News

A Worcestershire commercial property consultancy has launched a new business relocation service to help the county’s firms looking for new premises to grow their business.

According to GJS Dillon LLP, which has offices in Worcester and Bromsgrove, around one third of Worcestershire businesses are planning to move in the next two years, as part of their plans for growth. GJS Dillon’s new relocation service will find and acquire new premises and dispose of existing property, saving businesses time and money in the process.

John Dillon, partner at GJS Dillon, says: “With an increasing shortage of office and industrial and warehouse space in Worcestershire, it can take up to two years to identify, acquire and move into suitable new premises, especially if the chosen premises are new-build or are being purpose-built.

“We help by identifying a business’s needs, space requirements and budgetary constraints and then search on and off the market for suitable property. We then acquire the new property and help the business to move. At the same time the business needs to prepare to exit its existing building, so our in-house building surveyor will advise on early dilapidations and negotiate with the landlord if the premises are rented, or how to bring them up to standard to maximise the value for a sale, if the business owns its premises.”

GJS Dillon has helped more than 20 Worcestershire businesses to relocate in the past two years, by acting as an acquiring agent. In most cases it also disposed of their former property.

“We are already vastly experienced in this area, but now we have amalgamated what we do into one business relocation service, so that as soon as we are appointed the relocating business knows that we will help with all aspects of the property move,” says Mr Dillon.

“A business may only move a few times in its history, so its directors are not best suited to work out detailed property requirements, nor to search and negotiate for new premises on and off the market. In the same way, they are not best suited to negotiate with landlords or to sell a building.

“The starting point for our relocation service is a review of an organisation’s existing property to provide an exit strategy, coupled with a space audit to work out just how much space the organisation will require for the next five years in new premises, where it wants to be based and how much can it afford to pay.”

According to Mr Dillon, with a 25% increase in take up of industrial and warehouse space and a 20% increase in take up of office space in Worcestershire in the past 12 months, businesses wanting to move in the next two years need to act now.

He says: “Many firms have detailed business plans in place which provide for growth over the next few years, taking advantage of the stronger local and national economy. However, few of these business plans are supported by detailed property plans, so when companies do come to look for new premises, many are surprised at just how little choice there is of the right property.

“It is only by using the detailed market knowledge and expertise of a local chartered surveyor such as GJS Dillon that businesses can ensure that their growth plans can be fulfilled.”

Further information about GJS Dillon’s new business relocation service can be found on its website – www.gjsdillon.co.uk – along with case studies about the firms it has successfully relocated, or by calling John Dillon on 01527 872525 or tel. 01905 28684 or by email: johndillon@gjsdillon.co.uk.

With offices in Worcester and Bromsgrove, GJS Dillon provides a comprehensive commercial property service, and unrivalled geographical coverage, throughout Worcestershire and along the M5 and A38 corridors.