Desk Union seeks £100k for UK expansion

By SCOTT REID
Published on 10/03/2013 00:00

AN ONLINE venture that brings together small businesses looking for a place to call home and companies with workspace to spare is in talks to raise finance under plans for a UK-wide rollout.

Desk Union – the brainchild of young entrepreneur Victoria Arnold – already operates in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

It is aimed primarily at micro-businesses such as freelancers and professionals looking to grow beyond a home office environment.

The firm’s software platform allows landlords to upload property details, while prospective tenants can browse and book workspace.

It is the second online venture for Arnold, 28, who studied marketing and describes herself as an “opportunity-hungry person”. She previously founded a service offering short-term “homestay” accommodation for overseas students and interns.

Arnold said Desk Union was looking to raise £100,000, with the funds used in part to acquire additional customers and grow its team. In addition to its founder, her firm has one employee and two interns.

“We are looking to raise investment and have had interest from someone who wants to put in some seed funding,” she said. “We will be bringing in some software in May that will allow us to expand throughout the UK.”

Arnold describes the commercial property market as “archaic” and claims it has failed to cater for the needs of a micro-business community that makes up 94 per cent of all Scottish businesses.