The reasons to relocate a business include an expiring lease, the desire to upgrade facilities or a favourable location. The decision cannot be taken lightly, as it has an impact on employees, customers, stakeholders and even the local community. However, it can bring long-term benefits that enable the business to thrive and grow.
Moving office is disruptive and can be stressful to manage. Therefore, you need careful pre-planning and a coordinated approach to keep everything on track. This project has to be undertaken while also maintaining day-to-day operations, so it’s a challenge.
As a provider of IT solutions, we’ve supported several SMEs to successfully relocate. Taking a holistic approach, we’ve been involved from the planning stage and have gathered insight and experience through the process.
The sooner you get preparations underway, the better, as you don’t want critical decisions to be left to the last minute. Equally, it’s advantageous if you can negotiate early access to the new office, so that some parts of the move can be completed in advance of the big day.
Through a series of articles, we’ll share details of how to plan your move, prepare budgets, inform the team and get set for the big move. So, let’s get started with an outline of what’s covered in this series.
- The Timeline – We’ve identified seven key phases to an office move that can be mapped onto a timeline. This is designed for companies that are planning a move with at least six months to spare.
- 5 Reasons to Relocate – We explore some of the common reasons why businesses relocate. Have you considered all the potential benefits?
- The Cost of Moving – This is our rundown of the most common types of costs associated with your move. Check them against your budget and plans.
- Considerations When Moving Out – Helping you understand the legal requirements of vacating an office. Let’s help you get everything in place to remain compliant.
- Considerations When Moving In - Whether you are purchasing or leasing a new office, we’ll explain the legal considerations.
- Working from Home - We will cover factors to consider for remote workers, including retaining their productivity during the move and keeping business information secure
- What to do Before You Move – Early preparations for the move are critical. They help employees to stay informed and get ready for change. Make sure everyone knows the role they will play for a smooth transition.
- IT Specific Considerations - IT relocation is complex and it takes very careful planning, movement and testing to ensure a successful business relocation.
- The Move Day & Follow-Up Actions – It’s all about allowing plenty of time and adapting when things don’t go according to plan.
