Demand for quality workspace rises as businesses grow their footprint at Bruntwood Works' 127 Portland Street

Leading property company Bruntwood Works has supported a flurry of businesses as they increase their footprint at 127 Portland Street in Manchester city centre, following a surge in demand for creative workspace.

Summize, Design Fire Consultants (DFC) and Embryo have collectively taken more than 10,000 sq ft of flexible workspace across three office suites.

Located in Manchester city centre, 127 Portland Street is part of Bruntwood Works’ ‘West Village’ campus, a destination full of creatively-minded businesses within a cluster of four Grade II listed Victorian warehouses. 

Summize, the Manchester-based contract lifecycle management disruptor, has relocated to 127 Portland Street doubling the size of its headquarters, to facilitate further growth. The company is targeting a planned increase in headcount of 133 percent by 2025.

Fire safety engineering specialists, Design Fire Consultants (DFC), has also joined the community at 127 Portland Street, as it looks to grow its relationships with new clients and architects, and serve its existing projects in the North West.

As a longstanding Bruntwood Works customer, award-winning digital marketing agency Embryo has doubled the size of its Manchester headquarters already based at 127 Portland Street. This follows a period of impressive growth, with the business experiencing a year-on-year increase in headcount of 170 per cent, and a series of new client wins.  

Josh Hancock, head of commercial at Bruntwood Works, said: “Positioned at the bustling heart of the city centre, 127 Portland Street is a true magnet for creative, innovative and growing businesses. The building’s impressive original features and wealth of amenities harness creativity, and mean it is a perfect hive of collaboration. With connections to retail and hospitality offerings, such as a Ditto flagship coffee shop, it is a unique space for businesses to develop their industry contacts, build relationships and grow. 

“We’re proud to support Embryo, Summize and DFC as they expand their presence in the North West, and welcome them to our ever-growing community at Bruntwood Works.”

Tom Dunlop, CEO and co-founder at Summize, said: “While many businesses are scaling back their physical offices, we see it as ever more important to foster collaboration and learning, with more emphasis on different zones to meet different ways of working.

“I’m really proud of the new office space, it’s deliberately different, just like our product offering, and perfectly reflects our fun and ambitious culture. I am really looking forward to seeing what our fantastic team continues to achieve as we settle in.”

As part of the West Village community, 127 Portland Street has its own dedicated community manager focused on curating social, health and wellbeing events and business support. The building is due to undergo refurbishment to provide a range of high-quality amenities, including new toilets, showers and a cycle store. Situated at the gateway to the Oxford Road Corridor, a minute from St Peter's Square, 127 Portland Street is within walking distance of the city centre’s retail shops, bars, and restaurants.