Keeping confidential records or documents within an office can often take up unnecessary amounts of space whilst also exposing the risk of confidential information being accessible to the wrong people, and therefore puts the documents at risk.

Offsite document storage can help to clear up needed office space and allow for other necessities to take its place whilst you can still be confident your documents are safe. There is a vast range of benefits to indoor document storage including:

Increasing the use of space within the office

When you begin the think about how many boxes of files are within your office you can quickly see how much space is being lost, by simply relocating these documents to an offsite document storage facility you can easily open up the office floor space and gives you more room to either re-organise the office or add a new desk. 

Efficiency with retrieving important documents 

When storing a countless amount of documents within multiple boxes or filing cabinets it can quickly become difficult to know where everything goes. Spending countless hours looking for a specific document needed is time that could be used in a more product and efficient way. 

When documents are stored in an offsite indoor document storage facility each box of documents can be labelled and stored in a more efficient way with easy access at any time. 

Protection from theft

In-house storage puts important documents at risk of potential theft as it is difficult to track and protect every document, however with offsite storage you will receive a key to your storage area meaning only people with the key will be able to access the files, and therefore eliminates the risk of unauthorised employees viewing confidential files.

Cost effective 

When using offsite document storage you automatically free up space within your office that was once dedicated to storage, this creates more space for a potential revenue-generating employee and so contributes to helping the business grow and expand. 

Indoor document storage offers many benefits for not only business but also personal use as well. At M54 Space Centre our indoor document storage unit is easy to access and a great way to free up space in your home or workplace. To find out more about our indoor document storage click here or contact us today.

Renting a storage unit is a smart move for a lot of people. You might be moving to a smaller home and you need somewhere to store your extra possessions. You could be looking for storage space for your business, or perhaps you need somewhere to store things while you declutter your home. Whatever your reasons for renting a storage unit, there are some things you should know and some tips you can use before you decide to rent one.

Flexibility is a great benefit of self-storage.

If you’re looking for a flexible storage option, self-storage is the best choice for you. With a choice of unit sizes and the ability to come and go, it makes it easy for you to manage the contents of your unit. If you’re looking for a more hands-off approach, a managed storage option could be better for you. You can forget about the things that you store until you want to remove them from storage.

Storage units are also great for businesses.

Storage units aren’t just for personal use. They can also be fantastic for businesses, allowing you to store your inventory and other items. You can use it for equipment, paperwork, promotional material and anything else that you might not have space for in your office. However, it’s important to remember that you can’t usually work out of a storage unit, especially because they don’t typically have power outlets that you can use.

Self-storage units offer you plenty of security.

Don’t worry about keeping your things safe when you rent a storage unit. Secure facilities help to ensure your possessions stay safe. Security measures such as CCTV, security staff, lighting, padlocks and more help to maintain a secure facility. Safety is also important, and any good storage facility will make safety a priority. They must take safety measures such as having fire alarms and other precautions to keep customers and staff safe.

You can store almost everything.

Renting a storage unit is a great solution for lots of problems, but it’s not always the right one. You can store many things in a storage unit, but there are some things you probably can’t store. These include hazardous materials, anything living (animals and plants), perishable items and food and, of course, anything illegal. Make sure to check what you can and can’t store before you rent a storage unit.

Staff members are there to help you.

You might picture a storage facility as an empty building, but you will find that there are helpful staff members there to assist you. If you choose a self-storage unit, the staff members can help you during opening hours. Whether you want to ask a question or have someone who can make sure that you don’t get lost, friendly staff members will look after you.

If you require self-storage in Shropshire, then look no further than The M54 Space Centre! 

Our storage containers offer simplicity without the sacrifice of security. We know how valuable your possessions are, which is why we offer a secure 24 hour storage space. Whether you’re moving home or your business has excess stock, we have the solution for self-storage in Telford.

Self-storage can be a great way to store your belongings, no matter what reason you may have! M54 Space Centre’s guide to do’s and don’ts of renting self-storage will hopefully make the process a lot less overwhelming as we have shared some handy tips when using a self-storage facility.

