On the Beach takes Aeroworks

Advised by Edwards & Co, travel company On the Beach has taken the entirety of the 34,500 sq ft Aeroworks building in Manchester to act as its new digital headquarters.

Aeroworks on Adair Street near Piccadilly Station is a former aircraft components factory built in the 1940s, and was fully refurbished after being bought by London-based Epsilon Real Estate Partners in 2015.

On the Beach has taken the building as a "digital HQ" and will be adding around 150 staff to its 200-strong digital team. A contact centre at Park Square in Cheadle is due to be retained, but will be refurbished by early 2019.

Ed Keany, director at Edwards & Co, said On the Beach would be looking to create "a high-end campus environment" at Aeroworks when it moves in.

"On the Beach identified Aeroworks for their new digital HQ as the building has the capacity to support their growth ambitions and would enable them to attract and retain the best digital talent," he said.

Simon Cooper, On the Beach chief executive, said: "On the Beach is one of the leading technology businesses in the north and the move to Manchester's city centre – in close proximity to Piccadilly station – will no doubt allow us to better leverage this position in terms of attracting and retaining the very best talent in the region and beyond.

"The new space and its state-of-the-art facilities have been designed specifically for our employees and shaped by their feedback and will allow us to become more collaborative, increasing our ability to innovate. We look forward to being at the heart of the Manchester digital business hub."

Rodney Hunt, director at Epsilon Real Estate Partners, added: "Aeroworks' location with its proximity to Piccadilly Station, and the emerging Portugal Street East Strategic Regeneration Framework will experience significant change in the run up to the delivery of HS2."

Collapsed contractor Carillion was formerly housed at Aeroworks in 13,000 sq ft of office space.

OBI Property are the joint letting agents for the building alongside Edwards & Co, while Cushman & Wakefield acted for On the Beach.

Place North West