Another comparable initiative is to be launched with SNCP which will ensure that the growing number of mobile workers and professionals will soon have access to a Europe-wide network of drop-in serviced offices.

Across the globe there is estimated to be one billion professionals working on the go making the requirements for this form of flexible, easily accessible business centre a crucial development in the market. There are forecast that the rising amount of mobile workers will increase further next year as the challenging economy forces employers to look for more cost effective work practices.

The changing face of office life is seeing requirements for workspace that can be accessed on a drop-in basis where professional can plug-in to access emails, perhaps attend a meeting in another city or country, make a call or even make the most of the business environment to plan and think.

These latest schemes by the serviced office provider will allow mobile workers to utilise a business centre for just 10 minutes at a time. The serviced offices will be geared up to appeal to professionals on the move working under time constraints and will offer a range of business services including printing, scanning and video conferencing. The first Shell business centre launched in Paris but more are to come across Europe and the UK.

The Leeds council recently granted permission for the large complex to be built adjacent to the Whitehall Plaza at No1 Whitehall Riverside. High grade offices and meeting room facilities will be created totalling 50,000 square feet along with a 130 room hotel, restaurant and onsite parking. Premier Inn has already signed up to lease the hotel.

Residents were unhappy that the planned hotel would overlook apartments close by invading local resident’s privacy. In addition to local opposition the Leeds Civic Trust were also concerned about the planned development. However following consideration by the council the plans were approved due to possible employment opportunities and capacity to support the Riverside area.

The 10-storey building will be constructed to meet with a ‘Very Good’ BREAAM rating and Gregory Projects and Marshalls will develop the site.

At Gregory Projects, Richard Tovey commented:

“We are delighted to have secured approval for this development which is a major coup for the west end quarter of Leeds. This area continues to be the heartland for grade A office accommodation in the city with the distinct advantage of being close to the busy main line rail station. We intend to pre-let the offices which will allow potential occupiers the chance to influence the overall design and layout of their space.”

DTZ and Sanderson Weatherall are working together to market the development which is expected to attract high demand.

The office and meeting room scheme called the Willows will provide flexible office space at two business units as well as a larger office provision at the Westover development project. The site is located at what was the goods yard for the local railway station and under the proposed plans 30,000 sq ft of offices and meeting rooms will be created. Rees Trust owns the land which totals 2.5 acres.

Chris Reeves a planning applicant took on the site in the late 1980s where he planted several full grown willow trees and built a wildlife pond. He commented:

“The development is] going to be an inspirational place to work and if we can get the right businessman who shares our overall vision the whole thing will be a success. To me this would be an ideal location for someone to base their business. First it’s set in a superb setting, we’re close to the M5, two international airports, mainline rail stations, and you can have it at a fraction of the cost of London offices.”

He went on to say:

“There are so many people out there who want the style of life we have in this part of the world but who are also working in cutting-edge industry.”

If the plans are approved the development will begin in summer with feedback from tenants moulding the design and layout.

Clarion, the law company, agreed to 15,000 sq ft of offices over a 15 year tenancy and is preparing to relocate 100 employees to the building which offers 25,000 sq ft of workspace. Their offices will be spread over three storeys at the Leeds based premises.

JF Finnegan’s design and build manager, Dawa Singh commented:

“This has been an extremely exciting and intense project to work on, with major decisions like the purchase of the building and Clarion’s decision to relocate, happening very swiftly one after the other. The remaining space is available now and we are happy to provide a complete turn-key fit-out service for any new occupiers.”

Bowcliffes and Knight Frank have begun marketing the offices. One of the Knight Frank partners, Elizabeth Ridler stated:

“The first and second floors of Elizabeth House offer Grade A refurbished office space with excellent natural light and are available to lease now at the competitive rent of £17.50 per sq ft. The decision by Clarion to relocate here is a ringing endorsement of the quality and the location of the building.”

The office space is just a short walk from the Leeds City Square and the train station. Built in the eighties the building is in a prime position in the office quarter of Leeds.

In modern surroundings there are 150 workstations available in serviced offices. The provision includes offices suites fitted out to a high standard, meeting rooms, high speed broadband, on-site reception staff and ample parking for staff and visitors.

The regional sales director for United Business Centres, Jane Erasmus commented:

“It is an exciting time for United Business Centres, this is our second site in the area and we are confident the Daresbury centre will be a successful addition to our other offices in the North West. The convenience of the transport links, combined with the high-spec finish will make it an attractive proposition. You only have to look at the other businesses taking up space at Daresbury park to realise it is a genuine opportunity.”

The renovations were accomplished along with Marshall CDP, a development company specialising in commercial projects. Marshall CDP’s owner, Simon Marshall stated:

“We invested in Cinnabar Court at Daresbury Park because it is one of the best business park locations in the North West – modern, convenient and extremely popular. It will make a great office space for the right business. We are delighted to be working with United Business Centres because they know the market, they know the area and they attract high-calibre clients very quickly. Their impressive service proposition also has a real pull for prospective businesses, which makes me confident that the venture will be a resounding success.”

