Hillington Business & Industrial Park Glasgow Blog

Dr Bike comes to Hillington

2011-12-12T00:39:00.000-08:00

As part of the Keep Scotland Beautiful campaign The Glasgow Bike Station visited Hillington and offered, free of charge, a bicycle servicing service to all occupiers who cycle to work.

The Dr.Bike programme is designed to fix most minor problems on site, with more major problems diagnosed and a bike “MOT” provided.

The initiative is designed to encourage employees to think about their commuting habits and offers the opportunity to adopt a healthier lifestyle and reduce their carbon footprint.

It was a most successful event with 12 cyclists participating.

‘I noticed a big improvement in the performance of the brakes and gears on my ride home. I have pledged to cycle to/from work more frequently so here’s hoping for a dry Autumn!’
Business Centre Occupier.

Glasgow officses to Let, filled within weeks

2011-12-12T00:36:00.000-08:00

In the space of just a few weeks, Hillington Park’s majority landlords MEPC have successfully filled a large amount of office space at the estate which had recently become vacant.

Following the departure of financial outsource administrators Ceridian to Braehead in June this year , MEPC found itself with an additional 22,000 sqft of offices to let on its hands.

Now, a large amount of the former Ceridian space has very quickly been filled following deals with McNicolas Construction, while Amici Procurement will move into part of another pavilion after relocating from Irvine.

McNicholas, who arrived at Hillington just two years ago, will shortly be moving again - this time within the Hillington estate, where it currently occupies mainly industrial premises in Earl Haig Road - to accommodate its expanding Scottish workforce.

The company has agreed a four-year deal with MEPC to take over the whole of No 1 Centura Court, amounting to 10,000 sqft. And McNicholas has already started moving in to its smart and modern new Scottish headquarters, where it expects to double its current workforce of 35 within the next 12 months.

Ken Reavey, the Customer Experience Manager for McNicholas, said: "There’s no doubt that the estate’s infrastructure and facilities - and its proximity to Glasgow Airport - makes it an ideal location to ensure quick access to our customer areas. And Centura Court will project the right image for us when we entertain high-powered executives from our clients."

The property move by McNicholas to higher quality office accommodation effectively doubles the rental value of the company’s presence at Hillington. Grant Edmondson added: "It’s another great example of why so many companies located here seem to enjoy growth and success. We were delighted that McNicholas moved here two years ago and even more pleased that they now want to expand and upgrade with us.

“The key for MEPC is to be able to offer competitive lease packages to attract businesses to Hillington - and, more importantly, to retain them."

Amici Procurement has signed a five-year deal with MEPC that will facilitate their relocation from Irvine to occupy a suite of 2,374 sqft (220 sqm) at a rental value of £10 per sqft. Part of the lease package enables the fitting-out of the space to the company’s specification.

These are two of five office deals recently-completed by MEPC at Hillington Park, and there is said to be plenty of strong interest in the pipeline for other available office properties on the estate.

BMI Healthcare has already seen previous expansions of its contact centre operations at Hillington Park, and their business is continuing to expand. So the company is taking on additional space at Cameron Court, which adds a further 3,893 sqft (361.6 sqm) to their premises at a headline rent of £8.50 per sqft on a four-year lease term.

Long-established refrigeration and air conditioning engineering company J & E Hall are relocating to Cameron Court from Port Dundas, and will take occupation of Suite 3 (2,536 sqft (235.6 sqm) in January for a period of five years at £8.50 per sqft. Remarkably, these are exactly the same premises which they left ten years ago, after being based at Hillington for a decade.

H Robinson is a worldwide logistics company which already had a presence at Hillington Park under the name of Circle Express. Now, under the more familiar worldwide brand name, they are relocating their Scottish office to 69 Queen Elizabeth Avenue, where they have taken on a five-year lease on 1,631 sqft (151 sqm) at a rent of £12.50 per sqft. The premises are the original farmhouse at Hillington, which pre-dates the setting-up of the industrial estate in 1937, but was converted to modern office space in 2000.

Offices To Let / Rent Glasgow

2011-10-13T03:27:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for offices to let or rent in the Glasgow area? Are you looking for high quality office space with the flexibility to meet your companies future needs?
If so then here on Hillington Park we're confident we can help you secure the accommodation you need to help you concentrate on growing your business.

Offices To Let / Rent Glasgow

Latest Hillington Herald

2011-08-11T03:24:00.000-07:00

The Hillington Herald is Hillington Parks very own quarterly newspaper.Within the Hillington Herald you will find Hillington Park news, community news, news about the Innovation Centre and lots more.

Download Here

Business Estate Wins Biodiversity Benchmark

2011-08-11T03:21:00.000-07:00

Hillington Park, Scotland's largest business location, has become the first such estate in Britain to be awarded a Biodiversity Benchmark by the Wildlife Trusts. The Benchmark is designed to 'manage, measure and improve environmental performance' in a wide variety of commercially-developed sites.

MEPC, the majority landlord at the historic 75-year-old estate on the Glasgow and Renfrewshire boundary, has in recent years pursued a policy of continuous environmental improvements, which included initiatives that recognised the potential for encouraging local wildlife to thrive at Hillington Park.

Confirming the award, Peter Dorans, Corporate Relations Manager for the Wildlife Trusts, said: "Only a handful of organisations have achieved the standard of site management which meets the requirements of Biodiversity Benchmark.

"The Benchmark is a process which enables any organisation which owns or manages land to assess its impact on the natural world, improve its contribution to the environment and demonstrate its commitment to biodiversity. It is designed to ensure that sites are managed to the highest standard.

"To be the first to achieve it in a sector where there may be more limited opportunities for biodiversity enhancement on such sites further enhances Hillington Park's success. I have informed the chief executive of the Scottish Wildlife Trust of the award."

Dotted around the Hillington Park estate are numerous small ‘green’ sites which have been deliberately used to support various kinds of wildlife activity. Protective nesting boxes for small birds, precious wild orchids conserved, a wetland area allowed to remain, a moth recording project, uncut grassland for over wintering insects and seedpod development for birds are among the initiatives which helped win the award.

