Tees Business Tees Business Issue 20 | Page 43

The voice of business in the Tees region | 43 The Cube Storage general manager Dan Cass at their facility on Haverton Hill Road in Billingham. Picture by Doug Moody. SAFE HANDS By Joanne Barrett Tees firm’s multi-purpose facility offers innovative all-round service S pace – that elusive thing we all want more of, whether we’re at home or at work, in the office or running a business. It might be a meeting room to host clients, an extra place to store business essentials, temporary office space to conduct day to day commerce, somewhere to keep the furniture while you move home or just another room to keep all that family stuff that simply seems to accumulate but just can’t be thrown away. We’ve all been there. But a new business on Teesside might have the answer – and its innovative offering may well prove to be a big hit. The Cube Storage on Haverton Hill Road near Billingham does what it says on the tin – but there’s more to it than a simple self-storage facility. It offers multi-purpose storage rooms of all sizes for both business and personal use with the addition of facilities and space for actually running a business too. Everything under one roof is its ethos and as well as the varying sized secure rooms for home, business and office, there is a suite of offices for hire, a large and spacious conference room, meeting rooms and even a space for “hot desking” if you find you just need an ultra-flexible workstation for a limited period of time. It is a clever idea – especially when you consider the onward march of e-commerce in today’s business world. Figures suggest the UK has one of the largest e-commerce markets in the world, with sales running into billions of pounds. Many entrepreneurs run businesses or start-ups from their homes using garages or spare rooms to store and keep stock or operate from home offices set up in a study. As they flourish, space can and does become an issue. “We wanted to be able to offer space and storage solutions all under one roof,” said The Cube Storage’s general manager Dan Cass. “That was the idea behind this business model. Ninety per cent of this building offers indoor self-storage of various sizes for both personal and business use – people might come and store their goods if they are between house moves, for example, and we can offer space to students who are perhaps going home for the summer and don’t want to take all their stuff with them. “When it comes to businesses, we have space from ten square feet upwards and can cater for any requirement. A lot of businesses are using our facility for archiving paperwork that you have to keep for six years which can take a lot of space, and our clients have access seven days a week. “We have also created flexible office spaces, conference rooms and meeting rooms here, meaning we have the facilities for people to actually run their businesses too. All under one roof was our aim.” Any type of business is welcome, said Dan. Current occupiers include an online clothes retailer that utilises the storage to keep stock safe and accessible and a furniture business runs its operations from the facilities at The Cube too. Location, he says, was also a key factor. The Cube is close to the A19 and A66 thoroughfares, making it easy to reach from all corners of Teesside. If you are driving along Haverton Hill Road you can hardly miss it – liveried out in red and with a huge sign across the top, it is easy to see and access is safe and secure. The storage facility has been open for six weeks, the building underwent a complete refurbishment to fit out the spaces and add in security features including 24-hour CCTV and intruder alarms. Self-storage lockers, a PO box service and packaging supplies are also available. Confidential paperwork, archives, machinery or office supplies – all can be safely kept until needed. Dan heads a team of five who run the facility seven days a week. “We do what we know how to do best and we are there when you need us,” he added. The Cube Storage, Haverton Hill Road, Billingham. T: 01642 433626. W: thecubestorage.co.uk