It’s no secret, the number of people working at home and from remote locations is rapidly escalating.
As the Office for National Statistics (ONS) prove, in the first three months of 2013, approximately 13.9% of the UK workforce worked from home offices, the highest number since records began in 1998.
As our blog about how technology is changing the way we work specifies, technology such as Cloud has made homeworking a reality. Despite the unprecedented growth of home working, an office within a home-based setting has limitations.
A Virtual Office is designed to combat the limitations of a home office. Whilst the advantages of a virtual office are fairly blatant and undisputed – namely giving a business a professional address and subsequently a more specialised image – it is safe to say there are several features of virtual offices that remain significantly less recognised and celebrated.
If you are deliberating joining the thousands of SMEs and professionals in their pursuit to take their company and working ventures to new elevated levels by getting a virtual office, take a look at some features of this increasingly popular working practice, you may not realised you needed.
So what do you need in a Virtual Office?
Unlimited post
Company post piling up at home isn’t particularly conducive with professionalism. Nor is failing to be in to collect an important parcel or letter. A Virtual Office immediately eradicates such potential problems.
Virtual Offices, such as Carrwood Park’s Virtual Office, includes unlimited post as part of the package. By ensuring all letters and parcels are picked up and collected in a professional manner will not only mean a crucial company letter isn’t chewed up by the family dog never to be seen again, but will also be collected in a professional manner, heightening the credibility of your company.
Unlimited phone calls
How many times do you get interrupted, your trail of though lost, by the phone ringing? You might not realise it but when you have your own Virtual Office you will have the privilege of having a professional receptionist answer your calls.
Delegating the essential, if not mundane, task of having someone else pick up your phone calls will mean you can enjoy an uninterrupted day’s work and concentrate on elements that will ultimately make your business grow.
The same ‘professional-enhancing’ principle of having a receptionist professional deal with your post can be applied to the unlimited phone calls users of Virtual Offices can take advantage of. With a receptionist answering your calls and either forwarding them to you or to your answering machine will not only mean you can get on with more pressing components of running a business but it will also mean you never miss a call.
Use of a desk
Whilst Virtual Offices are predominantly centred on giving businesses the professionalism of having a glamorous address, as well as phone call and mail forwarding services, it can be equally as beneficial to many SMEs and freelancers to have a desk they can use.
For example, Carrwood Park’s co-working spaces enables workers to reap the benefits of having a professional office desk, namely access to fast Wi-Fi, IT support and the buzz, banter and networking opportunities life in an office offers.
Such vital modern working elements are essential in driving a business forward and nurturing success.
Use of a meeting room
So business is picking up and whilst it was once sufficient to conduct client meetings in a local Starbuck’s, with your company rapidly progressing, you require a more professional, well-facilitated and easy to access meeting room.
Once upon a time you might not have realised you would be needing a meeting room but as your business grows so does the need to hire a professional, well-facilitated meeting room.
Take advantage of Carrwood Park’s meeting rooms, which being just 15 minutes from Leeds City Centre and two minutes from the M1, means your guests can show up and enjoy a professional meeting in the most stylish of environments.
Location, location, location
Estate agents love to say it but the popular phrase ‘location, location, location’ is being adopted by virtual offices.
The location of an office, virtual or not, is important for several reasons. With a desirable and professional-sounding business address, clients, potential clients, outsources and employees are likely to view your business venture with greater credibility.
What’s more, by using an office that is located in a stylish building, on the outskirts of a large city or town with convenient access and free parking, will not only be more convenient for you to use but will be easier for clients to visit.
If you have any further questions or would like to arrange a viewing or to book a Virtual Office at Carrwood Park, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. 