MEPC has also enabled local schoolchildren to create a ‘new forest’, with some 30 saplings provided by the Woodland Trust. And, this summer, a new wildflower meadow is being established, to encourage bees and other insects. More such projects are likely to follow.

Grant Edmondson, managing director of MEPC Hillington Park, welcomed the award. "This is a tremendous endorsement of the work which has been led by our customer relations manager Alison Clark.

"I am truly delighted, as no other business park in Britain has previously won such an accolade - although sundry quarries, a nuclear power station, parts of Heathrow Airport and a Center Parcs site have been recognised. It's good to be in their company."

Congratulations have also been received from Chris Palmer, the ecologist who has supported MEPC's efforts at Hillington Park: "This is fantastic! Great news. To be the first site of this kind anywhere in the UK to get the award deserves a genuine reaction of 'Wow'.

"Three of the tit boxes are now occupied by blue tits. And I saw a whitethroat on the south side of Mossland Road - another bird for the Hillington list!"

MEPC have employed local landscape consultant Barrie Scholefield as adviser, while Land Engineering are the landscape gardeners.

Local MSPs in listening mode to support further job creation

2011-06-22T06:30:00.000-07:00

Derek Mackay, the new Member of the Scottish Parliament for Renfrewshire North and West and a former Leader of Renfrewshire Council, has pledged “to work hard to protect jobs and businesses so that our area can flourish”.

Mr Mackay is one of the new collection of nationalist MSPs who emerged triumphant from the May elections to give the SNP an outright majority in the Scottish Parliament.

Hillington Park, which straddles the civic boundary between Glasgow and Renfrewshire, is surrounded by several political constituencies and the recent elections accurately reflect the changed political landscape in our area.

But Mr Mackay’s constituency does not cover the eastern part of the estate, which falls within the Glasgow Pollok constituency, which was retained by Labour’s Johann Lamont.

Other MSPs who might be expected to take something more than a passing interest in the success of Scotland’s largest business location include Hugh Henry (Labour, Renfrewshire South), George Adam (SNP, Paisley) and List MSPs Jackson Carlaw (Conservative) and Patrick Harvie (Green Party).

The Hillington Herald decided to put some questions, to both Derek Mackay and Johann Lamont, about the extent of their interest in the fortunes and future of Hillington Park.

Q When did you last visit Hillington Park?
Derek Mackay: My last official visit was as Leader of Renfrewshire Council at the MEPC offices, as part of the work Hillington has led on Fairtrade initiatives.
Johann Lamont: I have visited the Hillington estate regularly over the years in my capacity as local MSP, most often to meet with individual businesses and most recently to order election material!

Q What was your impression of the estate?
Derek Mackay: In my view the estate is generally well maintained, and there is a wide range of premises with functions and activities going on.
Johann Lamont: I am aware of the estate’s importance in creating employment and delivering services.

Q What do you know about the businesses located there?
Derek Mackay: I am fairly familiar with the businesses located at Hillington, having previously been employed by companies in the Park before my election to public office. Clearly, there are a number of prominent and local businesses located there.
Johann Lamont: I have been happy to pursue issues for individual businesses and would be keen to discuss with local businesses what the challenges facing them are and to explore whether there is a role for me in highlighting their concerns.

Q What do you think are the main problems facing Hillington businesses?
Derek Mackay: Challenges ahead include facing the ongoing financial turbulence that the worldwide recession has created, and ensuring that Hillington remains an attractive destination to do business. Transport links are excellent, but car dependency remains an issue.
Johann Lamont: These businesses will have a far clearer perspective on the key issues and how they should be addressed than I. I would be more than happy to be involved in any forum or group which wished to drive these issues forward.

Q What should/will the new Scottish Government be doing to help?
Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government will continue to support business organisations in nurturing a pro-business economy, investing in infrastructure and transport, and deepening and widening skills to take advantage of the opportunities ahead. As an MSP for the area, I would hope to promote Renfrewshire and Hillington, and work hard to protect jobs and businesses so that our area can flourish. This, of course, must be done in partnership with commerce and councils.
Johann Lamont: There is a key role for the Scottish Government in supporting small businesses and in supporting businesses to create and sustain local employment. Again the expertise and understanding of local businesses need to be harnessed in making demands of the Scottish Government. If the businesses on the estate plan to come together to have their voices heard more effectively, I am happy to be involved.

So, for Hillington Park owners and occupiers alike, and for land managers and developers like MEPC, the political doors seem to be at the very least ajar.

It is already clear that it is in the private sector that jobs are being created. The case for practical government support through the remaining months and years of public expenditure cutbacks needs constantly to be made.

Contact your local MSP by e-mail: Derek.Mackay.msp@scottish.parliament.uk; Johann.Lamont.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

Offices To Rent Glasgow

2011-06-22T06:28:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for offices to rent in the Glasgow area? Are you looking for high quality office space with the flexibility to meet your companies future needs?

If so then here on Hillington Park in Glasgow we're confident we can help you secure the accommodation you need to help you concentrate on growing your business.

MEPC prepays £74.5m of £470m CMBS in second stage of refinancing

2011-05-18T03:22:00.001-07:00

Pro-active re-financing reduces gearing and positions MEPC for future activity.

MEPC, the developer and owner of eight Business Estates across the UK, announced today that it will prepay £74.5m of the £470m loan securitised via Opera Finance (MEPC) plc, on the next interest payment date on 20 April 2011, in advance of maturity in July 2012. This follows the first stage prepayment of £102.5m in January 2011. The CMBS, completed in November 2005 and arranged by Eurohypo AG, was secured against four of MEPC’s Business Estates - Milton Park in Oxfordshire, Birchwood Park in Warrington, Chineham Park in Basingstoke and Hillington Park in Glasgow.

This prepayment, which follows the Birchwood refinancing in January, is the second stage of a wider financing strategy to address the early repayment of the securitised loan before its maturity in July 2012.

