More Articles Like This
View All
Office Spaces
My team and I
love working from Runway East.
Louis Theroux
Founder & Broadcaster
Enterprise Suites
Meeting Rooms
About Us
Insights
Case Study: Illustrate Digital
Share this article
About Illustrate Digital
Industry: Web agency
Team size: 21-30
Runway East Location: Temple Meads
Illustrate Digital is a UX platform and engineering consultancy, focussing on UX/UI and Wordpress. It’s one of the UK’s top ten Wordpress specialist agencies.
How did you find out about us?
We came to know Runway East as a sort of happy accident! An employee we hired wanted somewhere to work from in Bristol as a base. We’ve since found that the city's ecosystem is really strong and we could hire great talent there, so an office in the city (our HQ is in Cardiff) has been fantastic for us. We’ve also secured a lot of work from the city as our two key markets are financial and legal services – something the city is strong in.
If we need more space, we won't be looking anywhere else.
What do you love about Runway East?
We love the great community team, they help make the vibe so good. With so much WFH these days, I genuinely feel more energised just coming into in the Bristol space, I’m motivated by the conversations around me!
Runway East just takes so much stuff off my plate, which – as a business owner – is vital. Having a virtually all inclusive package saves so much time and faff. Not having to worry about things like security, cleaning and similar things is so good.
It’s also great to have the flexibility, especially in recent times, to scale up or down.
Any examples of real value we’ve created for you?
Being at Runway East has definitely given us credibility, which is key for hiring and new business. Having such a great space for introductions and interviews has been great for us.
The time saving of having a fully serviced space with all the perks – with no need to organise – has had such a positive effect on me and the business, and allowed us to concentrate on the things that matter.
Have we helped you through the pandemic?
Your attitude to us and other members was just the polar opposite to other providers and landlords we’ve worked with. You proactively reached out to us saying “we know COVID is a challenge to you so let’s see if we can support you better” and we came to an arrangement. We were over the moon with that. We really felt that community feeling. That proactiveness made us more loyal. Compared to other office providers and landlords, you were amazing.
How do you think we compare to other providers?
Location is massive. Runway East have chosen great places with the right transport links. The vibe is always huge as well. You know that if you feel welcomed into a warm community as a member, your clients who visit will feel the same. That’s a win. If we need more space, we won't be looking anywhere else.
Hybrid, all in or all remote?
We’re currently a combination of people in Cardiff, Bristol and further afield so we naturally have been fairly flexible to working combinations.
When we opened the Bristol office, we really struggled with engaging the Bristol and Cardiff teams together. We’d always been in one office together, but then had a satellite office and they didn’t feel part of the team. COVID actually helped solve that problem! It forced us to be better at being remote and distributed.
We recently surveyed the team and we know that they don’t want the commute, so I think full time office is just not an option for businesses like ours. I think where we are now – with a centralised HQ and having flexible workspace for satellite locations – is the way forward. If we hadn’t invested so much in our original HQ, we’d definitely consider a flexible provider like Runway East as our HQ as we love it.
One great thing about Runway East is the flexibility, so recently we’ve slightly downsized our desks on site but will almost certainly look to push these back up as we shift to more work being done in the office.
How did you find out about us?
We came to know Runway East as a sort of happy accident! An employee we hired wanted somewhere to work from in Bristol as a base. We’ve since found that the city's ecosystem is really strong and we could hire great talent there, so an office in the city (our HQ is in Cardiff) has been fantastic for us. We’ve also secured a lot of work from the city as our two key markets are financial and legal services – something the city is strong in.
If we need more space, we won't be looking anywhere else.
What do you love about Runway East?
We love the great community team, they help make the vibe so good. With so much WFH these days, I genuinely feel more energised just coming into in the Bristol space, I’m motivated by the conversations around me!
Runway East just takes so much stuff off my plate, which – as a business owner – is vital. Having a virtually all inclusive package saves so much time and faff. Not having to worry about things like security, cleaning and similar things is so good.
It’s also great to have the flexibility, especially in recent times, to scale up or down.
Any examples of real value we’ve created for you?
