Smes Find New Premises With LCP

Small businesses with big ambitions are being given a helping hand to find new premises, thanks to London & Cambridge Properties (LCP).

The leading property company has signed up three small businesses for The Pensnett Estate after accommodating their needs for small units on the business park, which is more usually associated with companies needing thousands of square feet.

Parcel delivery operator Elaine Tomlin has signed a two-year lease for a 1,290 sq ft hub at Building 22, Bay 8 after moving from Wombourne, Staffs.

Elaine, who runs the depot for Hermes, said a boom in the parcel delivery business meant that she had to relocate to larger premises.

"We get hundreds of parcels every day from Birmingham depot and they have to be sorted for the 22 couriers who are contracted to us to deliver to customers," she said.

"Because my business delivers within a specific six-mile radius, I had to look carefully at where I could relocate it.

"The Pensnett Estate is ideal on a number of levels, including location, excellent road network and security, even though we do not store parcels here. We're all really pleased at how everything has turned out and are more than ready for the Christmas rush."

It has also leased a 375 sq ft to FAS Window Films, a family business that has been taken over by brothers Dan and Lee Pearson following the retirement of their father David.

Dean said: "It's the first time we have had premises and we spent a long time looking for the right place and this unit is ideal for location, price, and for security. We've been really pleased with it so far."

LCP has also assisted mobile access equipment company Mech Services (GB) Ltd, which needed additional storage space. It has taken a lease on a 358 sq ft unit to complement its existing Brierley Hill base.

"We've become very busy of late and needed extra storage space," said owners Morris Millward and Michelle Picken. "We were pleased that London & Cambridge Properties was able to find us a small unit because we had run out of room at our existing premises.

Paula James, sales negotiator at LCP, said it was keen to help SMEs and micro-businesses that needed smaller units and spaces.

"As a property company, we are used to leasing units of thousands of square feet but it's important for us to be able to accommodate small or new businesses that need only a small space," she said.

"We would like to encourage more SMEs and micro-businesses to get in touch if they need premises - we could well have what they are looking for on our industrial estates and business parks."

The Pensnett Estate comprises approximately 2.3 million sq ft on a site of 185 acres, with 25 acres for future development of speculative or purpose built premises. Existing tenants include Helix, Kennametal, Sven Christiansen, Intralox, Handicare and Booker Cash & Carry. It is home to almost 200 companies and offers a range of business accommodation including warehouse/industrial units, offices and starter units for new businesses.