As a consequence of this prepayment, Hillington Park will be released from the securitisation. MEPC will use a combination of cash from recent disposals and equity, alongside a new five year facility of £53.6m from Eurohypo.

As a result of the prepayment, the CMBS loan outstanding reduces to £293m, secured against Milton Park and Chineham Park and the interest cover on the remaining debt will increase to 230%.

Rick de Blaby, Chief Executive of MEPC, said ‘This early repayment of part of MEPC’s CMBS Notes marks a second stage in our programme to address the refinancing of our portfolio ahead of maturity after the successful repayment of £102.5m in January. The new loan, again with Eurohypo, whose long term relationship we hugely value, reduces gearing and brings in further diversity to our overall debt position. It also underlines MEPC’s prudent debt strategy, the robustness of its income from quality assets and our overall desire to be positioned well for a new phase of activity and performance.’

Michael Acratopulo, Head of Origination at Eurohypo commented, ‘Following on from the success of the Birchwood Park refinancing we are pleased to have once again assisted MEPC in their funding strategy by providing a further facility for Hillington Park. We are delighted to be broadening our relationship with MEPC.’

Caroline Philips, Head of Structured Debt at Eurohypo observed, ‘MEPC’s continued pro-active management of their debt marks another important step in the refinancing of the Opera MEPC CMBS issue.’

More Trees More Good

2011-05-18T03:20:00.000-07:00

The Woodlands Trust donated 30 small saplings which have been planted on one of the Estate biodiversity sites by pupils with additional support needs who attend a nearby secondary school.

The afternoon began with a visit to the local Burger King; this was followed by a brief training session provided by the Estates landscape gardeners. Pupils, wielding an assortment of trowels and rakes, planted all the trees in record time, closely watched by their proud teachers. A great afternoon was had by all.

If you would like some more information about this initiative you can visit the Woodland trust website at http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/

Waking up to new opportunities

2011-05-18T03:19:00.000-07:00

Archers Sleepcentre have agreed terms with MEPC Hillington Park on a 10 year lease of a prominent location on Hillington Road for a new showroom, along with two other storage units elsewhere on the estate.

The expanding multi-outlet Scottish-based bedroom furnishing company, founded in 2001, was attracted to the opportunity and showroom potential of the premises at 442 Hillington Road, which was previously occupied by Auto Windscreens.

In addition to the 8,500 square feet of showroom space, Archers Sleepcentre are leasing a further 12,700 square feet of storage space at two units in Colquhoun Avenue. The storage units are the subject of three-year lease agreements.

Andrew Kerr, the MEPC Asset Manager at Hillington Park, said: “The premises at 442 Hillington Road were only vacated by the previous occupier on 1 February 2011 and, from the outset, we have worked closely with Archers Sleepcentre to get the property back into good lettable condition and to meet their requirement for entry by mid March. We are delighted to have achieved this and now to have Archers Sleepcentre’s presence at Hillington Park in what is widely recognised as one of Glasgow’s premier business locations.”

Ian Archibald, the Managing Director of Archers Sleepcentre, added: “MEPC have been completely understanding of our requirements, and we are delighted to be able to open our tenth Scottish showroom in such a visible location at Hillington in a very short timescale”

The quick turnaround and flexibility of approach re-emphasises the ability of MEPC’s management at Hillington Park to maintain an exceptionally low rate of void space, even in the prevailing economic environment.

James Barr & Son acted on behalf of the MEPC.

Exova makes an expansive move to Hillington Park

2011-05-18T03:18:00.000-07:00

A multi-national Scottish environmental testing, advisory and consultancy company is about to move its entire staff from Clydebank to Hillington Park, demonstrating how a global investment perspective can be the key to continuing growth at a time of economic worries.

Exova Ltd have taken a 10-year lease on a modern unit of 20,818 square feet in Montrose Avenue, completed just three years ago, after Alpha Analytical, the company that originally occupied the premises, ceased trading.

The terms of the deal involve a stepped rental rising to £5.75 per square foot. Exova received significant incentives to reflect their taking on the unit in its existing condition, since they can re-use much of Alpha Analytical’s laboratory, office and storage fit-out.

Exova, which has 110 laboratories in 24 countries, began life 30 years ago at Newbridge, West Lothian, where they still have their office headquarters. But the move to Hillington will make this one of their most important centres of activity.

So delighted are they by the quality of the building and its fittings that they immediately decided to move all 33 of their staff from their current Clydebank premises, and are laying plans for significant expansion over the next few years.

Douglas Weir, the site's general manager, said: "The staff have already visited Hillington and are greatly excited at the prospect of the move, which will take place before the end of March."

"What interested me most was the fact that 40% of the floor space in the building was still void, and would accommodate our expansion ambitions," said Mr Weir. "We plan ultimately to fill the space with additional services, and generate growth for the community. We expect to increase our staff at Hillington by around a third over the next 24 months."

Grant Edmondson, managing director of landlords MEPC Hillington Park, said: "We’re delighted to have attracted a market-leading multi-national company like Exova to Hillington Park.

"We faced a major problem when Alpha Analytical entered liquidation, leaving a large unit with a huge amount of specialist fit-out. But Exova saw the opportunity to expand their operations in the Glasgow area, and we were able to agree a deal which suited both parties."

In 2010, MEPC's operation at Hillington Park managed a remarkably sustained level of business in what has generally been reckoned to be a difficult market. "We concluded 41 new lettings totalling 107,000 sq ft, with a rental value of £639,000," said Mr Edmondson.

"Against that, we had 47 units totalling 126,000 sq ft being vacated through the year as a result of expiries, consolidations and, in particular, insolvencies. So void stock at Hillington has hardly changed, amounting to 5% by area by the year's end."

MEPC reports on a positive 2010

2011-02-11T05:41:00.000-08:00

2010 proved to be an encouraging year for MEPC’s leasing results with 213 leasing deals generating £2.2m pa of net additional income, with a strong lettings performance at both Hilllington Park and Milton Park.

Portfolio wide vacancy rates fell below 10% which is a ‘first’ in five years. Customer retention rates at lease breaks/expiries is still amongst the best in the industry at 86%.

