EVJ Training Academy and Unilever’s ‘ice cream team’ have given Dukinfield’s newest, best connected workspace a thumbs up by taking office accommodation in the building.
Representatives from both organisations joined local business owners, freelancers and hybrid workers from across Tameside at an informal early viewing of the Office Tech & Space environment on Globe Street last week.
EVJ is a leading beauty and aesthetics training business offering world class courses in everything from your classic lash lift and tint to ground-breaking health boosting treatments.
The company was formerly in Stalybridge, but now has much more space to run beauty courses for students from across the Borough.
A spokesperson for EVJ said: “All our tutors do the courses here now, there is ample parking and good local public transport links which makes it easy for people to get to us. It’s also great to have access to the cafe and bistro on site and breakout areas for our admin team. It’s just seven minutes from Stalybridge, but a world away from our old offices, professional, modern with excellent facilities.”
Unilever’s Steve James, National Operations Manager UK & IRE, said all 15 staff in the company’s Away From Home team had moved across from former offices in Trafford Park.
The specialist division deals with supply and management of commercial freezers in retailers from where they sell their famous ice cream brands like Walls, Ben & Jerry’s and Carte d’Or.
He said: “Working in Trafford Park meant long commutes for many of our team – some 1.5 hours on the road – so moving in here has cut that journey and given us our work life balance back.
“It’s a bright, well equipped environment and, now we have a cafe on site, we don’t have far to go for all day snacks and refreshments. In fact we have booked our Christmas party there already.”
Babuskas is a 46-seater bistro restaurant and bar on the first floor, just next to the co-worker space, serving drinks and meals with a focus on health and nutrition. Genko is a coffee bar in the main reception serving lighter snacks, including pizza.
The Unilever team is also looking at using the PO Box services on offer and welcoming seasonal workers next summer as well as colleagues from other parts of Unilever who want to use the space for meetings.
Jason Dixon, CEO of Office Tech Holdings, whose vision it was to create a mix of traditional office space and light-of-touch services for a new generation of workers, said he was delighted that people were benefiting.
He said: “As well as serving established businesses we know we can provide for an army of people working from back bedrooms, or from dining room tables, who need somewhere else to go as part of a commute-free, flexible working life.”
Membership fees at Office Tech & Space start at around £70 a month and members will be able to use the cohab workspace as they see fit on a ‘come and go’ basis. At full capacity it expects to accommodate up to 600 people on varying flexible deals.
Located just two miles from the M60 and seven miles from Manchester city centre the offices have on-site parking and are equipped with super-fast Wi-Fi and broadband. There are also PO box facilities with digital inbound and outbound mail services, printing services and conference space.
The cohab workspaces are backed up with all the services, tech solutions and support required to help companies operate seamlessly, efficiently and compliantly.
Jason again: “We have kept it extremely cost effective. This will be a vibrant business community hub with access to everything you need for less than the price of a cup of coffee a day.”
The full refurbishment is expected to be completed by the end of January 2022.
To find out more give us a call on 0844 259 6155 or email us info@officetech-group.co.uk
