Behind the scenes with Martin Underhill and tempertemper
We're so pleased to be able to take you behind the scenes with one of our long-standing customers, Martin Underhill. Martin is really passionate about the work he does with the small business community through his small business tempertemper. As well as developing what he describes as "expertly crafted websites", we've also found him to be so generous with his vast knowledge of all things web-related.
So we decided to spend some time with him recently to find out more about him and his business, and to ask a few cheeky questions about website design and marketing. Here's what he said ...
Can you introduce tempertemper, Martin?
Through tempertemper I work with small business owners to create a better (or new) website that delivers their message in the most effective way possible.
Why the name ‘tempertemper’?
Tempering is the process of making metal more durable. My thinking was that I’d be making my clients’ websites stronger, tougher, and more resilient. But I don’t explain that much these days – it’s more that it’s catchy and easy to remember. There’s a familiarity to it, from when we were small and our parents would tell us to keep our cool!
What makes what you do work for your customers?
The best website is a result of a collaboration of experts. The website owner knows their business better than anyone and I know websites. Not only does involving my client at every step of the process make for a better website, it gives them a real sense of it being theirs - and that ownership is great for the ongoing health of the website.
My customers often acknowledge that I’m careful to explain things—even the more technical issues—in layman’s terms. Baffling with science only distances the client from their website.
Finally ease of use for the end user is central to everything I design, and my clients get a lot of great feedback from visitors telling them what a breath of fresh air their website is to use.
What 3 pieces of advice would you give to small business owners needing a new website?
Am I allowed four…?
- Seek some advice before you begin. Paying for a few of hours of an expert’s time to help you clarify the road ahead is invaluable.
- Like most things, you get what you pay for. There are all sorts of ways to build a website; some are quick and low cost, others are more consultative and come at a premium. Work out what kind of budget you have available for your website and let your web designer work within that.
- Keep an eye on your analytics and optimise your design and wording accordingly. Nothing beats real visitor data. Not even the most experienced, well read, well informed web designer can get your site exactly right. Your analytics will tell you if your website’s visitors are leaving before they achieve what you want them to - send you an enquiry, join your mailing list, buy your product, etc. Your web designer will be able to help you optimise things over time so that your visitors are happier and your site achieves your business goals.
- Factor in ongoing maintenance work. Any piece of software (which is what a website is) needs maintenance – what was secure a couple of months ago may not be today. With regular care and attention any security issues will be patched and any bugs can be squashed. It can be time consuming and expensive to recover from after a hacked website so prevention is better than cure!
So what score would you give the tempertemper website out of 10?
This is a tricky one… In some ways it’s a Cobbler’s Children scenario. I’ve been working on lots of fairly intense contracts over the past 6 months or so and my poor website hasn’t had the attention it normally gets.
One thing I am very happy with is the design – stripped back and simple, works well on all screen widths, nice and readable and puts lots of emphasis on the content. Trouble is, the content could do with more attention! I’ve been getting back into a blogging rhythm and have been thinking about rewording the services section.
There are no big changes on the horizon as I tend to practice what I preach and work on my website iteratively: tweaking something, keeping an eye on how that tweak has affected visitors, tweaking again, and so on.
Let’s say it’s a solid 6.5 out of 10 :) but my customers always get 10 out of 10!
How do you market tempertemper?
I recently listened to a podcast where they were talking about the idea that you should have three avenues of creating leads. You can get away with sitting on a stool that only has two legs, but you’ve got to put a bit more effort in to sit comfortably – three legs is much more stable:
- The vast majority of my business comes from existing clients – referrals to another business owner they know or either fine tuning or adding features to their website.
- My second way to market tempertemper is by getting involved in the local web community – I run a monthly event (Frontend NE) where I meet lots of other businesses, some of whom have hired me to do their websites, some of whom have subcontracted me to work on one of their clients websites. Twitter also really helps here (I’m @tempertemper).
