Reducing bills and lowering the basic running costs of your office

2011 has quickly become the age of austerity for individuals and businesses in the UK. As a result, many companies across the country have been struggling to keep down their costs and some have been forced to get rid of staff in order to do this. However, while more stable businesses may not have needed to reduce their workforce, they may be required to focus on cutting the costs of running their office, as rising fuel prices put pressure on inflation and increase energy bills. If you're in charge of cutting basic costs and bills in your office, the task may seem overwhelming but could actually be simpler than you think.



An effective starting point is tackling heating and electricity bills, which can form a significant part of an office's running costs. While the cost of heating is unlikely to be a problem in summer, the frequency with which central heating is used in winter can contribute heavily to your overall expenditure. Think about how often you actually need to have your heating on, while still maintaining a suitable temperature for effective work - for example, for a few hours in the morning and a few hours after lunch, rather than the whole day. What's more, you should always make sure that your heating is not left on overnight as this will waste energy and inflate your heating bills.

Opt for a similarly practical approach to electricity. Where there is enough natural brightness, ensure that lights and lamps are not left on unnecessarily. Reminding employees to turn off their lights at the end of the day could also have an effect, as could replacing your regular light bulbs with energy saving ones. Another important way to save electricity is by encouraging all employees to shut down their computers overnight. Leaving your computer on or on stand-by overnight and over the weekend could inflate your bills considerably, particularly if monitors are left on too.



Another IT-related area in which bills may be reduced is communication. For instance, opting for business telephone and broadband packages may prove considerably cheaper than choosing separate telephone and broadband providers. The right package may also offer added benefits that could curb your monthly outgoings, such as free telephone minutes and monthly discounts on your bill. Regularly checking for new and improved packages when your contract is over will also ensure that your telephone and broadband costs always stay low.



Company travel is an area in which you may be able to reduce costs as well. One tactic might be to encourage employees to schedule their out-of-town meetings on the same day or as close together as possible to minimise the amount of time and money they spend on travel. Centralising travel bookings - for example, through a dedicated web portal or by appointing a travel agent - could also provide long-term cost reductions.