MEPC confirmed plans to prepay £102m of the £470m loan securitised via Opera Finance (MEPC) plc in early 2011. Rick de Blaby, Chief Executive comments ‘MEPC is now positioned for a new and exciting phase of activity and performance in 2011 where we will continue to focus on driving revenue and maintaining customer focus to deliver investment performance’.

More and bigger...

2010-12-10T01:54:00.000-08:00

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

2010-10-21T03:33:00.002-07:00

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...

2010-10-21T03:33:00.001-07:00

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

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

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.

Serviced Office Space in Glasgow

2010-09-16T03:15:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-16T07:27:00.001-07:00

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

2010-08-16T07:26:00.001-07:00

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

2010-07-21T02:34:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-07-21T02:33:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-21T02:32:00.001-07:00

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

2010-06-23T03:29:00.001-07:00

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

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

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.

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

2010-06-23T03:26:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-18T05:34:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-18T05:31:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-30T03:20:00.000-07:00

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

2010-01-15T02:52:00.000-08:00

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.

Looking for offices for up to 20 people?

2010-01-06T07:52:00.000-08:00

Hillington Park have just launched Greenlite, a new way to let/rent office space. Specialising in smaller, flexable office space we've created office packages that offer real and genuine benifits to small and medium sized business looking for offices to let/rent on a budget.

Small/ Budget Offices To Let Glasgow

Hillington Park lettings reduce vacancies below 5%!

2009-12-14T03:50:00.001-08:00

The two largest deals of 2009 by MEPC at Hillington Park have just been completed, taking the total rent value of new lettings for the year to date to over £500,000, and reducing the company’s vacancy rate to below 5% by area.

Accommodation extending to 1,030 sq metres (11, 335 sq ft) on Earl Haig Road, consisting of refurbished offices and warehouse space, has been agreed with McNicholas Construction on a five-year lease at £45,000 per annum. The company is presently based at the Oakbank industrial estate in Glasgow, and plans to move to Hillington before Christmas. Operations Manager Michael Connon said: "Hillington ticked all the right boxes for us, and MEPC made it easy for us to reach our decision to relocate."

In Kelvin Avenue, an existing tenant at Hillington Park is expanding into a unit of 1,260 sq metres (12,723 sq ft). Over the Road Ltd is the new name for manufacturing joiners Knot & Grain, who have agreed an annual rent of £45,000 over the next five years. They are also retaining their existing property at Napier Road, which will be developed as a showroom and conference facility for architects and other clients.

MEPC’s Asset Manager, Andrew Kerr, said: "These were our two largest available vacant spaces, and we are delighted that the new lettings reflect the attractions of the estate both to re-locating companies and those already at Hillington that need to expand."

Another incoming company has arrived in the past month in Montrose Avenue, where Matrix International Sourcing Ltd has taken on a refurbished warehouse-and-offices unit of 400 sq metres (4,390 sq ft) at a rent of £20,000 a year. The company are clothing distributors, and are re-locating from Linwood.

Grant Edmondson, MEPC’s managing director at Hillington Park, said: "Since the start of the year, we have completed a total of 28 new lettings, representing 120,000 sq ft of space and adding £532,000 to our rent book.

"So, at a time of recession, Hillington Park has continued to perform very well. The overall quality of the estate is widely recognised as a location where companies are able to grow. And we are continuing to secure lettings from competitors because of our proactive on-site management team."

MEPC Hillington Park were represented by GVA Grimley and James Barr.

Hillington Park buzzes with life

2009-11-18T03:51:00.000-08:00

A recent ecological survey has confirmed that the biodiversity enhancement measures undertaken by MEPC, majority owners at Hillington Park, are already seeing positive results within the Estate. The biodiversity value has moved from "negligible" after the initial survey in 2007 to "moderate and developing" in 2009.

In addition to the £40,000 invested in new sustainable and native planting across nine key areas, major changes to the landscaping maintenance regime have been put in place. Previously all grassed areas were mown regularly but now meadow areas have been allowed to grow enabling already present flowering plants and grasses to flourish and be appreciated by wildlife and workers alike.

In the year to date 37 different species of birds have been recorded by eagle-eyed employees on the Park. There has also been a revised maintenance programme applied to many of the shrub beds and unusual plant species such as Broad Leaved Helleborine, Orchids and Cuckoo Flower have appeared which in turn bring in previously unseen wildlife such as the Orange Tipped Butterfly.

Small Business Bonus Scheme

2009-10-16T02:56:00.000-07:00

From April 1, 2009 many small businesses will pay no rates.

From April 1, 2009 tens of thousands of small businesses will pay no rates at all under the Scottish Government's small business bonus scheme.

You could save up to almost £4,000 a year, depending on your rateable value. An eligible business property will save on average £1400 in 2009-10.
What's the catch?

There isn't one! The Scottish Government wants to help genuinely small businesses, particularly in the current economic climate.

Offices To Let Glasgow

Hillington gets ready to ROCCO!

2009-10-16T02:55:00.001-07:00

Six Hillington-based companies have been shortlisted for one or more of the annual ROCCO Awards, presented by Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce. Among them is MEPC Hillington Park, which has been cited for the ‘Best Environmental Performance’ award.

The nine ‘Oscars’ of the local business world will be handed out at a glittering award ceremony on Friday November 20, and MEPC is also sponsoring the award for the most promising new business.

Nominated companies include Innovation Centre-based NS Design, who have recently won new business that will take their growth for the year to more than 15%. They are hoping to be acclaimed again as the ‘Outstanding Performing Business’ for companies with fewer than 25 employees, which they won in 2008, and are also cited for the ‘Excellence in Customer Services’ award.

Other Hillington companies nominated in the various categories include Haven Products, Tradeforms, Alpha Analytical and Future Environmental Services.

Chamber President Tom Johnston said: "We have been overwhelmed by the interest in the ROCCO Awards this year. We know we are facing challenging economic conditions, but it is fantastic to see local companies, large and small, buck the trend and continue to expand.

