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The flexible, short-term nature of serviced and managed office space is appealing to businesses during the recession, according to a recent report by NE Business.

Office providers that offer short-term space as part of a flexible serviced office agreement are in big demand at the moment, as firms attempt to control costs during a difficult economy.

This week, here at officebroker.com we've added another new building to our online database...

The London commercial property market is said to be turning a corner this week. As the third quarter comes to a close, demand for prime London offices are on the up, and property agents have warned that increased demand will start to push rents back up.

officebroker.com has just launched its very own online Resource Centre, a research portal designed to provide information relating to the serviced office space market, as well as support for the small business community.

CB Richard Ellis has found that alternative energy investment in Q2 2009 has already surpassed that of Q1 2009 by one third, which shows that the sector is showing signs of recovery.

The report by CBRE's Energy and Sustainability team shows that wind is still the largest recipient of sustainable energy funds.

This week, here at officebroker.com we've added four new London offices to our online database. Find out more below or follow the link to the dedicated property page, where you can get further information and request pricing and availability details.

The HSBC Tower, an office property in Canary Wharf on Canada Square, is in the midst of negotiations as two parties battle it out for ownership of the building. Set to be sold for a reported sum of around £800m, the building will then be leased back to HSBC by the new owners.

According to Property Week, two parties - one from South Korea and another from Malaysia - are said to be competing against each other to buy the tower for between £790m and £800m.

Edinburgh could be in for the year's biggest office space lease agreement, if energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie decide to go ahead with plans to move into the capital’s new Exchange Place development.

According to Scotland on Sunday, the firm are reportedly considering 40,000 sq ft of office space in the scheme, which is expected to add up to £1.1 million a year in rent alone.

Today, the BBC will reportedly receive keys to what is currently known as 'Building C' in the acclaimed new development MediaCity, in Salford. The office and studio property will become home to radio station 5 Live and BBC Sport.

It's also been revealed that MediaCity has become the first development in the world to become a sustainable community that has been approved through BREEAM status.

A new survey by Tenon has seen a sharp increase in the number of entrepreneurs and small businesses who feel confident about their opportunities.

Results were compared with a similar survey conducted last quarter. Nationally, almost one third of small firms surveyed this time said they expected demand to increase over the next quarter. The survey also reported a drop in the number of respondents who expect demand to fall.

Packington Hall, a former mansion near Lichfield which has more recently been used as office space, is to be put up for sale at the Bigwood auction sales on Tuesday, October 6th, in the Holte Suite at Villa Park.

On Sunday 11th October 2009, the EDF Energy Birmingham Half Marathon takes place on the streets of Birmingham.

Taking part in the event is our very own Matt Elleman, a Designer here at officebroker.com, who is running on behalf of Cancer Research, the world's leading cancer support and research charity.

officebroker.com has added yet more new serviced offices online this week. We now have another five properties, based in Chester, Hull, Wembley, East Sussex, and Hertfordshire.

Find out more below, or get in touch with one of our regional consultants for pricing and availability details.

An office in Manchester, which was built in the 1970s and has become a major eyesore in the city, received a transformation last year which finally saw it acquire new tenants.

Having been empty for nearly 17 months, a construction consultant company has now taken up a 10-year lease for 1,800 sq ft of office space within the building, which has achieved Grade A status.

Leeds City Council has recently permitted the first phase go-ahead of an £80m mixed-use office and business park in Garforth, near Leeds.

The 70-acre site was purchased from Prudential in March 2008 and is owned by CalEast Global Logistics, and development partner Barwood Developments.

officebroker.com has added a new office in Bristol to its online database, along with a number of buildings in other locations that have also been added this week. Find out more below...

Despite an 8% drop in take-up of office space in Cardiff for the second quarter of 2009, the Welsh capital has outperformed many other major UK cities, including Leeds and Birmingham.

According to Wales Online, BNP Paribas Real Estate recorded the figures, which saw Q2 reach 52,000 sq ft of take-up, compared to 56,655 sq ft in Q1.

David Moorcroft OBE and Lord Sebastian Coe KBE attended a business event last Friday at the Ramada Hotel in Kidderminster. New Business Manager for officebroker.com Jo Davey was also in attendance, and heard how the London 2012 Olympic Games can benefit businesses in the West Midlands as well as other locations outside of the capital.

An office property in Liverpool, the former Pearl Assurance House, has reportedly received £2.5 million from Hong Kong-based investors Mordril Estates for an extensive refurbishment project.

