BUSINESS PARK OF THE YEAR Sponsored by
WINNER:
Gyles Brandreth set the celebratory theme of the evening with witty enthusiasm and throughout the presentations provided his own highly amusing personal views on the shortlisted finalists, which in this first category covered a major feature of the Thames Valley property world – business parks.
The judges were looking for business parks that maintained high occupancy levels, consistently received good feedback from tenants, had a reputation for customer service, and maybe offered some exciting initiatives during 2014.
The three shortlisted finalists were: • Ascot Business Park • Green Park, Reading • Winnersh Triangle
The courtyard mixed-use development of Ascot Business Park, near Ascot train station, is set in an attractive wooded environment and offers office buildings, industrial space and studio units. Occupiers include SlimFast and Handelsbanken as well as smaller companies. QuickStart space for startups and emerging businesses has been particularly well received. The Park presents a rare chance for companies to purchase their own premises. One-third of the studio units were sold before completion
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – JUNE 2015
GREEN PARK, READING
with the remainder since sold to various occupiers from printers to an osteopath.
Oxford Properties acquired Reading’s Green Park in November 2011 and has channelled its energies into developing the business community, improving retail and leisure amenities and enhancing public and private transport services – boosting the Park’s reputation as a great place to work. Green Park continues to attract occupiers of all sizes, from startups to multinational corporates. The headline move has been the Park’s marketing of former Cisco leases with PepsiCo’s arrival being one of seven new lettings in 2014.
Since Patrizia and Oaktree acquired Winnersh Triangle in 2013, a significant amount of investment has been made on the 85-acre Park. In the past year, a major pre-let of 70,000 sq ft office/warehouse space has seen Rockwell Collins relocating to Winnersh Triangle from Suttons Business Park. In addition, a speculative development of 60,000 sq ft started in October.
Scott Witchalls (pictured right), partner at Peter Brett Associates, was welcomed to the stage as the category sponsor’s representative to announce the winner and present the first of the evening’s Thames Valley Property Award trophies….. to Green Park.
Later, Chris Carter-Keall (pictured centre), head of UK leasing and asset management at Oxford Properties was quick to praise his fellow finalists, and the overall stiff competition and high standards of business parks in the Thames Valley.
“We are really delighted by this award which recognises the way in which Green Park has changed and improved in the past few years, by focusing on building a sustainable business community.”
Although pleased to have won the Business Park of the Year title Carter-Keall views Green Park as a business community. “I think that’s what it’s all about nowadays. We have a lifestyle manager here tonight, for example and she goes out regularly speaking to our occupiers about their daily needs and suitable community activities.” For instance, along with retail, leisure, crèche and refreshment facilities on Green Park, Oxford Properties also helps stage Spanish and zumba classes.
“Overall, there is a massive undertaking on our part to help people plan their work, get the best possible staff, within the best environment, and enable them to do well out of their businesses.”
So, it’s a not a workplace, but a place in which people actually want to work? “Yes, exactly right!”
www.businessmag.co.uk
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