Expansion Announced at Popular Hillington Park Business Cantre

A popular business centre based at Hillington Park has completed an expansion by adding 18 new offices to its top floor.

Merlin Business Centre, located in the west of Scotland’s largest business park, is already home to 30 small businesses.

Two of the offices have already been snapped up by companies Etellect and Koopman International.

The recently refurbished third floor has been converted into individual suites with a shared kitchen and an informal networking space.

The offices are a welcome addition to Merlin Business Centre which is one of the most sought after locations within Hillington Park due to its prominent position and easy access to the M8 motorway.

The new suites range in size from 205 sq ft to accommodate two to three people, to a larger 786 sq ft which can be used for up to eight people.

“We felt this was the perfect opportunity to expand Merlin Business Centre to meet demand at this location,” says Alison Clark, MEPC Marketing and Customer Manager. “All eighteen offices in the fully managed business centre provide small companies with the platform to grow their businesses and, with the environment generated at Merlin with other businesses, there is a real feeling of belonging. These new suites will further enhance Merlin Business Centre and Hillington Park overall as a perfect location for ambitious businesses.”

Etellect has a long association with Hillington Park; the company has moved several times within Hillington Park as the company has expanded and developed. Now, going through another period of growth, the specialist eCommerce and eBusiness consultancy has taken up residence in one of Merlin’s new offices.

The company offers clients a comprehensive and tailored eBusiness consultancy service and suggests how their business can become more profitable by embracing technology.

Julia Lavelle, Director at Etellect said: “Etellect have enjoyed a long relationship with Hillington Park and our move to Merlin Business Centre allows us to enjoy all the benefits of a serviced office at a price that is affordable to our business. With clients all across central Scotland the access to the motorway and good public transport links are essential and allows us to be as accessible as possible to our clients. MEPC have been very accommodating with our requirements and have made this move as pain free as possible.”

Koopman International B.V is the largest importer and distributor of non-food goods in Europe. The Dutch, family run company has been established since 1937 and its Scottish base has relocated to the Merlin Business Centre as it provides them easy access to both the motorway and airport.

Sean Campbell of Koopman said: “Our business model is to take prospective UK buyers across to our showroom in Amsterdam to show them the full ranges of our items, and so we have to fly over every other week. Being based in Merlin Business Centre is perfect for us as it’s not only close to the motorway for when we have to drive to England, but also it’s merely minutes away from the airport. Our office is fully managed also which is a huge benefit and the view is a nice bonus.”

As Scotland’s largest and most established business park, Hillington Park is a safe, well maintained environment with two train stations, two minutes from the motorway and two miles from Glasgow’s International Airport. The on-site Park service team has the flexibility to meet all workspace requirements and are committed to creating long-term relationships where a business can grow, succeed and belong.

In 2011 the Park won a ‘Biodiversity Benchmark’ from the Wildlife Trusts, becoming the first business park in Britain to be recognised for the quality of its environmental management.

MEPC manages some of the UK’s best known commercial property. With a £1bn portfolio, it is a leader in its field with eight Business Estates in prime locations throughout the UK. Together it provides over 10m sq. ft. of high quality space for more than 1,000 organisations, employing 20,000 people. Offices To Let Glasgow

Hillington Park

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

The Arc - 3,315 sq ft (308 sq m) - 3,337 sq ft (310 sq m)

• Distinctive office development with crescent design
• Self contained single storey office unit
• Dedicated front door and toilet facilites
• BREEAM very good rating
• View 360 panorama

Cameron Court - 3535 sq ft (328 sq m)

• Refurbished mainly open plan layout with 4 office/meeting rooms
• Raised access floor with powered floor boxes
• Dedicated toilet facilities
• Flexible lease options at competitive rates

Centura Court - 2,374 sq ft (221 sq m) - 4,681 sq ft (435 sq m)

• Mainly open plan layout with reception area and 4 office/meeting rooms
• Raised access metal floors and 2.7 metre ceiling height
• Double glazing and central heating
• Close proximity to public transport links

Innovation Centre Serviced Offices - 85 - 1,100 sq ft (8 - 102 sq m)

• Fully inclusive serviced offices
• In house business advisory support
• Leased line internet connection
• 157 Car parking spaces
• For current availability please see www.innovationcentre.org/hillington
  or call the management team on 0141 585 6300 

Merlin Business Centre - 200 - 2,000 sq ft (18.6 - 185.8 sq m)

• Managed office suites
• Flexible licenses inclusive of service charge, electricity and cleaning
• Potential qualification for small business rates relief
• Leased line internet connection

BeeKeeping Classes Created a Buzz Around Hillington Park

Nature lovers in Hillington Park can get a buzz at lunchtime – by attending beekeeping classes.

Warren Bader of Plan Bee who will be hosting the lessons said: “It is fantastic that a company like MEPC are so forward thinking in its approach. MEPC understand that it has to put in place safe guards now for balanced environment and ecology in the workplace. Few companies have seized the opportunities to promote sustainable industry like MEPC.”

The classes which are held in the Hillington Park Urban Gardens, have already attracted a lot of attention, with workers in the Park interested in learning more about bees and how to produce honey.

The lessons are another reminder of Hillington Park’s biodiversity commitments and its dedication to achieving its sustainability aims.

In 2011 the Park won a ‘Biodiversity Benchmark’ from the Wildlife Trusts, becoming the first business park in Britain to be recognised for the quality of its environmental management, and since then has continued its biodiversity project.

The beekeeping classes come as MEPC, the majority site owner and developer of Hillington Park, are in the process of adding to the Park’s amenity offering. The Park, west of Scotland’s largest business park, already boasts two train stations, a nursery, a post office and a variety of food outlets including a Harvester pub and restaurant.

Plan Bee, a company that champions biodiversity with businesses and local communities will host the classes, with beekeeper Warren Bader sharing his expert knowledge and passing on his tips.

The bee hives are based in an area which is also home to 12 allotments for Hillington Park companies. Already seven of the plots have been adopted by businesses with employees spending time tending the crops and planting and growing fruit and vegetables. The bee hives will help pollinate the garden and will eventually lead to home grown ’MEPC Honey'.

“We are very proud of our green credentials and in particular winning the award from the Wildlife Trusts, but we are aware that there is always more to be done,” says Grant Edmondson, Managing Director of MEPC Hillington Park. “Along with the allotments and beekeeping classes, we have also installed bird boxes and have biodiversity areas to allow plant life to flourish. The amount of interest we have seen so far has been excellent as many people understand the importance of enhancing the local environment. These projects also add to the big community at Hillington Park and increases people’s sense of belonging.”

The beekeeping classes are held fortnightly on Tuesday’s at 12.30. To register your interest please contact Alison Clark on awclark@mepc.com

Annual Shoebox Appeal Launched

The annual Blythswood Care Shoebox Appeal has been launched and companies based at Hillington Park are being asked to take part.

The charity encourages people to fill a shoebox with simple gifts that will then be sent to some of the world’s poorest countries, giving thousands of children a Christmas to remember.

The boxes are given to all age groups and are delivered to a number of countries including Albania, Romania and Pakistan.

Every year the charity, located at Hillington Park on 35-37 Montrose Road, is delighted with the generosity of its neighbours and hopes to make 2012 another successful year.

Alan Swanson of Blythswood Care said: “Every year we send over 100,000 shoeboxes across the world and we are grateful to everyone who has contributed to our appeal over the years. Even the most simplest of gifts can bring a smile to someone’s face and give them joy this Christmas. We always receive a wonderful response from people within Hillington Park including everyone at BAA Business Support Centre, and hopefully we can see the same again as Christmas approaches.”

“We’ve supported Blythswood Care Shoebox Appeal for a number of years,” says Grant Edmondson, Managing Director, Hillington Park. “We know that others on the Park ensure have a shoebox filled every year for this worthwhile cause and we hope that this year is another successful one for the charity.”