Being at Runway East has definitely given us credibility, which is key for hiring and new business. Having such a great space for introductions and interviews has been great for us.
The time saving of having a fully serviced space with all the perks – with no need to organise – has had such a positive effect on me and the business, and allowed us to concentrate on the things that matter.
Have we helped you through the pandemic?
Your attitude to us and other members was just the polar opposite to other providers and landlords we’ve worked with. You proactively reached out to us saying “we know COVID is a challenge to you so let’s see if we can support you better” and we came to an arrangement. We were over the moon with that. We really felt that community feeling. That proactiveness made us more loyal. Compared to other office providers and landlords, you were amazing.
How do you think we compare to other providers?
Location is massive. Runway East have chosen great places with the right transport links. The vibe is always huge as well. You know that if you feel welcomed into a warm community as a member, your clients who visit will feel the same. That’s a win. If we need more space, we won't be looking anywhere else.
Hybrid, all in or all remote?
We’re currently a combination of people in Cardiff, Bristol and further afield so we naturally have been fairly flexible to working combinations.
When we opened the Bristol office, we really struggled with engaging the Bristol and Cardiff teams together. We’d always been in one office together, but then had a satellite office and they didn’t feel part of the team. COVID actually helped solve that problem! It forced us to be better at being remote and distributed.
We recently surveyed the team and we know that they don’t want the commute, so I think full time office is just not an option for businesses like ours. I think where we are now – with a centralised HQ and having flexible workspace for satellite locations – is the way forward. If we hadn’t invested so much in our original HQ, we’d definitely consider a flexible provider like Runway East as our HQ as we love it.
One great thing about Runway East is the flexibility, so recently we’ve slightly downsized our desks on site but will almost certainly look to push these back up as we shift to more work being done in the office.
Got Questions? We've Got Answers
We've put together some FAQs to help you settle into life at Runway East.
What’s included in the price?
Our pricing is all inclusive, so as well as access to your own private office space, your price includes business rates, utilities, cleaning, tea and coffee, a program of professional and social events for your team, and (all importantly), Cake on a Wednesday and a Drinks Trolley on a Friday.
What will my quote include?
Your quote will include all currently available office space that meets your requirements, along with the information you need to decide if we might be right for you - images, floorplans, and full details of our services.
Do you offer free meeting room access to members?
Yes, if you become a member with a private office at a Runway East site, you get free meeting room access for your team across 100+ meeting rooms we have, with industry leading allowances. To make sure members use space fairly, overages are charged only in the event you go over your allowance.
I have specific needs - can you meet them?
Almost all our members have specific needs - and we pride ourselves on aiming to meet them. Reply to your quote with them, and we’ll give you a speedy response - or call us on 0203 1379 953.
How long are your office space agreements?
Our standard pricing is on 12 month terms, but if you want a shorter or longer agreement, those are also available, with custom pricing to reflect your commitment level.
Can I customise my office?
Yes - we have a range of office customisation options you can choose from, and we want to deliver a great environment for your team. Options include your logo on the wall, to your own phone booths in office, through to building meeting rooms and custom requirements.
I’d prefer to speak to someone on the phone or via email?
No problem - you can give us a call on 0203 1379 953 or you can email us at membership@runwayea.st.
Are Runway East expensive?
We provide a range of options for all budgets, and always aim to work with your budget where we can. If we can’t meet your needs - we’ll be upfront about that with you from the start.
Can I speak to someone on the phone/over email?
No problem - you can give us a call on 0203 1379 953 or you can email us at membership@runwayea.st
How flexible are the length of the agreements and notice periods?
We price most of our memberships on desks, or the equivalent number of desks within an office.
Are there any hidden fees we should be aware of?
We price most of our memberships on desks, or the equivalent number of desks within an office.
What are the membership criteria?
We price most of our memberships on desks, or the equivalent number of desks within an office.
How does the meeting room system work?
We price most of our memberships on desks, or the equivalent number of desks within an office.
Show More
Find your perfect office space
find your
perfect space
Discover flexible workspace solutions across London, Bristol, Bath, Brighton, and Birmingham. From private offices to enterprise suites, find a space that grows with your team and keeps them happy every day.
Explore spaces
.webp)