More and bigger...

Two established Hillington Park companies have relocated into larger premises, defying the doom and gloom of the recent and possibly continuing economic recession.

High-tech truck- and trailer-side advertising specialists Agripa Solutions have relocated across the road into bigger premises at 43 Colquhoun Avenue, which had just been extensively refurbished. And Insutech Scotland Ltd, a leading fabricator and installer of curtain walling and commercial windows, have moved into larger premises at 10 Watt Road.

Another company moving within the estate is Armstrong Commercial Laundry, which has relocated from Earl Haig Road into more modern premises at Unit 5 of the Kelvin Gate development off Kelvin Avenue.

Kelvin Gate has also attracted another new arrival to Hillington Park, namely Pilot Gas Services, who have taken up residence in Unit 10.

Of the new arrivals, Wates Living Space, one of the UK’s leading affordable housing construction services, have moved their Scottish office to 26 Kelvin Ave, sharing the accommodation with window specialists Superseal.

Elsewhere to the west of Hillington Road, kitchen unit refurbishment company Reface Scotland Ltd has taken up space at 32 Napier Road, while Crocatile have added 33 Watt Road to their accommodation.

In the eastern part of Hillington Park, Barr Vehicle Services have arrived at 35 Hepburn Road, while Elite Coffee Distributors are now settled nearby at 41 Hepburn Road.

Recent lease renewals have been agreed with computer-based steel and stone engravers Jetcut at 37 Hepburn Road, and Power Technology Solutions can be found at 22 Earl Haig Road.

New office customers now resident at the estate include facility managers FES Ltd, in Suite 6 at The Arc, and Retail Sales Solutions, who have taken on an additional office in Suite 6 at the Merlin Business Centre.

BBES staff raise £12,500 for Yorkhill

Employees from Balfour Beatty Engineering Services one of the UK’s largest mechanical and electrical building services businesses, took part in the ‘Cumbrae Challenge’ earlier this year and raised an impressive £12,554 for Yorkhill Children’s Foundation.

Over 80 ‘athletes’, including family members, took part in the challenge, which comprised an 11-mile walk, run, cycle or other ‘self-propelled’ transport round the island of Cumbrae, which is situated in the Firth of Clyde.

Bob James, business development manager, who cycled round the course, said: “A fabulous day was had by all; everyone got into the team spirit and helped each other along, and the sun shone all day long.”

A few weeks later, John Moore, managing director for Hillington Park-based BBES (left) and Simon Lafferty, managing director of the projects division, presented the cheque to Abigail Stein, corporate and events fund-raiser for Yorkhill.

Abigail said: “We are delighted that the team from BBES chose to support the Children’s Foundation and raised this fantastic amount of money. The Foundation provides enhanced medical equipment and resources which benefit sick children and babies who are treated at Yorkhill Hospital and within NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde.

“These can include innovative medical equipment, improvements in child and family facilities, and paediatric research and training. In recent times, scanners, incubators, ventilators, monitors and many more examples of equipment, services and research have been added to the hospital’s resources.

“All are at work helping to make sick kids better, and the money raised by the BBES team will help us to continue our work supporting sick children and their families.”

More and bigger...

Two established Hillington Park companies have relocated into larger premises, defying the doom and gloom of the recent and possibly continuing economic recession.

High-tech truck- and trailer-side advertising specialists Agripa Solutions have relocated across the road into bigger premises at 43 Colquhoun Avenue, which had just been extensively refurbished. And Insutech Scotland Ltd, a leading fabricator and installer of curtain walling and commercial windows, have moved into larger premises at 10 Watt Road.

Another company moving within the estate is Armstrong Commercial Laundry, which has relocated from Earl Haig Road into more modern premises at Unit 5 of the Kelvin Gate development off Kelvin Avenue.

Kelvin Gate has also attracted another new arrival to Hillington Park, namely Pilot Gas Services, who have taken up residence in Unit 10.

