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Leasing the Right Office is Good for Business

Posted July 14th, 2010 by your virtual office assistant

A warm welcome at Hyde Park House receptionWhen marketing a specific brand or company, one of the most important things you have to have is the right image. It is no different for your business; you want to project your business in a way that is appealing to others: And they will remember you by.

Images create an instant impression and can manipulate the viewer into thinking in a certain way about your business and can even influence them to buy things from you. The image your business has is the key factor in how it is perceived by your potential customers. It will happen whether you like it or not, so getting it right first time is crucial; otherwise your business could be tarnished with a brush that you may not have intended.

Many of the Tenants at Hyde Park House use images of the office building on their websites and in their literature in order to promote their company as a large organisation, and thus enabling them to compete in the market place with large national companies.

Our various sized meeting rooms are available to rent by the hour, half day or full day, and can accommodate one to one private meetings, larger board meetings or workshops and seminars. With options for audio visual presentation and catering, the emphasis is on creating a professional image for your business.

Of course, whilst the instant impression of your business will be based upon the images and design you use, long term, successful business relationships are influenced by the beliefs, thoughts, opinions, what they hear and what they actually see as well as the experience they have dealing with you as a company and your customer service.

Hyde Park House Real and Virtual Secretarial Services.

telephone answering with a smileOur experienced receptionists and virtual secretaries are on hand to offer a front of house service to your business; this includes;

  • A warm welcome to your visitors on arrival at Hyde Park House.
  • Answering the telephone on your behalf and in your company name.
  • Message, email and post handling.
  • Typing and bookkeeping.
  • Presentation services and meeting organisation.

Why not use our dedicated business centre team as an extension to your staff?

With a telephone answering service and the full range of secretarial services available to all tenants of serviced offices at Hyde Park House you can also get your telephone answered, your post handled, your correspondence typed and your filing complete; leaving you free to get on with running your business.

To find out about Services Office Rental and the extensive Virtual Assistant Services at Hyde Park House call Lynsey now on 0161 367 9000 or email her.

Hyde Park House, Tameside, Cheshire; offers flexible terms on Office Space to Rent, convenient for Manchester, Stockport and just a short drive from Manchester Airport.

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Selecting Office Rental Space

Posted June 10th, 2010 by your virtual office assistant

Choosing flexible office space to rentThere are a number of common mistakes made by businesses when they are selecting new office space for lease. From new start up ventures through to multi-national corporations; selecting the right offices to rent is an essential element in the running of your business.

Finding the right office or business premises is almost as important as developing the right business opportunity. If you have spent endless hours developing business plans, developing marketing strategies and sourcing funding, make sure you also dedicate quality time to finding the right home for your business; don’t put it to the bottom of your to-do list.

Some of the most common pitfalls met by businesses looking to secure premises include:

  • Office Space doesn’t match your Business Image.
    Don’t underestimate the value of appearances. How your office looks can have a huge impact on business and investor relations so it is crucial that the premises you choose match with the image you want for your business.
    What image do you want for your company? A corporate solicitors firm operating from above a hairdressers’ might not give the best first impression. All the office space to rent at Hyde Park House offers a prestige address and a professional first impression for all types of business whether you are building contractor, sales team or architects practice.
  • Not choosing Flexible Office Space to fit Future Plans.
    You may find the premises you choose are ideal for your business needs now, but what about in five years time? If you have signed a long term lease then you may get stuck with your office space when it is no longer appropriate for your needs.
    One of the best ways to avoid this trap is to opt for serviced office rental as available at Hyde Park House; this type of office space is becoming increasingly popular with all businesses – large or small. Serviced office space is let on a flexible agreement, so you are not tied into a long term agreement and you can change your office space as your business needs dictate, whether it be up-sizing or down-sizing.  Hyde Park House takes a very flexible approach to office rental to ensure it constantly meet the needs of its tenants.
  • Choosing Cheap Office Rental as a Compromise.
    You may find offices to let in rural or harder to reach places offer a lower rent than those within easy reach of amenities and transport links: But beware – this may be a false economy when you consider how far you have to travel to a post office, local shop or even the nearest bus stop. Think of your visitors; will they be able to find you? Offices to let at Hyde Park House offer ‘out of town prices’ with convenient access: It is located only a short drive from Glossop, Ashton-under-Lyne, Oldham, Stockport and Manchester and has excellent links to the M60, M56 and M62 networks.
  • Inappropriate Office Space Format or Layout.
    Never underestimate how important the right layout and atmosphere within your office space are: The wrong layout can be disastrous. If you want interaction and communication between staff and departments, go for an open plan office space, but this may not be conducive for business if it requires privacy, such as law.
    Hyde Park House has its own in-house maintenance team and can ‘build’ an office space to suit your needs; this might include building a small meeting room or private office within your main open plan office suite.
  • Not Budgeting for Hidden Office Costs.
    This is one of the largest mistakes made by new businesses every year; just at the time when over spending can prove fatal to the business. In addition to the budget for office rental, many businesses fail to budget for a service charge, heating, lighting, furniture, insurance, etc.
    This is why Serviced Office Space like that available at Hyde Park House is becoming so popular, there are no ‘hidden’ costs; they are all included in the monthly rent you pay for your office space. Don’t worry about over spending, choose Hyde Park House Serviced Offices and they’ll take care of everything for you.

