Archive: Jan 2019

  1. Manchester real estate consultancy launches Studio OBI

    Leading Manchester real estate consultancy OBI has announced the launch of its new business, Studio OBI, a fully integrated creative agency.

    Studio OBI will deliver a range of creative solutions including brand identity, marketing materials, online platforms and CGI images for its clients of all sizes from the across the globe.

    Studio OBI is delivering new digital marketing for Taurus Security Group, a special project for Morson Group as well as providing branding and marketing materials for developments including One and Two Express Buildings in Ancoats, and One Central Park for Manchester Creative Digital Assets.

    Studio OBI is headed by content director Paul Wilson and managing director Joe Averill, who will also remain in his role in transactions and asset management with OBI. The team of five is based at the OBI office on Mosley Street.

    Joe Averill, managing director, Studio OBI said “Studio OBI allows us to leverage our existing in house digital skill set to deliver a higher quality and wider range of services to our clients. A key strategy for us moving forward is to become more integrated as we look to drive our competitive edge.

    “I am incredibly excited to be launching this latest new venture in Manchester city centre, which is fast becoming a digital hub and is home to some of the country’s most creative talent.”

    Paul Wilson, content director, Studio OBI said: “Studio OBI has a fantastic team of graphic designers and branding experts and I am looking forward to working on exciting and innovative creative and marketing projects with our clients from the property and tech world.”

    This news was published by Prolific North.

  2. Thrive opens in Farnworth town centre

    Thrive announced Miller House, 47-49 Market Street, Farnworth BL4 7NS, a new serviced office building which features 37 office suites was formally opened by Councillor Linda Thomas, leader, Bolton Council at a special event held on Thursday 17 January.

    The £750,000 investment has transformed the 16,000 sq ft Miller House into a contemporary, stylish Thrive office centre, featuring state-of-the-art facilities, including meeting rooms equipped with the latest technology including Skype and conferencing facilities, high speed broadband, WIFI, modern break-out areas and an on-site gym.

    Miller House is located in Farnworth town centre, which is included in the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Town Centre Challenge – the new initiative to help breathe new life into areas across the region.

    Bolton Council Leader, Linda Thomas said: “I am delighted to welcome Thrive to Farnworth and to see Miller House, which has been empty for some time, being brought back to life. We are developing a new masterplan for the Farnworth area that will focus on both the place and its people. We are looking for innovative solutions from investors that will assist with regenerating the area to benefit local people. Miller House fits with this and we hope that it will encourage others to take a similar approach.”

    Miller House has excellent transport links connecting it to key destinations in the North West with the M60 being just minutes away, Farnworth train station is within walking distance and Bolton train station is less than three miles away.

    The new office space forms part of the Thrive network, which also has operations in Wigan, Widnes, Warrington and Newton-le-Willows.

    Matthew Settle, Managing Director, Thrive said: “Miller House offers fantastic office suites and modern and vibrant communal areas and facilities, enhancing the working experience and giving our customers an impressive space to host their clients.

    “Our occupiers benefit from automatic membership to Club Thrive, which allows them to use our facilities at other locations as well as connecting to other Club Thrive members. We have plans to open at several other locations in the region including Bury, Blackburn, Oldham and Cheadle, as well as having operations in Blackpool, South Yorkshire and the North East in the pipeline.”

    This news was published by The Bolton News and Manchester Evening News.

  3. WeWork commits to Dalton Place, Manchester

    OBI announced WeWork has taken a lease on the whole of Dalton Place, John Dalton Street, Manchester for its third location in the city. The collaborative workspace company will take the whole seven floors of the building, plus the ground floor (76,164 sq ft).

    Dalton Place is the first self-contained building WeWork has taken in Manchester city centre. It comprises seven floors of workspace, ground floor reception, basement car parking over two levels for 53 cars and bicycle storage, and changing facilities.

    The building was purchased by Tesco Pension Fund from Crown Estate in 2015. OBI project managed the comprehensive CAT A refurbishment project, designed by Cartwright Pickard and advised on the disposal to WeWork. Savills was joint leasing advisor.

    WeWork will now under take its own internal fit-out and it is expected Dalton Place will open in spring.

    David Russell-Smith, Fund Manager from Tesco Pension Fund, said: “The fact WeWork has chosen Dalton Place as the site for its first self-contained building in Manchester is a testament to the quality of the refurbishment we have delivered and the strength of the location. Co-working is a key emerging theme within the office market, and we are thrilled to be partnering on this building with WeWork, who are clearly at the forefront of this rapidly evolving sector. Manchester continues to be an important target market for us, and we are seeking further opportunities in the city.”

    Richard Lace, transactions and asset management, OBI said: “OBI has been involved with Dalton Place since 2015 when the building was acquired, providing purchase advice alongside John Miles & Co. We know the building inside out, having gone on to project manage the refurbishment and this in-depth knowledge has been essential in us being able to provide WeWork with all the technical information it needed to make a quick and informed decision on acquiring the building.”

    Mary Finnigan, Head of Transactions, WeWork Europe said: “We’re thrilled to be announcing our third location in Manchester with such a vast and beautifully refurbished building as Dalton Place, our first lease of an entire building in Manchester. When we look for new locations, we’re always thinking about our members and providing locations that are well connected; Dalton Place is located in between our two current locations, No.1 Spinningfields and St. Peter’s Square – as well as local shops and amenities – so we know that our many members from all three buildings can collaborate, network and spend time in the surrounding area.

    “Forty five percent of WeWork member companies say that WeWork helped accelerate their growth, and we know that this location will be incredibly beneficial for them, as it is in such a thriving part of the city. We are looking forward to moving into the building next year.”

    This news was published by Manchester Evening News and Place North West.