Member Article

Rapidly-growing Warrington firm expands and commits to town

A Warrington-headquartered professional services group has taken on a second office in the town amid a programme of growth and job creation.

Optionis, which provides support services to small businesses, recruitment firms and freelancers, has expanded into a vacant two-storey building on Centre Park that sits just 300 metres from its current office, Optionis House.

The decision to invest in additional office space follows an increase in head office staff numbers from 132 to 168 in the past 12 months, as Optionis looks to satisfy growing demand for its services.

Its apprenticeship scheme has taken on more than 25 trainees during the same period.

A total of 54 existing members of staff working in central functions such as finance, HR, IT, credit control and marketing have moved to the new premises – freeing up space at Optionis House and paving the way for further job creation at both sites.

Derek Kelly, managing director at Optionis, said: “This expansion marks a significant step in the growth and evolution of Optionis. We have been a major employer in Warrington for several years, and it’s great to be able to commit to the town for the foreseeable future.

“Our headcount has been rising steadily, and we reached the point where we had simply outgrown our existing office. At 5,500 sq ft, the new building is nearly as big as Optionis House in terms of floor space, so there will be plenty of room to accommodate new recruits at both sites as we continue to grow.”

Optionis, which also has bases in Manchester, London, Poole and Dorchester, recorded group turnover of £381.2m in the year to April 2012.

The group is home to Parasol, the UK’s largest professional employment organisation (PEO), freelance and small business services provider ClearSky and cloud-based sales performance management software Silverline.

Property agents DTZ completed the letting of Optionis’ new Centre Park premises. An eleven-year lease has been taken out following a six-figure refurbishment project.

Optionis chief executive Rob Crossland said: “As a group we continue to invest, evolve and grow. We are in the business of long-term sustainable growth, and this investment is critical to that journey. The future is looking bright, and the new premises will enable us to achieve our ambitious growth plans as we look to 2014 and beyond.”

Steve Park, managing director at Warrington & Co – Warrington’s partnership for driving growth – said: “We’re thrilled that Optionis has made this long-term commitment to Warrington, and that Warrington & Co was able to assist and work with the business to help facilitate its expansion requirements.

“Business investment is a key ingredient of Warrington’s economic and social revival, and organisations like Optionis are at the heart of this. By creating and supporting jobs, investing in commercial property and offering work opportunities to young people through apprenticeships, Optionis is showing itself to be a force for good. The company deserves credit for its forward-thinking and ambitious approach to business.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .