IM Properties’ new speculatively built FIRST offices at Blythe Valley Park (BVP), junction 4, M42, are to be the new HQ of Solihull based accountants and business advisers, Jerroms.
Currently employing close to 100 people, with a view to increasing its size by 50 per cent in the next three years, the new 15,000 sq ft offices, which are the first speculative offices to be built on the M42 for a decade, will provide room to grow and a statement building to reflect Jerroms’ corporate ambitions.
Mark Eden, Jerroms managing director said: “We doubled our size in 2014 by merging with two well respected, existing businesses in Kings Heath and Bromsgrove and now this is a really positive step for further growth within the business.
“Attracting and retaining the right talent is going to be key to our business success moving forward and so the quality of the working environment is critical.
“Blythe immediately made the shortlist for being close to our existing location in Shirley, however it quickly moved up to first position for being set in 122 acres of parkland with the ability to create a bespoke working environment.
“Designing every aspect of the internal office space is a once in a lifetime opportunity and it will reflect modern working practices with dynamic workspaces and larger meeting areas perfectly suited to both client and staff needs.
“The office fit-out is due to commence shortly and we look forward to moving onto the park later this year.
Mark added: “In addition to superb office facilities, one of our key aims was to promote employee wellbeing and achieving the right work/life balance. Our plans include a fully catered canteen for staff, as well as a gym suite. Of course the community events staged at Blythe definitely contribute to the positive feelings towards the business park and our team are sold on the site too.”
Jerroms will sit amongst recent occupiers to the park including Gymshark – one of the UK’s fastest growing companies, Rybrook Holdings, Wavenet and Prologis who have all moved to BVP in the past 12 months.
“We’re in good company,” added Mark. “We hope that being located in a place with an excellent reputation for business will help us to attract like-minded clients. It’s very easy to access too and offers good potential to help grow the business.”
The new offices are designed to provide a ‘best in class’ specification including EPC A and BREEAM Very Good ratings.
Lewis Payne, IMP’s development director added: “We were always confident we would attract a quality occupier to this building. Developing the building speculatively was simply a response to the mismatch between supply and demand for this type of space and this strategy has played out, with the building going under offer before practical completion.
“Time and again we hear occupiers talking about the upsides of being located in a parkland setting and the community feel we bring to BVP. Jerroms is very modern in its thinking and we’re delighted to be helping them to expand in the region.”
IMP has worked hard to broaden the occupier offer at Blythe, creating a purpose-built coffee shop on the site operated by quality independent coffee operator, Java Lounge. This sits alongside a Virgin Active Health Club and Busy Bees nursery.
Detailed planning has also just been approved for Bloor Homes to deliver 170 new homes, with Crest Nicholson looking to provide a further 125 dwellings, as part of an outline planning consent IM Properties gained to deliver 750 new homes, breaking the mould for Midlands’ business parks, mixing commercial, leisure and residential.
Savills and CBRE act as joint agents on BVP. Darby Keye acted on behalf of Jerroms.
Midlands based IM Properties is one of the largest privately owned, multi-disciplined property groups in the UK, with an investment and development portfolio of circa £900 million across the UK, Europe and US.
