London – Page 5 – London Office Buzz

Focus on Business in Canary Wharf

Posted on November 13, 2014

Known worldwide for the important role it plays in London’s Central Business District, Canary Wharf is one of the UK’s financial hubs. Although it has a reputation for being home to stockbrokers, insurance firms, and other financial magnates, you will also find an array of retail giants and leisure firms there.

The Main Types of Businesses in Canary Wharf

From accountants and stockbrokers through to architects and designers, Canary Wharf certainly isn’t short on professional talent. It forms a significant part of London’s service industry, with investment firms appearing to reign supreme amongst all the others. With between 25,000 to 75,000 financial jobs per square mile in the area, it’s clear that Canary Wharf’s monetary reputation is accurate and well deserved.

In addition to investment firms, a significant proportion of the world’s industrial insurance is brokered in Canary Wharf. Alongside the City of London, this area accounts for 183,000 members of staff in the financial sector. As London is seen as a key investment centre worldwide, it attracts some of the globe’s greatest banking talents. With plans for 3,000 new homes in Canary Wharf and Tower Hamlets, it seems as though business is expected to grow.

As anybody with a keen interest in the area may already know, Canary Wharf was born after the closing of the India trading docks in the 1980s. While it has seen significant progress in terms of jobs and investment opportunities, the government is always looking for ways to enhance this. Another plan in the works is a high-speed rail link called the Crossrail, which is due for completion in 2018. This, plus an increasing number of jobs in the area, means that property development is also set to flourish. Continue reading “Focus on Business in Canary Wharf” →

London Office Buildings Named After A Major Company

Posted on August 1, 2014

Buildings in London are often named after its design, such as The Shard in reference to its resemblance to shards of glass. Alternatively, many towers are named after their location or address to highlight a prestigious location such as One Canada Square. In some instances, office towers in London have been named after major tenants.

The innovative Lloyd’s Building is often referred to informally as the Inside-Out Building. The office tower is home to insurance firm Lloyd’s of London, which owns and lends its name to the building’s name. The Lloyd’s Building was constructed on the site of the East India House on Lime Street, which once served as the London headquarters of the East India Company. Completed in 1986, the modern structure was designed by Richard Rogers and features electrical power conduits, water pipes, staircases and lifts on the outside. It also integrates elements from the original Lloyd’s building, including an eighteenth century dining room and early nineteenth century entrance that were moved from the previous Leadenhall Street location. The Shell Centre on the South Bank of the River Thames is also named after its main tenant. Completed in 1961, the office tower was the first to exceed the height of the Victoria Tower at the Palace of Westminster. The building was commissioned by oil giant Shell, which commissioned its construction. Other buildings named after corporations include the Willis Building, which is named after its main occupant, the Willis Group. Located opposite the Lloyd’s Building on Lime Street and completed in 2008, the tower features an elegant stepped design resembling the shell of a crustacean. Continue reading “London Office Buildings Named After A Major Company” →

Top Government-Backed Initiatives for SME’s in London

Posted on May 16, 2014

Small and medium sized businesses in London have access to a range of government-backed initiatives that support business development and growth. From loan programmers to mentoring initiatives, these schemes are designed to develop capacity, improve access to financing and support innovation. They are also important tools to help entrepreneurs and managers interested in developing business ideas and expanding their business.

Start Up Loans

Start Up Loans is a government funded scheme that provides loans and business mentors for entrepreneurs. The Start Up Loans Company is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and was originally created within the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Launched in 2012, Start Up Loans has lent more than £85 million to over 16,000 businesses across the UK. Entrepreneurs looking for other financing sources beyond banks and business grants may apply for loans of up to £15,000. In addition to financing, successful applicants have access to a business mentor and other support services.

Delivery partners work with entrepreneurs to develop their business plans and find mentors. Partners in London include Start Up Direct, East London Small Business Centre, South London Business, Connect London, NWES (Virgin Startup), Bright Ideas Trust, Financing Start-up Enterprise, TrainE-TraidE, Kaleidoscope, Fashion Angel and HBV Enterprise. For more information about Start Up Loans and to apply for funding, visit www.startuploans.co.uk. Continue reading “Top Government-Backed Initiatives for SME’s in London” →

The Launch of MedCity

Posted on May 9, 2014

The vision for MedCity is to position London and the South East of England as a leading centre for life science research, development, manufacturing and commercialisation. Launched in April 2014, it will also help develop the region as an interconnected cluster for life sciences over the next twenty years focused on the so-called ‘golden triangle’ of London, Oxford and Cambridge.

Vision for MedCity

MedCity will promote London and the greater South East as a world leader and interconnected region for the life sciences sector. The initiative will involve the collaboration of academic institutions, businesses from various industry sectors, academics and researchers, and government leaders and politicians, and investors. With already over 700,000 people in the South East employed in the life sciences and healthcare sectors, MedCity will be tasked with creating additional jobs in the region. It will also foster additional collaboration and joint ventures to help lead the way towards new discoveries that are commercially viable. The ultimate goal is to promote the life sciences sector in the South East to the same position as the financial services sector in the region and the broader national economy.

