Tenant Spotlight - Interview with Parker Bullen: A Partnership in Growth with Hexagon Business Centres

Let’s start with an introduction to Parker Bullen!  

Parker Bullen LLP has been around for many years, predominantly in Hampshire and Wiltshire before expanding to Oxfordshire with the opening our Witney office in October 2022. As a firm, we offer first class legal services in a variety of areas, including for individual, families, business and property needs. Our values of heritage, excellence, connection and versatility are at the core of everything we do, and our strapline “Law from every angle” demonstrates our desire to ensure all of our clients’ legal needs are catered for.

How long has Parker Bullen been established, and what are some key milestones in your journey?

Parker Bullen LLP has been established for over 200 years, with our Witney office opening in October 2022. The office initially opened with Sarah Dureau as Partner and Niki Coombes as Legal Secretary. Within the first year, we had doubled in size in terms of our staff, and we are now a team of eight in the Witney office. Our highlights in those short years, aside from the growth of the team, all centre around our community involvement, from being headline sponsor of the Witney Festival of Food and Drink for the last three years, sponsoring the Witney Vikings and hosting our own annual party which has seen almost 100 people in attendance. 

What led Parker Bullen to initially seek serviced office space, and what were your primary needs at that time?

When the firm decided to open an office in Witney, we knew that we were initially going to be a small team so we were looking for space where we could have excellent support and security, with flexible layouts to assist us as we grew.

What were your initial impressions of Hexagon Business Centres when you first considered them? What stood out to you?

The team stood out to us as a key asset for Hexagon Business Centres. Led by Abbie Willcox, they represent our values exceptionally well for our clients; being welcoming, accommodating, friendly, professional and approachable. The space within Hexagon Business Centres was also ideal, offering us communal areas but the security and privacy we need as a law firm to ensure confidentiality for our clients.

How important was the location of Hexagon Business Centres in your decision-making process?

Location is paramount for us; we are keen to have our offices in the town centres so we can be accessible and prominent within the communities we are based. Additionally, we have an excellent Armed Forces department, providing assistance to those at several local military bases, making the location of Hexagon Business Centres ideal.

Parker Bullen has experienced significant growth, including expanding from two offices to six and over 100 employees since 2021. Can you tell us about this growth trajectory and what factors have contributed to it?

There have been many different factors over recent years and our time in Witney has contributed significantly to that journey. Our success in Witney has come from our reputation in offering excellent service for our clients, as well as our prominence in the local community. We are seen as an approachable firm who genuinely want to give back to those around us, which assists in attracting new clients as well as new staff. This is our ethos across the firm and has led to additional staff wishing to join us, other organisations wishing to collaborate, and, of course, new clients.

How has your relationship with Hexagon Business Centres evolved as Parker Bullen has grown?

As the firm has grown in the last few years, our relationship with Hexagon Business Centres has only grown stronger. The team have always been accommodating with our requests as we have needed more and more office space, and they truly feel like part of the team.

Specifically, how has the flexibility of serviced office space at Hexagon facilitated your expansion? Can you give examples of how you've scaled up or down space as needed?

We wouldn’t have had the growth we have had if it wasn’t for the flexibility Hexagon Business Centres have offered. Over the years, it has seemed like the perfect opportunity has always arisen at just the right time! Hexagon Business Centres have understood how we operate from the outset and have worked hard to accommodate space and looked for alternatives as and when there were complications, which have been rare! We have moved from one room only for Sarah and Niki, to now four rooms, plus a conference space, and we are about to expand into more office space…we have almost taken over the top floor!

One of the key benefits of serviced offices is the 'one fixed cost' model. How has this predictability in budgeting benefited Parker Bullen, especially during periods of rapid growth?

As a firm with now six offices and focused investment in our buildings, it can be easy for costs to escalate and spiral when you are reacting to the need to expand. Having that transparency related to the cost has been hugely beneficial for the Partners at Parker Bullen, and has further enabled our growth when we can provide that certainty and stability.

Beyond flexibility and cost, what other advantages of serviced office space have been most valuable to Parker Bullen?

There are so many advantages, with the primary one being the reception service provided. Having the knowledge that our clients and prospective clients will be welcomed according to our values as Hexagon’s align so closely with ours is a great comfort and means we do not have the cost involved with employing our own team or having the additional space to maintain. The Hexagon staff have been outstanding and have become like friends and are trusted colleagues.

How has having a professional environment, managed by Hexagon, impacted your company's image and client interactions?

As already mentioned, Hexagon’s values align excellently with our own so our clients and prospective clients enjoy that seamless experience that matches our overall brand message. They have also been flexible with our signage requests, meaning we have been able to adequately signpost our clients to us.

What are Parker Bullen's future growth plans and aspirations?

We are currently recruiting for another member of our Property team to join us to further grow our presence in Witney. As we have had such significant growth in a short space of time, the focus for the rest of the firm now is to re-focus and build a sustainable model for the future, which may or may not include further expansion…it depends what opportunities arise!

How do you see the partnership with Hexagon Business Centres continuing to support your future endeavours?

We are sure that our partnership with Hexagon Business Centres will continue to assist us as we carry on expanding. As we have now taken additional space within the premises, we are looking forward to many more years working together!

What advice would you give to other growing businesses considering serviced office space as a solution for their own expansion?

The reason why being based at Hexagon Business Centres works for us is because it fits in with our goals and our values. If a business is considering serviced office space, they need to ensure they conduct their research and find the right one that fits in with them and their ambitions. With Hexagon they will find a ‘can do’ approach and real desire to provide for their individual needs, which is what Parker Bullen have found and really appreciated.

Is there anything else you'd like to add about your experience with Hexagon Business Centres that you feel would be valuable for potential tenants to know?

Nothing else to say other than thank you to the team at Hexagon Business Centres!

To find out more about Parker Bullen visit www.parkerbullen.com