Changing the way we work

Polygon Collective have opened the doors to Bucktrout House on Glategny Esplanade, which is the second Polygon Serviced Offices (PSO) to launch in Guernsey.

Les Vardes House in La Charroterie launched at the start of 2021 and already a third, very centrally located property is on the horizon to open before 2022, making PSO the largest provider of its kind with 10,000 sq. ft. of flexible working and office spaces in Guernsey and the first pan-Channel Island serviced office provider.

‘We offer tenants the use of the board and meeting rooms across all our premises, whereby tenants can freely use the facilities between Guernsey and Jersey as a hub for meetings, work and presentations,’ says Martin Belcher, founder and chairman of Polygon Collective.

The Collective, who started PSO Jersey in Forum3 and Forum4 have expanded its commercial property portfolio with properties refurbished specifically to meet the needs of the new era of tenant and the future of the way we work.

The two sites in Guernsey, Les Vardes House and Bucktrout House are the ideal premises providing different ends of the spectrum in terms of style and space, but the core values of PSO remain the same, which are all-inclusive, affordable and adaptable offices spaces.

Mr Belcher continued: ‘We make a point of working with our tenants and maintaining a dialogue to accommodate their growth and changing needs. As a small business ourselves we know how important it is to be careful with costs and yet have stylish spaces on offer. Many operators of serviced offices focus on flexibility, however we believe that the model is best appreciated when we share costly resources as well. A good example is the board room. All businesses need meeting rooms but they are commonly under-utilised. The same can be said for kitchens, printers and so on. We are pleased to say that the teams of Polygon Collective are all based in our serviced spaces as we love them so much.’

Each property has undergone a carefully thought-out refurbishment to suit the buildings’ original features. Les Vardes House is a rare red-brick warehouse style building providing a Shoreditch and industrial appeal, with exposed conduits and metal beams that gives it a modern, trendy vibe with a tech and creative ambient. Bucktrout House is an elegant period building with historical features dating back to the 16th Century and was originally home to the Le Marchant family. It is one of the few buildings on the sea front offering the most desired and breath-taking views over St Peter Port harbour and neighbouring islands. The interior has been chosen to complement the stunning original features boasting beautiful boutique private offices and co-working. This building is an example of great value for a prime location in St. Peter Port.

Mr Belcher concludes: ‘You will notice that the communal areas, made up of the kitchen and lounge areas, make up the heart of the buildings. PSO’s experience has shown that the serviced office tenancy does not have to be an isolated experience – quite the opposite in fact. We have found that these spaces become a community for like-minded businesses who enjoy the interaction with the other tenants, outside their self-contained space. We also host regular tenant events off-site for everyone to get together. The importance of the social aspect has increased not decreased in our experience.’

Polygon Collective is an independent and family-owned investment business with a track record of over forty years in the Channel Islands. It has a real estate portfolio in Jersey and Guernsey as well as PSO and the premier benefits and salary survey analysis company in the Channel Islands in Polymetrix. Polygon also invests in tech and creative start-ups and earlier stage businesses in the Channel Islands to assist the growth of this important sector.

Polygon Collective has remained a truly Channel Island business with 90% of its portfolio spread across Jersey and Guernsey and has always been committed to support local community and charitable initiatives such as Health Connections, Grow, the Alderney Performing Arts Festival, Guernsey Festival of Covid-free Comedy, as well as providing ongoing support for the Guernsey arts, theatre, music and rugby amongst others.