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Brandon Consultants is growing fast and needed a new home as its previous five-year lease came to an end.
Brandon Consultants decided it was time to make a move and find a new workspace as they approached the end of their previous five-year lease.
The company had scaled up quickly and needed a new home that wasn’t just fit for the present, but would also enable them to keep growing in the future.
To help them find the perfect space, Brandon Consultants reached out to Joe Averill and the LEVEL team.
Brandon Consultants’ needs had changed significantly since they signed their previous lease. Most pressingly, the company’s headcount had tripled from 15 to 45, so needed a lot more space.
However, that wasn’t the only factor that would have an impact on the search for a new office to rent in Manchester.
The company wanted to move into a city centre location that allowed them to breathe creatively. The team felt that too many offices were restrictive and overly corporate. Instead, they wanted somewhere that felt like home and reflected their culture.
It also needed to be an asset in the day-to-day running of the business. They wanted a workspace where they could invite clients, partners and other businesses to in-person meetings rather than having to rely on video calls.
Richard Taylor, founder and CEO of Brandon Consultants, said: “The main constraint was finding a space that had charisma and character, but also enough room to breathe. We wanted an open plan, but it had to be spacious enough to foster creativity and not feel restrictive.
Following an initial meeting with Brandon Consultants, Joe pulled together a list of potential options and viewings began straight away. After seeing more than 20 different properties, the Brandon team narrowed it down to a shortlist of five or six options by using a novel scoring system.
A team of six from the company got together and rated each property they had seen using a scorecard which included a mix of objective and subjective factors to work out which space was the best fit.
Richard said: “The two top spaces we were considering were neck and neck, to be honest. One of the key things that made a big difference was how responsive the team at 86 Princess Street was in negotiating with us.”
Brandon Consultants decided to move into 86 Princess Street and ended up taking the entire second floor of the building – twice as much space as originally planned.
Richard said: “When we walked into this building, I turned to Debbie and asked, “Would you be interested in taking the whole floor if it were possible?”
“Of course, the idea was appealing, and from there, Joe worked with Debbie to negotiate a deal that secured the entire floor for us. It has turned out to be perfect.”
The building and the space have so much character and fulfil the need for a creative, open-plan office which is flexible and comfortable for everyone to encourage creativity.
The Brandon Consultants team have been busy making sure the space reflects their needs and personality already. They’ve designed spaces like "the other one," which is a creative and dynamic area, and "the cave," a more relaxed spot for informal conversations and meetings. They also have the "shark tank" and phone booths for privacy when needed.
Richard said: “This space has already transformed how we work together as a team. Every time we’ve moved offices, we’ve seen growth in our business and our commercials, and this time feels no different. The setup is perfectly aligned to support our ongoing creativity, collaboration, and growth as a company.
“The natural light, the open floor plan, and the overall scale of the space really work for our needs. It’s been a big step up, but thanks to Joe’s guidance and expertise, we were able to make it happen without feeling overwhelmed by the transition.”
Joe negotiated a 10-year lease for Brandon Consultants, but managed to insert a five-year break clause so that the company got the best of both worlds.They gained a reliable base, but also aren’t tied down for the full 10 years if they want to move again in the future.
Richard said: “Joe was an excellent intermediary. He provided the guidance and structure we needed to get the deal done. His negotiation skills were top notch he secured an amazing deal for us while ensuring it was fair to the landlord. He struck the right balance and made the entire process smooth and stress-free.”
“Joe’s expertise and knowledge of the market, the agents, and the landlords is second to none. He really understands their behaviour and knows how to navigate through all of it. He offers a personal service that you wouldn’t always get from a larger corporation.
“As for the future, our next goals are to expand into London and eventually grow further in Manchester.”
Joe Averill, founder and Managing Director at LEVEL Workspace, said: “We love helping businesses scale up and working with Brandon Consultants gave us a great opportunity to do just that.
“Brandon Consultants needed a workspace that was a long-term home. By using our market knowledge and negotiation expertise we were able to find them the ideal space to stimulate their creativity and get it on great terms, too.
“This is a company going places and we can’t wait to see their ambitious future expansion plans come to fruition!”
Want to rent an office in Manchester that will help your company grow? Get in touch with Joe and the LEVEL team today to find out more!
Want to find your next leased, managed or serviced office space to rent? Book a call with our team today.
