Michael Knowles, Managing Director of ROAR Digital Marketing, explains why he's chosen to move his business into new larger premises as many organisations are contemplating permanent remote work.
It’s been a turbulent few months for many businesses in the North East, and it’s been incredible to see how resilient companies have been in the face of such uncertainty. It’s a testament to the careful planning and adaptability of organisations that so many have been able to quickly transition to remote working and keep some sense of normality. We repeatedly hear in the news about the unprecedented times we live in and, quite rightly, it’s made us all stop and take stock of what’s important to us – both in our personal lives and our businesses. One of the things that I hear discussed on a regular basis is whether remote working will now become the “new norm” and if we will see any companies asking staff to come back into the office full time.
As a digital marketing agency working almost entirely online, you might think that the team at ROAR Digital Marketing are advocates for this way of running a business. But in actual fact I have found that this time away from the office has shone a light on the importance of a dedicated place of work for our company. I should caveat that statement by saying that I can see a clear benefit to what we might term “blended working” in the future. To help people reduce commuting time, manage childcare and find a healthy work-life balance, having the facility to work remotely is a wonderful thing.
What I would say, however, is that the last few months have shown me what sharing an office and interacting with colleagues can achieve. As a team, we’ve found that having dedicated face-to-face time (and I don’t mean pre-arranged video calls) is crucial to our creativity and productivity. It’s those little interactions between organised meetings or those fleeting afterthoughts shared at the coffee machine that often prove to be where the magic happens.
Understanding what we are missing by working at home is as important as assessing what we can do without in the workplace. That’s why in the last few weeks I’ve not only initiated a return to work for the team at ROAR Digital Marketing – in a safe and socially distanced fashion, of course – but actually moved the business to new, larger and more suitable premises at Mistral House, Silverlink Business Park.
In heading up a growing team of marketing professionals, I want our staff to retain flexibility and feel that their work provides genuine choice and balance. Yet we are finding that the benefits of dedicated co-working time cannot be underestimated. Having won a flurry of new UK and EU based clients throughout lockdown and the summer months, we’ve learnt that there’s no substitute for getting together to formulate plans and work on delivery strategies as a team.
On a practical level, I must also say that delivering digital services to clients who expect the highest standards cannot always be done from home or the local café. Whether it’s working to optimise a client’s website, Create and implement new PPC Ad strategies or running virtual Google training sessions, it’s crucial that we have access to superfast, reliable broadband and on-site IT support. And having additional facilities such as a spacious high-tech boardroom, and well-equipped training delivery areas, enables us to accommodate both new and existing clients more effectively and safely.
Having been in our new premises for just a few weeks, I wanted to see whether my own stance on office working versus remote working was at odds with other companies in the region. But in speaking to Samantha Elliot, Mistral House Operations Manager, I was surprised to hear that office enquiries have been on the increase since lockdown was lightened.
She says: “Mistral House was designed with the modern business in mind, and it’s great to see a Google Partner like ROAR Digital Marketing choosing to move their operations and team to us. While large organisations are perhaps moving towards a more flexible working solution, many of the SMEs we currently have as tenants are already working in that way. Professionals in small and medium, agile enterprises often work from cafes, on the road or at home on an odd day. Yet, the majority still want a hub from which to base themselves and their teams.”
On reflection, I’ve come to the same conclusion myself. Being able to work from anywhere is something that technology affords us in 2020. But the basic requirements of a successful, cohesive and productive workforce need people to interact offline and in-person, as well as via Zoom!
While there will undoubtedly be further bumps in the road before the Pandemic subsides, I know I’ve developed a new appreciation for the office that I’ll carry with me into the future.
For further information about ROAR Digital Marketing, and their range of PPC, SEO, Analytics, and Marketing Automation services, please visit - www.roardigitalmarketing.co.uk. You can also call the team on 0191 259 4737 or email info@roardigitalmarketing.co.uk.