Hyde Park House Secretarial Services.

A warm welcome at Hyde Park House receptionWith the full range of secretarial services also available to all tenants of serviced offices at Hyde Park House you can also get your telephone answered, your post handled, your correspondence typed and your filing complete.

To find out about Services Office Rental and the extensive Virtual Assistant Services at Hyde Park House call Lynsey now on 0161 367 9000 or email her.

Hyde Park House, Tameside, Cheshire; offers flexible terms on Office Space to Rent, convenient for Manchester, Stockport and just a short drive from Manchester Airport.

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Public Sector Debt can be Reduced by Virtual Assistants

Posted May 18th, 2010 by your virtual office assistant

The Government in need of Virtual AssistantsWith David Cameron moving in to Number 10 and continued talks about national, and indeed international, debt needing to be controlled and reduced; the sound of the axe making bigger and deeper cuts is getting louder.

Over the coming months it seems that all Government Departments and Public Sector Operations are going to be examined under the microscope and squeezed to ensure there is no waste and that all services are being delivered cost effectively.

No one likes change, but this is an excellent opportunity to make some overdue changes to Public Sector operating systems that should not be wasted. Whilst it is normal to focus on the negative aspects of change when they are targeted to achieve a cost reduction; the benefits of outsourcing some administrative functions should not be overlooked.

The positive aspects of administrative services in the Public Sector being provided by Virtual Office Assistants are very similar to those available to the small business and the large private organisation; service can be improved, costs can be saved, flexibility is increased and the public are better served – a win, win, win, win!

Top Rate Virtual Office Services.

Making cost savings of £14 billion by 2013 is not going to be easy, but it is critical for the Public Sector to focus on best practise, improved service delivery and enhanced accountability, so experienced administration virtual office service teams are standing by ready to deliver a top rate service to the Public Sector.

Areas of administration that are commonly overmanned and poorly managed include:

  • Routine and repetitive tasks such as payroll
  • Dispatch of mail shots and brochures
  • Database building and maintenance
  • Telephone answering and message handling
  • Appointment booking and reminders
  • Handling of general email enquiries
  • Opening and distribution of incoming post
  • Making travel arrangements and booking accommodation

Many Public Sector department managers may already be wondering where to turn for help and advice on using virtual assistants in order that administration tasks can be managed and delivered remotely whilst also achieving an improvement in quality of service.

A warm welcome at Hyde Park House receptionLynsey Handley from the Virtual Assistant Services at Hyde Park House knows that success depends on three things: planning, commitment and communication. Call Lynsey now on 0161 367 9000 or email her to get the help and advice you need to achieve your budget cuts and deliver excellent:

Hyde Park House, Tameside, Cheshire; offering virtual office services to the Public Sector as well as flexible terms on Office Space to Rent, convenient for Manchester, Stockport and just a short drive from Manchester Airport.

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Farewell Gill!

Posted May 14th, 2010 by your virtual office assistant

A warm welcome at Hyde Park House receptionAt Hyde Park House the Virtual Reception and Assistant Services are provided by real people!

On Friday, 14th May we will be sorry to see one of our real virtual receptionists, Gill Ryan leave us for pastures new.  Gill has been a receptionist at Hyde Park House since 2001, during that time she has been a vital member of the Business Centre team providing a warm and professional welcome to the tenants and visitors of Hyde Park House

We all wish Gill and her family the very best of luck as they relocate to Cyprus!

telephone answering with a smileWe would also like to extend a warm welcome to Jenny Fox who will be taking over from Gill on Monday, 17th May.  Jenny is a highly experienced receptionist and personal assistant who will play an important role as ‘real life’ receptionist at Hyde Park House as well as being a member of the virtual office services team, providing pay as you go secretarial services such as;

  • Live telephone call answering services
  • Message and distribution
  • Post collection, opening and sorting
  • Mail-shot co-ordination
  • Fax and photocopying services
  • Full administrative, typing and secretarial services
  • Full reception support
  • Bookkeeping services

To benefit from Jenny and the whole Virtual Office Services Team’s expertise call Lynsey now on 0161 367 9000 or email lynsey@hydeparkhouse.co.uk.

Hyde Park House, Tameside, Cheshire; offering virtual office services to the World as well as flexible terms on Office Space to Rent, convenient for Manchester, Stockport and just a short drive from Manchester Airport.

