NACORE Europe.UK - Mixed-Use Development - Short Term Occupancy.

Date: 11 Sep 2000

NACORE Europe.UK's recent national Chapter Meeting was held at HQ Global Workplaces' St James's Square offices, London SW1, sponsored by Baring Houston & Saunders. Over 40 members and guests attended, starting with a brief AGM, before moving on to the main event - two different views on short term occupancy from Patrick Marples of Workspace Group plc and Ron Adam of HQ Global Workplaces.

Workspace Group provides a solution to SME's, who are, according to Patrick Marples, 'largely ignored'. The company owns and manages all its property, offering good value accommodation on standard three-year leases with a rolling three-month break, an approach that is geared to the particular marketplace. "We believe in customer service," commented Mr Marples. "We conduct regular focus groups and 95% of our tenants recommend Workspace as a landlord. Occupancy rates run at around 90% despite the flexible nature of the tenancies.

HQ aims at the opposite end of the market, "providing a premium level of service, in prime buildings, and prime locations", explained Ron Adam. Space is let for an average of between 12 - 24 months and is often taken on a joint venture basis. HQ has centres in 25 countries offering "not just space but service" said Mr Adams, describing a mix of fully serviced offices, flexi-lease space, conferencing and video conferencing facilities and virtual offices.

Thanking both speakers for their views, Peter Macpherson, of Baring Houston & Saunders and NACORE's VP Programmes, noted the importance of flexible solutions for different occupiers.

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