Jobs created as Leamington company expands

Complete Building Control has opened its regional office in 840 sq ft premises at Athena Court, in Tachbrook Park.

The move by the building control business means the court is full and highlights the growth in demand for office space in the county,

Pete Hogarth, director at Complete Building Control, said: “We opened a regional office here six years ago with a single staff member and there are now 14 of us.

“We had kept extending by taking on next-door offices because we have been growing every year.

“Even last year, we still continued to expand.

“We have offered jobs to two more people and even with some people continuing to work from home in the future, it made sense to move to an office with self-contained kitchen and toilet facilities.”

Tony Hargreave, property asset manager at Warwick-based AC Lloyd Commercial, said enquiries from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) looking for offices in Warwick and Leamington was high.

He said: “It’s been very encouraging to see SMEs thinking about their long-term future despite all the uncertainty caused by Covid-19 over the last year by relocating to larger or smaller offices depending on their requirements and maybe more staff working from home once the lockdown ends.

“It emphasises that they are optimistic for their businesses as well as underlines that Athena Court is a fantastic central location in the heart of the UK.

“Athena Court is now 100 per cent let following Complete Building Control taking up the final unit but we have some more space becoming available shortly at nearby Bishops House for premises ranging from 4,000 to 8,000 sq ft and interest is strong which is encouraging.”

Sam Cooper, of commercial agents Bromwich Hardy, said: “The market for small office stock is highly competitive within the Leamington Spa and Warwick area and enquiry levels have been increasing since the roll out of the Covid-19 vaccine.”

“Although working life has clearly changed considerably since the start of the pandemic with more people working from home, it has become apparent that offices have not, and will not, become redundant.

“The need for a central hub to spur creativity and innovation will remain paramount for businesses and we expect the office market to continue to grow as the uncertainty from Covid-19 subsides.”