Key Travel unveils new office

Third sector travel provider Key Travel has welcomed staff to its new offices at the iconic St James’ building in Manchester city centre. 

The company, which works specifically within the humanitarian, faith and education sectors, has invested almost £1 million in the 20,000 sq ft space, to encourage flexible working and improve collaboration.

Previously located at Bruntwood Works’ Lowry House, Key Travel now occupies the entire ninth floor at St James’, also owned by Bruntwood Works.

The move means that staff from across four of Key Travel’s sites can now work together under one roof, with more than 200 staff now based there.

Megan Cameron, property and facilities manager at Key Travel, said: “The key reason for relocating was to bring our staff together, offering them a fresh, collaborative space to work in and ensuring our values of impact, simplicity and compassion were bought through in our design of the space.

“We worked closely with Bruntwood Works to find the right location for our new space and ensure a successful move. The refurbishment of the ninth floor, carried out by ADT Workspace, weaves in a distinct travel theme with features such as world map light pendants. Initial feedback has been fantastic and we’re already starting to see the benefits of several areas of the business being housed in the same space – we’re now looking forward to our next chapter here at St James’ as we look to expand our team further.”

Key Travel works worldwide offering a range of travel support services for its clients, including visa applications and passport renewals, risk management, rail, and hotel booking and management services. Its new office features 12 meeting rooms, four kitchens, plenty of breakout areas, a 16 seat boardroom, open plan desk space and even a quirky tuk-tuk meeting space.

Dating back to 1912 and once the headquarters of the Calico Printers Association, St James' has been sensitively transformed by Bruntwood Works with a comprehensive refurbishment, regenerating the historic building and creating a vibrant, contemporary home for Manchester’s next generation of businesses.

The historic building also boasts some of the best digital connectivity in Manchester and, as part of the Oxford Road Corridor Innovation District, offers the opportunity to link and collaborate with a wealth of innovative organisations based on the doorstep.

Adam Selka, Senior Customer Account Manager at Bruntwood Works, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome the Key Travel team to their new home at St James’ and are excited to be part of this next phase in the company’s growth. 

“Flexible, collaborative working cultures are at the heart of everything we do, so it’s fantastic to see Key Travel put its own stamp on the ninth floor and tailor the space to staff’s needs. 

“St James’ offers great access to a vibrant community of the most innovative and exciting organisations in the region, meaning it’s in a truly unbeatable location. We’re confident that this is just the beginning of an extremely exciting time for Key Travel.”