- UK flexible workspace operator BE Offices has taken the entire 36,300 sq ft Somerset House in Birmingham.
- The building will become a showcase for BE’s range of flexible space including coworking, serviced offices and corporate managed space.
- This latest move takes BE Offices, which is mainly based in London, into the city of Birmingham for the first time.
BE Offices (“BE”), the leading independent flexible space provider, today announces that it has taken the entire 36,300 sq ft Somerset House in Temple Street, Birmingham as it spearheads its expansion outside London.
Unusually BE is using Somerset House to showcase its full range of flexible space offers and the building will be home to Headspace, its creative, tech and media co-working operator, BESpoke, the corporate managed workspace provider, and BE itself which offers flexible serviced offices and pro-working space.
Located in the heart of Birmingham city centre Somerset House has been recently redeveloped by Circle Property plc and each BE brand will occupy two floors in the building, equating to some 12,000 sq ft.
This latest move by BE takes the flexible space provider into the city of Birmingham for the first time as it looks to expand and grow a regional network.
BE has agreed a 15-year FRI lease on Somerset House.
David Saul, Managing Director of BE, said: “This is an important step forward in our expansion programme. Not only does it take us into Birmingham for the first time but enables us to showcase our entire range of flexible space provision whether it is the more professional corporate offer from BE Offices, the more creative and media orientated co-working Headspace, or the managed space provider BESpoke.”
Mr. Saul added that this was likely to be the first of a number of acquisitions across the BE group which demonstrated the underlying strength of the business as it is able to offer a range of different products to the increasingly diverse nature of this fast-growing market.
For Headspace, BE’s co-working brand, Somerset House brings Headspace’s UK portfolio to over 60,000 sq ft. The boutique operator launched in Manchester in 2017 and was acquired by BE Offices in November 2017. At the time, BE announced its intention to expand the Headspace brand to as many as 20 spaces over three years.
Jonathan Hausmann, Head of Marketing & Client Experience at Headspace Group, commented:
“With BE Offices’ expertise, infrastructure and resources behind us, we’re aiming to be one of the UK’s leading providers of coworking and flexible workspace. Britain’s second city has long been an entrepreneurial hotspot and it’s an obvious next step for Headspace.
“Our proposition is pretty straightforward: we’re looking to create an environment where local businesses can thrive in a beautiful, community-driven space and with total flexibility. Birmingham’s booming and we’re looking forward to being part of that story!”
