Deciding where to base your business is a big decision and one that should not be taken lightly. There are lots of things you’ll need to consider to ensure you pick the right place, especially if you’re fortunate enough to run a business that isn’t restricted to a particular location.
With 1.1 million businesses already calling the UK’s capital city home, London has a lot to offer both new startups and established businesses. Let’s look at some of the advantages of having a London office.
1. Access to top talent
One of the greatest benefits of a London office is the access you have to a large pool of diverse and talented professionals. Whether you’re in the tech industry, finance or sales, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to your next hire.
Many people move to London at the beginning of their careers, making it a hub for young and talented professionals. 46.2% of the inner London population is made up of people in their early twenties to early forties, giving businesses a vast selection of potential new employees.
London is also the most attractive destination in the world for tech talent looking to relocate from anywhere in the world, with a Boston Consulting Group study finding 12% of respondents would be willing to relocate here. Whether you have a permanent office space or prefer to use shared offices in London, it’s a great base for attracting top talent.
2. Improved connectivity
The UK capital also offers a central location for those needing easy access to other parts of the country and further destinations in Europe. Firstly, getting around London is easy. The London underground connects 272 stations spread across the city, covering an area of 402km.
For travelling around the UK with ease, London’s overground rail connections can take you to every part of the country, with travel to Birmingham in just 2 hours. If your business requires you to travel overseas, London boasts six airports and easy access to Paris and Brussels via the Eurotunnel.
3. Variety of shared office space in London
Perhaps one of the most convenient advantages to having an office in London is the variety of shared office space that is available to you, ensuring you don’t need to fork out on costly premises.
Aside from the obvious cost savings with coworking office spaces in London, you can also use a shared office space membership to travel around the city and work from exactly where you need to be. We’ve got serviced offices all over the city, from upmarket Mayfair to trendy Soho and everywhere in between.
Another advantage to using a shared office in London is the ability to ensure you have a professional image and workspace at all times, especially with the huge selection of creative and collaborative spaces available.
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4. Increased credibility
To much of the world, London is the UK, so having an office here is essential for increasing your credibility and ensuring your overseas clients and business partners take you seriously. First impressions are really important in the business world and starting as you mean to go on by opting for a professional business address in the UK capital is a must.
5. Better meeting space choice
Just as London offers more shared office spaces, it also guarantees a wider choice of meeting space, and we’re not just talking about professional meeting rooms for one-to-ones at your shared office space. There are multiple spaces available for meeting clients, hosting events or holding conferences across the city.
Whether you’re looking for a Michelin starred restaurant to wine and dine an important client or you need a quirky space to hold an event for your employees, London offers meeting rooms for every type of event and business.
6. Improved business opportunities
London is the UK’s capital of professional services, with highly skilled professionals in finance, technology, government, legal and business all over the city. Having office space in London gives you easier access to some of the greatest minds and business mentors available, offering multiple opportunities to learn and grow your business.
Sharing a locale with like-minded people can also help you to connect with other business owners and give you a chance to mutually benefit one another. This is especially true if you work from a shared office in London as you never know who you might be sitting close to from one day to the next, giving you even greater opportunities to meet new people who could benefit your business and vice versa.
In addition, London is the perfect place for organised meetups, workshops and networking. You’ll be able to find an event that’s ideal for your business and interests no matter which part of London you’re in. Eventbrite is a good place to start, enabling you to browse all the events on offer.
7. Premium postcode
We’ve already mentioned the credibility benefits of a London office, but the capital also provides a premium postcode. Even simply listing a London address as your place of business on your website can add a sense of legitimacy and a premium feel to your business, especially to overseas clients. You should never underestimate the power of a postcode and the professional business image this can portray.
The benefits of a London office are plenty, offering something for every type of business and entrepreneur. If you’re looking for serviced office space in London, our advisors can help find the right space for you and your business requirements.