According to the Liverpool Post, Mordril has renamed the building to One Derby Square as part of the agreement, and is now aiming to let the 25,600 sq ft of office space.

Two serviced offices have just been added to the officebroker.com online database. Both are located close to Manchester and offer flexible, easily managed office space with a range of benefits.

Office space in Edinburgh at The Stamp Office, a flagship property on Waterloo Place, has reached full capacity in record time.

According to Property Executive, it has taken just over a year to refurbish, market and lease all of the property's vacant offices. It is now fully let to seven companies and over 400 people.

This week, representatives of officebroker.com are attending the annual OBCAI (Office Business Centre Association International) conference in San Diego.

Running from Thursday 24th - Sunday 27th September at the Sheraton Hotel & Marina, the event attracts office providers, brokers and market professionals from across the country - and from across the world.

Here at officebroker.com we have just added another property to our online database. If you're looking for affordable office space in Birmingham, within walking distance of the Selly Oak train Station, this recently added property could be right up your street...

Office space in Birmingham, Harborne Lane

Land Securities has sold one-third of its share in the Birmingham Bull Ring to Australian investors the Future Fund, for a reported sum of £210m.

According to online reports, Land Securities had a 'passive' interest in the retail site, as their joint venture partners had control over the site.

A North West serviced office space company, Prospect Business Centres, is reportedly expanding its operations following a £2m investment.

According to an article by TheBusinessDesk, the company currently has two business centres in Leeds and has now launched its third property, containing 15,000 sq ft of office space, in York. It can hold up to 70 desks as part of a flexible, serviced office space agreement.

In an investigation by officebroker.com into the volume of enquiries received for serviced offices in the North West, statistics show that in the first eight months of 2009, August has produced the highest level of enquiries so far.

As the biggest figure received so far this year, August's total is just 6% behind that of 2008's peak, which was recorded in January.

Last week, officebroker.com added a number of new serviced office space properties in London to its online portfolio.

Offices in the City, Clapham, Mayfair, Marylebone and Highbury have recently been added to the website. Find out more below or by visiting the details page of each new listing.

The Ministry of Defence is selling its Glasgow office space, which it uses for administration, payroll and personnel work, for a reported sum of £47m.

According to the Sunday Herald, the property is to be sold in a leaseback deal which will allow the MoD to continue leasing the office space for the next 20 years.

Office properties in the south of Manchester have seen a surge in transactions, according to the Manchester Evening News.

More businesses are taking advantage of low mortgage rates and are snapping up offices in Manchester, signalling a possible return in economic confidence.

Amidst job securities, redundancies and rising unemployment figures, many budding entrepreneurs are taking matters into their own hands by setting up their own businesses.

And University students and graduates are no exception. But the route to success can be a difficult one, as a result of limited funding, resources, and trying to find a balance between work and study.

St Peter's Square in Manchester is set to benefit from a £50m redevelopment of Elisabeth House, according to North West news source TheBusinessDesk.

Developers announced that they are submitting the plans, which reportedly include up to 22,500 sq ft of office space, along with public exhibition space and a double height reception, offering views across St Peter's Square.

A new non-stop daily service between Manchester and JFK airport in New York has been announced by American Airlines. The route will start on 16th May and will continue until 30th September, 2010.

Boeing 757-200 aircrafts that have been reconfigured for international operations will transport passengers on the new route, each one offering 182 seats, and 16 lie-flat Business Class seats.

Some businesses seeking office space in Birmingham are starting to seek 'alternative' options, according to property consultant Drivers Jonas.

The agency have noticed an increase in Midlands' businesses that are choosing to switch to less conventional offices, providing the centres have good transport links.

Outline planning consent has been given by Wandsworth Council for a new 550,000 sq ft property, to be located on the south bank of the River Thames. Consent has reportedly been agreed based on a contribution towards transport in the area.

The new £500m US embassy has yet to secure an architect - this will be decided following a competition between four US-based architectural practices.

TerraCycle, a US recycling business that was founded in 2001, has acquired office space in London in order to expand its operations into the UK and European market.

The company focuses on 'up-cycling', where materials are kept in their original form and re-used rather than being broken down and made into other items. The waste products are cleaned, and then shaped, sewn or fused into useable products.

According to the Birmingham Post, the first completed phase of a new office property at Snow Hill in Birmingham is to be sold in order to raise funds to complete the rest of the development, which has been set back by the recession.

