Sawday’s, the leading sustainable travel publishers, have travelled the ‘green route’ with their own office accommodation – and moved their business into the centre of Bristol.
The 50-strong business, established by Alastair Sawday in 1994 and run by his son Toby since 2010, was working in award-winning offices on the outskirts of the city near Long Ashton. But, with most of the staff living in Bristol, they have taken an even more sustainable option and acquired 5,570 sq ft at Merchants House, Wapping Road, overlooking Bristol’s Floating Harbour, in a deal brokered for them by Williams Gunter Hardwick.
“The move into town has proved a huge success,” says Alastair, a view echoed by his son Toby, who is now MD of the company. “We loved where we were, but needed to be closer to the homes of most of the staff, closer to the stimulus of Bristol and the easy availability of places to eat, drink coffee and socialise.
“We also feel very much part of Bristol’s year as European Green Capital here and we can, too, take advantage of the better broadband speeds available. A huge amount of our work is conducted online, making fast connectivity essential.”
Championing sustainability has always been Alastair’s passion and he stood for parliament as a Green Party candidate, founded Avon Friends of the Earth and was vice-Chair of the Soil Association. His efforts to promote sustainability have led to the company being honoured with a Queen’s Award for Sustainability. The company was also voted Independent Environmental Publisher of the Year – twice.
“People arriving by train can walk to us,” he adds, “and we can get quickly from Temple Meads to the rest of the UK. In winter, when the weather was grim for cycling, staff used to share cars and therefore most depended on others’ departure times. Flexi-working was almost impossible. All this has changed.
“And for me, particularly: I can zip around Bristol doing the many other things I do. I am currently gazing out of the window across the harbour, at the magnificent tall-ship Kaskelot, and wonder why it took us so long to get here!”
Sawday’s took 5,570 sq ft with four car-parking spaces on the 3rd Floor of Merchants House on a new 10-year lease with a five-year break at a rental of £12.50 per sq ft with an unspecified rent-free period. The building has recently been refurbished by landlord Belborough Limited, which was represented by GVA.
“The search for exactly the right premises took a while,” says Andrew Hardwick of Williams Gunter Hardwick, “as their requirements were very specific.
“But this is a good example of a business choosing to be right in the heart of Bristol because it offers such a sustainable option. This, 2015, being European Green Capital year will, I’m sure, see many more companies making that move and adding to a rapidly growing sector.”
