Liverpool and Glasgow calling

Inenco’s offices in Glasgow and Liverpool could not be more different.

Inenco are one of the UK’s largest energy management groups accounting for around 25% of all energy bills.

We have recently been tasked with reviewing property costs and lease liabilities at two of Inenco’s regional offices. The Liverpool office currently houses around 200 staff whereas the Glasgow office has been vacant since 2015.

Both properties present some interesting challenges. For example, in Liverpool we will be auditing service charges over the last six years to see if any over-payments have occurred. In Glasgow, we will be focusing on the company’s dilapidations and re-instatement liabilities and investigating whether the existing lease can be assigned to a new tenant.  

If you would like advice on how to manage or dispose of your lease liabilities either in Manchester or elsewhere in the UK, please call Martyn Markland on 0161 457 1422 or email him at mm@tenantag.co.uk.

Irwell Valley finds Soap…works

This move will halve Irwell Valley’s office footprint allowing it to deliver a range of benefits to its customers and staff.

The Soapworks overlooks the River Irwell in Salford Quays.

The Soapworks is a former Colgate-Palmolive soap factory. It was converted to offices in 2014 and is now home to around 2,000 office workers employed by the Home Office, TalkTalk Telecom and MWH Global.

Irwell Valley’s new 10,000 sq.ft. office suite on the first floor of Block B. Fitting out should complete in May 2019.

When we were commissioned to search for a new ‘agile’ hub for Irwell Valley’s office staff, I soon realised that we needed a building with a rare mix of qualities. I think it is fair to say that what we have ended up with satisfies all those requirements better than I ever imagined it could.

The Soapworks occupies a unique location. Situated just a mile and a half west of Manchester’s expanding city centre, the development is within an easy commute by bike along the canal towpath. For those travelling by car, it offers easy access to and from the regional motorways via the nearby M602. If you are reliant on public transport, there is a tram stop and major bus routes within 100 metres.

But it wasn’t just the accessibility of the site that made it so compelling. The industrial character of these former production buildings gave it a unique twist. Irwell Valley is a social housing developer that operates in an urban environment. Regeneration and re-purposing therefore lies at the core of its identity.

At the same time, the contemporary feel and advanced technical specification of the development provides an ideal platform on which Irwell Valley can build its ‘agile’ or ‘activity-based’ working concept.

Finally, the fact that the development fronts the River Irwell gives this location added relevance to an organisation that takes its’ heritage and community responsibilities seriously.

Around 200 employees who are currently based in Bolton, Worsley and Old Trafford will move into the new facility in June 2019. It will be fascinating to see if agile working delivers all that the organisation hopes it will. In my view, the Soapworks should certainly improve the chances of that happening.

If you would like advice on an office relocation either in Manchester or elsewhere in the UK, please call Martyn Markland on 0161 457 1422 or email him at mm@tenantag.co.uk.

Towns Needham land at Colwyn Chambers

The ground floor reception at Grade II Listed Colwyn Chambers, 19 York Street, Manchester.

Securing a fully fitted out suite at below market rent and then organising for it to be refurbished so it could be moved into within 8 weeks, was a tall order. But we did it!

As I reported in July, boutique law firm Towns Needham needed to move fast. So, the last thing they needed was a long-winded acquisition process. That is why one of the early front runners in the search was a suite in Orbit Developments’ Colwyn Chambers which was in the process of being vacated by an existing tenant. The suite was fully fitted albeit, it was looking a little tired in places.

Towns Needham’s newly refurbished first floor suite complete with Boardroom, kitchen, private office, reception and server room.

Once the competitive Request for Proposal (‘RFP’) stage had been reached we were able to work with Orbit to formulate a deal that both sides were happy with. We agreed a refurbishment specification and an Agreement for Lease was signed shortly after. The whole process flowed extremely well and Towns Needham were even able to purchase some of the previous tenant’s Boardroom furniture. The original fit-out included storage walls so very little additional furniture was needed. Even the server rack was left in situ.

The overall solution exceeded even my expectations. What is more, due to the Listed status of Colwyn Chambers it is likely that Towns Needham will be able to enjoy many uninterrupted years as a tenant at their new location right in the heart of Manchester’s CBD.

My thanks go to Adam Jackson at Orbit for his invaluable assistance in getting the deal and the refurbishment works completed on time.

If you would like advice on an office relocation either in Manchester or elsewhere in the UK, please call Martyn Markland on 0161 457 1422 or email him at mm@tenantag.co.uk.

Action Search

Action 365 operate from two office buildings in South Manchester. This is the most prominent, Eden Point fronting the A34 at Cheadle Hulme.

Action 365 are growing once again and are looking to consolidate their 200 staff in a location that will allow them to grow to at least 300 within 3 years.

We relocated Action 365 to Eden Point back in 2009. The business runs call centre activities for household names in the financial services and retail sectors. It is now expanding its presence in the insurance brokerage market and as a result, its headcount is set to grow quite significantly in the near future.

TAG has been tasked with identifying buildings in and around South Manchester that can provide up to 25,000 sq.ft - 30,000 sq.ft. of Grade A office accommodation with good on-site parking and proximity to public transport links.

Viewings are scheduled for later this month.

If you would like advice on an office relocation either in Manchester or elsewhere in the UK, please call Martyn Markland on 0161 457 1422 or email him at mm@tenantag.co.uk.