MD of workspace firm ambitious to implement Northern roll-out

The managing director of a serviced offices space which opened its 20,000 sq ft offering in Leeds city centre last year says that he is ambitious to open further space in the north as the first iteration is now 65% full.

Yorkshire-based property company Gilbanks opened the space at One Park Row with a vision to create a productive workspace for firms seeking to grow and collaborate in Yorkshire.

Speaking to TheBusinessDesk.com, managing director Alex Duckett said: “We are looking forward now and I am ambitious to implement a roll-out plan. This could mean another in Leeds. I would like to see us have a space in Manchester next; I am really excited about getting to Manchester.

“I believe that we have found a niche for this style of office space; we want to be ultra-prime. Hopefully we will open one space this year and one the year after.

“It’s all been about proof of concept. Now the concept is proven, it just needs a some slight refinement.”

Duckett, a chartered surveyor, has worked in the Yorkshire property sector for several years. He said that the 65% occupancy levels now confirmed for the One Park Row offices consisted of 15 different businesses signing up to Gilbanks; ten of which are new to the Leeds City Region.

“It’s been a busy start to the year, starting you own business means that you have to wear every single hat. People have high standards, they want fair prices and a top service,” he reflected.

Duckett said that the firm had tapped into a niche in the marketplace, offering a productive space which is “high-end” but also offered traditional office meeting space and communal areas.

He praised Pinsent Masons – the largest occupier of the building which was looking to consolidate space it needed within the city centre office building to allow for flexible working –  for being “forward thinking” as the law firm originally had one floor, at 10,000 sq ft, available; but negotiations led to Gilbanks securing two floors over 20,000 sq ft.  The space has now undergone a multi-million-pound refurbishment and allows occuipers the option of having short-term leases.

Duckett said: “The interesting thing is that the word occupier can be used for anybody who uses an office. We want to be be forefront of the offering and giving people different working environments allows that; the answer is always balance.

“I am a believer that the right office space boosts productivity and is also linked to well-being.”

Duckett said there had been increased office take-up in Leeds but then a stagnation in firm’s actually signing up to move offices due to the economic environment. He said: “The reality is that nobody wants to actually move office unless they have outgrown their premises or are reducing space due to flexible working. There is a fight for quality space because everybody wants better.”

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