The legal organisation has opted for offices and meetings rooms totalling 60,000 sq ft. The Cube offers mixed-use workspace across 23 floors. With the latest tenancy agreement signed and sealed the full 120 sq ft of available offices has been taken.

This summer 700 staff from both the Midlands Law Society and the SRA will be moved from existing offices at Leamington Spa and Redditch to The Cube close to The Mailbox. Within the last 12 months this prime location has been in high demand from several high profile businesses and brands in the Birmingham area. Existing occupiers are IBI Group, a leading consultancy company, a salon by Adee Phelan and one of Marco Pierre White’s acclaimed restaurants.

There are a mix of retail, offices, residential and hotel space at the building as well as a restaurant with high rise city views. The Cube was designed by MAKE Architects’ Ken Shuttleworth and has unique features such as a spiralling atrium which provides light in the contemporary development. Aluminium panels with a gold sheen make the exteriors of this building particularly eye catching in the daylight.

The IBI Technical Consultant, Gareth Tyler, commented that the unique facade of the offices first drew their company to the city. He went on to say:

“Architecture is one of IBI’s specialisms and we regularly have clients coming up from across the country. So it was important for us to not only find a location that was central and provided us with good transport links, but that was also going to be a great representation for our company.”

Ken Thornbar, a council leader commented:

“Having ‘one public estate’ in Hampshire would make sense in terms of benefits to the public purse and residents with public services for their area coming under one roof and so making access easier.”

Heads at the council stated that if they consolidated the office and meeting room requirements of the different authorities including the NHS, the Hampshire Constabulary and local fire and rescue services then significant cost savings could be made on expenses and the running of various premises.

Currently the council foots a bill of £120 million to run its various offices before any services are offered to the public. Andrew Smith the CEO stated:

“[This cost] is just to open the doors, heat the buildings and make alternations to keep them safe.”

Of the 53 offices currently utilised by the council this could be reduced to 8 shared office hubs and another 7 more expansive Winchester-based workspaces. This would bring staff and services together under a proposal which has met with government approval.

The project, launched by Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State, has been named the Capital and Assets Pathfinder. The initiative was created to identify ways of making savings in council spend.

This form of sharing office and meeting room space has already proved a success in the Ringwood Gateway Project which launched in 2011. This office hub was developed to bring employees together from Ringwood Town Council and New Forest District Council.

Serviced offices can be used through a pay-as-you-go system as and when they are required. There are business centres at over 150 prime locations nationally making it easy for businesses on the move to access the facilities at most cities and towns throughout the UK.

Mr Stubbs commented that he had initiated this new system at a time when demand was high for this type of service with many businesses looking for ways to ride out the effects of a double dip economy. He went on to say:

“The past five years has seen an enormous number of start-ups launch and businesses of all sizes are examining expenditure as they undertake cost-cutting measures in order to survive the next wave. The last economic crisis led to an increase in mobile and home-based workforces as spending-savvy companies became more dependent on smartphone technology and other mobile devices. We recognised a niche in the marketplace.”

These growing trends look set to change the face of workplace across the country with more businesses opting to recruit freelances and remote workers.

The flexible office space company has just agreed to a 10 year deal with Halcrow which will provide them with office and meeting room space of 34,000 square feet at 3 Shortlands in Hammersmith. The business centre will cover two floors in this unique building which is shaped into a cross. Under this management contract Orega have agreed to pay £32.50 per square foot over the 10 year period. This will then allow Orega to offer a total of 400 workstations opening 1st March 2012 which will boost their existing business centre portfolio.

The joint managing director at Orega, Zach Douglas commented:

“3 Shortlands is a fantastic addition to our growing network of business centres and represents a major step forward in our strategy to develop a portfolio of quality sites in London. It perfectly meets all our exacting requirements for a well-run business centre and has a number of other attributes such as an on-site gym, secure parking and excellent communication links to both central London and Heathrow airport.”

He went on to say:

“We believe that the London market still has untapped potential for high quality, flexible office space in certain locations and are continuing to pursue new signings, more of which are likely to conclude in the first quarter of 2012.”

“We are obviously delighted to have such a prestigious brand associated with the event and feel that we are perfectly aligned with the Telegraph Business Club in terms of our goals, so this is a fantastic opportunity for both parties. Telegraph Business Club Members are serious business people who are like-minded and determined to put the UK economy back on a positive path. All 50,000 members of the Club are most welcome at Business 2012 and will be able to network with other similarly focussed, driven and inspired entrepreneurs and business owners from across the country and indeed the world.”

The high profile event is already sponsored by serviced office giant Regus along with Blackberry. The event will be held at London’s O2 stadium from 18th to 20th March and will offer a wide range of seminars and workshops for people looking to set up in business or looking for ways to expand their existing enterprise.

Regus will be exhibiting at the event showcasing their range of workplace services which include virtual office solutions, serviced business centres and meeting rooms. The event is also backed by Sir Richard Branson and Lord Sugar making it an event not to be missed.