Do:

Find a convenient location

No matter whether you are renting short or long-term, it is essential to find a self-storage unit located near you and easily accessible. The ideal location is somewhere that permits frequent access to your unit such as our which offers convenient 24/7 easy access, including bank holidays and weekends. 

Storage unit size

There are multiple self-storage sizes available therefore it is important for you to understand how much space you will need. We offer a flexible approach to storage to offer a fuss-free solution. We have a size estimator on our website that provides you with the best idea of what size will be best suited to you. 

Organise your inventory

It is important to keep track of your inventory so that you are aware of what you are adding and removing from your self-storage unit as well as knowing what is where and in what boxes – labelling will be key! An inventory list also helps you to calculate the sized space you need and if it is a long-term storage plan, you may need to see if you need to upgrade or downgrade the size of the space you’re using. 

Pack properly 

To ensure that your items remain in the same condition, it is vital to pack your items appropriately otherwise they may become damaged, broken, or perish over time while they are in storage. When packing your items, think about which items may require extra care. Some items may be more fragile and may need bubble wrap to keep them safe and fabrics will need mothballs and be stored in airtight containers if they are to be kept in storage longer-term. 

Find somewhere which offers a flexible lease

You will only want to pay for the space that you are using and for the amount of time that you are using it for. With M54 Space Centre, you will be offered simplicity and flexibility with our leasing arrangement to make the process as easy as possible for you. This is the ideal solution for businesses or individuals as these terms are flexible to suit you and your situation. 

Don’t: 

Store unpermitted items

Most items are permitted and safe to store but you’ll find that all self-storage spaces will have a general list of items that they will be unable to keep in the self-storage units. The items on this list usually include perishable goods such as food and plants, ammunition, flammable materials, and animals. 

Forget to lock your unit

Although we provide secure self-storage which is monitored by CCTV at all times, we also provide a lock for you to use and we strongly advise you to lock up your unit after you leave. 

Let anyone else access your storage

We strongly advise that unless you are certain that you are able to trust someone, you should never share the key to your lock or any other security measures that would provide someone else with access to your self-storage unit. 

Leave your storage items unprotected and poorly packed

When packing your boxes, it is imperative to not pack your items too high or too heavy to avoid causing hazards and reduce the risk of injury. When placing your items, it is important to label anything fragile or heavy to avoid items from being broken or causing strain when lifting. 

Wrap items in plastic

It may seem like a good idea to wrap up your items in plastic, especially if you’re planning on keeping your items in self-storage for a long time, however, it is not. While short-term will be fine, you will start to run into issues once more time has passed as plastic preserves everything inside therefore it will also lock and seal in any moisture and dirt therefore it will eventually develop into condensation, which will turn into mould. 

Climb on boxes

When trying to reach for something that is placed higher up, it is good to remember that it is not a good idea to climb onto one of your boxes to avoid injury to you or one of your items! If you need some assistance, a member of our team will be more than happy to help!

For more information about our solutions for self-storage in Telford, Shropshire, please get in touch.

If you require self storage in Shropshire, then look no further than The M54 Space Centre! Our storage containers offer simplicity, without the sacrifice of security. Follow these steps to make sure your valuable possessions come out of storage the same way they went in.

Make sure everything is dry

When putting your furniture into storage make sure that it is dry before it goes in. This will ensure your items do not get any water damage.

Protect valuable items

Be careful to choose a reliable removal service. Even the best removal companies will need to move your items from your house, in-transit to your storage unit. Nicks and scuffs may happen if you don’t protect your items.

Cover your furniture

Use clean, dry, blankets and dust sheets with bubble wrap around valuable items. This will protect the corners of your possessions as they’re moved into the storage unit. It will also help you get the most out of your storage unit as you’re able to stack furniture closer together without fear of damage.

Take furniture apart

Taking apart furniture allows you to stack items more neatly and maximise space. Particularly if you own irregular shaped pieces of furniture like corner-sofas or large dining room tables.

Leave space in-between items

Don’t pick a storage space so small that you have to be a tetris expert to get everything in.

