The Maltings an incubator of Welsh business talent

With the tempestuous economic climate increasingly becoming a cause for concern for the country's SMEs, Cardiff office space provider The Maltings is pledging its support to Wales' would-be entrepreneurs.

The global credit crunch has hit the supply and affordability of commercial office space, and a sudden need to reduce costs can be hampered by long term costly leases. The Maltings has therefore stepped in to help businesses get an office foothold in Cardiff’s commercial quarter.

The landmark Grade II listed building on the periphery of the city centre, already home to a hot bed of Wales’ business talent, is now offering high quality, flexible and affordable office solutions to encourage and support entrepreneurialism through these difficult times.

The distinctive building combines the historic charm of the original malt house with modern facilities and an excellent location, to offer the ideal venue for a company’s offices.

Managing director Kathy Fox says: “As a nation we have been applauding entrepreneurialism and business start ups for quite some time and that shouldn’t change despite the current economic conditions.

“As the providers of flexible office space for a number of Wales’ celebrated SMEs, we at The Maltings have witnessed the bold endeavours and transformations of these business start-ups and have been proud to help these companies fulfil their ambitions through their continued expansion.”

A number of flourishing SMEs have built up their success at The Maltings enjoying completely flexible tenure and competitive rent in office suites ranging in size from 250-3,000 square feet.

Ideal for small, medium and growing businesses, the Maltings also benefits from flexible rental arrangements to meet long or short stay requirements, all inclusive rental with no additional service charges, around-the-clock tenant access to offices, 24-hour on-site security and CCTV cover, on-site parking and customer care team.

The offices also attract some of the lowest commercial rates in the city. Kathy continues: “Companies that have moved into the Maltings have all commented on the rare combination of benefits that we offer adding real value to their businesses. I’m always surprised by the amount of businesses that enter into agreements with serviced offices before finding out about the hidden costs involved. We have none of these hidden costs and no ties and are therefore a really attractive option.”

One such business that has successfully grown in The Maltings’ incubator is business services provider freshbaked Group.

Originally established as a training provider in 2004, freshbaked initially occupied a 675 square foot office in House Three of The Maltings. The company’s continued success allowed it to take on an additional 3,000 square foot of space in 2006, followed by 675 square foot of space when it established freshbaked Communications in 2007 and 600 square foot in 2008 with the formation of freshbaked PR.

The fast growing company’s five groups are now based at The Maltings and Richard Matthews, managing director, is keen to sing the praises of the flexibility and great surroundings that The Maltings has offered.

He says, “When we set out it was important for us to find offices that were modern, secure, reasonable and close to the majority of our clients who were in the city centre and The Maltings offered the ideal solution. Four years down the line, it still meets our requirements despite the fact that our business has grown and changed which is testament to the fantastic facilities on offer and team behind it.

“Full credit goes to Kathy and the team who have really supported us during the last four years allowing us to fulfill our ambitions through continued expansion. They have been flexible to our needs and allowed us to design our offices to reflect the dynamic culture and thinking of the Group and services we offer.

“The team has been both sympathetic and responsive to our growth plans, even allowing us to transform an area of the building into a breakout area for staff complete with pool table and dart board!”

Other thriving businesses at The Maltings include Micross IT, Micross Recruitment, Davies Llewelyn & Jones Architects and Integra Community Living Options. Financial advisers Watson & Jennings are the most recent tenants to sign up at The Maltings having relocated from Cardiff city centre.

Says partner, Rhian Watson: “We were finding parking really difficult in the city centre yet wanted to remain in the heart of Cardiff. The Maltings has answered our prayers by providing us with a central location, great parking and fantastic facilities. The customer care team has also ensured that our relocation has run smoothly letting us get on with our business.”

Concludes Kathy: “As The Maltings enters its third decade, we will continue to build our success on a firm commitment to our clients and a focus on giving budding entrepreneurs high quality and cost-effective office solutions.

“We recognise that entrepreneurialism is integral to Wales’ future as a sustainable economy and we’re committed to helping achieve this success through our offerings.”

Located on East Tyndall Street, The Maltings currently has various size offices to let. For further information, please contact Kathy Fox or Gareth Oram on 02920 462045.

For further information on this press release, please contact freshbaked PR at pr@freshbaked.co.uk. freshbaked PR is a Cardiff based public relations agency which represents a number of private and public sector organisations in the Cardiff, Swansea and Bristol business communities, as well as Newport in south Wales, home of golf’s 2010 Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor Resort Hotel. For clients based in Cardiff PR agency services are provided from the Head Office in The Maltings.