Office space in China for Yorkshire businesses

Yorkshire companies are being given the opportunity to have either a virtual or actual presence in China, thanks to the brainwave of a Yorkshire woman.

Joanna Lavan launched Asia Business HQ earlier this year as a way of helping businesses from every sector to get a foothold in South East Asia. It is based in Hong Kong, but has offices in Honley, Huddersfield.

Yorkshire businesses wishing to take advantage of the company’s services can choose from a range of packages starting from £40 a month. The basic package is a virtual office, where a company is given a Hong Kong address, a dedicated phone number and an office reception service. Additional options include the ‘hotdesk’ facility which offers the use of a desk at Asia Business HQ, use of meeting facilities and a professional receptionist to greet clients. Businesses also have the option of their own fully serviced office.

Already, Joanna has secured two clients – Excalibur Ltd, based in Barnsley, and ABF Europe Ltd, based in Hunsingore, near Wetherby.

ABF Europe, which manufactures conference and exhibition furniture, has taken up the hotdesk option at the business centre, which will help them build their contacts and eventually open a branch of their company in China.

Darren Buttle, managing director of ABF Europe said: “We thought Hong Kong would be an ideal central base to expand our business, especially our kite table system, into South-East Asia and Australia. We are really chuffed with Asia Business HQ. They offered an ideal range of packages which meant we could open up the business quickly, with the ability to keep upgrading if we are successful.”

Excalibur – which is a new product/ services development process consultancy and provider of innovation programmes – is opening a new limited company in Hong Kong and is using the virtual office services offered by Asia Business HQ.

John O’Connor, managing director of Excalibur said: “Our aim is to achieve recognition as a vital innovation process consultancy. Asia Business HQ has helped with everything from company registration to stationary. The range of services provided is excellent.”

Joanna hopes that Asia Business HQ will give more firms in Yorkshire a starting point for entering China, where the economy is expanding rapidly. She is pleased with the interest her company has attracted so far.

Joanna said: “I am very happy that companies like ABF Europe and Excalibur are using our centre to launch themselves into the South East Asian market and we hope that more companies will follow suit meaning that there will be a real Yorkshire business presence out there before long.”

Joanna comes from an experienced background and is a director of ConnectChina and the Institute of Export. She has been specialising in helping companies to develop business in China since January 2000.

For more information visit the Asia Business HQ website