We are currently in our eighth year in the Nucleus Business and Innovation Centre.
For a small business access to key facilities provided is essential. Knowing that there is a reception for incoming calls (always answered in your company name) and, guest welcoming gives a finesse not normally available to start up or small companies.
The managed building facility provides the necessary backups and systems for your business continuity. The building, although open for business 8.30 am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, allows each business 24/7 access to their office, kitchen and bathroom amenities.
Friendly, flexible and affordable
Further facilities are available for your business by way of workshops, provided at no extra cost, covering finance, marketing and support needs. Another surprising feature we found, having been based in other managed buildings previously, is community events available to you and your staff, incorporating bake sales, charity runs, raffles, Christmas jumper days and social meet and greets. You can partake as much or as little as you desire.
Although the staffing of the centre team has changed over the past eight years, they have always managed to provide assistance and support in a professional manner, but coated in the warm ‘friends and family’ essence making them an extension to your business, rather than an un-personable facility.
COVID Support
I really want to touch upon the Covid 19 support received. We were kept up to date with the sudden escalation of the pandemic in March, with advice as to distancing, hand washing and personal distancing provided all around the building as well as electronically. When the government lockdown came into effect, the centre team worked with us to organise our telephone system to be redirected to numbers of our choice, ensuring that whilst away from the building, our clients could still make contact – sometimes electronic contact is not enough.
I am on the shielding register and my return to the building was made less stressful, not only with the common area fogging, clear floor distancing markers and an abundant selection of antibacterial hand gel dispensers all over the building, but there was provision of the Nucleus Covid Safe Plan along with a suggestion that a written plan be drawn up for individual offices. I undertook this for Fides and it proved that I had covered all the key requirements to ensure our office was as safe as possible, which in turn reduced my own ‘return ’anxiety. A further new facility, just launched is a Test & Trace application, this is an automated sign-in process in order to capture a snapshot of all customers in the Nucleus at any one time. This will enable the building to support the local Public Health Team or NHS Test & Trace service, should it be necessary because of a local or regional spike in COVID-19 infections. Once again provided at no cost to the businesses within the Nucleus.
Full support and guidance was also provided to apply for and obtain pay out from the Covid Small Business Grant Discretionary Fund. It was so helpful to have someone to discuss points with and guide you in what was for us an unknown arena.
The Right Choice
If you are looking for a base for your business, with the benefit of large firm facilities and support (but which you are in control of as to when and how much you choose to use) in a modern purpose built office with reasonable costs, then The Nucleus, Dartford is the place I recommend.
Jacquie Abbott, Director, Fides Limited T/A Fides financial Management
