Lockdown entrepreneurs fuel virtual office surge

Oberoi Business Hub has reported a surge in demand for virtual office support, particularly from firms launched during lockdowns.

Kavita Oberoi, founder and managing director of the Pride Park-based hub, said that 90% of recent new enquiries had been from start-up businesses.

Oberoi Business Hub provides businesses with an office address on Pride Park to help new firms raise their brand perception and visibility.

This is backed by practical support, such as post and parcel handling, as well as hot desk and meeting room facilities available for hire.

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Kavita said: “One of the more positive impacts of the pandemic has been that an increasing number of entrepreneurial people have identified a gap in the market to forge ahead with their new business plans.

“The current economic uncertainty and lockdown rules means that most of these entrepreneurs are starting out by working from home and do not want to advertise this address on marketing materials.

“In addition, the nature of business start-ups is that the owner is delivering the product or service directly to customers and is out and about throughout the working day – making deliveries of parcels and urgent correspondence to an empty house a real issue.

“A manned virtual office where our team handle post and parcels on their behalf as well as the options for physical desk and meeting room facilities available on a flexible basis therefore provides an efficient and cost-effective option in the short term.

“We then support businesses with additional support as they themselves grow including serviced offices and call management services.”

Among the businesses who are now part of the Oberoi Business Hub community is OMEETO – a commercial property marketing company set up six months ago by property agent Chris Wright.

“I was particularly keen for my business to be launched with a premium business address that also gave me the flexibility to have a physical presence required for working away from home and to meet with clients on a flexible basis.

“Having a virtual office is a toe in the water and the first step to then moving the business full time to Oberoi Business Hub.”