Blythswood Care also welcomes volunteers to come along and help at the sorting station throughout November. This can be on an individual basis or as a group.

For more information call Blythswood Care on 0141 882 0585.

Haven’s total success in WEEE recycling services

Haven, the social enterprise specialists, has celebrated its 75 years of enlightened employment policies by opening a brand new, dedicated and secure recycling facility at Hillington Park.

The move follows a successful first year in business for Haven Recycle, initially based at the company’s Atholl Avenue site, where it continues to deliver high-volume contract packing services to the drinks industry.

Haven have provided meaningful employment for disabled and disadvantaged adults for more than 30 years at Hillington Park. The company’s decision to enter the profitable recycling market was proclaimed on the front page of the Hillington Herald two years ago.

Now, Haven has achieved an annual turnover of more than £2 million, and is anticipating further growth in the next few years as its new facility on Watt Road reaches its full potential.

Haven Recycle has a full SEPA waste management license and offers Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE) recycling.

Commercial manager Ewan Fisher said: “This includes data destruction and processing of all IT and electrical equipment. Quite literally, 100% of all material collected from customers is recycled, and absolutely nothing goes to landfill.

“Haven Recycle has already secured some high-profile local customers, including NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, and the University of the West of Scotland. For both, we are now the sole provider of IT and electrical recycling services.”

Andrew Reid, the NHS’s Asset User Provisioning Manager for the area, commented: “Over the past six months, Haven Recycle have been delivering a reliable, cost-effective way of realising value from our redundant IT assets, providing best value for the taxpayer.

“It is also a good fit for the NHS ethos to be supporting a social enterprise in this manner. We hope to continue to partner with Haven Recycle, and look forward to building on the good relationship that’s been established.”

Ewan Fisher added: It has been a very exciting year for Haven Recycle, from starting a brand new operation to finding ourselves in a situation where the volume of business demands the opening of a new facility.

“This can be attributed to a genuine desire by organisations to really embrace the idea of a sustainable supply chain, both in terms of environmental responsibility and corporate social responsibility. I have every confidence that we can encourage even more businesses to work with Haven Recycle in this way.”

Contact: 0141 810 2450
Web: www.havenrecycle.co.uk

Coffee’s community feeling

Hillington Park’s principal landlords and developers are planning a major incursion into the world of social networking – both through new media such as Facebook and Twitter, and also through the provision of ‘Coffee Hub’ meeting places throughout the estate.

The former is an almost inevitable recognition of the marketplace, where informal and digital social interaction is an increasingly preferred means of community ‘bonding‘.

The latter takes as its model the very successful experience of the Hillington Park Innovation Centre’s own chill-out area operated by Bocadillo on the first floor of the building off Ainslie Road.

Here, people from different resident organisations can interact with each other, and with external guests to compare experiences, problems and solutions over a latte and muffin – or even something more substantial!

Results of a recent ‘Sectorlight’ occupier survey at Hillington Park have inspired MEPC to study a range of ideas for encouraging social interaction, including coffee hubs. Other possibilities include urban gardens, beehives, a putting green, public wi-fi coverage throughout the estate and outside seating areas.

“Customer feedback is so important for how MEPC shapes its business. Our occupiers have told us they want more services and amenities which we will find ways to deliver,” says Grant Edmondson, managing director of MEPC Hillington Park.

“We will encourage community feeling in a wide variety of other ways that we will roll out over the coming months. And we would welcome any suggestions and ideas from Hillington people on how we can achieve these objectives.”

Watch this space for more developments. Contact: 0141 883 5760

Business Park & Industrial Estate Glasgow

At Hillington Park, Glasgow we strive to continually improve the environment in which our customers work.

We not only aim to raise the quality of our real estate offer and extend the life and value of our buildings, but also to provide a range of amenities at the business park to make it more than just a workplace. It’s all part of our belief in creating a genuine sense of community, where people can meet and have easy access to quality amenities that enhance their working day.

 

Industrial Estate Glasgow