George Blakemore (Knight Frank), Sandeep Krishan (Glide), Theo Holmes (CBRE)
James Villarreal and Sandeep Krishan, founders of Glide, have signed a five year lease for new offices at Alpha Tower, one of the city’s best known landmarks.
Relocating to 3,700 sq ft on the 25th floor of Alpha Tower is part of Glide’s aggressive expansion plans and means not only that staff and visitors will enjoy the most spectacular views of Birmingham, but also take advantage of the high quality, Grade A office accommodation and on-site facilities. Glide will be moving in during March 2012.
Glide makes bills simple for tenants and property businesses by delivering one simple monthly bill for all utilities and services, both for tenants in shared accommodation and wanting to pay only their share, and for businesses with a portfolio of rental properties who want to cut their admin. The company was founded in 2006 and now has over 20,000 customers throughout the UK.
Sandeep Krishan, Glide, said: “We’ve grown so quickly over the last six years and our staff are one of the main reasons why. A fast-moving and dynamic team needs office space to match all that innovation. And that’s what we’ve found in the iconic Alpha Tower.”
The building benefits from a reception manned by a full-time, 24 hour concierge facility offering meeting room / taxi / hotel bookings, dry cleaning and printing services; a “hall call” lift system serves the building’s 27 floors. A rolling programme of refurbishment to office suites and common areas is under way by building owners Catalyst Capital.
Julian Perry, Catalyst Capital, said: “Our objective is to create high quality office accommodation, provided in a flexible and mutually beneficial relationship, which is one of the reasons that we’re so pleased to welcome Glide to Alpha Tower. Working with local, entrepreneurial businesses in such economic tough times and hopefully contributing to their success, is an added bonus to completing this deal.”
Flexible floorplates of 7,100 sq ft can be sub-divided into self-contained suites from 1,000 sq ft for smaller requirements or contiguous floors taken for a larger occupier. Although the building is easily accessed via public transport and will benefit from its position on the route of the newly proposed Rapid Vehicle Transport system for the city centre, allocated car parking provision is an attractive 1 per 300 sq ft.
Alpha Tower is part of the wider Arena Central scheme, a 7.6 acre site which is recognised as one of the city’s most strategically located development opportunities, and is located adjacent to the newly refurbished Crowne Plaza hotel.
Joint agents for Alpha Tower are Knight Frank and Savills. CBRE and Harvey Ingram LLP acted on behalf of Glide.
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For more information on Glide, contact Lauren Gamlin, 0333 240 9090 lauren@thisisorb.com / www.glide.uk.com
For more information on Alpha Tower or Catalyst Capital, contact Madeleine Reaves, 07503 736 484 madeleine@mcrcomms.co.uk / www.alphatower.co.uk