+44 (1227) 250254
T: 01227 751673
M: 07841 260500
Opening Times:
Mon – Fri 7.30am – 6pm
Saturday 8am – 1pm

How Need A space can offer a smooth move with student storage

studentsIf you are a student in Kent (especially the Canterbury, Faversham and Whitstable areas) then Need A Space self-storage could solve a lot of problems for you.  With the intrinsic seasonal nature of student life and the inevitable requirement to pack up all your stuff at the end of the year, you are likely to have pack up your belongings – only to have to take them all back again for your next term.

 

You could leave stuff at your temporary address but is this really a safe option? Can you really take that risk of hoping your valuables are going to be there when you come back?

 

Precious learning materials and recreational possessions

Your belongings are precious and it is sometimes awe-inspiring how much a student can accumulate over a year or even a short period of a term. Being in a place of learning you will no doubt have loads of text books and course materials to hang onto. That’s before you even start thinking about new clothes, house utensils, white goods and recreational paraphernalia such as CD’s DVD’s and vinyl (yes vinyl is coming back apparently!)

Is there still space at home?

To add to the problem you have got your home environment to think about. You have been away sometime and your parents may not welcome you bringing everything but the kitchen sink back into the house. There may not even be the room.

Transport can be a problem

There is also the problems of transporting what you have back home.  Students tend to live quite a distance from their birth home while at college or University so there is an extra cost here. The logistics of it all could be quite stressful too.  If you have your own car you are lucky but can you pack it all in? If you are getting a train you almost seem to be beaten at the first hurdle.

Self-storage in Canterbury could be the solution 

Need A Space is a self-storage facility based in Canterbury which offers secure storage for students.  You can use our Space estimator so you can get a clear idea as to how much space you will need. Let’s start as we mean to go on by saving money! We can help with transport by providing free van hire and you will be welcomed by our friendly staff. CCTV and high security infra-red beams makes sure that your valuables are absolutely safe. We can provide packaging tools and to help cut costs further, groups of students can easily store their valuables in one place together.

To learn more about how Need A Space self-storage can help students in the Canterbury area click here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial help for small UK businesses during the pandemic

How can small businesses survive the onslaught of Coronavirus? The future certainly looked bleak when the UK government first made clear the restrictions involved in lockdown. Unable to trade and receive funds just to cover daily costs is leading to forecasts that not only small businesses will collapse – products and services will become unavailable to the general public and the UK economy will plummet into recession.

But the government has introduced various measures to ease financial distress and unemployment.

Loan aid

The UK government under the leadership of Boris Johnson has been criticised for not acting fast enough on many factors concerning the Coronavirus outbreak, but the introduction of the Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), could offer a great helping hand to employers in these difficult times.

Launched on 23rd March 2020  to allow small to medium-sized businesses access loans and overdrafts from the British Business Bank (BBB), the scheme is aimed squarely at those businesses who have been hit by the pandemic and have a turnover of less than £45 million a year,

By becoming a member of the Financial Stability Board, an interested party can check their eligibility with a range of accredited financial providers. The full list of accredited lenders is available on the BBB website. The Development Bank of Wales is currently offering customers a 3 month capital repayment holiday.

Help with Tax?

As well as CBILS there is also a HMRC helpline for businesses who are looking for a deferral period on their tax liabilities. A comprehensive link to the measure that the government have put in place can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19

Claiming furlough

The government has also recognised the importance of enabling small businesses to hold onto employees. The Job Retention Scheme was launched on the 20th March. The scheme will enable eligible employers to pay 80% of their monthly salary. This outlet is now live and if you are an employer and wish to make a claim you need to go to the HMRC website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme#what-youll-need-to-make-a-claim

The three main factors for eligibility are (1) you will need to have created a payroll scheme before the 20th March, (2) you will need to be enrolled for PAYE online and (3) you will need a UK bank account. You can only claim for employees who were on your payroll on or before the 19th March 2020. Employees can be full-time or part-time and you can claim for apprentices and people on zero-hour contracts.

Need A Space self-storage is currently closed due to the pandemic. We look forward to offering the same-high quality services to our customers when lock down is eased.

                                  From all the staff at Need A Space: Take care. Keep safe,

Need A Space will lockdown as from 24th March 2020

In line with government guidance re the Coronavirus, Need A Space will be on lockdown as from 24th March. That means none of our usual services will be available until we are all out of these difficult times. We believe this is the most effective way to ensure we are playing our part in stopping the spread of the virus, helping the NHS in its delivery of critical cases and – ultimately helping save lives.

