Bizspace Group Appoints New CFO To Support Growth Strategy

Pictured in feature image:  Phil Dennis, Chief Financial Officer, BizSpace Ltd

Flexible business space provider BizSpace has appointed a new chief financial officer to support its growth plans.

Phil Dennis joined the BizSpace group last year following its acquisition for approximately £138 million by investors Värde Partners, a global alternative investment adviser.  BizSpace offers business space and services to its key markets of start-ups and microbusinesses from 100 predominantly freehold business centres throughout the UK.

Phil believes his experience of leading change and acquisitive growth at private equity-backed and listed groups across different sectors offers an excellent fit for his new role at BizSpace as it embarks upon the next stage in its exciting journey.

“This role enables me to use my experience, gained over many years, of private equity-backed and listed groups which are undergoing major growth programmes to support the chief executive and Värde Partners in their strategy for growth and greater success,” he said.  

“As BizSpace had been acquired recently by Värde Partners, I saw this as an exciting opportunity to work with the management team on the change agenda for growth and building further success.  I’ve already introduced a number of new initiatives to enhance transparency, strengthen the finance team and support the development of the strategy whilst we build momentum in our growth strategy.”

Värde Partners has ambitious growth plans for BizSpace over the coming years, with the aim of growing the company via acquisitions and new development sites, as well as investing in facilities and refurbishment of current business centres.

Chief executive of BizSpace, Gareth Evans, commented: “We are delighted to have Phil as a key member of the management team and have already witnessed his skill and experience in helping BizSpace successfully shape its strategy.  We have an ambitious plan to strengthen our brand, enhance our service offering to our customers and expand our portfolio enabling us to be ‘the business space that Britain’s small businesses are proud to call home’.”

Phil joined BizSpace after eight years as chief financial officer at FiveTen Group, a private equity-backed international recruitment group built through acquisition and for which he led the sale to Manpower of the largest division trading across Australia and Asia Pacific.  Previous experience has included Group Finance Director of a listed plc, Divisional Finance Director of Caradon plc’s largest division, FD and MD of Ideal Boilers and roles in Group Planning and Group Corporate Finance for FTSE 100 & FTSE 250 businesses.  Phil qualified as a chartered accountant with Arthur Andersen.  

About Bizspace

Known as ‘the place small businesses call home’, BizSpace is one of the leading national providers of flexible, affordable workspace.

Its straightforward, no-nonsense approach and variety of space has made it popular with microbusinesses and small companies, which BizSpace aims to support as a ‘silent partner’.  However its customers vary in size and include large corporate companies, as well as everything in between – from skate parks to shoe designers.

Founded in 2000, with one site, BizSpace has seen sustained growth to 100 locations which it owns across both England and Scotland, offering more than 6million sq ft of commercial units, offices, studio space, industrial premises or simple storage.

BizSpace offers companies all the benefits of a business premises, but without the burden of a fixed-term lease, as well as allowing them to choose from a variety of well-appointed locations and types of workspace, including a number of co-working locations.  It also offers a range of beneficial additional services, including virtual offices, mailboxes, meeting rooms and training facilities.  Customers receive a single bill each month, making administration easy.

For more information see www.BizSpace.co.uk or follow on Twitter @BizSpaceUK.