Archives for September 2020

September 08, 2020 - No Comments!

Opportunity to join a small community of workspaces at Utility House

At Utility House, we meet the needs of Bristol’s creative, ethical and start-up communities by providing workspace that is practical and adaptable. We have been fully let since we opened in 2015, so this is a rare opportunity to join our small community by leasing one of our light and airy studios.

From October 2020, we have two Studio’s available for rent.

Studio 2

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Screen Shot 2020-09-08 at 09.41.42Studio 2 is a medium sized office space on the ground floor of Utility House with access to a shared meeting room and kitchen shared with one other office. A 23.7sqm (255 sq ft) workspace, the space lends itself to be used as a shared office for 3-5 people, or a self-contained creative studio or workshop.

Download our brochure for more information & rental prices for Studio 2 – Click Here >>

 

Studio 3

32-MAKE Offices-15.11.19-TGP-EditScreen Shot 2020-09-08 at 09.20.34Studio 3 is a is a large, light, open plan office with its own kitchen –  96sqm (1,030 sq ft) workspace. Situated on the 1st floor, it is accessible by stairs and serviced by a lift. The space is flexible, lending itself to subdividing into kitchen, break out and meeting spaces as well as a workspace large enough for between 8-16 desks.

Download our brochure for more information & rental prices for Studio 3 – Click Here >> 

FACILITIES INCLUDED

  • 24-hour access
  • Own secure front door
  • Individual entry phone access
  • Shared Kitchen (Private Kitchen for Studio 3)
  • Shared bookable meeting room on ground floor
  • W/C on each floor (disabled on ground)
  • Outside Bike Storage

The rent is £14 per square foot and the service charge is £6 per square foot.

The service charge includes heating, lighting, electrics, gas, water, waste and recycling, cleaning to communal areas, building insurance and maintenance etc.

OUR ETHOS

We want people around us who share our approach to life and work. Our aim is to create a friendly and supportive community for creative businesses, start-ups and not-for-profits. Located on Upper York Street, between Stokes Croft and Wilder Street, Utility House is part of a thriving community with a host of good cafes and restaurants nearby.

Centrally located, Utility House is also conveniently situated a three-minute stroll from Cabot Circus, and lies within walking distance of Bristol Temple Meads, the main Bus Station, and within easy vehicle access to the M32.

If you would like to find out more about our workspaces, or come and have a look around, drop us an email info@utilityhousebristol.co.uk or call Jane on 07973 409450.

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September 08, 2020 - No Comments!

A warm welcome to Smallprint

As our newest Studio 4 residents, we are delighted to welcome the Smallprint Team to Utility House.

Logo

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In 2004 Maija Pykett became the originator of the fingerprint jewellery concept – a range of silver keepsakes capturing a loved one’s fingerprint in silver forever. It is now one of the world’s premier silver keepsake companies, and they make all types of personalised jewellery including handprints, footprints, original writing and drawings. They also offer a specialist service in bereavement scenarios through their Memory Treasures brand; and pet jewellery with Silver Pet Prints.

In this brief Q&A, we find out a bit more about Smallprint and how Maija got it started.

Tell me about when you first came up with the idea of fingerprint jewellery?

I made my first fingerprint pendant when my son was just 2 years old and I loved it! Having his tiny fingerprint hanging around my neck when I went off to work each day made him feel close to me all of the time.

But it wasn’t until a couple of years later that it dawned on me that something I found so precious would be equally loved by other mums. I was stood in a queue waiting to have my second son handprints taken when the penny dropped! I was continuously getting compliments on my necklace and I realised that every one of these mothers stood waiting would love to have the same.

How did you make this idea a reality?

Well, there was nothing like this out there at the time, so I had to start from scratch. I spent months perfecting my techniques and designing the range, the packaging and the branding. Right from the word go mums fell in love with it. And not just for themselves – they wanted cufflinks for proud dads and charms and key rings for doting grandparents. I’d created a family business for families.

So how did you come up with your logo?

That was the easy part! I found an exercise book from when I was about 7 and traced the letters I needed from my own handwriting!

You’ve grown your business through franchising, how does that work for such a personal product and service?

It was a no-brainer really, as it was the only way to maintain the personal service that Smallprint customers had received up until then. I really didn’t want to rely solely on eCommerce for sales. Since I launched the business in 2004, many companies have jumped on the fingerprint jewellery bandwagon, but most only offer online purchasing which means they only use moulds. Training jewellers to take prints and make jewellery to my same high standards wherever they lived, meant that our customers could continue to benefit from having a piece of jewellery that has actually been touched by their loved one. It also means that our customers can actually meet the person who is going to make their jewellery, see the pieces they have created and talk about what they would like to order. It doesn’t get much more personal than that!

So what would your advice be for anyone looking to buy a piece of fingerprint jewellery?

If you can, have someone take your print for you actually onto the silver rather than using a mould. It is the only guarantee of getting the best possible print and and what’s more your jewellery will have been touched by your loved one. And more importantly, go and see the jeweller’s samples so you can see the pieces they have made. Smallprint jewellers will take the fingerprint and show it to you there and then to make sure you are happy. They will talk with you about what you want engraved and where (at no extra cost).

But can you order online if you want to?

Yes indeed. As our family of jewellers has grown, so has our range of jewellery. We now offer hand and footprints, drawings, writing and our Tender Touch™ range is a more abstract and stylish way of capturing fingerprints and they can be ordered online. We know some people can only shop online and we want to accommodate that, but even then you will know exactly who has made your jewellery.

A final word?

As our family continues to grow I would like to say a big thank you to all of our customers and I hope you enjoy wearing your Smallprint jewellery for years to come.

Maija Pykett

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