Financial adviser expands to bigger offices in move to Birchwood Park

Equity Release Supermarket (ERS) has relocated its offices to the North West’s largest out-of-town business destination at Birchwood Park.

The move reflects the company’s expanding team and signifies its growth within the industry, as it relocates from its previous 642 sq ft Genesis Centre site to the new Birchwood Park offices covering 4,607 sq ft.

The business has made several key appointments over the past 12-months, even during the pandemic, to expand its national operations and also became the UK’s No.1 independent equity release advisory service earlier this year.

When looking for larger premises, Equity Release Supermarket identified Birchwood Park as being ideally located, as well as offering flexible opportunities which were easily accessible.

Mark Gregory, founder and CEO at Equity Release Supermarket, said: “Birchwood Park offered the solution to many essential objectives. It is the perfect central location for our staff, is well connected to many North West cities and it allows for the open space we require.

“The wellbeing of our team is of the utmost importance to us, so the vision was always to create an enjoyable, light and open space that met the needs of our agile way of working – enhancing collaboration and flexibility.”

He added: “The new hybrid working approach enables advisers to hot desk, as well as offering our team members the ease of simply dropping in to work, or meet with clients – ultimately complementing the whole home/office-based work balance.”

The creatively designed space is also perfect for client meetings, great for events and holds additional space for the company to expand its operations over time.

The bespoke design and fit-out was created and achieved by Studio SDA.

Simon Pierpoint, co-founder of Studio SDA, said: “The interior architectural fit-out generally reflects the ethos of ERS – centred around transparency, honesty and quality.

“We proposed materials which are natural such as the jura grey limestone flooring, fumed oak carpentry and origami ceilings which have been exceptionally introduced and executed to the highest craftsmanship.

“Embodied within the design was the deliberate effort not to forget the workforce, which drives the company engine, various relaxation and chill out spaces have been created to allow everyone to love and enjoy the environment. Staff at ERS now have a choice of communal hot desking or working individually at their own workstation.”

He added: “Above all, we hope everyone will have the pleasure to enjoy this timeless quality office space – we enjoyed the whole process of creating it.”

Equity Release Supermarket held its office launch open day earlier this month attended by staff, suppliers, lenders and partners, which was also attended by Jim Boyd, (CEO) and Kelly Melville-Kelly (head of risk, policy and compliance) from the Equity Release Council, to showcase the new premises and celebrate the return to office, collaboration and team life.

Martin O’Rourke, commercial director at Birchwood Park, said: “We are delighted to welcome Equity Release Supermarket to Birchwood Park, and look forward to their team being able to take advantage of the various amenities and wellbeing initiatives here on the park – all designed to help our occupiers provide the very best working environment for their team.

“We hope the park’s location within easy access of the M62 corridor and excellent transport links to both Manchester and Liverpool will be hugely beneficial to Equity Release Supermarket, aiding both recruitment and boosting connectivity for clients as the business grows.”