Briefs: ‘Out of city’ centre thrives; manufacturer relocates in Lichfield; trade counter offer expands

The Workspace, a fully-serviced business centre operated by All Saints Action Network (ASAN), has attracted Sandhar Consultancy and Wolverhampton Beam after a marketing push promoting the benefits of “out of city” accommodation.

The £1.6m office complex is less than a mile from Wolverhampton city centre and is now home to 12 organisations.

All of the profits generated through The Workspace is directed into ASAN’s other social enterprises, including community recycling scheme Wood Saints, a tool library and a day nursery.

“We are seeing a growing number of firms choose our offices instead of moving into a town or city centre,” said Tracey Parton, business and facilities manager at The Workspace.

“Companies like the community feel we try to create and the fact that some of their rent goes into supporting social enterprises that are making a real difference to local people.”

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George Koch in Lichfield

Process line specialist George Koch Sons Europe has relocated into the centre of Lichfield, adding 30% more office space to give it the room to grow.

The relocation will enable the European arm of the American manufacturer George Koch to bring together newly acquired elements of the company’s global operation.

The organisation has recently brought PriceWalgren and Jessup Engineering into its structure
and all three operations will now be managed more effectively from the new premises.

Its new home at City House replaces its previous premises on the edge of the city.

Tom Mercer, George Koch’s general manager, said: “The success that we have seen both in the UK and internationally – across Europe and, especially, in emerging markets such as India – has focused our recent attention on ensuring that the company is structured to accommodate growing customer requirements.”

The move has also been tied in to an upgrade of the company’s management systems.

Mercer added: “Clearly there were tangible benefits in physical terms with the move to the new location, but this coincidental step forward in technology reflects our belief that this was the ideal opportunity to make these important advancements. They are already proving beneficial in day-to-day liaison with both suppliers and customers.”

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Hire Station at Wulfrun Trading Estate

A DIY and construction tools rental specialist has created six jobs after opened a branch on a refurbished Wolverhampton trading estate.

The deal with Hire Station means frontages at the Wulfrun Trading Estate are now fully occupied, with Selco Builders Warehouse, Screwfix and Tool Station already at the Stafford Road site.

Ed Jenkinson, agency surveyor at Bulleys, said: “Wulfrun Trading Estate is proving to be a real hit with trade counter and building supplies companies, so it was no surprise when Hire Station filled the last unit.

“We have achieved good rental levels on long-term leases, helped by the site’s much sought-after B8 planning permission for storage and distribution.”

The landlord of the Wulfrun Trading Estate site, located near the Dunstall Hill area of Wolverhampton, is IO Asset Management (IOAM), a real estate asset and investment manager with a strong heritage in the UK industrial sector. Bulleys is joint agent for the site with Fisher German.