Aiming to establish a vibrant, thriving business community in the city centre, one of the county's most exciting new workspace hubs, The Shirt Factory, is getting set to launch in Gloucester this spring.
The latest project from Cheltenham-based developer County to County Property Group, the development is making a range of office and studio spaces, along with small-scale industrial and storage units, available to tech and creative-focussed SMEs, combining modern design elements with original features of one of Gloucester's oldest business premises.
SoGlos sits down with County to County director, Henry Kidson, to hear the story behind the exciting project – from honouring the site's past as a hub for creative industry, to why Gloucester is 'the place to be right now' for businesses.
What is The Shirt Factory?
The Shirt Factory is a multi-let commercial hub with shared facilities including meeting rooms, an events and conferencing area, a staffed reception and space to collaborate with a wider business community.
There is a mix of office, studio and workshop spaces from two-person upwards; and warehousing that can be taken as stand-alone or with office space, so you can have your office upstairs and store your inventory downstairs.
These are big business facilities, benefitting small and larger businesses alike, and with our all-inclusive pricing and no hidden costs, we would like to become known as the progressive but affordable new location in Gloucester to do business.
Tell us a bit about County to County Property Group.
Established in 2010, we have completed many development schemes, both commercial and residential. We started with the redevelopment of the former Welsh Harp Pub on London Road in Gloucester, with five new-build houses to the rear.
Since then we have developed many sites across the area, most notably The Post House on Barnwood Roundabout – the conversion of the former Royal Mail offices into 48 apartments; and local to The Shirt Factory, the redevelopment of the India House pub on Barton Street into a convenience store.
We have developed many sites in Cheltenham too, including the Sainsbury’s convenience store in Charlton Kings and most recently we have completed a scheme of four new-build houses and a barn conversion in Swindon Village.
In addition to our development projects, we have a contracting arm serving business customers primarily in the retail sector. Operating nationwide, we have completed projects from Aberdeen to Jersey, but Cheltenham and Gloucester have always been our base.
Why did you choose for The Shirt Factory for your next project?
The biggest bonus when we considered the site for development was not only its central location, with excellent rail and bus links a matter of minutes away, but the amount of onsite parking available – we have 85 spaces.
The opportunity to refurbish an existing building rather than starting from scratch was also very attractive. Through reduced development costs, we can offer extremely competitive rents and, of course, the environmental impact has been minimised, too. Our solar array also means tenants will be powered by renewable energy and the building has been really well insulated targeting an EPC B rating, bringing it right up to date.
We know from experience that Gloucester is perfectly placed for geographical growth. Business is all about connections and the city is very well connected – the data infrastructure and rail and road systems are fantastic. Add to that the amazing range of businesses already in the area, from major key employers to the multitude of smaller businesses supporting them, there is an exciting future ahead and we want to be part of it.
It’s not all about work though. Gloucester has a vibrant hospitality and nightlife scene and is surrounded by open countryside with opportunity to get out and explore. The city is building its reputation as dynamic, creative and affordable. Lots of industry and education has Gloucester in their sights – the growth of the university is phenomenal, with the new city campus a huge boost.
How will The Shirt Factory meet the needs of creative and tech-focussed SMEs?
The Shirt Factory is not another co-working space – there is good provision for that in the city already. Our tenants will get their own office, allowing for privacy and focus where businesses can forge their own identity, but they will also be able to collaborate with other like-minded people in the communal spaces. There will be plenty of opportunity to network, hold events, meet neighbours and work collaboratively. It is going to be a vibrant business community that works and grows together – and there is somewhere to park your car.
We believe the tech and creative industries are currently prime areas for growth. Good connectivity is vital for the sector, so we have commissioned a 10GB direct fibre connection to the Indectron data storage site at Shield House in Barnwood – one of the most resilient and connected data centres in the UK, meaning our tenants can have a direct ultra secure link to their server racks in a state-of-the-art, certified centre.
What is your vision for the future of the site – what impact do you hope to have on the city’s business ecosystem?
Modern business is about community and collaboration; shared facilities allow conversations that may not warrant a meeting but could lead to bigger ideas and opportunities. We would love to see start-ups working alongside more established businesses, then continue their evolution at The Shirt Factory as they expand from small into larger premises. We offer true affordability with our transparent pricing structure and flexible licences, avoiding any financial ‘surprises’!
Alongside other new developments, we see Gloucester as the place to be right now. The city is currently showing great potential – there is space for everyone and it is in all our interests that the city prospers. There is an exciting future ahead.
With the first phase of development nearing completion and launch just on the horizon, what are your reflections on the journey so far?
As with all the developments we have completed, residential or commercial, the most satisfying moment always comes when you see the building being used and the community growing. New developments can look great but are nothing without people.
We have been lucky with The Shirt Factory. Whilst the oldest part of the building dates back to 19th Century, the main body was constructed in the 1930s and built to last. It is surrounded by housing so there is a real sense that the factory has always served the community and it is remarkable how many local residents have some connection to it, either through family who worked there or who were involved in previous operations.
It’s great to be able to offer new life to the building to continue its tradition of being a place of business and creativity and we are particularly proud to have used so many locally-based suppliers in the process. It is such an exciting project not only for the company but also for the community and we cannot wait to showcase what we have to offer.
To find out more about The Shirt Factory – and for details of how to get in touch about occupying space – visit theshirtfactorygloucester.co.uk.