Avoid damage from badly stacked furniture

If you’re leaving space between items you’re also stopping yourself from balancing furniture one on top of another. Allow your valued possessions to be stored on steady ground and save yourself from any unintended damage.

Can we help?

Our self storage containers in Telford, Shropshire are your low-cost, flexible and convenient solution for portable self storage in Telford. Our leasing arrangement is the ideal solution for businesses or individuals. For hassle-free self storage in Shropshire, we’ve got you covered.

It’s a fact that business these days has been going paperless since the early 2000s. However, we still have the need to have physical file storage. There is something oddly reassuring about having physical copies of important documents, and some people really struggle to read documents set out on a screen, so it’s likely that at least some paperwork is set to stay indefinitely. If you’re tasked with organising the document storage for your office, here are our tips on how to do so efficiently, securely, and cost-effectively.

1. Be confident about how long paperwork must be stored.

There are rules about how long documents should be stored, depending on what the documents are, and on the nature of your business. If you’re a sole trader or limited company, check out our indoor document archive storage.

2. Shred, recycle or store any old paperwork.

Duplicates and outdated documents that no longer need to be retained can be disposed of so they don’t clutter up your office file storage space. If you’re worried about getting rid of something important, you could scan the paperwork and store it in your cloud storage before disposing of the original.

If you’re not quite there with online storage and want to focus on scanning more modern documents first, you could always move your old files into archive storage boxes.

Clearly label each file with the client/file type/subject and label each box with the year it’s stored. To save a lot of hunting around later, make a note on the lid of which files are stored inside.

If you don’t have room in your office’s file storage area to store archive boxes, consider renting archive storage space at one of our self-storage stores to keep them safe and dry.

3. Organise your file storage.

Colour coding your files can also make it a lot easier to find files at a glance – choose a different colour for each type of contract, client, or funding arrangement, for example.

Within each file, ensure that file dividers make it easy to find relevant sections, e.g. invoice, correspondence, court orders, contracts etc.

Packing up your life and moving down the street or across the country doesn’t have to be disastrous.  Between the laborious loads and mentally draining task of deciding what to pack and what to leave behind, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

We’ve put together a useful packing guide to help you pack, making your next move simple and painless!

• Get rid of everything you don’t need

Packing all your possessions into boxes, bags, and more can be overwhelming. Make it a little bit easier on yourself by cutting back on clutter as much as possible. Before you pack a single box, do a merciless purge of unused or unnecessary items. You’ll have less to pack, less to move, and less to unpack—and you’ll start life in your new space with a clean slate.

2. Pack up your home room-by-room

Packing up your house can be overwhelming but is manageable when you break it down. Start with the kitchen and clear out all of the cabinets and drawers and flatten boxes under them to create a wide surface for packing. Pack all of the loose items before you start on the dishware and cooking utensils.

Next, pack up your bedroom by sorting through your clothing and laying the items out on the bed. Pack books one at a time or stack them in piles by subject or genre.

Repeat this process for each room.

3. Invest in quality packaging materials

There’s a lot to consider when you’re moving house. One of the most important things to do is secure your things in sturdy packaging materials.

The wrong packaging material could damage your belongings during the moving process, meaning they’ll need to be packed again,exposing the contents to dirt and dust along the way.

4. Create an inventory for all of your belongings

One of the best ways to stay organised and make sure that you don’t forget anything is by creating an inventory. The inventory can be as simple as a list in your phone or it could take the form of a spreadsheet with tabs for each room and subsections for each item, whatever is easiest for you!

5. Number all of your boxes

Numbered boxes are a great way to keep track of your belongings, it’s easier for the movers to sort through boxes that are numbered and it also makes packing up much quicker.

Numbered boxes can prevent confusion if you’re moving items last-minute, or looking for specific items in your self-storage unit.

6. Put heavier items on the bottoms of boxes, lighter items on top

When you pack books for moving, pack them or other heavy items in small boxes; light items, like linens and pillows, can be packed in bigger ones. And if you’re loading the truck yourself, pack your heaviest boxes first, toward the front of the truck, for balance.