"The ROCCOs have grown in popularity over the years, and the Awards Dinner is now the business event of the year."

Offices To Let Glasgow

2009-10-16T02:52:00.000-07:00

'Leading Edge 'status for Innovation Centre

The Hillington Park Innovation Centre has been awarded Leading Edge Status by UK Business Incubation after undergoing the Inspire monitoring, development and accreditation process.

The MEPC –owned Centre is managed by Innovation Centres Scotland, who also operate the Alba Innovation Centre in Livingston.

Director of ICS, Ross Clark, had this to say about Inspire: "We started the process because we believe it is extremely important to keep reinforcing the message of how high quality innovation and incubation support services make a significant difference to young technology companies’ growth and chances of success. For us we want to continue national recognition of Hillington Park Innovation Centre and Alba Innovation Centre as Scotland’s leading facilities, accredited through a thorough appraisal process, and also to be up there amongst the top providers in the UK. All the evidence is there, not just In the UK but globally, to confirm that at the highest level, such services are an excellent economic development investment. We need to ask policy and strategy makers not to forget this in their planning and decision making"

Grant Edmondson, Managing Director of MEPC Hillington Park said "This accreditation is testament to the skills and dedication of the management and staff of Innovation Centres Scotland and we are delighted that the Hillington Park Innovation Centre is recognised by the UKBI as an example of ‘best in class’."

Offices To Let Glasgow

Industrial Estates

2009-09-24T02:32:00.000-07:00

MEPC have been providing high specification industrial units and warehousing available to let for more than 60 years. We currently manage eight business and industrial estates across the UK with over 10m sq ft of property housing more than 1000 business clients.

Keep Scotland Beautiful

2009-09-16T05:07:00.000-07:00

In pursuit of the Keep Scotland Beautiful –Tidy Business Standards Award the MEPC Hillington Park team spent a recent (and dry!) lunchtime doing a litter pick on the approach road from Hillington Park to Arkleston Cemetery.

In less than an hour and along a 100 meter stretch of path, the team collected eight bags of rubbish and some rather unusual items such as a bed frame, a bicycle, car bumpers and a set of venetian blinds!

Industrial Lettings

2009-09-16T05:04:00.000-07:00

Lets keep up at Hillington

Lettings activity by MEPC at its Hillington Park estate outside Glasgow continues to bolster the local economy, despite the recession in the wider commercial property market.

In the last three months, ten new industrial lettings have been concluded, totalling almost 5,000 square metres (55,000 sq ft).

The largest transaction was to a government body which has taken a refurbished 10,000 sq ft property on a 5-year lease.

Craftology, who currently lease a unit at the corner of Huntly Road and Kelvin Avenue, are trading up to a larger property of 9,200 sq ft on a 10-year lease.

New to the Park are Tradebalance Ltd, who have leased a 8,200 sq ft unit on Claverhouse Road. Previously used for short term storage, the unit was recently refurbished and provided with a secure yard and has now been leased for a three-year term.

Undoubtedly the fastest letting was to Alpine Blinds who, following a major fire at their premises in Paisley, were able to be up and running again within three working days by leasing 1,420 sq ft at 417 Hillington Road.

Andrew Kerr, MEPC’s Asset Manager, said: "We are certainly not complacent, but the level of industrial letting activity just goes to show that Hillington Park remains the location of choice west of the city centre.

"The likes of the Alpine Blinds letting shows we are a proactive management team, based on the Park, so we can respond quickly to new and existing customer needs."

MEPC’s industrial lettings agents are James Barr and GVA Grimley.

ENDS

Further information: Mike Stanger, G41forPR, 0141 423 6595

Industiral Estate Glasgow

Headquarters / Head Office Buildings Glasgow

2009-07-20T05:32:00.000-07:00

If you’re looking for a Headquarter / Head Office Buildings in Glasgow, look no further than Hillington Park. With a mixture of fantastic amenities and excellent transport links, Hillington Park is the perfect place to locate your business. The total site covers 417 acres and was the first “Special Enterprise Zone” in Scotland, which were set up in the 1930s. Hillington Park had many different owners prior to MEPC, but has always been a major driver in the economy of Scotland.

Office Space / Property To Let Leeds

2009-07-15T05:05:00.000-07:00

Do you want Offices/ Property To Let/Rent in Leeds? Are you looking for flexible property with the office space to meet you companies future needs? If so then Wellington Place, Leeds might just be the place for you.

Office Space / Property To Let Leeds

BT Reveals Plans For First Fibre Optic Broadband Rollout

2009-05-20T05:37:00.000-07:00

BT has revealed new information about the roll-out of its £1.5bn programme to deploy super fast fibre optic (Fibre to the Premise/Cabinet, FTTP/C) broadband to as many as 10 million UK homes (40%) by 2012. Scotland will become one of the first places to benefit from early next year, with more than 34,000 homes and businesses in Edinburgh and Glasgow receiving speeds of up to 40Mbps and potentially 60Mbps.

Openreach will be making fibre based services available to more than 30,000 homes and businesses from exchanges serving the areas around Glasgow University and the arts galleries and in the Hillington Park business park and industrial estate development here in Glasgow

Hillington Park Innovation Centre

2009-05-20T05:33:00.000-07:00

After 9 years of success, Hillington Park Innovation Centre is proud to present several of it's former client sharing their successes and experiences since leaving the centre. This seminar will also focus on what have been critical points in helping them grow and overcome particular issues facing young, innovative technology companies.

Hillington Park - Business Park and Industrial Estate in Glasgow

To register your attendance at this event please email forums@innovationcentre.org

A message from the MEPC chief executive: Rick de Blaby

2009-04-06T03:51:00.001-07:00

Hillington Design and Build | Headquarters Buildings

2009-03-26T04:05:00.000-07:00

Hillington Park offers an unrivalled situation on the western fringe of Glasgow, close to Glasgow International Airport with immediate access to the M8. MEPC owns a number of plots within the Park which either already have planning consent for Class 5 and 6 (Industrial and Warehousing) uses or are zoned as suitable for such. The sites are already serviced with most having frontage onto adopted roads and all offering close connections to drainage, power, gas and broadband telecommunications infrastructure. The sites are suitable for development to accommodate a range of different sizes and configurations from 929 – 6500 sq m (10-70,000 sq ft).

