Work Lounge is stepping stone to success for KTD Surveying

We’re delighted to hear that one of our newest serviced office customers, KTD Surveying, has been shortlisted as Best New Business in the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Awards for Hertfordshire.

Owner Kirsty Harvey launched the landlord and tenant surveyor business from home 18 months ago and used our Work Lounge in Pixmore Business Centre, Letchworth, as her first commercial premises.

In April, she moved into her first full time business unit within the Pixmore Centre, sharing a serviced office with other local businesses. The awards shortlisting has topped off an exciting year for the company.

Improving work-life balance

After working in a similar position for 20 years, Kirsty, who helps clients negotiate leases for commercial property, decided the time was right to launch her own startup business and achieve a better work-life balance.

“I started off working from home, which was fine during the day, but when my husband and children were at home it wasn’t ideal,” Kirsty says.

“I would go out and work at temporary space or in coffee shops, but when I saw on Twitter that The Work Lounge was opening I went along to the open day.  I thought it was a great idea and it was very cost-effective.

I became a member and it worked really well because I could just use it as and when I needed it. I had the benefits of an office space, but without being isolated in a single person office.

Full time office space

Earlier this year, Kirsty was acting for a client, The Create Network, helping them to find a new workspace and recommended that they look at the Pixmore Business Centre. The business consultants took a 1,200 square foot serviced office at the site, which they now share with KTD Surveying, along with seven other small businesses. These are:

• Tick That Task – business support services
• Dan the Scribbler – illustrator and graphic design
• Inky Design – website and graphic design
• Dr Stuart Clark – author and astronomy journalist
• Louise Davidson – theatrical agent
• Scott-Davison Productions – producer and casting director
• SM Surveyors – building surveyor.

“The office space and the work environment is ideal for us,” says Kirsty.

“It is a really nice, light and airy unit and we all have separate offices with a breakout area in the middle where we can eat lunch and get together. Also, I prefer to work later in the day and the Pixmore Business Centre has 24-hour opening, so this was really important for me.”

Awards delight

Kirsty, who lives in nearby Hitchin, decided to enter the Hertfordshire FSB awards because of the success of her company and fantastic feedback from her clients. After taking time and effort to prepare her entry, she was delighted to hear that she had been named as a finalist.

“It’s a fantastic feeling – I feel like a winner already!” Kirsty says.

“It has been great to be able to share the good news with the other companies in the office. There is a great community feeling. The awards dinner is a black tie event and I’m really looking forward to it.”

The awards are presented at Shendish Manor in Hemel Hempstead on 12 June. Good luck Kirsty!