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Local Civic Mayor visits Hyde Park House

Posted April 12th, 2010 by your virtual office assistant

Civic Mayor of Tameside visits Hyde Park HouseThe Civic Mayor of Tameside, Cllr John Sullivan and party visited a number of Hyde based businesses in March including three businesses in ‘one stop’ at the Hyde Park House Business Centre at Cartwright Street, Hyde.

Each year, the Mayor of Tameside, makes visits to employers in the Borough. The visits demonstrate the importance of these and similar employers to the local economy, and enable the companies to find out the range of support they may receive via the Council and its partner agencies.

Hyde Park House, opened in 1986, is owned and operated by Manchester and Northern Developments Ltd and has remained a family run office rental business with an outstanding reputation for its commitment to local business.  The centre is a thriving hub housing a wide range of businesses – each with an entrepreneurial and innovative approach including Ricta UK and the Mosaic Partnership and MG Copiers, whom the Civic Mayor had time to explore, all in half a day

The Civic Mayor was impressed with the range of facilities – “I am so pleased to have visited this centre and seen for myself the excellent business environment in the wonderful location of Hyde, although it is practically on my doorstep I was fascinated to find out the reach of some of the businesses located there – some servicing specialist international markets and others developing a loyal local customer base – the centre reflects everything positive about the Borough of Tameside, the willingness to be inventive, to strive and for businesses to  work together for mutual success.”

Hyde Park Business Centre offers flexible serviced office space from 150 – 7,000 sq ft including virtual office and e-space with full virtual assistant services: A prestigious address, virtual office services including telephone answering available on site and just a short distance from Manchester and Stockport, with access to the M60 motorway, the national rail network and Manchester Airport.

For details of the office space for lease and the range of flexible rental options, including e-Space with full virtual assistant services at Hyde Park House from just £99 a month, call Lynsey on 0161 367 9000 or email lynsey@hydeparkhouse.co.uk.

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Ten Top Tips for Answering the Telephone.

Posted March 17th, 2010 by your virtual office assistant

telephone answering with a smileFor most small b2b companies the telephone is a critical business tool: When and how you answer it could make the difference between business success and failure. When your competitors are only a phone call away, make sure your customers don’t need to call them:

  1. Answer the phone on the third ring. Don’t answer too quickly; you may catch your caller off guard, don’t let it ring longer; you don’t want your caller to think you aren’t there.
  2. Answer the phone with a smile. The caller’s first impression of your company will be the warmth of the greeting.
  3. Introduce yourself and your company. Ensure your caller knows they have called the right number and who they are speaking with.
  4. Pause for breath. Don’t speak too quickly; make sure your caller is able to understand what you are saying.
  5. Be positive and helpful. If you can’t help the caller offer to find someone who can to call them back.
  6. telephone message serviceHave a telephone message pad and take detailed notes including the time of call, name and company of caller, who the message is for and the nature of their call. Repeat anything you are unsure of back to the caller and check any odd spelling.
  7. Make sure all messages reach the intended recipient promptly and accurately.
  8. If you must put a caller on hold, ask their permission to do so and never leave them on hold for longer than 30 seconds.
  9. Avoid the use of your speaker phone, the caller will sense that you aren’t focussed or think that someone else might be listening in.
  10. Return all calls from messages as soon as practically possible. This should be within one business day, if you are not able to, get a colleague to do so; offering your apologies and offering to help with their query.

For many small businesses, the reality of life is that you cannot always answer your own phone; you may be with customers, in a meeting or simply out of the office. Of course answer machines and mobile telephones can help, but many potential customers don’t like leaving messages. So, better still is employing a telephone answering service like those offered by Hyde Park House. With your own assigned telephone number the live office support team at Hyde Park House will answer your calls as if they were your dedicated receptionist. They will handle calls exactly as you specify and get accurate and detailed messages to you. With the full range of Hyde Park House secretarial services on hand you can also get your post handled, your correspondence handled and your filing complete.

To find out about the extensive Virtual Assistant Services at Hyde Park House including:

  • telephone call back serviceTelephone answering service
  • Postal collection
  • Fax and photocopying facilities
  • Full administrative and secretarial services
  • Live answering and full reception support
  • Bookkeeping services

…call Lynsey now on 0161 367 9000 or email her. Hyde Park House, Tameside, Cheshire; offering virtual office services to the World as well as flexible terms on Office Space to Rent, convenient for Manchester, Stockport and just a short drive from Manchester Airport.

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Tenant Profile: Centurian Fire & Security Ltd.

Posted March 6th, 2010 by your virtual office assistant

Complete Protection: Fire and Security Systems.