- The third way I market my business is often the most neglected… My blogging routine, email marketing, social media presence (Facebook in particular) and attention to search engine optimisation could really do with more energy.
Looking back, what marketing advice would you have given yourself when you started out?
Advice to myself starting out is to specialise. Don’t try and do everything yourself – find other people who are good at the things you’re working all hours to master. This frees up time to get really good at the things you love as well as spending more time with family. Also, get into co-working and desk sharing as soon as you can. Oh, and nobody expects you to give your time away for free, so make sure you charge for every hour you work.
What gadget, gizmo or app makes the most difference to you and your business?
Not including the various bits of software and hardware that I need to actually do the work I do, the gadget/gizmo/app that makes the most difference to my business is probably FreeAgent. As well as giving me a really good overview of cashflow and general income, it handles all of my bookkeeping, time-keeping, invoicing, payroll, VAT, tax, accounting, etc. Use that link above when signing up to get 10% off ;)
Why is a Newcastle base useful for tempertemper?
I’m not a Geordie, but I love being based in Newcastle (and the North East, of course). The local small business community is really welcoming and very generous with their time and advice.
Why did you decide on a Newcastle mailing address rather than an office address?
I enjoy renting desks at larger agencies or in co-working areas. I get to know lots of new people: other business owners to swap ideas with; other designers/developers like me to bounce ideas off; and other professionals with complementary skills (copywriters, brand experts, illustrators, photographers, etc.). Building these relationships is also a good way to get work, either directly from my co-workers or through referrals.
I like to make a change ever year or two, freshening up my surroundings and getting the opportunity to make new contacts. Changing my business address every time I move would be time consuming, so I have a Newcastle virtual address at Clavering House.
What’s next for you?
More of the same! I’m always on the look out for great clients who want to use their website to drum up new business.
Just contact me via my website
Thank you, Martin!
Eric explains why he prefers an NE1 virtual office
Thank you to Eric Lloyd who took time out of his busy schedule running his office furniture consultancy business MKT Consult to explain why he prefers to use an NE1 virtual office address at Clavering House Business Centre (for a small investment of only £25 a month!) rather than renting an office in Newcastle city centre.
Eric explains why he prefers an NE1 virtual office ...
Virtual office customers have their say
We’re so pleased to have had amazing, positive feedback from lots of our customers about the virtual office services we provide to Newcastle small businesses.
These short videos give a small selection of the great comments we’ve received from four of our customers who run very different small businesses in Newcastle, and who’ve chosen to use the Clavering House Business Centre virtual office service, and run their business activities elsewhere. These are non-scripted and purely their own words, explaining a bit about the businesses they run and why they chose to use a virtual office in Newcastle rather than rent a serviced office, as well as providing their own thoughts on why Clavering House Business Centre works for them.
So over to them…
Thank you to Mel Philipson Jem NE CIC, Martin Underhill TemperTemper web design, Jayne Graham 2020 Consulting and Mark Gardner Afresh Solutions for their feedback!
If you’d like to know more about our virtual office services CLICK HERE or get in touch and we’d be happy to tell you more – you can enquire about our services HERE.
When we say flexible business space we really mean it!
Here at Clavering House Business Centre we provide space for just every type of business you can imagine, and we've always prided ourselves on being flexible, adjusting space pretty much to suit our customers' often exacting requirements. Well if you're paying for business space, it stands to reason you need it to be as near to perfect as you can get it!
So it was a real pleasure recently to receive an enquiry for the type of business space that, on the surface, seemed like a pretty unlikely fit for our Grade II listed building on the fringe of Newcastle's Stephenson Quarter, providing us with the ideal opportunity to show exactly what we're made of! When we say flexible business space we really do mean it, and as a result, alongside our resident lawyers, architects, pharmaceutical company and events organisers, we're now home to two professional make-up artists who have set up their brand new start-up small business at Clavering House.
