One of Hull’s best performing companies of the past decade, SGS International, has announced plans to relocate to the prestigious Bridgehead Business Park to the west of the city.
The company, a world leader in the production and management of brand communications, has signed a lease agreement with the Bridgehead developer, the Wykeland Group, for a new-build, 18,000 sq. ft office building.
It plans to relocate its European headquarters, currently based at Citadel Way, Hull, to the new premises once the new building is completed in September, this year. The existing production operation will remain at Citadel Way.
Another Hull company, PDR Construction, has been appointed main contractor and construction work has recently started.
The new building, which is being part-funded by a grant from the European Regional Development Fund, will be almost identical to the headquarters of Victoria Plumb, another UK leading brand and which moved onto Bridgehead last year. Other occupiers on the park include house builder Beal Homes and the John Good Group, shipping and logistics specialists. Development is also underway for laser firm Rofin Sinar who are due to move there in the summer.
Bridgehead Business Park is situated adjacent to the A164 leading to the Humber Bridge and the link road down to the A63, and is regarded as one of the greenest business parks in the country. When fully developed, it will provide space for up to 3,000 jobs.
Grant Edmondson, Head of Asset Management at Wykeland, said: “We are delighted that SGS International is to relocate its headquarters to Bridgehead where they will become part of a vibrant and fast-growing business community.
“To meet the SGS relocation and occupational schedule, Wykeland will be delivering another high-spec Grade A office building in just over seven months”.
In keeping with the park’s green and sustainable strategy, the building has been designed to achieve BREEAM “Very Good” and Energy Performance Certificate ‘A’ Ratings. It will have a highly efficient heating and cooling system, optimal insulation, a solar PV installation, electric car charging point and all surface water drainage will be via natural soak-aways within the landscaped surroundings.
Brian McGrath, SGS Managing Director, Europe, said: “We are excited to be relocating our European Headquarters to the prestigious Bridgehead Business Park, which is regarded as one of the greenest business parks in the country.
“As there was never any intention of moving away from the Hull area, it was imperative that we secure premises in the city, which would accommodate a doubling of employees, and allow further expansion in the future. We could not have found anything more suitable or as accommodating than Wykeland Group’s Bridgehead development.
“SGS International has, over the past ten years grown from a small team of print and graphic specialists to one of Hull’s major employers, the increase in staff has been driven by the clients’ demands and the fact that the Hull team has been recognised for its high level of service and expertise.”
The Hull-based Wykeland Group is one of the UK’s leading property companies having developed more than 10.5m sq. ft. of commercial property space across a wide range of sectors and in locations throughout England and Scotland.
In the Humber region, in addition to Bridgehead, its projects include Europarc, North East Lincolnshire’s flagship business park near Grimsby, Marina Court, one of the premier office developments in the centre of Hull, the Melton West business park on the A64 and the Flemingate commercial regeneration scheme at Beverley, which is due to open later this year.
