A facilities management and engineering maintenance business is set to bring up to 120 jobs to Redditch.
Arcus FM, a joint venture between Arcus Solutions and Sainsbury’s, has outgrown its base at Hartlebury and is to move to Oakenshaw House, on Clews Road, recently purchased by Loxton Developments in a deal brokered by property agents John Truslove.
Call centre operations and a technical performance engineering hub will transfer across.
Arcus FM provides a full facilities management service for Sainsbury’s supermarkets, convenience stores and petrol stations nationwide, delivering mechanical, engineering and refrigeration support, responsible for everything from the fabric of buildings to fridges and coolers.
The group as a whole employ around 1,000 people, it has its head office at Upminster in east London, a major base in Glasgow, with field engineers up and down the country.
While Sainsbury’s is by far its biggest client, it is branching out and seeking to tender for new business.
Arcus FM CEO Chris Green said: “We have outgrown our offices on Hartlebury Trading Estate and needed something larger. And, given the planned growth of the non-Sainsbury’s arm, we were conscious of the need for somewhere which would promote a smart image. Oakenshaw House fits the bill.”
The company hopes to begin the move around the end of August – Loxton Developments are currently carrying out a £500,000 refurbishment.
Arcus FM is taking a ten-year lease on the whole of the 13,000sqft former-HQ, which had been vacant prior to Loxton Developments’ acquisition.
Ben Truslove, a director of John Truslove, said: “This is great news for Redditch and the surrounding area, being one of the largest office lettings in the county in the last 10 years.
“It is a huge coup and further emphasises the town’s attractiveness for service companies who need good communications and quality road access.”
Mark Roberts, managing director of Loxton Developments, said the building was being refurbished to Grade A standard and enhanced energy efficiency levels, with improvement and replacement works to ceilings, lighting, air conditioning, carpets and toilets.
He said: “It is a big gain for Redditch and a very nice deal for us.
“Oakenshaw House was only built in 1999 but needed money spent on it to bring it up to modern standards.”
Loxton Developments also owns two other substantial office buildings in Redditch – the 47,000 sq ft Grosvenor House and 32,000 sq ft Prospect House.