Fill in gaps with clothing, towels, or packing paper. Movers often won’t move boxes that feel loosely packed or unbalanced.

Here at M54 Space Centre, our storage containers are perfect for anyone in and around Telford who is looking for an affordable storage solution. If you are moving house or downsizing then our plans offer a low-cost, flexible and convenient solutions.

We believe in a flexible approach to storage. So, for a no-fuss solution, choose the M54 Space Centre for your self-storage in Shropshire.

For more information about our solutions for self-storage in Telford, Shropshire, please get in touch.

With potential clients up and down the UK, restricting yourself to one location can result in a loss of revenue. We also understand that offices are expensive. Starting up a business is hard enough, and with high office fees, making it virtually impossible. Having to supply furniture, and pay for gas, electricity, and water, makes it very hard to create any revenue in the first few months. We may have a solution. Here’s why we think renting a serviced office is the best way forward.

Serviced offices come in all sizes, with shared facilities and communal spaces, they offer everything a usual office would, but for lower costs. They tend to be based in prime locations where business thrives, that way you can gain as much revenue as possible. They can be rented for a time as little as just one month, so you can plan out when you will be having meetings, etc. This fee includes water, electricity, shared kitchens, and cleaning!

If you find that your rented office isn’t big enough due to business growth, you can simply move into a larger office in the centre. Every business centre is professional and clean, so rest assured your clients and workers will feel comfortable. With receptionists in smart lobby areas greeting customers, it means your business remains highly professional.

Desks, chairs, pedestals, and bookcases will not need to be transported as all serviced offices come fully furnished. This can take a big cost away from hiring movers from office to office. Reducing moving times, means more productivity can happen.

If your business is growing, a serviced office may be the right solution for you. With hundreds of offices to choose from, you are guaranteed to find the perfect size for your company. This flexibility means you can make quick changes to your office space, making it a fully adaptable way of working.

At M54 Space Centre, our office spaces are ideally situated, with car parking spaces enough for all clients and workers. Our office space provides a complete business support infrastructure with highly competitive rates. To see more information, click here.

Virtual offices are on the rise! The idea that the office is where our professional lives take place is becoming less universal and less important.

In the modern-day, we can be productive almost anywhere! This is thanks to smarter mobile devices, faster network access and a growing number of online tools. Surveys show that over 60% of large companies are now letting their employees work from home, due to cheaper overheads and more productive employees.

Technology has made it much easier for colleagues and managers to stay connected. The virtual office gets rid of unnecessary stress and helps to gain back hours in the day. Whatever your business type, a virtual office may be for you.

With a virtual office, you can bridge the gap between a remote worker and a company address used to meet with clients. With us, your office will be fully customisable, ensuring you only pay for what you need.

The benefits of a Virtual Office.

• No commute time.

This makes virtual offices more environmentally friendly than traditional office space. Cutting out the commute decreases carbon dioxide emissions, allowing you to reduce your carbon footprint and help the environment. No commute time also increases employee productivity and encourages employees to be more focused.

• Flexibility.

You can work from anywhere and at any time! A virtual office gives you the flexibility to work from anywhere – from home, from a beach, from the park, from anywhere you want. If all your business needs is an internet connection then a virtual office is the ideal solution for you.

• Saving money on overheads.

There’s no office rent, no utility payments, no hardware and none of the associated costs that come with having a brick-and-mortar space. All that savings can not only be passed along to clients, but it also affects your profit margin, allowing you to invest more in your people.

• Enhance your corporate image.

Having a prestigious business address with a virtual office ensures your brand maintains a credible, professional, and legitimate business image. Using a physical business address and office phone number on your business cards, website, and email increases trust in prospects and clients.

Your Virtual Office Facilities

A virtual office offers many facilities, enabling your business to appear as professional as those who have a physical space. This includes, but is not limited to, a mailing address, telephone answering, parcel storage and reception courtesies.

Our virtual offices use specialist computer software to tell the difference between calls and what they represent. This enables us to provide you a streamlined and professional service, virtual office receptionists are also there to physically handle your mail and incoming deliveries.

