The Evolution of The Belfast Business Centre

When I walked into Cathedral House seven years ago it was an empty building full of possibilities and lots of hard work.

The refurbishment and furnishing was the easy part, the telephone system was a minefield but defining the product is something that has been ever changing due to advances in technology.

With no industry experience to fall back on, the business was established on a “yes” basis. A client asked if the Business Centre provided a service, our answer was “yes” and from that point onwards it was a service available to all our clients.

We have seen these services evolve most noticeably in the areas of IT. In comparison to 7 years ago, the use of the internet and emails is unrecognisable and continual upgrades and client requirements have brought the Belfast Business Centre to install a BT premium Net Fixed Line 10MB Broadband provision, fully segmented and protected.

The changing work practices of our clients have also seen new services introduced such as mail scanning and emailing, electronic archiving of clients closed files and projects and the electronic sending of client’s invoices to their customers with a full back up copy produced for accounting purposes.

A locally and independently owned, single business centre, the Management Team have been with the centre since day one. Establishing working relationships and friendships along the way, the team have been privileged to work with some internationally renowned companies.

Amey Ventures and Aegon –Scottish Equitable are two clients of the centre who moved in day one and are still clients today.

We have been part of some fabulous success stories, including our involvement with the Amey Ventures Team and their successful £100m contracts and with Bell Lawrie who went from zero to £150m Under Management in the weeks they were with us at their start up stage.

Supporting Daniel Loughlin, creator of Export Technologies, move from a one person office in stages to occupying a full suite of offices before outgrowing the centre, has given us a great sense of achievement and he is not alone in growing within the centre.

Louise Cahoon, owner of Access Recruitment started as a Virtual Office Service client, quickly moving into Office Space within the Centre and expanding as her requirement changed to larger and larger offices until her present move into a suite of offices which was specifically designed and furnished to meet her staffing requirements and working practices.

The constant in The Belfast Business Centre is the staff, they build the business, welcoming and understanding each new client and adapting the service provision to individual needs whilst creating a great working environment, in a centre maintained to my own personal high standard.
Empowerment, building loyalty and involvement in marketing and operations has enabled the Belfast Business Centre staff to continue to drive the business forward in a busy and professional location and has made us truly unique.

Elaine