Running a business in London means competing for attention, and your premises can play a part in how people see your company. If a customer arrives to find tired signage, dirty windows or an entrance that has seen better days, it can give the wrong impression before they even walk through the door.
Pay close attention to the inside of your business too. Does it feel welcoming? Is it easy to move around? Does the space actually work for your staff and customers? Small changes to the lighting, layout, storage or décor can make a real difference.
If you’re wondering how you can improve your business premises in London, these tips are for you:
1. Refresh the areas customers notice first
You probably don’t need to repaint your entire premises. Start with the areas customers and staff see most, such as the entrance, reception, corridors and meeting rooms. Scuffed walls, peeling paint and marked doors tend to stand out more in these spaces.
Think about practicality as well as colour. Busy areas benefit from finishes that can be wiped clean, while kitchens and bathrooms may need paint that handles moisture.
For a larger refresh, businesses can bring in a professional decorator. Platinum Paints, for example, provides painting and decorating services for commercial properties in and around Richmond for businesses in and around that area of London.
2. Look at your lighting at different times of day
Lighting that seems fine at lunchtime might leave an entrance, workspace or stairwell poorly lit later in the day. This is particularly worth checking during the darker winter months.
Walk through your premises at different times and look for dark corners, glare on screens and areas where staff struggle to see clearly. You might find that some spaces need additional lighting rather than simply brighter bulbs.
LEDs can also reduce electricity use compared with traditional lighting, while occupancy sensors can be useful in toilets, stockrooms and other spaces that aren’t constantly occupied.
3. Look at how people actually use the space
A layout might make sense on paper but not work particularly well once staff and customers are using it every day.
Spend some time watching where people naturally walk, where queues form and which areas regularly become cluttered. A reception desk in the wrong place, for example, can make an entrance feel cramped, while poorly positioned storage can leave staff repeatedly crossing the room for things they use every day.
Moving furniture, changing storage or opening up busy walkways could make the space work better without requiring a full refurbishment.
4. Experience the premises as a visitor would
Accessibility is easier to understand when you physically follow the route a customer would take.
Start outside and work your way through the entrance, reception, corridors, customer areas and toilets. Look for heavy doors, narrow routes, steps, unclear signs or furniture that makes getting around difficult.
Businesses also have duties under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people where required. Improvements could include clearer signage, suitable seating, better lighting or changes to physical access.
5. Find out where you’re wasting energy
Energy costs aren’t only about which supplier you’re with. Your premises themselves could be costing you more than they need to.
Heating an empty room, leaving equipment running overnight or losing heat through draughty windows and doors can all add to your bills. Heating controls, LED lighting, timers and simple repairs are good places to start.
If you have an EPC, don’t just look at the rating. Check its recommendations too, as these can highlight improvements relevant to the property.
For rented commercial premises, it’s also worth knowing that properties covered by Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards generally need an EPC rating of E or above, unless an exemption applies.
6. Walk past your business like a customer
If you see the same building every day, it’s easy to stop noticing the small things.
Walk past your premises as though you’ve never been there before. Can you immediately tell what the business is? Is the signage easy to read? Do the windows, entrance and surrounding area look looked after?
Dirty windows, faded signage, broken exterior lights or damaged paving might seem minor individually, but together they can change the impression people get of your business.
If you rent the premises, check your lease before arranging exterior work, as some repairs may be the landlord’s responsibility.
7. Deal with small problems before they become bigger ones
A dripping tap or sticking door might not feel urgent, but putting off small repairs can leave you with more expensive work later.
Rather than waiting for something to break, regularly check the areas that get the most use. Pay attention to doors, plumbing, flooring, heating, lighting and windows, as well as gutters and exterior areas.
Fire safety should be part of these checks too. Keep escape routes and fire doors clear, maintain the required fire safety measures and review your fire risk assessment regularly. Staff should also know what they’re expected to do if there is an emergency.
The main improvement here is that we’re telling the reader how to identify an issue, not just saying things like “improve your lighting”, “check accessibility” or “sort out your exterior”. It should make the article feel much more useful rather than like seven tips that could apply to virtually any building.
Improving your business premises in London
A full refurbishment is not always needed to improve your business premises. Simple work such as refreshing the paint, improving lighting, clearing the layout, or dealing with repairs can make the space more practical for staff and visitors. It is also worth looking at areas that are easy to overlook, such as accessibility, energy use, exterior maintenance, and fire safety.
Start with the areas that need attention most and deal with them in a sensible order. Keeping the premises clean, safe, comfortable, and well-maintained can help you get more from the space while avoiding bigger problems.
Leave a Comment