Another facility that is offered with our virtual offices is the handling of the mail you receive at the virtual office address. Our handlers work in these office spaces and at your request can open your mail, scan the contents and send it to you via a cloud-based storage system. This enables you to receive your mail immediately.

Letters, once opened, are then shredded for privacy purposes unless you state otherwise.

Save On Costs 

With a virtual office, you no longer need to worry about spending time completing mundane tasks such as general maintenance and cleaning duties. This allows you to save time and money, so you can focus solely on your business.

With a virtual office, you pay for a prestigious business address without paying large amounts of rent that come with it. This enables you to keep business expenses low as you reduce costs of commuting and transportation, office equipment, office maintenance and utilities and so on. Other expenses such as liability insurance are also reduced, as they are not required unless you have a physical office space.

Many operators provide casual workspaces which allow you to drop in and work in an office environment on a pay-as-you-go basis. This can be beneficial if you need to rid yourself of distractions.

Here at M54 Space Centre, we offer virtual office spaces at our Telford unit, giving you the opportunity to take advantage of all the benefits the virtual workspaces offer. In fact, it’s everything you need to successfully run your business from anywhere!

Our Virtual Office Plan options can include…

• Telephony (designated DDI with call forwarding)
• Mail Handling
• Parcel storage and handling
• Mail forwarding and address
• Flexible terms
• Registered office address
• Physical office space

If you would like to find out more about the virtual office spaces, find out more about virtual office hire by visiting our website:

Telford branch – https://www.m54spacecentre.com/telford/virtual-office

To further discuss your business’s virtual office requirements, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Virtual offices are a service that enables employees and business owners to work remotely by providing a range of business functions accessible through the internet.  A virtual office enables businesses to have many of the benefits of a physical office but without any actual space or desks. Here are our top benefits for Virtual offices.

1. Home Office

If your business is home-based, you may be considering renting a virtual office space, to keep your home address out of your business. A virtual office can also provide you with a phone, so there would be no need to take time out from your busy day to answer calls.

Virtual office space is also extremely beneficial for larger businesses where employees work from home. When needed, a virtual office space offers the option of being a central hub for things such as training or staff meetings. This eliminates the problem of trying to get all employees to one location.

1. The Eco-Friendly Choice

Businesses are more concerned for the environment than ever before; a virtual office is a big step closer to being an eco-friendly planet. This option creates no air pollution, from driving to the office, etc, but also a virtual office cuts down the amount of waste your business is producing, due to everything being done digitally.

1. Saving Money

Working in a traditional office is expensive, from the money spent on getting ready each morning to commuting to the office. A virtual office eliminates all these extra expenses you are wasting money on now. Making your office virtual, it allows employees to access work-life in the comfort of their home.

4. Work-Life Balance

Working long hours in the office can be a big strain on your body. It also makes it hard to get a work-life balance. By working from the comfort of your own home, you get the relief of having access to all your comforts whilst working. It also creates more productive workers because the day is easy to end. By not having that long drive home, means you can work right up to the point you are finished.

1. No Long-Term Commitments

Most virtual offices are on a monthly basis. There are no long-term rent contracts as there is for physical office space. This reduces risk as you simply use and pay for the virtual office address for as long or little as you need.

1. More Professional

A virtual office allows you to have a prestigious business address in the city and work from your home in the country, whilst maintaining credibility and prestige.

1. More Employees

Having a virtual office enables you to have a greater number of employees to work with at any given time. With a traditional office, you are restricted to the number of workers depending on the size of your space. However, with a virtual office, you can employ more people, with no need for expansion.

1. Larger Talent Pool

When working from a traditional office you are restricted to the talent in your one location, but if your business is virtual, you can hire people much further away as there isn’t one location!

1. Business support

Virtual office packages offer extra features to support your business so that you can concentrate solely on your business! You don’t need to worry about time-consuming tasks as most virtual office solutions take care of this for you.

1. Flexibility

Working from home can make your work life more flexible for you to do family tasks in the day, such as doing the school run, and making up the time later. This flexibility means a decrease in holidays taken by employees.

To find out more about Virtual Offices in Telford, contact us today.