office fit-out
Incyte Biosciences, Leatherhead
On an upward Curve
Its been another big year for Bracknell-based Curve Workplaces which has seen a further increase in turnover, this time by over 60%, taking the business from £5.8 million to just over £9.5m
Business development director Mark Bradburn commented: ‘We are an unashamedly Thames Valley bias firm, having completed over 90% of our projects in the region. As a result, a performing Thames Valley market has undoubtedly helped with our growth this year, despite the ongoing debate surrounding the UK’s departure from the European Union.”
The Thames Valley saw a take-up of just over 500,000 sq ft in the first half of 2019 (JLL, The Western Corridor report 2019). Furthermore, Reading continues to be the most active market, which it has been since 2015, with 225,000 sq ft in H1 2019, followed by Basingstoke 130,000 sq ft. Both Reading and Basingstoke have been hotbeds of activity for Curve having completed projects for CRO leader; Premier Research on Green Park; Workplace lawyers; Doyle Clayton in Apex Plaza; commerce experts Elastic Path in Pinnacle and FTSE 250 Entertainment company; Merlin Entertainment 18,000 sq ft Chineham Business Park.
In addition to a healthy Thames Valley market, Andy Wilkinson, director at Curve Workplaces, believes Curve is now being viewed as a serious option by potential clients and professional teams alike. “While we are still very much the ‘new kids on the block’ our experience and unique approach to design has allowed us to be included on tenders among the bigger companies
38
businessmag.co.uk
in our industry. We believe we bring something different to any procurement process.”
This approach centred around owner/ director led advice, and bringing together some of the industries most talented designers on a project by project basis has resulted in Curve winning projects for Japanese multinational corporation; Nikon in Surbiton, International electronics company Crestron in Weybridge, and Merlin Entertainment in Basingstoke to name a few. It has also led to the Curve team picking up the coveted Workplace Award at this year’s Thames Valley Property Awards for their work on children’s charity Make-A-Wish in Thames Tower, Reading.
Michael Potter, managing director of Curve Workplaces, believes another major influencing factor is recruiting the right people at the right time, a prime example being Calvin Williams who has recently joined as sales director. Williams commented: “Curve have all the right ingredients. It’s an incredibly exciting time to join such a progressive business with such ambitious plans, a clear vision of where they want to go and how they want to do it. For me Curve has a simple but clear ethos, do what you say you will do. With this mindset, both clients and staff alike create simple values like respect, trust and reliability.”
This is reflected in Curve’s approach to any
project by always looking to add value by informing clients and drawing on their pool of experience in areas such as workplace analysis, wellbeing, environmental and energy saving issues, new trends within the market and workplace technological development.
Above all, Curve’s project team simply put, care about each project and treat each client’s business as if it was their own.
Despite economic uncertainty, Curve are gearing up for another big year, and have set their sights on a combined target of £15 million. Similar ambitions led to Curve being awarded Fastest-Rising Property Business at this year’s Thames Valley Property Awards in May, and more recently being nominated and shortlisted for SME of the Year at The Thame Valley Business Magazine Awards in November.
Potter believes further growth is achievable for a variety of factors, namely: “The experienced team now in place is comparable with any of the biggest firms within our sector”, and a newly formed landlord team, already working with Legal & General, Aberdeen Standard, Frasers and APAM to name a few.
Paul Scott, who looks after all landlord opportunities for Curve Workplaces commented: “As pressure on supply continues to escalate with a reported Grade A vacancy rate in the Thames
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