Karina Bellfield and her business partner Lisa Dunbar chose Clavering House Business Centre as the perfect place for their new make-up studio, Dollicious Studio, because we were able to provide exactly the type of space they needed in the ideal location, just a couple of minutes' walk from the railway station and metro, making us easy for their customers to reach.
We're so pleased to welcome Dollicious Studio, and our resident photographer Sarah Deane Photographic is also over the moon, as she sees our new addition to be perfectly complementary to her own portraiture business in her 'cave' studio in the Clavering House basement. We're now on the look out for a fashion business looking for premises to make the perfect set!!
What is a registered office and why do you need one?
At Clavering House we have a lot of small business customers that are just starting out with their new businesses, and they often ask us about a registered office. Mainly, what is it, why do they need one, and whether a registered office is the same as a mailing address. So I thought it would be useful to set the record straight.
What is a registered office address?
When you set up a limited company, or a limited liability partnership, you are legally required to register the company at a nominated address in the UK. If your company is registered in England and Wales the registered office must be there too - so it can't be in Scotland or Northern Ireland. The registered address will then be displayed on any public records relating to your company. It will also be the address that Companies House and HMRC will use as your correspondence address.
Is a registered office address the same as a mailing address?
That's up to you. There are some restrictions on where your registered office can be. Assuming your mailing address fulfils the requirements of an office address, the two addresses can be one and the same. However some people choose to have their registered office address at one place and their mailing address elsewhere, depending on the needs of their business. So for example they may want a different business address to use on their website if it's more local, or more prestigious than their registered office address (just make sure you display your registered office address in your footer on your website and business stationary alongside your company registration number). Also you can use your home address as your registered office address, but may not want that to be the address you use on your website.
Where can my registered office be located?
You can use any physical address for your registered office address. So you cannot use a PO Box number or, for legal services, a DX Exchange number. There are lots of options you can use though. The decision really is whether you would be comfortable to have that address available for view by the public, in person or online. The most obvious place to have your registered office address is the place you run your business - your office address or your home address. Another option some small businesses choose to use is the address of their accountant, particularly useful for people running a business from home. Another option for home-based businesses is to use a virtual office mailing address.
Can I use my virtual office address as my registered office?
A virtual office isn't classified as a PO Box, so you should be able to use your virtual office mailing address as your registered office, as long as the mail is delivered to a physical building, and your business name is displayed. Just check with the virtual office service provider to make sure before you subscribe. By using a virtual office service for your registered office address and mailing address, you avoid the confusion of having two addresses associated with the business, and of course you can protect your privacy if you run your business from home. This option also gives you the option to change easily as you grow, particularly if the virtual office service can be subscribed to monthly.
How do I change my registered office address?
Changing your registered office address couldn't be easier. Just visit the Companies House website at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/change-a-registered-office-address-ad01 and complete form AD01. You can do this online, or print out a form to complete and post back. The address is usually amended by Companies House fairly quickly, and you'll receive a letter from them to confirm it's been done.
Clavering House is top notch according to Newcastle property developer
Lee Wood is the Managing Director of Mulberry Properties, and uses Clavering House Business Centre's Newcastle virtual office service for his property development business.
In this short video Lee explains why he would recommend the Newcastle virtual office service and serviced office accommodation at Clavering House Business Centre to anybody!
5 reasons a virtual office in Newcastle is good for business
Millions of people are now working for themselves in the UK, and the enterprise culture is certainly booming in Newcastle, with new businesses springing up every day in just every type of business you can imagine. In the good old days pre-internet (we know, it's a matter of opinion!), business centres like Clavering House were the obvious starting point for just about anyone who was setting up for themselves - you couldn't really run a 'proper' business without an office, a workshop or a shop!
Well of course we have all of this available for those who need it, but these days lots of start-ups don't bother with a permanent workplace - as long as they have a laptop and a phone they're in business. That's why Clavering House's virtual office in Newcastle is becoming increasingly popular, with well over 100 small businesses already virtually residing with us, offering all types of services from publishers to legal services, photographers and graphic designers to energy consultants.
