A state-of-the-art business centre is celebrating a successful first year - by almost doubling the amount of office space is currently has.
Flexible space provider BusinessLodge Stoke opened inside the former NPower building in Fenton last year following a major refurbishment of the Victoria Road building.
The Trent House building had been empty for five years after the energy provider closed the office – and axed more than 550 staff.
Today the building boasts office space, meeting rooms and conference, catering and leisure facilities – and is home to dozens of new and growing local businesses, including Abzorbed Events, Uniting People, Allocate Software and Jack’s Recruitment.
Now – following the success of the facility over the last 12 months – work has started on developing the first floor of the building.
The second-phase project will see 175 new work stations installed at the site – taking the total capacity to 325.
Work on the new offices spaces is expected to be completed by the end of this month.
BusinessLodge Stoke managing director, Kate Holt, said: “We’re absolutely delighted with the success of our first year in Stoke-on-Trent and we’ve by far exceeded our expectations, which has meant to we’ve needed to bring our growth plans forward.
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“We’re thrilled to be able to offer the opportunity for even more Staffordshire businesses to develop and thrive.
In addition to its office space, BusinessLodge features free on-site parking, a free gym, a grab and go coffee bar, as well as a manned reception, round-the-clock CCTV and security, air conditioning and state-of-the-art telephone and data connectivity.
On completion of the phase two work, a business expo will be held at the building where businesses which are looking for a new or bigger work spaces will be invited to have a look around.
Kate added: "We know that many businesses will be keen to see what we have done with the first floor, so we are planning an expo which we will open to local businesses in April.
"We are sure it will be a huge success.
"We also offer a referral fee scheme so if anyone knows of any businesses looking for new premises, please send them our way."