SME business centre nears full occupancy despite pandemic

A business centre for new and growing SMEs has welcomed a string of new tenants during the coronavirus pandemic.

Novus Business Centre in Peterlee offers flexible office space for sole traders and expanding micro businesses.

Managed by East Durham Business Service, the centre has welcomed ten new tenants despite tough economic conditions.

It means Novus is approaching full occupancy, with only a handful of offices remaining unoccupied.

Sandra Wardle is centre manager at East Durham Business Service.

She said: “Although this year has been incredibly challenging and we currently find ourselves in a second national lockdown, we’ve found many of our tenants have welcomed the safe, peaceful haven that our business centre offers them.

“Alongside that, throughout the months of lockdown we’ve had a steady flow of new enquiries from sole traders and micro companies that wanted their own office space to grow.

“I’m delighted to say those enquiries have resulted in us welcoming ten new tenants from a range of sectors, who are now successful operational from within our business centre.”

The new tenants include Redhouse Property Surveyors, KDM Estates, software companies Syntech Solutions and Grieve Software Consultancy, energy firm Energy Made Simple and financial adviser Neil Halliday of Carter Thompson and Associates.

Kirstien Mabon, director at bespoke lettings agency KDM Estates, said: “In the current climate, when everyone is being affected by the coronavirus pandemic, I feel very safe in the knowledge that Novus is a clean, hygienic and socially distanced environment where I can work with peace of mind.

“It’s actually good for me to be able to come into work and maintain the normality of being in the office – definitely something we as business owners need as the second national lockdown takes hold.”