Copywriting agency Anecdote UK has been at the centre just over a year, in our shared office The Hive, and is looking forward to many more years as part of the Harborough Innovation Centre family.
Starting a business from scratch is never easy, but moving into HIC took away a lot of the hassle for them. The company provides words for all kinds of purposes, from websites to blogs, newsletters, sales documents, video scripts and more. Founders Joff Brown and David Sawford formed the company when Joff was looking to go freelance after 17 years as a writer with various organisations, including Euromoney, Travelsphere and Volkswagen Group. “It was great timing. I’d decided to go freelance and David was looking to add copywriting to his other business interests.
Joff had originally intended to work from home, but David suggested he take a desk in the shared office at the centre. This not only gave Joff a dedicated space to work in, with no distractions, it also gave him a more professional profile.
The centre is owned and supported by Harborough District Council (HDC), which provides business support, expert business advice, mentoring and workshops ” all of which are very useful for a new company.
“One of the main benefits for me of being at HIC is that it gives me a proper office address and phone number, which I think helps when you’re talking to new clients who don’t know you,” says Joff. “It gives the company a professional feel and helps instil trust. It’s also better for meeting clients. I’ve no worries about them being met professionally by the reception team, then sitting down in the cafe with them for a coffee and to talk about what they need.”
He also found it simple to move in. “Everything was taken care of,” he says. “I just pitched up, was shown around by Liza and was able to park myself at my desk and start working, with the internet and phone already sorted.”
Above all, Joff appreciates the networking opportunities being at HIC offers. Getting the contract to write the centre’s monthly newsletter was even better, as it gave him the chance to meet the other businesses in the centre. “I’ll be eternally grateful to Liza and HDC for giving me that chance,” he says.