It is a strange paradox that at a time when we are all staying as far apart from each other as possible individual communities are coming together to help each other and beat this terrible virus.

For many, everything seems very bleak. Forecasts say that we will be social distancing for sometime, while our leisure facilities (pubs, theatres, sports centres etc.) have been taken away from us. Keeping businesses afloat is also a great worry.  But the government is offering benefits both to employers and employees in an attempt to help businesses cope with the current situation and also bolster the countries economic situation. This is encouraging.

“It may seem as if our lives are going to be put on hold until the time it is safe to go out.  And when that time comes – boy is there’s going to be some great global party!! So that’s something to look forward to! “

Underneath the fear and worry there are good things going on. Many people are finding they are not spending as much money as they would normally, pollution in the environment appears to be reducing, and people have the time to revitalise old hobbies while still keeping in contact with friends and family through the internet and social media. Communities are sparking as volunteers are getting together to help the most vulnerable in our society – people are all working together to help keep the NHS safe and – instead of people bickering with each other playing power games – we are all working together to fight a common enemy

We have been here before and won. For instance, the plague in the 13th and 17th centuries, the Spanish Flu, SARS – we beat them all. This time we have got any even greater chance of beating the virus quickly thanks to past experience, better medical and knowledge, technical knowledge, media and communications.

So hold on! Better times are coming!

Need A Space wishes all our customers safety and health in these difficult times. For further information ring 01227 751673.

Cheaper storage for London business in Kent

self-storageLondon may well arguably be the commercial capital of the world but when it comes to practicing business within London – costs can quickly go through the roof. That is why Need A Space self-storage offer a much cheaper option for self-storage while at the same time offering premium security, quality and accessibility.

 

Cheaper self-storage in Kent

 

Situated in the heart of Kent (located on the outskirts of Faversham and Canterbury) Need A Space self-storage facilities are within easy reach of the London catchment area which means we can cut storage costs enormously, saving managers huge amounts on their annual budget. Just take a look at some of our facilities:

 

  • Over 40,000 feet of self-storage space for start-ups and SME’s, to corporate business and global enterprise
  • Free moving van. We can supply a Luton tail lift van for a whole day to help with large removals and awkward bulky goods.
  • Secure mailbox to filter business communications or create an anonymous business mailing address.
  • Clean dry self-storage units for all your business archives.
  • Flexible working hours means you can access your stored items whenever you wish.
  • Forklift truck services
  • Parking bays and convenient loading bays
  • Friendly staff available for support and advice.
  • Unbeatable security which includes, CCTV, high security infrared beams, state of the art alarm systems and perimeter fencing.

Quality archive storage and cheaper rates

Extra storage is needed only too often in modern business. Documents need to be archived and if this takes place on the main business property it can take up a great deal of useful (and high rental!) property space.

Easy access, flexible opening hours

Businesses which have a seasonal element or use valuable equipment documents and tools for a minimal part of the year will need somewhere to house that paraphernalia somewhere which is secure, and accessible.

Currently we have many business clients who are based in London and have decided to use our storage facilities here in Kent to cut down on overheads such as storage. With all the facilities such as free van hire, forklift truck services and flexible opening hours, our clients know their items will be easy to store and accessible in business hours.

 

30% discount

 

For those businesses who already have storage – we offer a 30% off deal.

 

To learn more about how Need A Space self-storage can help businesses in Kent and the London area click here

 

 

How Need A Space beats all self-storage competition in Kent!

Cheap self-storage prices in Kent

We believe we cannot be beaten on price! There is no need for a deposit and no hidden costs. Our experience in the storage industry has told us that it is likely you will need to either increase or decrease the amount of space you have available in your storage unit. At Need a Space, unlike many of our competitors, we offer total flexibility – you can change storage unit size when you like at no penalty.

Great location in Kent for major enterprise and SME

Based in the heart of Kent, and situated on the outskirts of Faversham and Canterbury, Need A Space is conveniently located for both local county and South London clients

 

Free packing materials

 

When you use Need A Space for the first time, you can take up the offer of a free box of essential packaging materials to suit your requirements.

