A new £6.4 million office scheme in Hednesford has secured two lettings in a show of faith for the regional out-of-town market.
Situated two miles north of Cannock, Keys Business Village is part of the wider Keys Business Park scheme which has has been delivered by Network Space – a joint venture between developer Langtree and the Homes and Communities Agency.
Mallard Contracts, a local business that supplies and fits windows and curtain walling for commercial properties with clients including Ramada Encire (NEC), is relocating its headquarters to serviced offices at centrix@keys, a three-storey business centre that provides serviced office accommodation from two person offices upwards.
The location has also been selected by PSS as the regional headquarters for an innovative shared living scheme, as part of a strategy to double the 75 adult carers currently participating in the initiative throughout Staffordshire by 2012.
PSS is a social enterprise providing community-based, social and health care services at neighbourhood level, across England, central Scotland and north Wales. Working closely with Staffordshire Council, PSS has developed an adult placement scheme which supports individuals with a range of needs in the homes of specially recruited carers.
The success of the scheme to-date has resulted in the Council’s own adult placement service being transferred to PSS in December 2008, and the 11-strong PSS team which supports its 75 adult carers has now relocated from Cannock to a state-of-the art 1,000 sq ft office suite at centrix@keys. Pamela Coldrick, manager for PSS, explained why it has taken occupation of an office suite at centrix@keys.
Ms Coldrick said: “PSS is fundamentally a community focused charity, and when we were looking for a new base in Staffordshire, it was important to us that the office was in a central position, easily accessible to our staff and network of adult carers.
“We have ambitious plans in place to grow the shared living scheme over the next three years, with the aim of virtually doubling the number of adult carers we currently work with. Therefore it was also important that the new office location would meet the needs of a quickly expanding enterprise.”
Trevor Douglas, director of Mallard Contracts, added: “We made the decision to headquarter our business at centrix@keys based largely on the fact the new building projects an excellent first impression. Not only does the new serviced office provide a great working environment for staff, but we believe that clients will also recognise the high quality nature of the premises and will make a positive association with the Mallard Contracts brand.”
Centrix@keys is a 19,408 sq ft office building, rated BREEAM ‘Very Good’. Developed as a design-led, quality scheme, providing a prestigious office environment, the offices are available on flexible lease terms. They come complete with allocated car parking, office furnishings, supported conference and meeting room facilities, and on-site secretarial assistance.
Helen Corban, business centre manager for centrix@keys said: “Mallard Contracts and PSS are great regional success stories, and both are very welcome additions to the growing business community here at centrix@keys.
“The two businesses are excellent examples of how innovative businesses can continue to thrive in the current economic climate, and we hope these two lettings act as a catalyst for further new occupiers at centrix@keys.”
Alongside the centrix@keys business centre, there are also eight workspace units at Keys Business Village with capacity for light industrial usage. GVA Grimley is letting agent for Keys Business Village.
