Relocating or opening a new office is very exciting for any business, but don't underestimate how much time and resource you will need to complete the move - and also how disruptive it can be to your workforce and clients. There are a number of important milestones to any office relocation:

 

1. Deciding what resources you have for the move project.  Anyone who's ever moved house knows how complex that can be.  Add to that communications, your staff, suppliers and clients, and the move becomes a massive task, and one which could result in months of unpacking, disrupted staff, and downtime if managed badly.
2. Scoping and mapping out the project.  Does the resource you have selected to manage the move have the experience to get all of the tasks right first time?  Do you have the budget and time to deal with mistakes?
3. Ensure you have Plan B.  Ensuring you have a number of different options based on each scenario is critical to the move plan - you will need to move swiftly to prevent other elements of the plan being delayed which could result in more cost.
4. Finding premises and finalising the contract.  This is always one of the biggest challenges is finding the right place, in the right location for the right price.
5. Getting your communications working - in every move we have managed this has been the main element which can delay a move date.  If your main internet connection is going to be a leased line then expect a 60 to 90 working day lead time!
6. Managing your staff and clients.  This is normally the most time consuming element of the move, and one which if not managed approprioately can lead to massive distractions in the workforce (thus down time) and also loss of clients.

Barclay Jones draws on experience of managing in excess of 40 office openings, relocations and consolidations in both the UK and Europe.  We can do everything from finding premises and trusted contractors, to delivering a fully project managed service to ensure that you do not have to stop running your business whilst moving it.

If you are planning a move, and your expectation is that the project runs smoothly, with no disruptions, and you begin trading in your new office the day you move into it, call us to find out what we could do to help you.  You need to keep running your business during the move and we can ensure that you are freed up to do just that!