Workspaces
Virtual Tenancy
A business address at Sparkhouse, our enterprise centre on the Ropewalk, with your post handled, from £15+VAT a month.
An address, without the office
A Virtual Tenancy puts your business at Sparkhouse, the enterprise centre on the Ropewalk, and gives your post somewhere reliable to land, without renting a room you do not need yet. Over a hundred businesses already trade this way.
It is the cheapest way to look established: a business-centre address for Companies House and your website, post handled rather than piling up at home, and a foot inside the Coventure community while you work wherever you actually work.
Four packages
Every one of them gives you the address, your post, the WiFi and the coffee hub. They step up from there, and you can move between them as the business needs more.
Essential
£15+VAT per month
Includes:
- Registered business address
- Mail handling and forwarding*: official post only
- WiFi access
- Use of the Enterprise Coffee Hub
Bronze
£30+VAT per month
Everything in Essential, plus:
- Mail handling and forwarding*
- Meeting room hire: 2 hours a month
- Business listing on our website
- Entry to events and workshops
- Networking opportunities
- Invitation to our digital business community
- Guest welcome at reception
- Discounted on-site sports centre and library membership
Silver
£60+VAT per month
Everything in Bronze, plus:
- Meeting room hire: 8 hours a month
- Phone answering and messaging
- Unique business phone number
Gold
£70+VAT per month
Everything in Silver, plus:
- Meeting room hire: 16 hours a month
* Mail handling covers letters. Parcels are handled at a cost. On Essential it is official post only, meaning HMRC, Companies House and Google.
Ask someone who built here
Over a hundred businesses trade from this address, and many have gone on to take space. They can tell you what the support is worth.
“Our business would absolutely not be here today if it wasn't for the support and community of these incubation centres”
Questions we get asked
The things worth knowing before you apply. If yours is not here, ask us and we will answer it properly.
How soon can I start using the address?
Not straight away. We have to approve your application, get the paperwork signed, confirm it in writing and check your ID in person first. Using the address before all of that is done isn't allowed, and we can't take responsibility for anything that arrives in the meantime.
Can I use it as my registered office?
Only if we agree to it in writing first. A Virtual Tenancy gives you a business correspondence address as standard, and registered office use is a separate yes from us. Ask when you apply and we'll tell you either way.
What happens to my post and parcels?
We'll let you know when something arrives. Parcels need collecting within 15 working days and standard post within 30. After that we return it to sender where we can, or dispose of it securely. We won't chase you for collections, so it's worth telling us if you're going to be away.
Whose name can post arrive in?
Only the business name or names on your agreement. If you start trading as something else, or your company structure changes, tell us and we'll get it added.
How much notice do I need to give?
One month, in writing. That works both ways: we'd give you the same.
What happens to my post after I leave?
Anything that arrives is held for 30 working days, then returned to sender or securely destroyed. You'll also need to stop using the address everywhere it appears, including your website, your letterhead and Companies House.
Anti-money laundering checks
We are required by law to know who we are giving an address to. It is why a Virtual Tenancy takes a little longer to set up than a desk, and it is worth knowing what we will ask for before you apply.
Why we have to ask
We operate under the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017. A business address can be misused, so the law requires us to know who is behind every business we host. It is the same check a bank or an accountant would run.
Who needs to provide identification
Every company director, and every beneficial owner: anyone who owns or controls 25% or more of the shares or voting rights, or who otherwise has significant influence over the company. We also need evidence that the business genuinely trades.
What counts as proof
Photo identification, meaning a valid passport or UK driving licence. Plus proof of address dated within the last three months: a recent utility bill, bank statement or official correspondence. We may also ask for a certificate of incorporation or a VAT certificate.
You will need to bring them in person
We have to see the original documents and verify them in person before your services start. Nothing goes live and no post is released until that is done, so it is worth booking that in early rather than leaving it to the end.
What happens to your documents
They are stored securely and handled in line with UK GDPR, and used only to run your tenancy. We may ask for updated identification from time to time, or re-run the checks, to stay compliant.
If your details change
Tell us promptly if your ownership, company structure or contact details change. Keeping the record current is part of the agreement, and it saves a scramble later.
If the checks do not pass
We can suspend or end the services immediately where verification fails, or where there is suspicion of illegal or unethical activity. Where the law requires it, we share information with law enforcement or regulators, and we are not always permitted to tell you beforehand.
The full detail is in clause 11 of the Virtual Tenancy terms and conditions.
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Apply in a few minutes
Download the form, fill it in and send it back with the package you want. We will set the address up and tell you what to put on your letterhead.