Of the new arrivals, Wates Living Space, one of the UK’s leading affordable housing construction services, have moved their Scottish office to 26 Kelvin Ave, sharing the accommodation with window specialists Superseal.

Elsewhere to the west of Hillington Road, kitchen unit refurbishment company Reface Scotland Ltd has taken up space at 32 Napier Road, while Crocatile have added 33 Watt Road to their accommodation.

In the eastern part of Hillington Park, Barr Vehicle Services have arrived at 35 Hepburn Road, while Elite Coffee Distributors are now settled nearby at 41 Hepburn Road.

Recent lease renewals have been agreed with computer-based steel and stone engravers Jetcut at 37 Hepburn Road, and Power Technology Solutions can be found at 22 Earl Haig Road.

New office customers now resident at the estate include facility managers FES Ltd, in Suite 6 at The Arc, and Retail Sales Solutions, who have taken on an additional office in Suite 6 at the Merlin Business Centre.

Serviced Office Space in Glasgow

The award winning Hillington Park Innovation Centre, Glasgow offers a premier incubation facility for the next generation of innovative, high growth potential, early stage technology companies in Scotland. An ideal location with serviced office space.

Caledonian Land - 20 years on

The twentieth anniversary of the privatisation of the Hillington Industrial Estate on the edge of Glasgow was marked in early August by a gathering of professionals who have been involved in its transformation into 'Hillington Park' over the intervening years.

The Estate was the first government-backed initiative of its kind when it was originally set up by Act of Parliament in 1938. Very quickly, the location was pressed into war service, housing a massive aircraft factory beyond the range of German bombers. In the 70’s and 80’s the estate suffered from a lack of investment and renewal.

Eventually, after coming under the ownership of the Scottish Development Agency, the decision was taken in 1990 to sell the increasingly dilapidated Hillington to the private sector as the 'jewel in the crown' of a portfolio of Scottish industrial estates and Caledonian Land was established. MEPC then acquired Caledonian land in 1996 and Hillington Park remains a core component of its UK portfolio.

Our picture shows three of the key figures in the development of the Hillington estate in the past two decades:

Grant Edmondson (left), managing director of MEPC Hillington Park, the current majority landowners and developers at the estate.

Doug Smith (centre), Chairman CB Richard Ellis Scotland, who led the team of professional advisers to the SDA for the original privatisation initiative, with CB Richard Ellis continuing its role as advisers to MEPC Hillington Park.

Keith Pringle (right), former managing director of Caledonian Land, the company set up after winning the bid contest back in 1990.

These three, and over 70 other past and present employees, agents and consultants who have influenced the development and modernisation of Hillington into Scotland's premier business location, gathered in CB Richard Ellis’ Glasgow offices to celebrate the continued success of the venture.

MEPC iPhone App Now Available

MEPC are delighted to launch their first ever iPhone App today giving customers immediate access to current availability across the eight MEPC Business Estates.

The App can be downloaded from the App store.

New Office Lettings in Glasgow

New businesses continue to arrive at Hillington Park, demonstrating confidence in the location – more than a dozen lettings since February.

Water hygiene specialists Mulvey Environmental have taken one of the units in the Kelvin Gate development. Another of the units is now occupied by freight forwarders Yusen Air & Sea Services Ltd. And the popularity of this development of starter units is also endorsed by Clyde Signs & Graphics, who have moved into Unit 8.

MEPC's other major development of recent times, the Arc off Colquhoun Avenue, has attracted staff recruitment experts NES UK Ltd.

Elsewhere, Park Wholesale Beds have moved into 38 Kelvin Avenue; JL Motor Engineers, who specialise in the restoration of old cars, can be found at 27 Montrose Avenue; and Chauffeurline, who organise airport transfers, are now based at 39 Hepburn Road.

BMI Healthcare have taken a significant space in suite 2 at Cameron Court in Cameron Street, where they are opening an extension to their busy call centre operations.

And a clutch of organisations have moved into the Merlin Business Centre, including Bluestar and CCS Media, moving internally, while Annodata and the Automobile Association moved into the newly-refurbished first-floor office suites.

