Loans company set to move in

May 6 2008 by Karen McLauchlan, Evening Gazette

THE Student Loans Company has picked up the keys for its new home in the Tees Valley – the Memphis building at Lingfield Point, Darlington.

The not-for-profit organisation will shortly be transferring existing operations from the town’s Mowden Hall to the new office location.

This will see an increase from the current 150 staff to 650 over the next two years.

The company is in the process of creating a bespoke, high-tech office complex in the Memphis building at Lingfield Point, where it will handle all aspects of student finance for the whole of England.

Work is nearing completion and the first employees begin work this month.

Student Loans Company deputy chief executive, Derek Ross, said: “The choice of office space reflects our commitment to providing the best possible working environment for our staff.

“Memphis at Lingfield Point matched the vision for the new student finance service and now it is nearing completion that vision is fast becoming a reality.

“A great deal of hard work has taken place over the last few months and we have built up an excellent working relationship with the management team at Lingfield Point and the contractors, Rok, who have done an excellent job bringing the building up to our exacting specifications.

“It is a very exciting time for the SLC as we fit out and equip the new offices and welcome our staff to their new home.”

John Orchard, director of Marchday, owners of Lingfield Point said: “This is a fantastic endorsement of Lingfield Point by a prestigious company, and a massive vote of confidence in Darlington.

“The success of our growing business community, to which we welcome the SLC, has encouraged us to look forward and start implementation of the ten to 15-year vision for the future of this important part of Darlington.

“We expect to submit plans to Darlington Council in the very near future.”

The new 70,000sq ft office space was originally part of the Paton and Baldwins wool manufacturing plant, where the wool was wound into balls for retailing to hand knitters around the world.