US medical giant signs up at Booths Park

US-based medical supplies firm Medline Industries is to base its North European headquarters at Bruntwood’s Booths Park.

It has just agreed a 10-year lease on 7,000 sq ft and marked the occasion at a function with Chancellor George Osborne.

Medline, understood to be the largest supplier in the industry, plans to relocate an undisclosed number of sales and administrative staff to the 200,000 sq ft business park, near Knutsford.

This will mean moving people from an existing site in Runcorn and other locations in the UK and Europe. However, it will retain its European corporate headquarters in Germany.

Luke Fryer, managing director of Northern Europe at Medline, said: “Booths Park will be the headquarters of our North Europe operation with our UK sales team, customer service operatives, finance, procurement and other back office functions based here. We are in expansion mode at the moment and this area has the right demographic for any future recruitment.

“Booths Park is unlike any other commercial property in the area. The entrance, the old hall and the courtyard areas, and the customer service from Bruntwood’s reception staff are all very impressive when welcoming clients and makes for a nice workplace for our employees.

“We have a lot of international customers and one of the reasons we selected the development because it is ideal for Manchester Airport and the motorways. It’s good for staff with parking and catering on site, and we were impressed with the customer service we received from Bruntwood and the development is close to Knutsford which itself is a great little town.”

The Illinois-based firm makes and distributes 125,000 healthcare and surgical products and has 50 offices around the world.

Chris Oglesby, chief executive of Manchester-based Bruntwood, said: “The number of lettings in recent weeks is testament to its attributes as the site continues to attract new customers and has a healthy retention rate with existing customers.”

In October, credit card provider Mastercard agreed a 10-year lease for 6,000 sq ft at the park.