MEPC always ensures its new development schemes offer
high quality space for occupiers which afford both flexibility
and efficiency of use. The benefit to an occupier in choosing a
pre-let/design and build route is to offer input at design stage
so that the building meets its exact requirements in layout,
design and finishes.
Typical key criteria for industrial/warehouse occupiers
include: warehouse dimensions, yard size, capacity of
electricity and gas supplies and extent of office
accommodation.
Whilst the lead-in time for an occupier from initial search to
physical occupation will be inevitably longer than one which is
purely focused on existing buildings, the key driver for a prelet/
design and build is that the building can be designed from
scratch to house that particular occupier’s business.

Headquarters/Headoffices Buildings Glasgow

Hillington Newsletter

2009-02-23T04:54:00.000-08:00

Get your copy of the latest Hillington Herald February 09
All our latest business park and industrial estate info.

The Arc's Attraction for Hillington

2009-02-06T05:39:00.000-08:00

A distinctive and attractive development of seven single-storey office suites has just been completed at Hillington Park, demonstrating MEPC’s confidence by providing quality accommodation during a difficult time in the market.

The Arc, a £4 million development by MEPC, the majority landowners at Scotland’s largest business location to the west of Glasgow, is a curved terrace of office accommodation on one level, ranging from 228 square metres (2,458 square feet) to 357 sq m (3,851 sq ft).

The scheme was designed to take advantage of a unique semi-circular site on the east side of Hillington Park, and is expected to appeal to small to medium-sized businesses seeking high-quality, good-value, out-of-town accommodation. Rental charges have been pitched at a level to appeal to the local market and are in the range of £16 per sq ft per annum.

Viewings so far have been very positive. Grant Edmondson, managing director of MEPC Hillington Park, said: "We persisted with this development at a time when we knew that the office market was cooling. But we have very little other office space available and, even although business conditions are tough, we expect to attract lettings.

"We are committed to providing office space of a price and quality at the Park which the occupier market demands. We expect The Arc to continue our long-held experience that, with the right range of accommodation and a flexible customer-focused approach, MEPC can retain growing businesses at Hillington Park over the long term."

The Arc is located in what has become an established office area of the estate: adjacent to Centura Court, which is home to Ceridian, British Red Cross and Fujitsu, and close to the Hillington Park Innovation Centre and the Lumina building, which was let to Balfour Kilpatrick last year.

The development has been built to a sustainable specification and has achieved a ‘Very Good’ BREEAM rating, offering a single, space-efficient floorplate. Each office enables occupiers to have full control over their premises, with dedicated main door entry and reception, together with the ability to erect their own external corporate signage.

The letting agents on Hillington Park offices are Ryden and Cushman & Wakefield.

Offices To LET Glasgow

Industrial Estate Glasgow

2009-01-20T08:03:00.000-08:00

If you're looking for Scotlands largest industrial estate then Hillington Park Glasgow is the industrial estate for you.
We currently have a large number of industiral, manufacturing and distribution companies here on the Glasgow site. Why not see if it could be the ideal location for your business.

Industiral Estate Glasgow

Happy New Year!

2009-01-19T02:56:00.000-08:00

A very happy and prosperous new year to all at Hillington Park Glasgow.

Hillington Park company is ‘Outstanding Business’

2008-12-03T01:14:00.001-08:00

Hillington Park-based NSDesign has scooped a top prize at this year’s Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce awards, named as the ‘Outstanding Business in Renfrewshire’ (with under 25 people) at the ROCCO awards.

The e-commerce and design solutions firm, which is located at the Hillington Park Innovation Centre, has enjoyed one of its busiest years to date.

Managing Director Gary Ennis said: "We are absolutely over the moon to have won this award – it really means the world to the entire team. We were delighted to have even been nominated and short-listed against such other good companies, but to pick up the award is really important to us.

"We are also in the running for another award, as we have been named as a finalist in the Scottish Software Awards, so we are hoping that we can continue our winning streak."

A spokesman from the awards judging panel said: "The judges were very impressed by NSDesign’s enthusiasm and approach of being a ‘people company that delivers technology’. The company growth is impressive, as are the levels of customer satisfaction. Well done!"

NS Design beat their landlords MEPC and Sporty Kids to the prestigious honour, but Grant Edmondson, managing director of MEPC Hillington Park, was just as pleased.

"We congratulate NS Design on their award, which is particularly gratifying to MEPC as this is the latest of many small companies successfully incubated at our leading edge Innovation Centre at Hillington Park."

NSDesign provides internet solutions with a wide range of web design, domain registration and hosting products for its customers, who include Greenock Morton FC, The Lighthouse (Scotland's Centre for Architecture and Design) and Highland Spring.

Gary Ennis added: "We may be a small company with fewer than ten members of staff, but we provide internet services to thousands of clients. These include government bodies, universities, public and private sector institutions, small-to-medium sized businesses and personal clients.

"We are a growing company and our customer care is unrivalled, which is why over half of all our new business comes direct from customer referrals. Winning this award has just cemented our reputation further."

For further information on NSDesign visit the website www.nsdesign.co.uk.

Under-11 Ambassadors for MEPC

2008-12-03T01:12:00.000-08:00

Hillington Youth Club’s U11 football team are now ambassadors for MEPC Hillington Park, the majority landlord and developer of Scotland’s largest business location.

This follows a £1,300 sponsorship by MEPC for the club, which is currently leading its league, under the captaincy of centre-midfielder Kyle Harte.

MEPC’s sponsorship was marked last week by the handing over of a newly-branded team kit, with the company’s customer manager Alison Clark in attendance.

The Hillington Park U11 team proudly wore their new all-weather jackets and track suits at their first game, which they won 6-2 against local rivals Mosspark, before lining up for the obligatory team photograph - in pouring rain - at one of the directory boards at the Hillington Park estate.