Lease renewals, too, are keeping up, with Caledonian Industries, Indigo Lighthouse, CK Heating, UPVC Doors, Provan Sports, Hi-Wire, the Met Office and C & D Industrial all staying put.

MEPC asset manager Andrew Kerr says: “It’s business as usual for us at Hillington Park, because we have such a wide variety of buildings to suit anyone's requirements.”

MEPC Wins Estates Gazette Regional Award!

We are delighted to announce that MEPC has been recognised by its peers as a leader in its field by scooping the Estates Gazette Regional Awards for Property Company of the Year (London and South East).

Rick de Blaby, Chief Executive, comments 'This award demonstrates MEPC's commitment to providing Great Estates throughout the UK, accommodating more than 1,000 organisations, employing 20,000 people'.

Five down two to go for the Arc

Against the trend in Scotland's marketplace, MEPC has been successful in securing five lettings in the past six months of its distinctive office accommodation at The Arc at Hillington Park. There are now only two units remaining available in the seven-unit development off Colquhoun Avenue.

MEPC have just let Unit 6 at The Arc to FES FM Ltd (part of the Forth Electrical Services group) on a five-year term, having also let Unit 5 to Ceridian for additional meeting room space in conjunction with their existing lease on Unit 4. With independent financial advisers Positive Solutions in Unit 1, and engineering recruitment specialists NES UK Ltd shortly to take occupation in Unit 7, that means that only Units 2 and 3 are available to let at the present time."

"This is a good effort in a difficult office-letting market," said Grant Edmondson, managing director of MEPC Hillington Park. "FES FM is a good coup for us as they are based out of Stirling and needed space in the Glasgow area to service their growing contract base west of city.

"The fact that we had already fitted out Unit 6 was undoubtedly the key in enabling FES FM to move in and start operating very quickly - as well as saving them the upfront cost of procuring the fit-out themselves. This was also a determining factor for NES deciding to take Unit 7, so we are now going to fit out Unit 2 in same way.

"We believe that MEPC’s proactive action in this regard, plus our new flexible leasing policy, is giving us a head start on the competition."

Ian Maitland, Managing Director of FES FM, added: "The Arc provided FES FM Ltd with a solution that met the needs of the business in terms of a strategic and commercial fit that supports our continuing growth in the UK. We would like to thank MEPC for their flexible and supportive approach in concluding this deal in the short timescale we required."

New businesses continue to arrive at Hillington Park

New businesses continue to arrive at Hillington Park, demonstrating confidence in the location – more than a dozen lettings since February.

Water hygiene specialists Mulvey Environmental have taken one of the units in the Kelvin Gate development. Another of the units is now occupied by freight forwarders Yusen Air & Sea Services Ltd. And the popularity of this development of starter units is also endorsed by Clyde Signs & Graphics, who have moved into Unit 8.

MEPC's other major development of recent times, the Arc off Colquhoun Avenue, has attracted staff recruitment experts NES UK Ltd.

Elsewhere, Park Wholesale Beds have moved into 38 Kelvin Avenue; JL Motor Engineers, who specialise in the restoration of old cars, can be found at 27 Montrose Avenue; and Chauffeurline, who organise airport transfers, are now based at 39 Hepburn Road.

BMI Healthcare have taken a significant space in suite 2 at Cameron Court in Cameron Street, where they are opening an extension to their busy call centre operations.

And a clutch of organisations have moved into the Merlin Business Centre, including Bluestar and CCS Media, moving internally, while Annodata and the Automobile Association moved into the newly-refurbished first-floor office suites.

Lease renewals, too, are keeping up, with Caledonian Industries, Indigo Lighthouse, CK Heating, UPVC Doors, Provan Sports, Hi-Wire, the Met Office and C & D Industrial all staying put.

MEPC asset manager Andrew Kerr says: “It’s business as usual for us at Hillington Park, because we have such a wide variety of buildings to suit anyone's requirements.”

