October 30, 2017– Flexible office champion, Citibase, which has 35 fully serviced business centres in the UK, is continuing its rapid expansion with the appointment of Tim Irons in the newly created role of Group Finance Director.
Reporting to CEO Steve Jude, Tim joins from CVP (Creative Video Productions), one of the UK’s most successful broadcast equipment providers, where he was Chief Financial Officer. Prior to this, he held senior roles at International Stadia Group Ltd, Saint-Gobain and Caudwell Group, having started his career with Deloitte.
Tim will oversee financial control, risk management and statutory compliance through the development of systems which will enhance productivity, quality and profitability at the business, utilising his expertise in delivering both operational and financial improvements. This will enable Citibase to meets its ambitious growth strategy, at a time when the flexible officing sector is booming nationwide. For example, in central London, serviced office providers took more space during the first half of 2017 than in the whole of 2016*, while in Birmingham, they accounted for 25% of total commercial take up in Q1 2017**.
The announcement comes after an outstanding period of expansion for Citibase. The company has opened nine new flexible officing hubs in the past 12 months in towns and cities across the length and breadth of the UK including Aberdeen, Wakefield and London Victoria Palace Street, while also delivering the best ever results in its 24-year history, with a 23% rise in year on year earnings (EBITDA) and total revenue up by 7% to £21.25m.
Steve Jude, Citibase CEO, comments: “Demand for our flexible offices has never been higher, driven by the businesses of the new economy who require good-value, flexible offices with short term contracts that allow them to flourish. Tim will drive a culture of excellence within the Finance function and the wider business, allowing us to build upon the record growth that we experienced this year.”
About Citibase
Citibase offers fully serviced business centres for cost-conscious SMEs in 35 locations nationwide. Their unique disruptive business model brings together both clients and customers. Over the last 24 years they have been commissioned by some of the largest and smallest names in the UK property market to help execute a plan for their underutilized office space.
They provide solutions to property owners, by taking over the management of the building, allowing building owners to generate a cash income from secondary office space with minimum stress whilst providing SME customers with cost-effective office solutions.
Citibase also offers building owners with short-term voids a smart way of enjoying the hassle-free cash which only Citibase can generate by launching one of their unique pop-up business centres. It’s easy-in and easy-out, and Citibase will manage the entire process.
Citibase concentrates on town and city centre locations. Founded in 1993, the business has at its heart the ‘Freedom at Work’ philosophy; a deep-routed commitment to support and nurture cost-conscious SMEs whether they are setting out for the first time or taking bigger steps on the path to growth. Being in a Citibase centre gives SMEs the independence to be freed from expensive rents and rates, inflexible terms, service charges, hidden costs and corporate restrictions. By taking the stress of running a building off business’s hands, Citibase allows SMEs to focus on growing a successful business.
For more information on Citibase visit www.citibase.com.