Thomsonlocal chooses Coventry over Birmingham

ADVERTISING company Thomsonlocal.com has quit Birmingham and taken space at University of Warwick Science Park Business Innovation Centre in Coventry.

The firm has been one of the UK’s largest advertising firms for nearly 30 years and today has 20 sites across the country.

It has taken up one of the largest units at the Binley science park and regional sales manager Andy Lole suggests the company could take more space should the move prove successful.

“Our national headquarters is in Farnborough but we have sites all over the country catering to clients in different locations. This particular site will look after the area between Nottingham to Peterborough,” he said.

“One of the major reasons for our move to Binley is that this location is more central to our needs. We have moved here from Birmingham because there is less traffic, better facilities and we are well-connected to the rest of the region, giving us greater access to new and existing clients.

“Initially we will have 11 staff based here at Binley but more opportunities could become available based on how successful we are here. That is another part of the appeal of moving here, the science park offers us great flexibility in that we can easily expand to take up more space if we reach the point where that is what we need to do.”

Penny Robb, the centre manager at the science park, said she believes that the decision of Thomsonlocal.com to move from Birmingham to Coventry demonstrates that the city can compete with its bigger neighbour.

“We feel that one of our best selling points, along with the fantastic facilities we provide, is that our location allows tenants fantastic links with the rest of the region, and the country,” she said.

“For many firms, including Thomsonlocal.com, that will be in and out visiting their clients, this is an ideal base for their business and gives them an advantage over their competitors.”