The property is expected to go on the market this week, and the sale is likely to be handled by Jones Lang LaSalle. The property totals 250,000 sq ft of office space, and is currently almost fully let on long-term lease agreements to Barclays and KPMG.

A property developer in Macclesfield has appointed an office design and fit-out firm, Preferred Office Environments, to convert its building into serviced office space.

According to TheBusinessDesk, developers Emsix are reportedly looking to refurbish the exterior of the property, and then to introduce a gym, glass folding walls and a dining area inside the building.

A new property development project in the North East - Durham Gate - now has property veteran Ian Beaumont at the helm to help drive the project forward.

According to Property Executive, Beaumont is the new project director, and will use his 20 years' experience to watch over the development of the site, and ensure it reaches the highest possible standards.

The official opening of Innovation Boulevard, a new road network at the Liverpool Innovation Park, took place last week. The new route is expected to attract more business interest in the area.

The Liverpool Innovation Park is a science park containing space for offices and laboratories. Liverpool Vision have now completed the new road and created six development plots, which significantly opens up the site.

The Lehman Brothers' former conference centre in the City of London reopened for business yesterday, under new management by serviced office firm Regus.

According to Thisislondon.co.uk, the site in Broadgate Circle, near Liverpool Street station, is owned by British Land and was previously leased to the Lehman Brothers before the firm's collapse last year.

Last week, here at officebroker.com we added three new serviced office properties to our online database.

These new offices are based in Buckinghamshire, Surrey, and Hampshire. If you're seeking office space in any of these locations, take a look at our latest additions...

It has been announced today that Mark Dixon, Chief Executive and founder of serviced office company Regus, is to sell 10% of his personal stake in the business.

Said to be selling around 35 million shares, Dixon claims that there is no particular reason for the sale. Speaking to the Financial Times, he said:

Real estate company Hammerson is looking to buy a prime development site in the City of London, which is due to include 500,000 sq ft of office space.

According to Property Week, the site was originally due to be secured as a head office for JP Morgan, but Hammerson is said to have made their intentions clear after the initial negotiations fell through. JP Morgan instead decided to create a 1.7m sq ft headquarters at Riverside South in Canary Wharf.

A historic Grade II listed property in Ramsgate, Kent, has been sold to developers with the intention of being converted into an enterprise centre and serviced office space.

Previously a Customs House, the property is said to be in a poor state of repair but offers enormous potential. Redevelopment work is said to have already started on the building.

Property consultants CB Richard Ellis are due to sell its City of London office portfolio, containing three properties in the capital’s Square Mile - Cutlers Exchange, 117-119 Houndsditch, and Cutlers Court.

Combined, the properties total 123,616 sq ft of office space.

Savills has recently undergone a survey of over 4,000 office based companies in the UK, to establish the current sentiments in relation to office space.

Most respondents were from the business services, manufacturing and industry, and financial services sectors.

Results show that as a result of the recession, many companies are returning to the 'property fundamentals' of cost, location and quality.

A property in Leeds, formerly the site of the Leeds Employment Office, has been transformed into Grade A office space following an eight-month refurbishment project.

DTZ Investment Management purchased the property in 2005. DTZ then acted as design and cost consultants on the scheme, as well as property agent.

Arthrex, a sports medicine development firm with a head office in Florida, has recently moved its UK operations from Sheffield to a property at the 50-acre Smithy Wood Office Park scheme.

The move is said to form part of the company's expansion programme, and is also the latest in a string of lettings at the Smithy Wood.

Today, the West End in London has reportedly received two of its biggest office space deals since the beginning of the recession.

A property on Savile Row in Mayfair - which was built on the site of the former English Heritage HQ - has gained two separate leases for office space, one by insurance entrepreneur Clive Cowdery, and a second by General Atlantic Partners, an American private equity group.

As previously reported on our blog, the Co-operative Group have applied for planning permission to build a new £100m head office in Manchester city centre.

Today we can report that the scheme has been given further approval by council planning officials, giving the green light for the new 325,000 sq ft property.

A serviced office provider in London, based on Primrose Hill, has come up with a novel way of extending their meeting room space.

'Parker', a 1957 vintage Rolls Royce, provides a comfortable and private setting for office tenants to meet clients, take a confidential phone call or simply enjoy some peace and quiet.

