With a background in HR, Catherine Aberdein began her counselling journey in 2017. In 2020, regardless of the challenges of Covid, she got her own business up and running. While her online and telephone counselling could be conducted from home, Catherine wanted a separate space, the right space, to carry out her bespoke face-to-face work. She’s operated out of Skene Business Centres' Gilcomston Park property in the Rosemount area of Aberdeen for four years now.
 
“At the beginning I looked around several office spaces to see what was out there,’ says Catherine. ‘What Skene Business Centres offered that appealed to me was a very central location and easy parking for me. The reception offering was important too, not only do the SBC staff welcome my clients but they provide added safety and security. People only enter the building after they’re buzzed in. The amount of businesses operating here also creates safety in numbers as there’s always someone around or something going on.”
 
The size and scale of the Gilcomston Park property, which currently houses fourteen businesses, also fitted with Catherine’s business plan.
 
“There’s an element of confidentiality here. I now specialise in neurodiversity, narcissistic abuse and childhood emotional abuse. When my clients arrive at Gilcomston Park, they could be visiting any number of businesses. I also appreciated SBC's flexibility when it came to making this 90 square foot space my own, painting it in calming lilac colours. I kept the carpet, radiator and lighting but added my own furniture to create a comfortable space. I haven’t had any real issues since arriving here four years ago. All the maintenance, cleaning and security is taken care of, such as salt in the car park at winter, and I don’t have to think about it. I don’t use many of the communal facilities but I appreciate invites from SBC when they bring clients together for events and get-togethers.’
 
For any individual in business, overheads and price margins can make or break decisions.
 
‘In 2020, when I was browsing office spaces, many other competitors were simply more expensive. Out of SBC’s three properties, Gilcomston Park is the most economical. I also took up a SBC offer that was running at the time, that granted new clients a relatively low monthly rate, which slowly increased month by month to the standard rate. This was hugely appealing to me because I had no idea how the first few months in business would shape up. Thankfully the diary’s always been full. What matters, ultimately, is that I am content in this space, delivering quality bespoke counselling across my three specialist areas.”

aberdeenbespokecounselling.co.uk

Author: Janice Hopper

Photography: Janice Hopper & SBC

"All the maintenance, cleaning and security is taken care of, such as salt in the car park at winter, and I don’t have to think about it."