5 reasons small business owners say the virtual office is good for business ...
1. You can have a prestigious city centre address for your business
With a virtual office in Newcastle you have a city centre address for a fraction of the cost of renting an office. Newcastle Property Developer Jonathan Sykes, who has had a virtual office at Clavering House since October 2013, explains "The virtual office service works for me in particular because it provides an NE1 postcode and 0191 telephone, and I don't have to use the words 'Business Centre' in the address. My business address is Sykes Property Consultants, Clavering House, Clavering Place, Newcastle NE1 3NG - I don't even need to use the words 'Business Centre' in the address.
2. You can keep costs down
Today, working flexibly and keeping costs down can help a business to compete, and be profitable. Having a virtual office ticks both of those boxes. Without needing to add the cost of monthly rent to their prices, small businesses that work 'virtually' have a better chance of survival long term, particularly in the start-up phase;
3. You can avoid using your home address on your website
Let's face it, the amount of mail received by many small businesses has reduced to next to nothing, but you still need a mailing address for just about every aspect of your business transactions - from issuing contracts to registering with suppliers and for the footer and contact page on your website. Having a virtual office address in Newcastle city centre means you don't have to reveal your home address to all in sundry if you run your business from your back bedroom - you just use the virtual office address whenever your business address is needed;
4. You can de-risk business expansion into Newcastle
You can have a 'virtual presence' in Newcastle (in other words it looks as though you work here, even if you don't!) which is great for your business image and market reach. Nicola Crowther runs a family mediation service, Crowther Mediation Services, from 4 permanent office locations across the North East, but was looking to expand further into Newcastle. While she established herself she decided to set up a virtual office address, and became our 100th virtual office customer! As Nicola explains, "the virtual office provides a very easy way to expand and develop my business, giving me an opportunity to test the waters without taking any real risks.".
5. It's so much easier to do business in the city
A virtual office service doesn't just mean mailing address - other services you'd expect to have if you have a fixed office base are available too - you can get just about everything you need from an office, but without the rent bill! Telephone answering services, desk space for hire by the hour, smart affordable meeting rooms for the occasions when the local coffee shop doesn't quite cut the mustard, and even receiving parcel deliveries to avoid interruptions to your workflow at home - you can just collect them from the office when you're ready.
If you'd like to know more about how a virtual office might be able to help you in your small business get in touch, we'd love to hear from you.
We are in good company with our managed office space
It was great to see Clavering House nestled in the 'Managed Office Space' section of BQ magazine today, particularly as we're in great company, featured alongside another listed building, Acklam Hall in Middlesbrough.
It takes all sorts of office space and services to satisfy all sorts of businesses, and here at Clavering House our Georgian building is definitely holding its own against the glass and chrome of the local competition that's developing around the Stephenson Quarter. There's no question that our great location beside Newcastle Central station and "two storeys of English bond brick beneath a Welsh slate roof", as BQ puts it, have a lot to do with that - this really is a charming place to work - but our strong 'customer comes first' service ethic, delivered through a whole range of in-house and virtual services for small businesses, brings soul into the bricks and mortar, and that's what local businesses value most.
If you're interested in local heritage, the BQ article offers an intriguing insight into the history of the Claverings and Clavering House - well worth a quick read here
Time out with Newcastle photographer Sarah Deane
Recently we gave you a quick snapshot behind the scenes at Clavering House with Rachel Bullerwell, and the portrait photo of Rachel that we featured in that story had such a great response (which Rachel was definitely not expecting!) that we thought we'd take some time out to find out more about the photographer behind the photos.
Sarah Deane has been resident at Clavering House since March this year, with her 'cave' studio receiving rave reviews from the customers of her business Sarah Deane Photographic - as well as her great photography, of course! Here's what Sarah had to say about her business and her exciting plans for the future.
