One of the UK’s leading communications providers has relocated to new offices within Hampshire.
In a five-year lease deal through commercial property consultancy Hughes Ellard, the direct-to-market and customer service division of Gamma Communications plc has made the move from Fareham down the A27 to The Port House at Port Solent, Portsmouth.
More than 60 staff are now based at the first-storey premises, which has been refurbished with striking colours, wall stencils and furniture in keeping with Gamma’s other five offices in Britain.
The company’s cutting-edge services meet the increasingly complex voice, data and mobility requirements of businesses across Britain.
In total 628 people are employed by Gamma, which floated on the Alternative Stock Market (AIM) in 2014.
The arrival of Gamma, which formed in 2001, means The Port House, overlooking Port Solent Marina, is now fully let.
Liquid Friday, which provides fully-compliant umbrella payroll services to more than 2,500 UK-based contractors and freelancers from all sectors, recently leased 5,500 sq ft on the top floor, with 30 staff.
Its on-site sister company Boox has a 50-strong team of accountants working for 4,000-plus customers.
Vanilla Gourmet Catering runs The Port House cafe and meeting rooms for hire on the ground floor.
Equivalent to £14.50 sq ft, Gamma occupies 6,521 sq ft office space.
Russell Mogridge, the business space director at Hughes Ellard, acted for Gamma and JLL acted for Premier Marinas, which owns The Port House and the adjacent Slipway offices, as well as the marina and boatyard.
Hughes Ellard’s building consultancy team also project-managed Gamma’s office fit-out through senior building surveyor Nick Miles.
As part of a one-stop property solution, Hughes Ellard’s building consultancy team is also handling Gamma’s exit of its previous offices by handling dilapidations.
Clients of Gamma include well-known names such as Taylor Wimpey, The Law Society, Metrobank, Moneysupermarket, American Golf, Crown Paints, British Heart Foundation and takeaway food chain Pret A Manger.
As well as over 8,000 direct business customers, Gamma also has 782 channel partners in its distribution network.
Awarded best fixed line network provider for six years in a row, in the annual Comms National Awards, Gamma has also been voted for three consecutive years as one of the 100 best companies to work for in The Sunday Times’ renowned list.
Richard Bligh, Chief Operating Officer at Gamma, which is certified as a carbon-neutral company, said: “The Port House is proving to be an outstanding location for our regional staff and we’re grateful to the team at Hughes Ellard for identifying the business space for us, project-managing our funky and fun refurbishment and ensuring our relocation went smoothly.
“As one of the leading providers of technology-led telecoms in Britain, having a creative and energising working environment for our talented staff was a must. Being next to a lovely marina, and proximity to all the major trunk roads and motorways for commuting convenience, is also a boon for us here.”
Russell said: “Gamma gave me the challenge of relocating them within six months. We were able to guide the company through the process with an implementation plan, from finding suitable offices to negotiations, legals, fit-out and the exit of their previous office. All achieved a month ahead of schedule.
“It is now full house at The Port House, with more than 140 people on site. Their presence will boost the local economy by spending at the nearby Mediterranean-style Boardwalk, with its thriving leisure facilities such as bars, restaurants, shops, cinema and David Lloyd gym and swimming pool.”
Richard Saville is the Estates Manager at Premier Marinas, which owns and operates eight marinas on the south coast of England, with more than 5,000 berths (including 800 at Port Solent), land storage for 2,000-plus boats and 280,000 sq ft of property for commercial rent.
He said: “The Port House is a good example of a waterside office location which meets with the exacting standards of discerning technology businesses such as Gamma Communications plc and Liquid Friday.
“Russell at Hughes Ellard has done an excellent job in delivering occupiers who are not only leaders in their fields but bring and generate valuable jobs to the area.”
Hughes Ellard is joint letting agent at The Port House with JLL.
A stone’s throw away from The Port House and marketed by Hughes Ellard and JLL, The Slipway has 27 purpose-built, two-storey office units. Only one unit is available – 24 are mainly let to a range of marine-related businesses, with offers on two others.