Centurian a tenant of Hyde Park HouseCenturian Fire & Security is based at Hyde Park House in the North West and has a network of engineers covering all of the UK; optimally located to professionally operate UK wide. This versatile company is equipped to manage any fire, security, electrical or data system.

They cover the design, installation, service and routine maintenance of any of the systems offered and those installed by third party companies.

Their services can be specifically tailored for the domestic, commercial or retail sectors. Products ranging from small security systems installed in your home to vast fire aspiration systems for the public sector.

As a company their aim is to provide you, the customer, with complete satisfaction and leave you with peace of mind; knowing the job in hand will meet your demands and expectations. They always aim to be at the forefront of their industry and their commitment coupled with their extensive knowledge and range of services makes Centurian the only solutions provider you will need to deal with.

Centurian security systems at Hyde Park HouseQuick Facts
www.centurianfire.co.uk
sales@centurianfire.co.uk
0845 094 9870

Case Studies.

Centurian has undertaken many projects for both business and domestic properties:

Leftbank Apartments are the only residential part of a £650 million redevelopment of Spinningfields in Manchester. Centurian was requested to look after the complete fire and security systems for the multimillion pound apartments. Responsibilities included the servicing and maintenance of the fire alarm, intruder alarm, access control, intercoms and emergency lighting systems. Centurian also undertook the refitting of several systems including various fire facilities, CCTV security cameras and network data cabling.

Crown Oil is a UK leading supplier in biodiesel, boiler juice and central heating oil. Established for over 60 years Crown Oil is an independently owned family business supplying oil throughout the UK to both homes and businesses. Centurian was responsible for the installation and maintenance of the CCTV and fire systems for this major UK distributor.

An Office Base at Hyde Park House.

Centurian Fire and Safety has recently moved in to Hyde Park House: With fixed prices for the office support services offered by Hyde Park House Business Centre – such as telephone answering, secretarial support and message forwarding, the company is going to find it much easier to control costs, by knowing what they are going to be charged in advance.

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Tenant Profile: Manchester & Northern Contracts Ltd

Posted February 9th, 2010 by your virtual office assistant

A Quality, Reliable Building Contractor.

Manchester and Northern Contracts LtdManchester & Northern is a local specialist building contractor with an extensive knowledge of the construction industry; it is large enough to cope, but also the ideal size to give close personal attention to every project.

Since our formation in 1986 we have remained a family run business and have built an outstanding reputation for our commitment to quality, reliability and service throughout Manchester and the North West.

We offer a full range of building services from design and build concept through to completion, incorporating total new build, conversions, extensions, renovations, fitted kitchens and bedrooms, bathrooms, home offices, swimming pools , home gym/ leisure suites and home cinemas.

Customer Praise.

We have had a highly successful 2009, completing several projects that left the clients very pleased:

“Manchester & Northern provided a most competitive quote which was clear and easy to read, all items were patiently explained, which helped to avoid costly extras.
The site manager ensured minimum disruption during the build for the other residents on the Drive and was happy to provide re-assurance regarding any concerns.
The workmen were clean, tidy, polite and friendly and made sure the site was swept through each night. If tea was made, cups were returned straight away and never left lying around! Our children loved the workmen being around and are still asking when they are coming back!
In all Manchester & Northern Developments Ltd are a company we would not hesitate to use again, we also have peace of mind with a 10 year Insurance backed guarantee.”  Ms T Tottey

“In the process of obtaining quotes for a single storey extension to the rear of our property we approached several building companies including Manchester & Northern. Their quote was the most comprehensive and offered the best value for money. Prior to work starting a full schedule of the work was provided with detailed information with regards to costing.
The building started on schedule and the builders stayed with the work until completion. The work was completed to a high standard and any issues that arose were addressed immediately. The entire project took 6 weeks and was carried out professionally and to a very high standard.
The entire workforce inspired confidence and were highly skilled, we would have no hesitation recommending Manchester & Northern for building projects however small or large.” L Evans

House build by Manchester and Northern An extension by Manchester and Northern
A new kitchen by Manchester and Northern A gym installation by Manchester and Northern

Contact Details
www.manchesterandnorthern.co.uk
gordon@manchesterandnorthern.co.uk
0161 367 9000

An Office Base at Hyde Park House.

Manchester and Northern have been based at Hyde Park House for over three years; a decision they have never regretted.

“The invaluable office support services offered by Hyde Park House Business Centre – such as telephone answering, secretarial support and meeting facilities – all of which impress our clients and help us to stand out from our competitors, has certainly justified our decision to move into Hyde Park House.”

Hyde Park House, Tameside has great value office space for rent right now: A prestigious address, virtual office services including telephone answering available on site and just a short distance from Manchester and Stockport, with access to the M60 motorway, the national rail network and Manchester Airport.

For details of the office space for lease and the range of flexible rental options available at Hyde Park House, call Lynsey on 0161 367 9000.

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