 

Packing materials when you need them

 

Often find you need those extra few boxes, strong tape or bubble-wrap? No worries, we have loads of supplies at Need A Space. We have found from many years’ experience that where our clients have accessories on tap they do not waste precious time and money.

 

Free use of Tail lift van

 

When you sign up for 2 months’ self-storage you will get free use of our tail-lift van.

 

Vans for hire

 

Need a van for your removals? We provide van hire at highly competitive prices!

 

Removal services at affordable rates

 

Moving house and don’t want to be dealing with the complications of working with different companies? At Need A Space we offer a removal service at very reasonable prices.

 

Mailbox rental

To complement our self-storage facilities, Need A Space offers secure Mailbox Services. You can now have your mail re-directed to a secondary mailing address to give you peace of mind for all your home and business postal communications.

 

Friendly staff to make moving easy

 

Our trained friendly staff are always on hand to offer assistance on site when needed. You will find a selection of packaging materials and tools on-site as well as the use of loading bays, free van hire (terms apply) and an assisted fork lift truck service to make that move, whether long-term or short term, as quick and easy as possible.

 

Unbeatable security for your valuables

 

From CCTV and high security infrared beams to state of the art alarm systems and perimeter fencing you can be sure your precious valuables will be safe with us!

 

Looking for storage space in Faversham Canterbury or Herne Bay? To learn more about how Need A Space self-storage can help businesses in Kent and the London area click here

 

 

 

 

 

Top storage tips from Need A Space

storage herne bayOften when choosing a new home, we may not give a lot of time to thinking about the amount of storage space we will need. Instead we tend to be seduced by conservatories, plush fitted kitchens, en-suite bedrooms and fashionable dining rooms. It is only when we are trying to fit our old house into the new space that we may get a nasty shock and have to be super-creative in making everything fit. So here are a few simple tips from Need A Space to help you turn that diminishing space into a regular Tardis:

  1. Organise that mass of Scarves and ties

Ties and scarves are funny things. One minute you can’t find one for love nor money – the next they seem to be taking over the house. Organise them so they are all located in one place. Wardrobe too full? All you need is a couple of towel bars and some shower rings. They go nice and easy on the back of a door and you know where they all are!

  1. Buy a bed with storage area underneath

Don’t just think about how comfy that mattress is going to be or whether you should have a TV electronically appearing at the bottom of the bed. Make sure you have space under the bed to store stuff or buy a bed that at least has Draws to put clothes in etc.

  1. Sit and store: ottoman and garden bench

Think about storage whenever you are buying for your new home. For instance, that ottoman can double as a laundry basket and can also be a pretty cool place to sit too. The same goes for that new garden bench which offers a place for your garden tools underneath the seating area.

  1. Wall TV

Here’s an idea. We sit glued to it every night, yet we still forget how much space the TV is likely to be taking up. It probably came with a mounting bracket, so why not take it off the floor and put it on your wall right out the way – but looking even better.

  1. Kids toy chest

When the floor is cluttered the size of the house seems to get smaller and smaller. Kids toys can be a main culprit for the chaos. Why not get them their own Toy chest which they will treasure and hopefully use to tidy up after themselves.

  1. Pot rack or ceiling hooks

Frustration arises when you have a beautiful kitchen but there is just not enough cupboard space. Look to the walls and the ceiling. A pot rack or hooks in the ceiling to hold pots can create more space and give your kitchen character at the same time.

  1. Garden tool rack

All too often sheds start bursting at the seams far too early. The key is to use the walls for garden racks, individual hooks for garden tools and sheds for that cornucopia of stuff you never really use.

  1. Wall mounted shelves for those books and ornaments

You don’t have to splash out on a display cabinet or expensive bookcase to provide a place for your books and ornaments. A handy shelf here and a cute shelf there can show your valuables and priceless books off and make floor space at the same time.

  1. Use that alcove

Architects are forever coming up with new designs. Square rooms are a thing of the past – but now we may find the odd alcove is not being used to its best benefit. The answer is to build a bookcase or set of drawers into the space. And don’t forget under the stairs too!

Need A Space offers self-storage at highly competitive prices in Kent…for the bits that just wont fit but are too good to let go! To learn more, click here

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Who uses self-storage?

self-storageIt is no surprise that the self-storage industry in the UK continues to grow. The demand for services thrives. It is a relatively new phenomenon (first making a foothold in the early millennium) which many believe was caused by a shortage in housing and inflation. Many house buyers were prevented from taking the normal route of buying a bigger home when families expanded, or there was just a greater need to store stuff.

