Twenty jobs are expected to be created when a law firm moves its offices to Stoke-on-Trent city centre.
Smith Partnership solicitors have signed a 10-year lease for 3,889 sq ft of office space within the ground floor of Alexander House in Hanley, a Grade II listed building most recently occupied by The Sentinel (Reach Plc).
The company, which has five branches including one in Burton upon Trent, has decided to relocate its Longton office to Hanley to benefit from its central location and the opportunity to extend the range of services it offers.
Managing Partner Kevin McGrath said: “A lot of investment is going into the city centre, and we want to be part of that.
“Work on the refit of the property is taking place now and we hope to move at the end of November.
“The move is going to create around 20 new jobs as we extend our client offering to include conveyancing services, wills and inheritance, estate planning and family law.”
Alexander House, in Bethesda Street, was originally a Methodist school and became home to The Sentinel/Stoke-on-Trent Live after it moved its operations from Etruria.
Reach plc, which owns The Sentinel and StokeonTrent Live, decided to close the office and have its staff permanently working from home in 2021.
The first floor of the building is currently up for sale.
The letting of the ground floor was secured by Mounsey Surveyors.
Becky Thomas, from Mounsey, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Smith Partnership to the city centre.
“The office market has faced challenges in recent years for many landlords as businesses adopted hybrid and flexible working, which has led to many occupiers downsizing. However, Alexander House presented the ideal opportunity for the law firm, and we are glad to have secured the tenant on behalf of Sandyford Estates.”
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