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Office News
AN EAST Midlands business which specialises in leading-edge information technology solutions has made a £325,000 investment in expansion at Nottingham Business Park.
Air-IT, which provides outsourced IT support and managed services to companies across the region, has purchased a second unit at Ash Tree Court, the high-quality office park built by regional developer Wilson Bowden next to Junction 26 of the M1 motorway.
Though Air-IT was formed in only 2005 by Todd McQuilkin, it has seen rapid growth in demand for its customer-focused expertise, and has been looking to expand its operation for some time. In a deal secured by James Hartley, of the Nottingham property consultancy FHP, it has purchased 2,000 sq ft of adjoining office space at a site whose excellent transport links mean it has the region on its doorstep.
Air-IT will use the new space to extend its portfolio of tailored IT services, which range from increasingly popular ‘cloud’ computing and virtualisation solutions to IT installations and managed support. Its client base already includes a raft of respected businesses, including Skills Motor Coaches, Future Health Technologies, Eden Day Spa, RH Commercials and Price & Buckland.
Air-IT will use the first floor of the new property to expand its existing operations, with additional office space and a purpose-built technology suite where tailored training programmes can be delivered for customers. The move will allow the company’s Help Desk Department – a central feature of its service – to expand across the ground floor of the existing premises.
The 1,000 sq ft ground-floor of the new unit will be offered for rental as a fully-serviced office which combines a self-contained open plan environment with facilities which include leading edge IT infrastructure and telecommunications facilities, kitchen, toilet and dedicated parking.
Todd McQuilkin, Air-IT’s Managing director, commented: “We needed to expand our operations to meet the growing demands of our ever-increasing client base and required additional floor space to do so. We are delighted to acquire the neighbouring building, which means we can roll out our expansion plans seamlessly and continue to offer clients the best possible support and guidance with their business technology needs.”
Ash Tree Court adjoins the wider Nottingham Business Park development, which is home to a number of blue chip occupiers. It is less than a mile from Junction 26 of the M1 and close to the A610, which gives direct access to Nottingham city centre. Air-IT’s purchase of additional space at Ash Tree Court leaves only three units still available. James Hartley says there are sound reasons why the remaining space could be snapped up in the coming months.
He commented: “Air-IT is a smart business which operates in a dynamic environment where people look for tailored solutions. Ash Tree Court was clearly tailor-made for them, not least because of its excellent IT infrastructure and its proximity to the ring road and the M1, which means it is easy to serve customers in both Nottingham city centre and the wider East Midlands.
“Their decision to purchase the freehold of an additional unit is also a sign of the times, with increasing numbers of compact units aimed at owner occupiers being bought by businesses who see investment in a property asset as simple common sense in the current financial climate – with interest rates stuck at historic lows for the foreseeable future, the potential double-figure returns on a property will comfortably outstrip what their money might earn in a bank.”
James Hartley added: “It was particularly satisfying to conclude a deal based on the expansion of a young, dynamic business. It’s a testament to the quality of Ash Tree Court that Air-IT chose to stay and expand here when there were plenty of alternatives available. It’s also a tribute to the hard work of all the parties involved in the transaction – their commitment meant that once a price had been agreed and the legals instructed, it was only five weeks to completion.”