Club manager Mark Scott said: "We are delighted by the support which we have received from MEPC, which makes us all thrilled and determined to pay back with success on the field."

Alison Clark said: "Hillington Park means a lot to local people, as there are currently over 7,000 jobs based here. As part of our investment in the local community, we’re delighted to support grass roots sports that get youngsters involved."

Charity works at Hillington Industrial & Business Park

2008-12-03T01:09:00.000-08:00

Office workers and others at Hillington Park have responded generously to several recent charitable initiatives by MEPC at Scotland’s largest business location.

They have proved that the spirit of Christmas is still alive and well, and prepared to be counted, as the workforce has helped towards the following good causes:

Locally-based Blythswood Care’s annual Shoebox Appeal has been given a boost by publicity given in the latest edition of MEPC’s Hillington Herald newspaper, which has resulted in additional contributions from individuals and companies at the estate - including around two dozen shoeboxes from staff at Merlin House and The Hub at Hillington Park.

For the first time, the entire stock of shoeboxes, packed with useful day-to-day items, which have been collected at Hillington Park will be sent to charitable distributors in India.

Already, with three weeks still to run, some 16,000 shoeboxes have been donated by Scots, enough to fill two large containers which will be heading for the sub-continent in time for Christmas.

In other initiatives, the ‘Vision Aid Overseas’ project initiated by Vision Express has been supported, with more than 40 people at Merlin House, the Hillington Park Innovation Centre and The Hub donating unwanted pairs of spectacles for re-use in other countries.

And Sightsavers International have benefited from the proceeds of a secondhand book sale on World Sight Day in October, when a total of £70 of books were sold.

Alison Clark, MEPC’s customer manager at Hillington Park, said: "These have been valuable community initiatives, and we were pleased to have participated at this time of the year."

The Arc - Office Development Glasgow

2008-11-10T07:07:00.000-08:00

The Arc’s distinctive curved design will make it an innovative and iconic property within Hillington Park. Set in an attractive landscaped environment, the open location of this stylish terrace will afford generous amounts of natural light to the front and rear of each office unit.

Specification:

Each office benefits from the following:
• Glazed entrance lobby
• Dedicated male, female and
disabled person WCs
• Metal raised access floors
• Suspended tiled ceiling system with recessed
LG7 compliant lighting
• Double-glazing throughout
• Full barrier-free access provision
• Cycle shelters
• Gas-fired central heating system
• BREEAM ‘very good’ rating
• Dual flush energy efficient toilets
• PIR light switching

HILLINGTON PARK IN LINE FOR AWARD

2008-10-13T04:37:00.000-07:00

Hillington Park, Scotland's largest business location and home to over 350 enterprises, has been transformed over the past ten years, as anyone who has visited the estate recently will testify.

Now the Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce has shortlisted the company responsible for leading the improvements, MEPC Hillington Park, for one of its annual 'ROCCO' awards, the 'Oscars' of the local business community.

MEPC Hillington Park is one of three potential winners of the ROCCO Award for 'Outstanding Performing Business in Renfrewshire with fewer than 25 full-time employees'.
The shortlist for the award, sponsored by Rock Radio, also lists one of the residents of the Hillington Park Innovation Centre, which has won wide-ranging praise for its own innovative structure and successful business model.

MEPC Hillington Park has itself sponsored one of the other awards. With its emphasis on sustainability and environmental best practice, the principal developers and operators of the majority of the estate sponsors the Renfrewshire Chamber's 'Best Environmental Performance' award.

Grant Edmondson, chief executive of MEPC Hillington Park, said: "We have had a very successful period at Hillington Park, as our development programme has enabled us to out-perform the market.

"We would be even more pleased if we ourselves were to win the Outstanding Performance Business award, which we would regard as the pinnacle of recognition."

Hillington Park Business Park and Industrial Estate Glasgow

Hillington Herald - NEW ISSUE!

2008-10-13T04:33:00.000-07:00

Take a look at the latest Hillington Park, Glasgows newsletter.
Click for all the latests on the business park and industrial estate Glasgow.

Research finds Scottish office market holding up well

2008-10-08T01:50:00.000-07:00

GVA Grimley research finds Scottish office market holding up well

New research from property adviser GVA Grimley suggests that the demand for office space in Scotland continues to be strong, despite the current economic downturn.

The firm's latest Market Report Scotland suggests the office market in Aberdeen is outperforming those in Edinburgh and Glasgow. However, market confidence in the capital has been enhanced by recent deals, including that which saw Morton Fraser take 40,000 sq ft of space at Quartermile, while development activity in Glasgow remains high.

For the full story visit here: http://www.propertyexecutive.co.uk/news.php

Hillington Park MD’s marathon success

2008-10-08T01:41:00.000-07:00

Grant Edmondson, managing director of MEPC Hillington Park, recently completed his first marathon in Copenhagen to raise funds for Endometriosis UK, a charity which helps those affected by endometriosis, the chronic and debilitating disease affecting two million women in the UK.

Grant set himself the challenge at the start of the year to improve his own fitness and realise a long-held ambition of running a marathon. He chose to raise sponsorship in aid of Endometriosis UK as his wife suffers from the disease. As well as raising general awareness of the disease through his contacts in the business community, Grant has raised over £5,400 for the charity.

His finishing time was 3.11.42.

“I’m really pleased with how both the race and the fundraising went,” said Grant. “It just shows that if you put in the hard work early on, it makes the challenge more enjoyable and rewarding. People were incredibly generous in their support. I’m now looking forward my next marathon!”

ARC OF CONFIDENCE FOR HILLINGTON PARK OFFICES

2008-09-18T00:31:00.000-07:00

A distinctive development of seven office suites is currently under construction on a speculative basis at Hillington Park, demonstrating a rare confidence in the market at this particular time.

The Arc, a £4 million development by MEPC, the majority landowners at Scotland’s largest business location to the west of Glasgow, is a curved terrace of single-storey office accommodation, ranging from 226 square metres (2,433 square feet) to 352 sq m (3,789 sq ft).