A serviced office provider, with business centres in numerous locations across the UK, has recently commended officebroker.com consultants as the "best in the market".

This week, officebroker.com welcomes Elisha Donowa to the team.

Currently working on our busy switchboard and reception at our Midlands office near Tamworth, Elisha is filling in for the week while receptionist Kerry is on holiday.

James Caan, star of hit TV programme Dragon's Den, is said to be teaming up with banking and savings firm ING for a new UK commercial property fund.

According to a report by City Wire, Caan will be working alongside the head of property investment at ING, Simon Latham, and will act as an investment adviser on the fund. The result - Hamilton Bradshaw Diversified Property fund - is due to be launching in the autumn.

A former TV studio in Kent is set to be remodelled into office space, and a major data centre for back-up and disaster recovery systems.

The property, which comprises 25,000 sq ft of office space, used to broadcast programmes such as The Basil Brush Show and the Eurovision Song Contest.

In our latest report, serviced office space take-up figures for the South West region has increased by 200% in August, compared to the same month last year.

Office take-up figures for the region have shown a positive upward trend over the last few months, boosted by the highest figure of the year to date in August - representing a strong performance for the South West and positive signs for the region's serviced office space market, for the remainder of Q3 and into Q4.

The Environment Agency, based in Bristol, have built the greenest office building in the UK. The property scored the highest BREEAM rating ever in the UK, reaching 85.06%.

Rain water is harvested and then re-used throughout the building, while an intelligent lighting system helps keep electricity use and costs down.

A development firm have outlined plans to develop a new office property in Nottingham, just off Junction 25 of the M1.

Regent Developments, based in Derby, have received the necessary go-ahead for their plans in Sandiacre. The scheme is expected to feature 21,375 sq ft of office space across three storeys.

The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) has launched a £4.9m scheme, which is set to provide free mentoring services for senior managers of small businesses in the North West.

'The Legal 500' - the UK legal market's largest and most in-depth survey - has recently published its analysis charting the practices of over 1,000 law firms, and more than 220 sets of barristers' chambers and Scottish stables.

First published in 1988, this is the twenty-second edition of The Legal 500.

Findings for the North-West show that "Spinningfields has become the heart of the legal industry" - with a number of law firms including Halliwells, Shoosmiths, Pinsent Masons and Beachcroft taking up office space in the region.

The University of Manchester is set for a new £30m building for its School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science. Plans for the five-storey property include research facilities, teaching laboratories, enquiry based learning facilities, and academic offices.

The work is part of the University of Manchester's £650 million construction masterplan - which is said to be the biggest ever carried out within the UK Higher Education sector.

The redevelopment of the Titanic Quarter, a 185-acre site on the banks of the river Lagan, is set to bring hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars, retail and office space to Belfast, in one of Europe's largest waterfront developments.

Further planning content has just been secured, concerning applications that include apartments, cafes, restaurants and a doctor's surgery. Permission to construct a five-star boutique hotel and build an extension onto the former Harland & Wolff Headquarters building has also been submitted.

Following a difficult year so far, Northern Ireland's troubled office space and property market has begun to improve, according to a report by CB Richard Ellis.

Despite subdued investment activity and a drop in office space demand, Q3 is reportedly set for an increase in negotiations and deals. The quarter has also produced improved interest in selected investment assets.

The Carbuncle Cup, the award no architect wants to win, has recently been awarded to a property on Liverpool's World Heritage listed waterfront.

The Pier Head Ferry Terminal, designed by Belfast-based Hamilton Architects, has been nominated as this year's ugliest building in an anti-Stirling Prize scheme set up by Amanda Baillieu of architectural newspaper Building Design.

James Caan, successful entrepreneur and star of TV show 'Dragon's Den', is supporting a government-run scheme led by the Department of Business Innovation and Skills.

The iawards have been set up by the government to recognise and support the best of British science, innovation and technology. Science and Innovation Minister Lord Drayson is also backing the scheme alongside Caan.

Readers of Conde Nast Traveller Magazine have voted London, Edinburgh and Liverpool as the top three destinations for UK city breaks.

Cities were scored on a number of factors, including aesthetics, architecture, cleanliness, culture, environmental friendliness, restaurants, nightlife, hospitality, range of accommodation, safety and value for money.

Finding a prestigious location for your company can be an expensive business, especially when many firms are looking to cut costs amid the current economic downturn.

