A new lettings agency in Amersham and a company offering self-contained serviced apartments as an alternative to a hotel for visitors to Beaconsfield are among new businesses flying the flag for the entrepreneurial spirit in South Bucks.

Frequent travellers yearn to go back to somewhere that’s a home-from-home when the working day is over. That’s the reasoning behind a new venture for a pair of creative designers whose combined talents have helped a stream of start-up companies get off the ground.

The list of clients who have used Buchanan Dean Design since John Dean and his wife Jean set up their graphic design business in Beaconsfield 20 years ago is testimony to their depth of experience in the marketing field.

Now they’re hoping the conversion of their former studios in Warwick Road into a home-from-home for visitors to the town will fill the gap in the market and provide a springboard for a separate enterprise that will give them a second string to twang.

Initial indications are encouraging. The couple haven’t long finished turning the first floor of their previous work space into six individual one bedroom self-contained flats and studios and already they’ve had guests from Finland, Canada, France, Denmark and the USA as well as some from the UK. Every bedroom is en suite and each flat and studio has its own designer kitchen. There’s no sharing of facilities between neighbours spending a night or a week or two at Warwick Road Studios. It’s not an HMO.

“The idea came about after we moved our graphic design business from Beaconsfield to Bourne End,” John says.

“Our old studio in the heart of Beaconsfield New Town seemed to us to be the perfect location for people visiting the area, not only for those passing through on business but others such as couples and families home from abroad on holiday, students visiting the National Film and Television School in the Old Town and locals needing somewhere smart for family or friends to stay if they’ve travelled some distance for a special occasion.”

The town centre position within a few minutes walk of Beaconsfield station is a major plus.

“We were granted change of use by the planning department at South Bucks District Council. We have tried to make it like a home-from-home for those who want more independence, flexibility and privacy than is normally available in a hotel,” say the couple who launched their new venture at the end of the summer.

“There are four one-bedroom apartments and two studios. Each is designed for short to medium term use, finished and furnished in contemporary style. The smaller studios have wall beds and hideaway kitchens, enabling different functions between day and night. All the kitchens are fully equipped with twin induction hobs, convection/microwave ovens and fridges – the larger apartments have washer/driers. The largest studio has a dishwasher.

“All have smart TVs and superfast broadband access, desks and sofa beds. Most can accommodate four but even the smallest can accommodate three people.

“Checking in is simple via an entry phone on the front lobby door and the code-operated key boxes outside each flat.”

The cost of each unit is based on the size of the accommodation, the length of the stay and how many guests there are in the party (to cover the outlay for laundry). The average cost per night is in the range of £95-£155.

John added: “For the longer stay in particular, pricing is much more affordable than a hotel of a similar standard, particularly when there are more than two people.”

Meanwhile, over in Amersham, Foskett and Rodgers, the agency specialising in rentals which started trading last Friday, is run by two directors with lengthy experience of the industry. Both know the business inside out but from different standpoints.

Christine Foskett has worked for many years with landlords and tenants in the private sector - she was a letting agent for Wynyard Wright & Ellis for 15 years - whereas her business partner Julia Rodgers’s background is in the social sector, placing tenants in properties mainly owned by housing associations.

Each director is fully up-to-date with the far-ranging and complex legal conditions governing rentals. “We complement each other very well,” say the duo.

Their agency is based in an office suite at East House in Chiltern Avenue.