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Access Infinity needed a workspace that facilitated their hybrid model and enabled growth.
They operate a digital team and a consulting team, with the latter being the focus for the Manchester office. Access Infinity’s consultants guide clients in making critical product decisions so they can create medical treatments which ultimately benefit us all.
Following two years in their old office, the company’s needs were changing and their existing facilities weren’t fit for purpose anymore. However, they knew they needed a fresh approach when it came to finding their workspace of the future.
Nick Proctor, Partner at Access Infinity, said: “Finding our first office took months of buying day passes, trying out different locations and getting bombarded by agents telling us one thing or another. It was exhausting.”
With the team being no less busy two years later, they came to LEVEL for assistance.
LEVEL’s focus on the needs of the customer over everything else was the deciding factor for the Access Infinity team.
Nick said: “LEVEL is the only company I’ve ever come across which approaches this from the customer’s perspective, rather than acting as an agent for office spaces.
“I found LEVEL’s approach to be completely novel and original.”
“Plus, I trusted the people I’d met, so I thought: Let’s give it a try.”
The LEVEL team got to work creating a list of options for Nick and his team to help them make an informed decision. In contrast to their previous experience of searching for an office, this time they had a level playing field and could see all the options side by side in a simple, unbiased way.
The first step was to understand what Access Infinity needed and how that differed from what they had previously.
A major motivation was simply that the company needed more space of all kinds, but specifically spaces which supported their hybrid working model. Their work requires frequent collaboration with remote team members, so finding a place which enabled that was a priority to support the growth of the business.
That meant phone booths, breakout spaces, one-on-one spaces, formal and informal meeting areas and more.
Despite that, there were features about the old office that the company liked such as the panoramic views of Manchester from the eighth floor. Any new office would have to be equally striking in its own way.
Nick said: “We considered staying and expanding within our previous office, but we also saw it as a great opportunity to explore other options around the city and see what had changed since we last looked.
“We knew we needed a guide for that process there was no way we could manage it on our own.”
After discovering their needs, we also made sure to take into account several practical constraints that would inform the search process.
For example, there was a clear budget set from the start. In fact, the Access Infinity team set their existing rent as the limit and challenged LEVEL to see what we find for less than they were currently paying.
They also needed a minimum office size for the team alongside the list of facilities mentioned previously. Excellent Wi-Fi and a sense of community were essential requirements, but it was important that the community vibe didn’t come at the expense of a professional feel.
Nick said: “We wanted a place with the right energy. Somewhere that wasn’t too chaotic or trying too hard to be “cool,” as that wouldn’t suit our more structured team members who thrive on organisation.
“At the same time, it couldn’t be too noisy and bustling, as some of us need quiet spaces to focus. The ideal space had to strike the right balance welcoming, well-managed, and offering those little details, like local tips and friendly interactions, that make a real difference.”
With all that information in hand, the LEVEL team got to work and delivered an incredibly fast search process in December, the busiest time of year for many companies.
One day after the initial conversations took place, we delivered a tailored package with 15 different options, complete with pricing, space details, and everything linked up.
“It was pretty incredible,” according to Nick.
Discussions followed to narrow down that initial list of options, but most were already within the parameters set out previously. The shortlisting process was therefore simple, and within a couple of weeks we had arranged five viewings for Access Infinity. An afternoon walking tour led by Halima, one of LEVEL’s expert workspace advisors, was swiftly arranged.
Nick said: “Halima set up all the appointments, guided us from space to space, and introduced us to the people at each location. Seeing the offices back-to-back in real time was incredibly useful. It allowed us to compare them properly and get an immediate feel for each space.
“The process was super-efficient, giving us enough time to explore while keeping everything streamlined.”
The list was narrowed down to three spaces and a second viewing was arranged, this time just for the Access Infinity team.
Nick said: “I stepped back and let them make the final call, as I wanted the space to be something they were excited about.”
In the end, the Access Infinity team unanimously chose Huckletree in Ancoats. It’s a place the team actively wanted to be, and it’s easy for them to get there with no additional barriers or hassle.
The space is also perfect for their hybrid working needs. Access Infinity collaborates with colleagues in London and the Netherlands, as well as clients around the globe. Huckletree supports that with plenty of breakout spaces, meeting rooms, and phone booths, making remote collaboration seamless.
Additionally, the building comes with a large social space and a bar – a feature which they didn’t know they wanted, but became a highly appreciated extra. The inclusion of meeting room credits in the deal was a great bonus and made it even clearer they had chosen the right space.
Nick said: “It really felt like LEVEL understood our challenges and proactively solved them. That sealed the deal for us it wasn’t just about finding a new office, but finding one that truly worked for how we operate.”
With the space chosen, it was time for LEVEL to negotiate and secure the best possible deal for Access Infinity. In the end, we negotiated an offer with the building operator that the client couldn’t turn down.
Nick said: “We never expected to get more for what we were already paying, and without LEVEL we never would have known. We likely would have just stayed put because there were simply too many options to navigate on our own.
“The results amazed us, absolutely amazed us!”
“The entire process was smooth, efficient, and incredibly well-organised. Without LEVEL, we would have been overwhelmed by the number of options, but instead, they streamlined everything and made the decision-making process easy.”
Time saving service that is a game changer for businesses
Like many business leaders, Nick does not have much spare time from day-to-day. That’s especially true when it comes to time consuming tasks like searching for a new office.
However, by choosing LEVEL to conduct the search for them, Access Infinity avoided a growth bottleneck and managed to find the ideal new workspace despite not having much free time.
Nick said: “Honestly, the biggest problem during the search was me, not having the time to properly devote to the process. That’s where LEVEL stepped in.
“They didn’t just help, they essentially did it for me.”
“They guided the prioritisation process, narrowed down the options, and took care of the details I simply didn’t have the time or headspace for.
“That was a huge lift, an absolute game changer. Without that support, the search would have been overwhelming, but LEVEL made it seamless.”
Halima Averill, Workspace Advisor at LEVEL, said: “Everything we do is focussed on finding the right solution for the customer, guiding them through the process and ensuring they get exactly what they need.
“It was a pleasure being able to secure such a great deal for Access Infinity and be able to take all the work and hassle of searching for a new home off their plate at the same time. We wish them all the best and look forward to supporting their growth in the future!”
Considering an office move but don’t have time to find the perfect new home for your business? Get in touch with LEVEL today to take all that work off your plate. Book your discovery call here.
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