BLOG

Paul Miller, MD of officebroker.com's Asia Pacific operation, hosted a variety show concert on Sunday evening (18th December) which was headlined by Timomatic, star of hit TV show 'Australia's Got Talent'.

Pictured: Timomatic (left) and Paul Miller, MD of officebroker.com's Asia Pacific operation, at the variety show hosted by Paul.

As 2011 rolls to a close, we would like to take the opportunity to wish our clients and industry colleagues a very Merry Christmas from everyone at officebroker.com.

Following the announcement of our Business Centre of the Month Award winner in December 2011, the 12 centres that make up the shortlist for officebroker.com’s Business Centre of the Year Award have now been finalised.

The winner of officebroker.com’s final award of 2011 is Manchester's Imperial Court, operated by the Serviced Office Company.

Serviced office provider Orega has expanded its UK portfolio with the opening of a new Hammersmith business centre.

Located in the commercial heart of Liverpool, Exchange Flags is a stunning office property and a historical landmark.

An average of £364 per person will be spent this Christmas according to American Express, but as your hard earned money leaves your pocket, have you ever wondered whose face that is looking back at you and just what they did to get there?

From big business to those with a local focus, the uptake of flexible office space has increased by 10% in 2011, driven by bigger businesses still seeking to remedy the hangover of less cost-conscious times.

As the festive celebrations get under way across the UK, we take a look at the real cost of the Christmas Party and ask if Scrooge is the perfect role model for bosses this Christmas.

A business centre located in Highbury, North London, has been recognised for their on-going charity support and fundraising efforts at a drinks reception held at the House of Lords.

Naturally, this week’s Insider is all about last-minute Christmas shopping (some of whom are only just starting), the work’s ‘do, and generally getting in the festive spirit. There’s no Insider Weekly next Friday so this is the last one of the year! We hope you enjoy reading it and as always you can catch up on previous editions here: The Insider Weekly.

* * * * *

These iconic yet humble pieces of office paraphernalia, once a staple part of every workplace, have declined in value and popularity to the point where they could soon disappear altogether - pushed out into the cold by ever-faster and more efficient pieces of kit.

With the help of a sneak preview from our year-to-date stats, officebroker.com's Chris Meredith, Head of UK Sales, shares his views on the industry and gives away his predictions on performance in 2012.

Serviced office provider The Office Group has agreed a joint venture with Network Rail to create a number of flexible workspaces at a variety of its major stations.

The second London City business centre of serviced office provider i2 Office, on Aldersgate in Barbican, has reached an impressive 96% occupancy just 90 days since its official launch.

The video of October's Business Centre of the Month Award winner, the independently operated Brook House in Uxbridge, is now available to view.

Independent property investment fund Rockspring have taken on a 60,000 sq. ft. speculative office development in Staines, marking the latest in a series of office acquisitions by Rockspring across London and the South East.

Believe it or not there is plenty going on this weekend aside from Christmas shopping. Find out what the officebroker.com team are getting up to in this week's edition of the Insider Weekly, and catch up on previous editions in our archive.

* * * * *

As the met office issues severe weather warnings for parts of the UK, it’s important to prepare for the potential effects this could have on your working routine.

As reported recently on the officebroker.com blog, a Gosport-based business centre was gunning for three different awards in the South of England region - and they have successfully walked away with all three to complete their hat-trick.

Technology start-ups seeking offices to rent in London could be facing a shortage, with the high profile “Tech City” expressing concerns that limited office stock could stifle the governments ambition of creating a rival to Silicon Valley in London’s East End.

Serviced office provider Forsyth has opened its third London business centre in the middle of the financial district in Moorgate. Occupying the 6th and 7th floors of a high rise property situated within close proximity to both Barbican and Bank tube stations, the property will provide 280 fully serviced workstations.

The winner of officebroker.com's Business Centre of the Month Award in November 2011 was MWB - Knightsbridge, a top-of-the-range centre in a prestigious location that was formerly home of the 4-star Basil Street Hotel.

Read more in the full press release here:

Business Centre of the Month Award - November 2011

MWB General Manager Mark Grant with Matt Fielden (2nd from left) & Paul Swift (far right), receiving the Award from officebroker.com's Chris Meredith & Simon Jones.

Business Environment, who operate 18 business centres throughout the UK, joined officebroker.com as one of the winners at the Business Centre Association Awards held in London on Friday 25th November, scooping the title of Business Centre of the Year.

December is finally here - bringing with it the first of several very Christmas-y editions of the Insider Weekly! Find out what the officebroker.com team are getting up to in this week’s edition, and check out our archive to catch up on previous editions.

The number of businesses entering serviced office space in Leeds City Centre during 2011 has increased, outstripping 2010 levels by 21% between January – October 2011 when compared to the same 10 month period in 2010.

A nip in the air, frozen windscreens and talk of Christmas trees means that December is well and truly here. Naturally, the arrival of a new month brings yet another faithful round-up from the officebroker.com Blog to recount all of November's goings-on...