Spectrum Properties throws a lifeline to closure-hit businesses with offer of free storage

Businesses in Scotland which have been left reeling by the unprecedented scale of the Coronavirus closures have been thrown a welcome lifeline by one of Scotland’s biggest family-run property and storage companies.

As the crisis continues to unfold, East End of Glasgow-based Spectrum Properties is announcing that it is offering free storage in its two main state-of-the-art facilities for companies which have been forced to shut their doors.

Spectrum Properties and its sister company Aabsolute Storage have 200,000 square feet of storage capacity in an old mill building in Dalmarnock and another 60,000 square feet in the Queenslie Estate, both in the East End.

It has storage rooms ranging from 25 square feet to 5000 square feet which it is willing to make available to stressed businesses in order to help them through the worst of the crisis and hopefully emerge on the other side.

William Roddie, director of family-owned Spectrum Properties, explained: “As the effects of Coronavirus worsen by the day, it is clear that we are all in this together. This offer is simply meant to give a helping hand to businesses which have been summarily shut down.

“I would really like to give some support to people in my local area. There is no geographical restriction but, for simple logistical reasons, it is likely to be more attractive to people in Glasgow and the surrounding areas.”

While the free storage offer, which will run on a month to month basis, is open to all businesses, it is most likely to be of benefit to pubs, clubs, restaurants and hotels which have been banned from operating in order to reduce crowd contact.

Mr Roddie said: “As an example, a restaurant or bar might have lot of tables and chairs which it normally keeps outside the premises. Or a bar owner might have substantial quantities of valuable stock which he wants to keep in a secure location.”

Spectrum Properties, which owns some 700 commercial properties in and around Glasgow, has some 50 to 60 storage rooms on each site and owners of non-perishable storage items will be welcomed on a first-come-first-served basis.

The company is protecting its own staff and clients with a strict operating-at-distance policy and stringent sanitising procedures. People who take advantage of the free storage offer will place their items in the secure rooms themselves.

Mr Roddie added: “This terrible period must eventually come to an end and it is important that people are able to get back up and running as quickly as possible. I want to assist businesses to do that.”

Spectrum Properties has established a reputation in the East End and in the wider Glasgow area for identifying buildings of significant architectural merit which are in danger of decay, and potentially demolition, and re-inventing them for commercial or residential use.

Although Spectrum has moved into residential development in the last 10 years, its primary focus remains on commercial property. Its commercial portfolio across the city, comprises 70% of its group holdings.

The company directly employs 75 people and the same number of sub-contractors. It is actively recruiting to cope with rapid expansion. Established by Mr Roddie in 1988, the company now has a portfolio valuation of £60 million and a rental turnover in excess of £5 million.