlled storage.

So if you need any of our services, or any of the above, simply contact us and we can make all the arrangements for you.

We Make Dreams Come True

Before Christmas we promised to donate presents to the children of Chestnut Tree House, a home away from home for children with serious and life-limiting illnesses. We’re pleased to report that thanks to the help of our customers, we donated eleven presents to the charity, truly making the dreams of the children come true.

The presents included both fun and educational toys and games which we know will be well used and much loved by the children and their families at Chestnut Tree House.

Thanks so much for your continued help and support.

Edward Baden is Detoxing for Charity

We recently told you about the delicious indulgence that has been taking place at Edward Baden HQ over Christmas. Well this month we’ve decided to jump on the January diet bandwagon and have an office detox aimed at increasing energy and decreasing winter colds.

We have introduced lots of healthy alternatives to our office tuck shop and have temporarily increased the price of unhealthy sweets meaning if you feel like an unhealthy nibble this month, at least charity benefits.  

If you’re feeling a bit lethargic after the Christmas period why not get your office to do the same.

All in the name of Charity of course!

Tailored Moving Quotes For All Occasions

We’ve all heard stories of Governments all over the world forcing people to move home for new roads and developments but imagine refusing and having the road built around your house instead. Well that’s exactly what happened to Luo Baogen and his wife in China who felt the compensation the government offered to relocate was inadequate.

We know it never feels like the right time to move but if you have decided to take the plunge and up sticks for whatever reason then why not ask Edward Baden for a no obligation quote tailored to your removal needs.

Happy New Year – Let’s Celebrate with an Offer!

We’d like to take this opportunity to offer all our clients past, present and future a Happy New Year. 2012 was a huge year for us and we undertook some challenging yet rewarding projects as well as launching some new services.

One of the services we launched was our photographic inventory service which was launched last January. To celebrate the birthday of our inventory service as well as celebrating the dawn of a New Year, we’d like to offer all our climate controlled storage clients the service FREE*! Simply take out a new contract with us this January and we’ll take pictures of all your inventory for you for free. We’ll then upload the photos to our database completely free of charge too.

If you’d like to take advantage of this special offer, please contact us for further information on 0800 169 5309.