DB pension consultants, Atkin Pensions, is taking 2500 sq ft at Blythe Valley Park’s Cornwall House.
Located near Solihull and junction 4 of the M42, Blythe Valley Park is a mixed-use scheme including commercial, industrial, leisure and residential.
“We see a lot of advantages to being based at Blythe,” says Nick Atkin, director at Atkin Pensions.
“It’s a great place for us to attract and retain talent. There’s a gym, coffee shop, green open spaces and, since Gymshark and Lounge made it the base for their UK campuses, it feels very exciting and contemporary.
“There’s lots of young people enjoying the outdoors and using the amenities, which for a smaller company helps create a social outlet for the younger members of the team.”
Atkin added: “The asset managers at Blythe have also been really flexible and supportive in accommodating our move, which is in part driven by the company becoming more digital.
“Everyone has settled in well to the new space and is enjoying being back in the office, which was reflected in a recent satisfaction survey which showed an upward trend.”
Blythe Valley Park, now owned by Fraser’s Property, continues to be asset managed by IM Properties, who sold the park in June of this year.
Rob Hemus asset director at IM Properties said: “We’ve always worked hard to create a sense of community at Blythe Valley Park and keep pace with the requirements of modern occupiers.
“It’s fantastic when you can retain an occupier for as long as we have with Atkin and hear that the quality of the experience, is what makes them want to stay.”
Hemus added: “The nature of business has changed for many companies and so it’s important as an asset manager you listen to and work with occupiers to help them move forward.
“Once again though, we’re hearing the importance of the office for developing company culture and for a smaller company like Atkin, being part of a wider and exciting working environment is crucial to attracting the right talent.”
With the arrival of global tech firm zf earlier in the year, circa. 4500 people are now employed at Blythe Valley Park across 26 commercial buildings. This includes some of the UK’s fastest growing companies such as Gymshark and Lounge, both locating their headquarter campuses at the park with over 100,000 sq ft of space each.
CBRE and Savills act as letting agents on Blythe Valley Park.