Business park put on Map

Oct 27 2009 by Karen McLauchlan, Evening Gazette

A LEADING independent provider of communication network services is to become the first occupier in a new Tees Valley office development.

Map Group, which has a turnover in excess of £30m and operates from 14 locations across the UK employing 750 staff, is moving its head office to the Westland Way Business Park on the outskirts of Stockton.

The company has acquired the recently completed George Stephenson Court building, which was unveiled by the business park’s owner, TM Urban Developments, at the end of the summer.

Between 50 and 60 staff will move from Map's previous premises at Portrack Lane in Stockton to the new offices.

Map Group’s MD Dave Keighley said the business was expanding at such a rate that they needed more space - especially as they will be looking to recruit a further 20 head office employees before the end of the year.

“The demand from businesses for broadband and network services has increased rapidly and our number of contracts is increasing fantastically,” he said.

“This has had a knock-on effect on our head office functions which have had to grow to support the rest of the business.”

Map carries out planning, installation and commissioning, provisioning and service assurance on behalf of major organisations in the UK, including the cable communications industry which has sub-contracted out to Map since 1995.

One of its largest customers is Virgin Media which has a Teesside base just yards away from Map's new offices.

Dave added: “The location of our new premises is excellent. It’s very easy to get to and there are very good facilities for the staff who work here.”

Map Group's new office comprises 16,000sq ft of high spec office space over four floors. But as, initially, the company will not need all the space, it is sub-letting one floor to Henderson Insurance Brokers.

Hendersons, which has 10 offices across the country, has relocated from Ripon to Westland Way from where 30 staff are now operating.

Chief executive Joe Henderson said: “We wanted the new office to be the premier location in terms of access for our staff and clients and the Westland Way Business Park fulfils all our criteria.

“We have great plans for this area which include expanding our operation in the very near future.”

Anthony Wattis, MD of Stockton-based TM Urban Developments, is delighted to have already attracted two successful businesses to the 18-acre business park so soon after its first unit was completed.

“This is a huge vote of confidence in the site and the quality of accommodation that we are able to provide,” he said.

“From the outset we have been committed to working with businesses to provide the best spec we can at the most competitive price and these signings show that our approach has paid dividends.”