Once the self-storage services were available on the market it became quickly apparent that it had more uses than simply for those homeowners who could not afford to up-size. Fundamentally, it has become a service which offers extra space, and the consumer uses that space exactly how they choose. In this way, it is useful for people in all walks of life – homeowners; people moving home; students, businessmen; internet businesses needing to store products and travelling salesmen, to name but a few.

Let’s take a look at who uses self-storage:

  1. Homeowners use self-storage in order to gain more space when buying new and bigger accommodation is not possible.
  2. People moving home may use self-storage on a more temporary basis. They may find it useful to store valuables which, during the time of the move, they do not have room for.
  3. Students living away from home often find self-storage is an aid to a transient lifestyle. For instance, accommodation by the college or university may only be needed during term time. In order to return home, a central location is needed to keep valuables in one place.
  4. Businessmen want to take advantage of that tiny window when their businesses can grow. However, the physical space to allow that to happen may not always be available due to company budgets. Self-storage allows businesses to remove “impractical assets” from the organisational base so the location can be used more fruitfully. A good example of this is archiving.
  5. As companies grow, demand for their products increases. Hence businesses need to have more of their products available to sell. Consequently, there is a need for extra storage space. Self-storage offers that extra space at reduced costs (i.e cheaper than renting new premises).
  6. Companies with large product lines or those businesses which offer seasonal products will need expansive storage places at cheap rates.
  7. Internet companies which are very much becoming the norm in the 21st century can only offer a wide variety of product if they have the space to store the products which meet the demand. Self-storage offers a cheaper option for the smaller businesses – especially in the start-up days.
  8. A travelling salesman may have various products he needs at hand but does not wish to take on every trip. Self-storage can offer a safe central location for all equipment and presentation accessories.

These are just a few of the types of people who are likely to use self-storage – but at the end of the day, it is space that is on sale here and space is probably something we can all do with a lot more of! If you would like to know more about the facilities available at Need A Space in Canterbury Kent please do not hesitate to contact us on 01227 751673

 

 

Top uses for self-storage in business and residential

self storageStorage space in your home

Make this a priority factor for your new home. I recently made the decision to move to a new home in Anglesey. The move was a great success but there was one disappointment with our new-build house: no storage space. How could I have missed this essential asset? Probably because space is pretty boring. The kind of things which attract us to a new home are the amount of rooms, the location, how high the council tax will be, does it have double glazing, what fixtures and fittings will remain etc. Because storage space is all about those things that stay out of sight, its only when there is nowhere to put the unsightly-rarely used stuff that they really become a great problem!

Moving home

Always a stressful and longwinded activity, self-storage can offer that extra solution when there is either an overflow of furniture in your new home or, if you need to keep some of your furniture from your previous home temporarily – self-storage is flexible enough.

Business self-storage

As a business owner, your greatest investment is likely to be in stocking your product. You will also perhaps need a store for office equipment when it is needed. If your business is thriving and growing but not yet ready for new premises you need to free up space to make room for your expansion. If your business is seasonal or if you are a salesman travelling with a large itinerary, a place to keep all your assets is essential.

The travellers’ piece of mind

If you are the kind of person who loves travelling, then you need to know that your valuables will be safe when you get back. A great benefit of the self-storage route is you know your precious assets will be secure under more than just a front door key.

Security and flexibility while learning

Students (and sometimes teachers) have to deal with terms, half-terms and holidays. While they may rent their accommodation when studying away from home, they are likely to be needing to store their valuables when they return home.

Time to de-clutter!

And what better than a spring clean? As the family grows and there are more hungry mouths at the table it often seems like space is at a premium.  We have all been in that frustrating situation where you can’t open a cupboard door without everything falling out of it – and half of the stuff in there you never use anyway! Time to move the useless stuff out so you can start functioning again.

Downsizing

Downsizing has become the trend – especially later on in life – so self-storage is the perfect solution to ensuring that you can still hang on to those most precious things you hold most dear.

