Learning Pool dives into Nottingham with new jobs promise

An e-learning business has moved into a new 6,000 sq ft office in Nottingham’s Lace Market and has announced plans to double its staff numbers.

Learning Pool has moved 40 staff into the recently refurbished 19th Century Birkin Building on Broadway in the Lace Market. The former nightclub has been remodelled by family-run property company, Spenbeck, into offices spanning two floors in a move that has retained a number of the club’s features such as its staircase and even the DJ booth.

Victoria Green, chief executive at Spenbeck, said she was delighted with the deal brokered by NG Chartered Surveyors’ Jonathon Seddon: “Jonathon and NG have been instrumental in bringing Learning Pool to The Birkin Building. We have had a great relationship with his team and all the parties involved throughout the duration of the deal. It has been a long project but we are thrilled to have handed the space over to Learning Pool and wish them well in the future.”

Learning Pool, headquartered in Derry, Northern Ireland, bought East Midlands competitor Mind Click in September 2016 last September and had been looking without success for a building with character to expand into in Nottingham city centre ever since.

Seddon said: “Due to the lack of available options matching its brief, Learning Pool asked me to get involved to see what I could unearth”.

“I’d first inspected this property with Victoria via the torch on my iPhone as the suite was otherwise pitch black and we immediately saw its potential as an office. I know the quality of refurbishment work that Spenbeck is capable of and so was confident that between the two companies we could create a creative space that perfectly captures the very essence of the Creative Quarter”.

“I’m pleased for both parties – Learning Pool has the operational base it wanted whilst Spenbeck has secured a progressive tenant who I am sure will be with them for many years to come. It’s also a firm advertisement that if a landlord is prepared to invest in their property portfolio they will reap the rewards.”

Paul McElvaney, the founder and chief executive of Learning Pool, an e-learning business which helps other companies improve their staff, said: “We were looking for an open-plan building in the Lace Market where we could grow our team and serve our customers. We believe that new ideas flourish best in old buildings so The Birkin Building is perfect for us. It is an incredibly cool space and I’d like to thank Jonathon for matching us up with Spenbeck. We now have big plans to grow the team at The Birkin Building and have room to double our staff numbers. We’re very excited for the future and are actively recruiting right now.”

Paul Hinchliffe, commercial property solicitor at Nelsons Solicitors, who acted for Learning Pool said: “One of Learning Pool’s key requirements was distinctive space. The company had previously found that productivity increased when staff were moved into creative office spaces and wanted somewhere that staff would feel proud to come to work.

“The Birkin Building is stunning and in a unique area of Nottingham – Spenbeck has done a brilliant job with the conversion – there was a real feel good factor among the parties about the transaction and it all fell into place nicely.”

Sanveer Sandhu, of Shakespeare Martineau, who represented Spenbeck, added: “It’s fantastic to see Spenbeck take a property as eye-catching and historic as The Birkin Building and bring it back into use. The clever use of the space, such as making the drinks bar into the kitchen and retaining the booth seating as a break-out area, gives it a unique feeling which I am sure Learning Pool will enjoy using. It has been pleasure to work with the parties involved and Jonathon of NG Chartered Surveyors has done a great job bringing this together.”