Sewell Group has expanded its operations with the purchase of a prominent office building on a Hull gateway site.
Two of the diversified construction firm’s consultancy businesses are to operate from Hessle’s Bridgehead Business Park, with the company taking on Beal Homes’ recently vacated 9,500 sq ft former headquarters in an undisclosed deal. The fellow city firm has built bigger just yards away.
Shared Agenda and data intelligence firm Parallel will move in, having previously been based at offices in nearby Willerby. It comes as the companies are experiencing a growth in local, regional and national clients, outgrowing the current space, with the leadership team keen to enhance the provision of professional services in the area.
Read more: John Good Group set to invest in green as it looks to the future
The offices will also be used to provide extra hotdesking space for the wider Sewell team, with more than 500 now employed.
Jo Barnes, managing director of Sewell Estates, said: “Being a business that was established in East Yorkshire in 1876, it was important for us to keep our local roots as we expand. Professional services have been under-represented in the area for some time, so we are keen to invest further in developing talent within the region and attracting people
from across the country. Whilst our group will continue to have its headquarters on Leads Road in Hull, this new office base will help us to respond to our recent growth.”
The celebrated firm was recognised by the Queen for promoting opportunity and is in the top 50 of the Best Companies to Work For rankings.
Most Read
“Our team is really excited about the move, as it will give them a better working environment, more space, and extra facilities to help make their working day run more smoothly,” Mrs Barnes said. “It’s important to ensure an attractive workspace that enables modern, collaborative working methods for our teams and our customers. As a part employee-owned business, we are investing in our future, as our ownership model enables us to take a much longer-term view than some other companies.”
The past 20 years have seen strong diversification for Sewell, with facilities management, property investment, development partnerships and consultancy spinning out of the construction core. The group also includes the forecourt retail operation, Sewell on the Go.
Mrs Barnes said the location of the business park, with easy access to the motorway network, means the companies are well placed to serve their expanding client base across the north, and liaise easily with sister consultancy company Community Ventures, which has offices in Leeds, Stockton-on-Tees and Nottingham.
“Refurbishment of an already built facility, rather than reverting to a new-build, was also important for us as part of our journey to sustainability,” she said. “Our construction team at Sewell is skilled in transforming existing spaces and making them more sustainable. The upgrade of the building, with the installation of solar panels and more energy efficient systems, alongside a complete refurbishment designed by our team, brings together our in-house skills. I’m delighted with the emerging results and we expect to move into the property in September.”
Bridgehead spans 612,000 sq ft and is regarded as one of the 海角视频’s greenest business parks, with a low-density development including 40 per cent landscaping. Neighbours include the University of Hull Aura buidling, East Riding of Yorkshire Council's Ergo centre, Ideal Heating, Beal and Porsche.
Beal had moved in to what was a £1.5 million build almost a decade ago as the first company to inhabit the Wykeland project. back in late 2013 it had crossed Hull from Hedon, but its strong growth and appetite to expand its design lounge offering saw it hop across Boothferry Road to the park's emerging southern phase at the turn of the year. There it has delivered a £5.5 million, 20,000 sq ft addition.
Sewell Estates' legal advice was provided by Adrian West, property partner atAndrew Jackson Solicitors LLP. He said: "It was a pleasure to advise the team at Sewell Group on this significant transaction, which involved undertaking all necessary due diligence prior to the purchase of the premises and advising on works to be carried to the property before it could be occupied.
"The group continues to go from strength to strength and this latest property investment underlines its strong position and ambitious growth plans."