Due to rapid expansion, international wiring accessory manufacturer Contactum is to expand its UK facilities with new office and warehouse space at Croxley Green Business Park near Watford.
Contactum, which supplies a range of electrical wiring accessories and circuit protection equipment to companies all over the world, employs more than 100 people with further ambitions to grow its workforce. Owned by the $2.5 billion Saudi-owned company Alfanar, Contactum is to make the move to manage business expansion driven by increasing market share and growth in the construction industry
Contactum will create a new sales and marketing office and warehouse space at Croxley Green where the firm will join other big name tenants including Ferrero and Nuffield Health – along with Kodak which recently moved from Hemel Hempstead.
In a deal done by Contactum’s retained agent Tim Garratt of property consultant Innes England, the company will take up a 20,000 sq ft unit on a ten-year lease.
“This was a complex deal in that the unit was occupied by the beauty firm Avon which surrendered its lease – and Contactum taking a new lease with the park’s owner Threadneedle,” said Tim.
“Croxley Green Business Park is ideal for Contactum which will be in good company with a string of impressive tenants. Croxley Green is a highly innovative business park which offers a fantastic working environment for staff. It is a ‘green’ site with an environmental agenda, great networking opportunities among businesses, on site events and low running costs.
“Croxley Green is a business park of the future and ideal for the needs of Contactum and its growing staff base.”
Set up in the thirties, Contactum is now part of the Alfanar group of companies operating within global electrical and construction industries. The firm’s product offering now includes over 12 ranges of white moulded, decorative metal plate, weather proof and metal clad wiring accessories.
Contactum’s MD Neil Clydesdale said of the move: “We have ambitious growth plans both in the UK and abroad and as part of this strategy, and continued increasing demand for our products, we needed to increase our logistics capacity and bring together our workforce in a larger and more modern location.
“We selected Croxley Green for its excellent forward-thinking working environment and the unit offers the spec and the space we need for continued expansion. One of our key drivers for the move is to incorporate a showroom within the new premises so clients can visit us and view our products. Croxley Green is ideal for this – as it offers an impressive, modern facility that we believe represents who we are as a firm and gives the right impression to our clients and our employees.
“This move is a tangible milestone for us and marks a new chapter in Contactum’s success.”
Contactum is carrying out a full fit-out of the accommodation and expect to be on site before the end of the year.
Innes England’s in-house building consultancy team were also involved in the deal – completing a pre-lease condition survey so Contactum was made aware of any issues with the property in support of the lease negotiations. The team also prepared a schedule of condition to limit its future repair obligations.
Facilities at Croxley Green include a cafe, a gym, a nursery, bicycle hire and a sports area. The park also runs an events programme for staff and families.
Fifty companies are located at Croxley Green with 2,500 employees. All offices are Grade A and there is a new Metropolitan line underground station due to open in 2017.
Croxley Green Business Park attracts a variety of businesses including multi-national companies requiring a headquarters, to small start-ups looking for flexibility to grow within the park.