But serviced offices offer an effective, affordable solution, with flexible easy-in, easy-out terms that allow businesses to trial new locations without putting up sky-high deposits or committing to lengthy leases.

A listed office property in Liverpool city centre, currently the headquarters of Merseytravel, is to be sold through CB Richard Ellis ahead of the transport company's move to Liverpool's Mann Island area in 2011.

The property currently has 50,000 sq ft of office space, but CBRE state that this could potentially be converted into other uses, such as student accommodation, a hotel or residential units.

Associated Architects, the company behind the landmark Mailbox scheme in Birmingham city centre, have moved 60 staff into the very offices that they designed back in 2000.

The architects have reportedly moved from their original location in the Colmore Quarter into a new 7,000 sq ft office on Severn Street Place, which is part of the award-winning, mixed-use Mailbox scheme.

Office space properties are often placed into one of three classifications - Grade A, Grade B, and Grade C, which refer to the quality and standard of the building.

Although there is no clear definition of what a property must achieve in order to fit into these categories, officebroker.com has come up with a general description of these grades.

A law firm who has recently acquired office space in Spinningfields, Manchester's answer to the Square Mile in London, has contracted Warrington based Claremont Group Interiors to design, fit out, furnish and cable their new offices.

Shoosmiths' first office in Manchester, based on Hardman Street, occupies 9,925 sq ft on the seventh floor and will provide the base for 60 staff.

As reported on our blog in August, North-West media company Ten Alps recently opened a new office in Asia as part of their continued expansion.

Since then, TheBusinessDesk reports that Ten Alps has signed a 3-year distribution deal with BBC Worldwide. The agreement will see BBC Worldwide working closely with Ten Alps, to provide support and development funding. In return, the BBC will have exclusive first option rights to distribute commissioned programmes on a global basis.

The Aston Science Park, owned by Birmingham City Council, is undergoing a re-launch this autumn as part of a new look and direction.

Following 27 years in operation, the Science Park - now known as Birmingham Science Park Aston - will provide services to assist high-tech start-up and early-stage businesses in the region.

Offices in Soho, based on Dean Street in the W1 region of Central London, have recently been leased to media company Munky Limited, in an agreement through MERJS.

Colin Becker, Equity Director for MERJS, commented in a press release:

"Dean Street is well located in the Soho area. It's easy to get to so many key locations from there, and the refurbishment really does bring out the best features of the period office space."

As reported on our blog yesterday, Japanese bank Nomura has recently secured a long-term lease at offices in the City of London.

It has been revealed that the firm has secured a period of almost six years completely rent-free. Such a negotiation has been made possible partly due to economic conditions, but also because Nomura has agreed to fit out the newly developed property.

This week's report shows that Edinburgh office space enquiries for 2009 are on target for Q3, with one month still to go.

Over the first two quarters of 2009, Edinburgh has produced a fairly consistent pattern of enquiries. The figures then peaked sharply on entry into Q3 (July), producing the highest monthly enquiry figures of the year so far.

The latest UK Business Confidence Monitor Report for Q3 2009, produced by the Institute of Chartered Accountants, shows that business confidence has risen dramatically since Q1 2009, at which point confidence levels were at their lowest since the report began in 2004.

The report shows that confidence is now in "positive territory". The change seen this quarter is the largest quarterly improvement since the Business Confidence Monitor began.

Imperial College have bought a West London site from the BBC, for a reported £28m.

Previously occupied by BBC Worldwide, which has now relocated to the White City Media Village, the site will be used by Imperial College for teaching, research and administrative facilities.

A serviced office provider located on Temple Row, in Birmingham city centre, has recently expanded its operation by taking on two extra vacant floors as part of an existing lease agreement.

Citibase now occupies the entire property, which is owned by CB Richard Ellis Investors.

An office property in the City of London - Watermark Place, based on Angel Lane in the EC4 district - will soon be occupied entirely by Japanese banking firm Nomura on a 20-year lease agreement. The property is currently being developed by Oxford Properties Group.

The future of Battersea power station, a Grade II listed property situated on the banks of the Thames in the SW area of London, Wandsworth, has reportedly been cast in doubt again, as the property's current owner is struggling for survival against debts of £1.6bn.

Irish property company Real Estate Opportunities bought the former power station in 2006, and submitted plans for a scheme covering 1.5m sq ft of office space and 3,700 homes, along with shops, restaurants and leisure facilities. An extension of London Underground's Northern Line to the site is also in the pipeline.