One of Hull’s most modern office developments is to become home to one of the city’s oldest and best-known companies.
JR Rix & Sons Ltd has acquired Two Humber Quays, a five storey, A-grade office building on the city’s waterfront, for an undisclosed sum.
The company, whose roots in Hull date back to the early 1880s, will move from its current base at Witham House in Spyvee Street to Two Humber Quays later this year, taking over the ground floor and parts of the second and third floors.
The fifth generation family business will join existing occupiers RSM 海角视频, Barclays Commercial, BCD Travel, and design and fit-out specialists Chameleon Business Interiors in the 10,432 sq ft property.
Managing director Rory Clarke said: “Although Covid has facilitated effective home working, we believe things will eventually return to a more normal way of doing business. For us, a well-designed office space is central to that.
“The office is the heart of a company and the culture, its soul. Culture, which is very important to the Rix Group, is created and strengthened by having people working together in teams, which is very difficult to replicate when everyone works remotely.
“Home working also makes it very difficult for new members of staff to become engrained in our culture, which we feel is essential. Because of this, we see this acquisition as an investment in our business, an investment in our people and a vote of confidence in the future of our great city, Hull.”
Rix has acquired the building from Luxembourg-based investment company Colsilverbird, and it will join Arco in moving to the Fruit Market urban village, already home to headquarters for Spencer Group, Wykeland, Hudgell Solicitors and the expanding tech hub C4DI.
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Mr Clarke added that with Rix’s origins as a shipping business, the location near the Humber Estuary and the city’s picturesque marina ties the building to the company’s maritime heritage.
“The business has expanded significantly over recent years and we have outgrown our base in Spyvee Street,” he said.
“Two Humber Quays is a beautiful, modern office development which provides the perfect alternative. It will enable us to comfortably accommodate all of our current staff and provides room for future growth.
“But the real draw is the location. The biggest attraction is being on the water’s edge and adjacent to the marina where we will have the best views in the city.”
Completed in late 2007, the £5.5 million build was brought forward by Priority Sites.
Rix was advised by Steve Carrick of Carrick Real Estate, Dave Garness of Garness Jones, and Glenn Craft and Sophie Wheeldon of Rollits Solicitors, while securing the deal. Knight Frank and TT&G Partners acted for Colsilverbird.
It comes after Rix's holiday home business, Victory, is about to launch a new manufacturing base in the city to complement Gilberdyke operations, while it supports the offshore renewables industry from Grimsby. The fuel business is based north of the city centre in Wincolmlee.