With capital and support, Puma Growth Partners helps businesses in scale-up mode by working with them to help define and refine a growth plan, and professionalise various internal operations and functions. To grow their market share and better target scale-up companies in the North of England, Puma decided to expand from their London headquarters and establish a Manchester presence.

Mark Lyons, Investment Director at Puma Growth Partners, established the company’s presence in Manchester in 2023. Mark had a longstanding relationship with Joe Averill from Level Workspace, so got in touch to start the process of finding the ideal Manchester office space to rent for the company.

Matching office space to the company’s brand

Puma Growth Partners was looking for a specific type of building that reflected their brand proposition. It needed to be in the heart of the city, but also have a smaller boutique feel. Proximity to other professional services firms was preferred as the company would benefit from being part of a prestigious environment which created a great first impression for both employees and clients.

They were also keen to use Level’s market knowledge to getthe best deal possible. As a new entrant into the city, they needed advice on market standards and how to best negotiate with local landlords and building managers.

With that brief, along without lines of the number of desks needed and budget parameters, the Level team began the search for Puma Growth Partners’ next workspace.

Quick process, fast results

It quickly became apparent that 22 St. John’s was the ideal option for the company. It’s a unique Georgian building in a quieter street of the city centre which has curb appeal, an attractive façade and is also home to a mix of high-end residential homes, private medical consulting rooms and barristers’ chambers. At the same time, it isn’t a large, multi-storey office and retains a more intimate, private feel thanks to only being home to a select few tenants.

Puma Growth Partners host many face-to-face meetings and being in such a prestigious environment creates agreat first impression. The boardrooms are beautifully furnished, and everyone who comes in for meetings comments on the uniqueness and high standards of the property. A recent renovation only increases the quality of the space.

Mark Lyons said: “Joe introduced me to the landlords and also gave me a market appraisal, offering comparisons with other options out there. But quite quickly, we had our heart set on the space at 22 St. John’s. It was about securing the best deal for the right space.”

In addition to finding the right office with allthe key features, the company secured arguably the most prestigious suite in the property, street-facing with the original features still in place including a fireplace, cornicing and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Ongoing service and strong relationship

The Level team advised PumaGrowth Partners through the negotiation process and helped secure a fantastic space for the company – but our service didn’t stop there.

Mark Lyons said: “Throughout the process, Joe was always available. Even though I handled the contract negotiations, I knew I could always call on him for advice. He would get back to me within minutes, whether by phone or WhatsApp. He was always on call, ready to help.”

“Without a doubt the new office meets all of our needs, it suits our brand and everything we wanted in a space. We’ve just gone through our first renewal cycle, as we've reached our first anniversary in the space.

“I got back in touch with Joe to reassess whether the location was still the right fit for us, if anything new had come to market, and whether we were still paying a fair rent. Once again,Joe helped us navigate and negotiate the renewal process.”

Joe Averill, founder of Level Workspace, said: “It’s such a thrill finding an office space which resonates so perfectly with a company. Being able to hit the brief for Mark and Puma Growth Partners without any compromises so quickly makes this a stand-out job for us.

“We’re proud to have an ongoing relationship with such an impressive company, and we value working with everyone involved highly. We look forward to collaborating with and supporting the team again in the future.”

Want to find a Manchester office to rent that matches your company brand? Get in touch today for a free discovery call.

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