About MedCity Limited

Founded by the Mayor of London, MedCity Limited is a partnership between London-based King’s Health Partners, Imperial College Academic Health Science Centre and UCL Partners. The partnership also includes the support of the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford. The initiative is modelled after the successful Tech City, a technology cluster centred in Central and East London. Continue reading “The Launch of MedCity” →

The Most Interesting Office Conversions in London

Posted on November 29, 2013

The Most Interesting Office Conversions in London

London isn’t a city that does things by halves. While there are plenty of contemporary and standard buildings about, there are plenty of unique office locations. In fact, some of the most interesting office conversions in the world can be found there. From historic buildings to air raid shelters, London features plenty of interesting office conversions.

The Kingsway Tunnels
London’s Kingsway Tunnels acted as air raid shelters during WWII. Located in the heart of Holborn, it is perfectly situated for the financial district. Despite this, thousands of people walk past the modest looking doorways without giving a second glance. Over the years, the Kingsway Tunnels have acted as a unique office location for over 200 BT employees at any one time. In 2009, BT announced that they were selling the tunnels, generating a flurry of interest from art galleries, retail stores, and more.

Nike Town in Oxford Street
The exterior of the buildings in Oxford Street haven’t changed since the Regency Era. When Nike came along to develop Nike Town, they revolutionised the inside of the building, but left the outside in tact. Indoors there are table legs formed from scaffolding, TVs on every wall, and branded sports equipment almost everywhere. This makes a refreshing change from the usual shops you find on Oxford Street, by plonking a high-tech office in their midst.

Broadgate Office Building
Broad Street station was a functioning tube stop off from 1865 to the mid 1980s. After being closed, the station stood derelict for more than a decade. Today, it acts as office space for artists and other workers. However, that isn’t the full story. As well as using the space that one housed commuters on their way to work, there are recycled underground carriages sitting on top of the building. From the outside, these carriages look as though they have been dumped there and grafitied. On the inside, there is a team of artists hard at work, making the most of the sustainable office space they got their hands on. Continue reading “The Most Interesting Office Conversions in London” →

Healthy Office Lunch Delivery Services in London

Posted on June 21, 2012

London is a bustling city full of busy people with long to-do lists. Workplaces in London can often be extremely pressured environments with meetings scheduled back to back throughout the day and high expectations from colleagues and employers placed on workers. Many working Londoners struggle to find time to leave the office to grab a bite for lunch, let alone spend time searching for a healthy option. For this reason, a range of food delivery services have sprung up around the city offering varied menus. Every dietary requirement can be catered for, from vegetarian or vegan and dairy or gluten free options to meals designed to aid weight loss. Continue reading →

Business Parking in London

Posted on June 13, 2012

London is a bustling and innovative city, with thriving business industry across the majority of sectors. Most London residents make use of the vast public transport system to avoid traffic and congested streets. However, there are many businesses located within London that require the use of vehicles to operate. Additionally, London is also the centre for a lot of business from across the UK, resulting in an increased number of business visitors entering the city, often by car. With an estimated 200,000 cars driving in London everyday, there is high competition for finding the most convenient parking space. If you rely on a vehicle for your business, or are travelling to London on business and planning to drive, below is some useful advice on how best to plan, locate and obtain parking where you need it.

Parking schemes and permits for business users.

The vast majority of London council boroughs offer business parking permits which are available to businesses, based in restricted parking zones, that require parking for the essential day to day running of their business. Obtaining a business parking permit allows parking within residential parking zones and ‘shared use’ bays which usually require pay and display tickets and each business can usually apply for 2 permits. Continue reading “Business Parking in London” →

Historic Tours of London

Posted on April 5, 2012

London is a busy and vibrant city with a colourful history.Whether you are interested in learning about the gruesome side of Victorian London or the history of the monarchy, or perhaps you just want an activity to encourage team building within a fun and relaxed atmosphere, there are many historic tours available that will appeal to people with different interests.

The Tower of London

The Yeoman warder tour (or beefeater as they are commonly known) is an entertaining and insightful tour of the Tower of London. A Yeoman warder will guide you through the history of the palace and the monarchy and provide information on the palace’s architecture, as well as grisly tales of the torturing of Guy Fawkes and the lives and deaths of Henry VIII and his wives. Continue reading “Historic Tours of London” →

Photography Sightseeing Tours in London

Posted on March 22, 2012

As one of the world’s most photographed and photogenic cities, London, in addition to its many famous visual delights, offers amateur photographers of all levels something else. Keen photographers, however experienced or inexperienced, can choose from the many available photographic sightseeing tours run by local experts. Joining one of these friendly and informal tours can be a very worthwhile thing to do. Not only will they get you to those famous locations without getting you lost, but will also give advice on how best to photograph any subject that catches your eye.

If you’re in, or are going to, London, and have any interest in improving your photography skills and taking real photos of the city that you can be proud of, there are plenty of tours to choose from, including:

London Photo Tours and Workshops

With a name like that, there’s no mistaking what this company offers. In fact, they offer a very diverse listing of tours, such as:

1. South Bank Photography Tour.
The South Bank is a cultural hot spot of London, It’s an ideal location for photographers, not only for its proximity to some interesting buildings, but also for its great views of the River Thames, all the way eastwards to St Paul’s Cathedral. This tour focuses (no pun intended) on technical matters such as exposure settings, panning and composition. The locale offers a wide variety of subject matter, from striking architecture to colourful street entertainers, to the fascinatingly varied river traffic making its way up and down the Thames. (londonphototours.co.uk) Continue reading “Photography Sightseeing Tours in London” →