First and foremost, you did a great photo recently of our very own Rachel.
What do you think makes a great business profile shot?
"It’s always important to have images that look clean, well lit and professional rather than home shot images or ‘selfies’. People often view profile pictures to learn about someone they haven't yet met and when doing this they will make instinctive judgements about that person.
So in the business arena it's always important to have a well executed, friendly and approachable image that shows a little about that person’s character or career. If a profile image looks like they have taken care with their photograph, then the assumption is they will take care in business too."
How have you found being resident at Clavering House?
It’s a fantastic space in a beautiful part of town. Every client that has come to the studio has said ‘wow’ when entering the cave shaped studio space! It’s often described as ‘quirky’ and therefore is a perfect environment for a creative studio. I am easy to find as Clavering House is so close to Newcastle Central Train Station, and the reception staff are always very welcoming to my clients which is important for my customer experience and brand.
It’s also good to feel part of a community within a busy building, as this offers opportunities for business networking and social interaction which is brilliant when you work for yourself.
Why a studio rather than working mobile?
Whilst I work out on location for various types of shoots, a studio space at my disposal offers more strings to my bow. It gives my business the opportunity to cover more varied styles of photography, for example product photography or profile shots where I can host my clients in a relaxed environment and fit around times that suit their schedules. I host a great range of appointments here for all three areas of my business, from briefing meetings to shoots and image preview sessions for corporate, portraiture and wedding photography.
The studio also allows me to develop the family studio portraiture side of my business offering relaxed and fun sessions with a white backdrop shooting area and comfy sofas for any family spectators!
Your most exciting assignments?
Since moving into the studio my feet haven't touched the ground! Whilst continuing to work with long term clients such as Heineken UK, Komatsu and Jamie’s Ministry of Food NE, I have gained new contracts with a really wide variety of businesses. In March I was excited to begin work with Bebe Clothing shooting for Aldi's clothing range here at the studio. In April I was invited to London to capture a high profile exhibition at the Museum of Childhood for an Alice in Wonderland exhibition, and during the Summer I began working with Newcastle University Business School as they launched their new branding. This Autumn the Nigel Cabourn team hired my studio to shoot the mens Everest Parka range for eccommerce and I captured Italian chef Gennaro Contaldo’s cookery demonstration at a Ministry of Food event in Byker. So it’s been all go and extremely varied!
What next?
The first 12 months at Clavering House have been incredible and I celebrated my 5th birthday in March 2016, having established even more business relationships as I want to continue to build and grow! I have several projects that are in the pipeline, one I am particularly excited about is a contract for Food Newcastle where I get to explore the unusual world of bee keeping on top of a church in central Newcastle. Not many people know about our locally produced Grainger Street Honey!
Find out more about Sarah's work at www.sarahdeanephotography.co.uk or call in for a coffee and a look around Clavering House and we'll make an introduction!
Exciting announcement from our resident IT business
We welcomed hospitality IT experts Avenue9 as our newest residents in our offices at Clavering House Business Centre in Newcastle City Centre in January this year. Almost a year on, we are so pleased to congratulate them on the recent announcement that their rapid growth since start up will now accelerate even further following their acquisition by Hotel & Hospitality Group JLL.
Co-founders of Avenue9, Philippa Witheat and Kevin Edwards, have been making serious inroads into the leisure and hospitality sector with their growing team here at Clavering House, and this latest move really confirms that they are doing some impressive and innovative work that's really making a difference to the business performance of businesses in the sector. We're so proud to have such a dynamic company located here at Clavering House, and long may that continue!
You can read the full press release with details of the JLL acquisition here. http://www.jll.eu/emea/en-gb/
It's great to see a local Newcastle-upon-Tyne based company go from strength to strength and we can't wait to see what the New Year will bring. We wish them the team at Avenue9 the best of luck and look forward to seeing further growth for such lovely customers!
