The only official UK licensee of an electrical appliances brand has reaffirmed its commitment to Stoke-on-Trent by taking on new headquarters which will lead to a recruitment drive.
Morphy Richards licensee Consumer Brands is taking up new premises at Whittle Court, in Hanley, investing a six-figure sum into refurbishing the building, which will become a base for its sales, marketing and customer service staff.
The company is currently situated at the Smithfield Works in Hanley and has a warehousing and distribution centre in Chesterfield as well as a testing site in Leeds.
Some employees from those sites will be moving to Stoke-on-Trent once the new base opens in April, but Consumer Brands has also said it is hoping to increase its employee numbers from 31 to 53 this year.
Managing Director Rob Wileman said: “We are keen to stay within Stoke-on-Trent.
“The quality of staff that we have in the city is excellent and we didn’t want to lose them by moving away. The city also represents great value for money.
“The Morphy Richards brand is instantly recognisable, and we think it is great for Stoke-on-Trent to have it here.”
Consumer Brands will be moving into space totalling 7,400 sq ft, which was formerly the headquarters of social housing and supported accommodation provider Brighter Futures.
The units have been sold to NLC Group of Companies, which Consumer Brands is part of, by property company Sandyford Properties.
Sandyford, which is based in Stoke-on-Trent, has also sold the freehold of the common parts and the car parking at the Town Road business park to MK2 Property Management, the park’s property manager, which enables it to exit the site in full.
Paul Brindley, Managing Director of Sandyford Properties, said: “The sale of the site is consistent with Sandyford’s strategy to become a pure multi-let industrial property company. Following the sale, 95 per cent of the rent roll comprises industrial property.”