Nexus - Offices To Let Glasgow

Nexus is a new 375,000 sq ft office development, conveniently located at the gateway to Hillington Park on the most prominent site between Glasgow City Centre and Glasgow International Airport, making it quick and easy to reach both city centre amenities and access transportation links to other major business destinations.

Find out more here

Award Winning Hillington Park

The Healthy Working Lives Bronze award has been attained by the Hillington Park team.

The year long campaign, which promotes good health in the workplace, has seen the team participate in healthy eating, exercise and health awareness activities. These were supported by a series of notice board bulletins and displays. It has been a positive experience and we are now working towards the Silver award.

In addition we have also attained a Tidy Business Standards Gold award. The organisers, Keep Scotland Beautiful, have confirmed that we are the first business park in Scotland to achieve this award. Many estates fail to meet the criteria due to problems with littering and fly tipping but the Hillington Park team have been able to overcome the problem by introducing a variety of proactive and reactive initiatives which include the ability to respond quickly when these situations arise.

Updated Hillington Park Site Now Live

http://www.mepc.com/hillingtonpark/Home.aspx

Our old Hillington Park website has undergone a facelift and content renewal and has now been updated live. All the latest business park information for Glasgow and all our new office availability.

Arc Sparks into Letting Life

Three of the seven units at The Arc at Hillington Park have been let this year, sparking expectations at developers MEPC that the local office property market may be starting to move again.

The Arc is a distinctive development of self-contained single-storey office units in an attractive semi-circular arrangement off Colquhoun Avenue in the eastern sector of Hillington Park.

First to move in, to 352 sq metres (3,789 sq feet) in Unit 4, the largest in the crescent terrace, was Ceridian, a major existing occupier at the estate which already has 25,000 sq feet of accommodation at nearby Centura Court, but required overflow capacity on a short-term basis. They have been accommodated through MEPC’s innovative ‘Greenlite’ leasing package, which offers occupiers a simple and flexible way to take office space.

Next to arrive were Positive Solutions Ltd, the UK’s largest association of independent financial advisers, relocating within the estate to take occupation of Unit 1 The Arc, with 226 sq metres (2,433 sq feet) of space. Like all the office suites at The Arc, Positive Solutions has its own front door and dedicated parking in an attractive landscaped environment with a strong community feel about it. Inside, there is a large ‘hot-desking’ office at the back, with client interview rooms at the front and a vital training room to help advisers keep up-to-date with the industry’s regulatory standards.

Training and Competence Supervisor Ross Duguid said: "This heralds a new era for the 100 or so advisers in Glasgow and the west of Scotland who are partners in Positive Solutions."

The latest arrival, technical and engineering recruitment specialist NES UK Ltd, has also taken the opportunity to relocate its Glasgow office from Paisley, and to upgrade the working environment for its staff and clients. NES will occupy Unit 7, the other end-of-terrace suite, which is the same size as, though a ‘mirror image’ of Unit 1.

Grant Edmondson, managing director of MEPC Hillington Park, said: "It’s been a good start of the year for us at The Arc, and it’s clear that these new occupiers, already in the area, are looking for a better standard of space. We are hopeful that an improved economic environment will bring further interest throughout the year, because it’s an outstanding development for smaller organisations with bigger ambitions."

ENDS

Further information: Mike Stanger, G41forPR, 0141 423 6595

Environmental Success for Hillington Park Estates Team

MEPC Hillington Park General Partner Limited has become the first MEPC company to attain ISO14001 accreditation, the international standard for an environmental management system.

This successful outcome, achieved at the first attempt, was the culmination of 10 months of review and implementation across the company’s working practices to embrace the environmental implications on all its business operations.

Alison Clark, Customer Manager at Hillington Park said "MEPC’s ISO14001 certification proves we are committed to meeting our customers' expectations and underpins our commitment to environmental sustainability"

Grant Edmondson, Managing Director and Alison Clark, Customer Manager are pictured with the certificate.

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Small/ Budget Offices To Let Glasgow