Family-run solicitors in Highland capital move into their new back garden office
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For many the idea of working with their spouse would be a bit of a nightmare.
But for business owners Deirdre and Andrew Grey, it has been a life they have built with love and determination.
The pair run Grey and Co Solicitors – and recently they brought things even closer to home by opening up a long-planned office in their back garden on Oldmill Road.
Deirdre, who works as a paralegal and office manager said: “We’ve finally moved into the office, and it has been a big relief to get in.
“It’s a wee building in our back garden, and it is perfect for seeing clients when we need to. A lot of things are still online since the pandemic, so we can do meetings over Zoom and the phone.”
Before the move the pair had been based on Church Street, but the noise pollution was causing a disturbance to their work, so they decided to put plans into motion for the new office.
Deirdre added: “When people came before we had stairs so it was hard for them to get in and we also had a lack of parking.
“Now everything is much more accessible and people have space to park their car without having to go into town.”
The couple originally met in London where they had their first child, before they decided to make the move to Inverness for a different way of life.
Solicitor, Andrew said: “I requalified and we decided to open up Grey & Co in 2009 as we were looking for more flexible work and a better family-life balance.
“We do a lot of guardianship work, matrimonial, employment immigration and general court work now.”
But what is the secret to keeping things at work, and family conversations at home?
“It’s quite interesting…,” Deirdre joked.
“We have to be strict about that separation between home and work. We lock the door of work at the end of the day and keep it there.”
The pair are now enjoying the flexibility that the new office provides, and are glad of the extra time it is giving them with family.
Andrew said: “It’s a lot more relaxing and we now have a better pace of work.
“We are much more productive now too!”
Deirdre concluded: “We have four kids - two are 16 and they were only 2 years old when we started this.
“We can keep more of an eye on them now and see more of them!”