The scheme was designed to take advantage of a unique semi-circular site on the east side of Hillington Park, and is expected to appeal to small to medium-sized businesses seeking high-quality, good-value, out-of-town accommodation. Indicative rental costs are likely to be in the range of £16 per sq ft per annum.

Grant Edmondson, managing director of MEPC Hillington Park, said: "Even though there are signs that the office market is cooling, MEPC are ploughing ahead with this speculative office scheme since we have very little stock available. We are committed to providing office space of a price and quality at the Park which the occupier market demands."

The development is located in what is becoming an established office area of the estate: adjacent to Centura Court which is home to Ceridian, British Red Cross and Fujitsu, and close to the Hillington Park Innovation Centre and the Lumina building, which was let to Balfour Kilpatrick early this year.

The Arc will be built to a high sustainable specification and has achieved a ‘Very Good’ BREEAM rating. Unusually, the accommodation is at ground floor only, offering a single, space-efficient floorplate. Each office will enable occupiers’ full control over their premises, with dedicated main door entry and reception, together with the ability to erect their own external corporate signage.

Mr Edmondson also revealed that MEPC has successfully let an office suite on the ground floor of The Hub, which also houses MEPC’s own estate office. OLM Group Ltd have graduated from the Hillington Park Innovation Centre, taking 278 sq m (2,992 sq ft) on a five-year lease, at a rent of £15.50 per sq ft. The remaining space on the first floor of the prominent building in Earl Haig Road, opposite the Retail Centre, is also under offer.

At the same time, Online Media Branding Ltd (trading as 360 Innovate), are relocating from the east end of Glasgow into nearby Cameron Court, Cameron Street, where they will occupy an office suite of 361sq m (3,893sq ft) at a rent of £10.00 per sq ft on a 10-year lease.

"We are always pleased when a company that has been incubated at Scotland’s leading-edge Innovation Centre decides to remain at Hillington," said Mr Edmondson. "It demonstrates our long-held experience that by providing the right range of accommodation and a flexible customer-focused approach, MEPC can retain growing businesses at Hillington Park over the long term."

The letting agents on Hillington Park offices are Ryden and Cushman & Wakefield.

Hillington Park joins the social network revolution

2008-09-04T03:32:00.000-07:00

Hillington Park sets up a facebook page. Hopefully this will develop over the coming months to provide a resource of information for what’s happening on the business park here in Glasgow

Click to view our page

Offices and Industrial Units To Let/Rent Glasgow

2008-09-03T05:44:00.000-07:00

Hillington Park Glasgow currently has a number of offices to let and industrial units to let on the business park/ Industrial estate. If you would like to see what office and industrial space we currently have available then click on the links below:

• Offices To Let/ Rent Glasgow
• HeadOffice/ Headquarter Buildings To Let/ Rent Glasgow
• Warehouse/ Industrial Units To Let/ Rent Glasgow

New Office Suites on Hillington Park Glasgow

2008-09-03T05:41:00.000-07:00

A distinctive development of seven office suites is currently under construction on a speculative basis at Hillington Park, demonstrating a rare confidence in the market at this particular time.

The scheme was designed to take advantage of a unique semi-circular site on the east side of Hillington Park, and is expected to appeal to small to medium-sized businesses seeking high-quality, good-value, out-of-town accommodation. Indicative rental costs are likely to be in the range of £16 per sq ft per annum.

The letting agents on Hillington Park offices are Ryden and Cushman & Wakefield.

Farmer Autocare sets up in Hillington Park Business Park Glasgow

2008-09-03T05:40:00.000-07:00

Farmer Autocare, one of Scotland’s leading motor servicing brands, has decided to locate in new premises just completed speculatively by developers MEPC at Hillington Park.

The franchise business, set up by former Kwik-Fit entrepreneur Tom Farmer, is taking two of the largest units in the new Kelvin Gate development of industrial starter units, located beside the Hillington Park Retail and Amenities Centre, and accessed from Kelvin Avenue.

The £3 million development of 13 units, ranging from 139 to 325 square metres (500 to 3,500 square feet), fills a well-known gap in the commercial property marketplace, where new-build facilities of this size are not commonly viable.

Farmer Autocare has agreed terms to occupy two adjacent units totalling 603 square metres (6,500 square feet) at the end of one of the two terraces which make up the Kelvin Gate development, where there is additional parking space for their operations.

The franchisee, Willie McLernon, already operates two successful Farmer Autocare sites in Paisley and at Glasgow Airport. He has taken out a combined lease on the two units at Hillington Park over ten years, at a rent of £7.50 per square foot.

"This superb location is at the heart of a vibrant estate where nearly 9,000 work," said Mr McLernon. "With people getting so busy, and perhaps keeping their existing vehicles on the road for a couple of years longer, they want the convenience of a local, fast and friendly maintenance service."

Grant Edmondson, managing director of MEPC Hillington Park, said: "It’s encouraging that we have immediately found our first occupier for Kelvin Gate so soon after completion of the development. These small modern units are ideal for small businesses and we expect them to let up quickly."

Malcolm Pearson, associate with letting agents GVA Grimley, added: "There has been no small unit industrial development in this area for many years due to the soaring costs associated with their construction. This has created a gap in the market, which MEPC have spotted, and occupiers are recognising that these units represent good value in such a prime location, with fantastic amenities right on their doorstep."

The letting agents for Kelvin Gate are GVA Grimley and James Barr.

The Hillington Park Blog Goes Live!

2008-08-08T04:12:00.000-07:00

Keep up to date with all the latest goings on at Hillington Park and also industry related news and views.

Hillington Park, Glasgow is a highly successful business park and industrial estate which is home to a variety of industry and commerce with companies directly involved in manufacturing, distribution, technology and the service sectors. The total Hillington estate covers 417 acres and approximately 3.5 million sq ft of existing office and industrial accommodation. This includes a series of new industrial units and warehouse developments and the new office developments at the Hillington Park Innovation Centre and Centura Court.