Aiming for 100% occupancy at Loughton Seedbed Centre 

Overseeing Loughton Seedbed Centre and Greenway Business Centre in Harlow keeps centre manager Carole Rice on her toes. From showing round prospective customers to ensuring the ongoing programme of maintenance to both the centre and all the workshops, studios and offices is on track, Carole and her team ensure great experiences for both customers and visitors. Her ‘day in the life’ diary gives an insight into how she juggles day-to-day demands with strategic planning.  

Carole has been with Capital Space for eight years and splits her role between two sites in Essex, as the centre manager for Loughton Seedbed Centre as well as Greenway Business Centre in Harlow. She is onsite in Loughton twice a week and is supported by deputy centre manager Natalia and facilities handyperson Phil. Located only a stone’s throw away from major motorway links and a short walk away from Debden tube station, the centre is home to a variety of businesses who occupy workshops and office/studios. 

8:30am check in  

I start the day with a viewing at one of our workshops by a local logistics company who has outgrown their current space and is looking for a larger area.  It’s one of the most enjoyable aspects of my job – I love meeting new business owners face to face and figuring out a solution with them, plus I am proud of the centre and its facilities.  

The viewer is impressed with our vacant unit E3 with its electronic roller shutter doors, dedicated signage, 24-hour access, free parking and internet and internal washroom.  I explained that an office or mezzanine floor could be built inside the space to accommodate extra storage as they grow.  

They asked about how watertight the workspace is and I explained that new roofs and insulation were installed in 2024 across all our blocks. They also asked about service charges, and I was delighted to tell them that there were no additional costs, unlike some other workspace providers. One of the great benefits is that we also have a manned reception desk Monday-Friday so we could take in potential parcels on behalf of the customer. 

10:30am check in

Back at my desk, I reflect on the viewing and am pleased with the way it went. I am optimistic that we shall get a sign-up. My goal is to become 100% full at the centre this year. I send off our written proposal to the prospective customer and tell him about our sign-up process and simple, monthly licence which has been endorsed by the Plain English campaign for being an easy to understand, jargon-free document. 

I then have a catch up with our facilities handyperson Phil. Phil has been at Loughton for around 18 years and is an integral part of our small team. He has a thorough understanding of the site, a fantastic can-do attitude and I always welcome his feedback and input. We have recently received our three-year fire risk assessment report, so we run through this together to create a plan of work for the small number of recommended modifications. 

12:30 pm check in

I finally have a chance to sit down with my deputy centre manager, Natalia. She’s a great support to me as she can work independently, is capable and gets on really well with our customers. I know our customers and the centre is in good hands when I am not around. She updates me on the Planned Preventive Maintenance and the work she has scheduled in to ensure we are always up to date with checks and maintenance at the centre.  There are also a few maintenance tasks in customer units that we need to address. We have some contractors coming onsite soon, so I ask Natalia to communicate the dates to our customers; we like to keep them abreast of anything which may impact their businesses. 

I then arrange a meeting with an existing customer who is considering taking on an additional unit for a short period of time to handle some stock holding.  We have some vacant studios which perfectly fit the bill as they offer spacious double doors making them easily accessible for pallet deliveries. Our flexible monthly licence agreement, which means that business owners can leave a unit, upgrade or downsize with just a month’s notice, also means we can accommodate the customer’s short-term needs. I like helping our customers to flex like this – it’s what Capital Space is all about. 

2:30 pm check in  

At lunch, I take the opportunity to take some fresh air and head out to the neighbouring retail park for some window shopping. It’s great having the shops on our doorstep, as it means staff and customers can get shopping jobs done or buy in some lunch. 

When I return to reception, I start compiling my report for my next centre manager meeting with our CEO, Lorraine Lee. This a full report on all operational matters concerning the centre, so preparation is key to ensure I cover all areas and developments in the last month. It’s also an opportunity to get project costs approved – we have a couple of proposals in the pipeline, which if given the green light, will prove highly beneficial for our customers. 

4:30 pm check in  

The day is slowly drawing to a close but there’s still some administrative tasks I want to complete, such as signing off invoices and booking in team holiday requests. I go back to my diary too to see if there are any outstanding tasks and to check whether anything specific is on the schedule for tomorrow. 

Summary 

With some vacant units at Loughton, I am keen to do everything I can to promote the centre and our simple, monthly licence. Being the centre manager for two centres keeps me thoroughly on my toes, but I enjoy the juggle. I have strong and trusted deputies and teams at both sites who have had to step up in terms of their responsibilities, but they have doing really well and have been a pillar of support. Running both centres is without a doubt a team effort.  

If you’re looking for office space run by a committed management team, get in touch.