PROPERTY
INNOVATION CENTRAL – THE LOWDOWN
Growth – Ben Quaintrell , founder of My Property Box , says Business Central provided them with a professional environment for staff and clients .
45 Grade A offices and five labs
Flexible accommodation for growing businesses of all sectors
Opening late summer 2022
Shared use of Business Central facilities , team , events and support
Key component of Darlington ’ s Central Park development
To stay informed of updates on Innovation Central email enquiries @ innovationcentraldarlington . co . uk
MY START-UP STORY :
My Property Box
Ben Quaintrell , founder of My Property Box , tells us how Business Central played a part in his business success story …
What does your business do ? We ’ re a property agency , dealing with lettings , sales and investments .
Improvements – Business Central ’ s coworking space has been improved .
We ’ ve refreshed our coworking space to feel calmer and less corporate .
Add that to our facilities such as our gym , micro spa , events and socials and this becomes so much more than a place to simply plug in your laptop .
We ’ re empathetic towards our start-ups too . We know the challenges entrepreneurs face and I like to think we act as extra family members who really care . People will often ask our opinion on things , test out ideas or rehearse their presentations on us .
Even just a friendly face at the end of a long day , someone to share a bad joke with or have a chat about the football , can be huge .
Since opening the doors of the workspace in 2015 , we ’ ve helped 200 businesses to get started and grow . You ’ d think we ’ d be sad to see our beloved businesses grow up and move on , but we feel a bit like proud parents seeing our children fly the nest !
There are always new , upand-coming businesses ready to fill the space and right now there ’ s more demand than we can accommodate .
That ’ s why we ’ re aiming to replicate the model at the new Innovation Central development that ’ s currently under construction just a few minutes ’ walk away on the Central Park site .
We ’ ll be operating the centre on behalf of Darlington Council and we ’ ll extend the entrepreneurial environment we ’ ve already established at Business Central to give the best start to even more entrepreneurs .
We ’ ll be connected by the same ethos , team and facilities .
There ’ ll even be electric bikes so tenants can move quickly between the two sites and make the most of everything we have to offer .
It ’ s exciting to be growing our family and we can ’ t wait to get started .
How ’ s business ? Business is booming . It ’ s an exciting time for the property industry and there are lots of opportunities for businesses that are keen to grow . We ’ re on an acquisition drive and have bought out seven agents in the past three years . The business community in Darlington is on fire ! There ’ s so much excitement about the new train station , Treasury , Teesside Freeport and airport . It really feels like the place to be right now .
How did it all start ? I set up in a little office in Darlington town centre and as soon as Business Central was built , we moved in . I love the way you can start out hot desking and then move up to having your own office . It ’ s perfect .
How did Business Central support your growth ? It felt like such a step up for us . It provided a professional environment for staff and clients and that makes a big difference when you ’ re starting out . It helps to get you into the right mindset , makes things feel possible and keeps you motivated and proud . I took the biggest office and quickly took a second to accommodate our growing team . Eventually , I bought my own property on Grange Road .
What difference did the community make ? My business is built on networking . Word of mouth is everything when it comes to marketing a property business and Business Central gave me a ready-made business network that is still important to me today . There are experts on every floor , with experience in everything you can think of , and so many of my recommendations came from those people . There ’ s a real willingness to help each other – you get the sense that you ’ re in it together because everyone is starting out at the same time . And you ’ re always guaranteed some good craic !
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