The list is endless. Whatever the reason you need that little bit of extra space – self -storage can provide the answer and at a price you can afford. It is flexible to allow access at any time and offers the kind of security that gives you peace of mind. To learn more about Need A Space based in Faversham in Kent click here

 

Image by <a href=”https://pixabay.com/users/MIH83-464187/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=1132553″>Maret Hosemann</a> from <a href=”https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=1132553″>Pixabay</a>

 

 

 

Archive business documents safely

archiveStoring documents that need to be archived in your busy office can often lead to chaos and inefficient business processes. At the same time, they can prevent your business growing. For instance, using rented business space in order to store archive material can be a poor way to make the most use of your assets – high rent on business assets, such as buildings, can sometimes be better used for the active business processes.

If there is insufficient storage within your organisation, you may want to consider self-storage facilities in your area. Here at Need A Space in Canterbury Kent we offer storage space for both business and domestic needs. But what is the best way to store those infuriating but precious pieces of paper?

Top tips for archiving your documents

  • Store for easy access: Some documents will need to be kept simply for legislative reasons (I.e. for tax purposes you need to hold on to business account information for 5 years) but there will be some documents that you may need to find for current activities. Load these boxes last so they are stored at the front and easy for access.
  • Protect against long term damage: Mould can grow quickly and cause damage. Keeping things dry from the start is the best way to avoid damage so whichever self-storage provider you use, ensure the unit will be dry.
  • Security: Check with your self-storage provider to find out what security provisions are in place. Many business documents and records are confidential and need to be private. Need A Space offer CCTV, a perimeter fence, high-security infra-red beams and state of the art alarm systems.
  • Label boxes.As well as easy access you need to know where each and every document is. So however short of time you may be, have a clear labelling system.
  • Office filing system: It is often useful to use an office filing system twinned with the labelling system you use at the self – storage outlet. For instance, labelling a box by a number and then put the relevant details on an excel sheet which is easily accessible in the office.
  • Be cost effective: Always find a self-storage unit close to your office for obvious reasons, but in some cases (especially with documents which need to be archived for long periods and do not necessarily need frequent access) consider storing outside of your location. For instance, London prices are high, but by storing down here in Kent you could make quite a saving.

 

Based in the heart of Kent, and situated on the outskirts of Faversham and Canterbury, Need A Space is conveniently located for both local county and South London clients. Looking for storage space in Faversham Canterbury or Herne Bay? To learn more about how Need A Space self-storage can help businesses in Kent and the London area click here

 

 

 

 

 

Save space - enhance work processes

spaceWorking in a cluttered atmosphere not only hampers work processes it can also be psychologically demotivating for your staff as well. When you find yourself wasting precious time looking for important documents while tripping over obsolete equipment you know there is something wrong. And any good manager knows that unless you deal with bad practices it will not be long before profits and brand suffer.

Space can come at a premium cost for a thriving company and if that asset is not dealt with appropriately, that tiny window where the company can take advantage of quick growth and higher revenue, can unfortunately be lost forever. Here at Need A Space in Kent we like to think we have the perfect solution for small to medium businesses who need that extra bit of space to keep processes up to standard and make room for a better future.

Self-storage is a cost-effective way to store business items safely, so they are always accessible. We pride ourselves on the amount of businesses we have helped take themselves up to that next level. It’s very rewarding. However, we are also aware that our customers and clients need to be using their workspace efficiently before putting out extra money for storage. So, with that in mind, let’s lookout some top tips for maximising space in the office.

1. Get everyone on board: You need to set time aside for both you and the staff to brainstorm the best way to declutter and look at new ways to store. The message needs to be clear that this is not just a nice break from usual processes but essential activity to allow the company to continue at current levels.

2. Consider multi-storage furniture: This really maximises office space. Desks with built in draws and shelves can also be used for stationery and storage.

3. Are you using those blank walls? Walls tend to go unnoticed in the grand scheme of things. They are just there. But can they be used for storage? Adding shelves to unused wall space can be a great idea.

4. Attack that cupboard! Time to find out exactly what is in that cupboard that everyone struggles with and spends far too much time messing with. Get rid of the obsolete stuff, find a new home for the stuff that shouldn’t be in there, get new ideas for storing and replenish with the stuff that should really be in there.

5. Colours can be inspiring: working in chaos can lead to demotivated staff, bad practices and poor outcomes. Choosing light and neutral colours for floors and walls can make an office seem open and plentiful. Stay away from dark colours!

Need self-storage in Kent to enhance work processes, store little used equipment and essential documents at highly competitive rates? We would love to hear from you! Give us a call on 01227 751673 for a quote.

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