Member Article

Siemens expands to Cobalt business park creating new jobs

Siemens PLC have occupied 39,200 sq ft of offices at Cobalt Park, let by Highbridge Business Park Ltd in a move advised by BNP Paribas Real Estate and Cushman & Wakefield.

The ground, first and second floor office accommodation at Cobalt 9B has been taken by Siemens on a new-5 year lease.

Siemens has recruited over 350 new people to support its Newcastle-based Wind Service business this year and has a total of about 1,000 employees. Around 200 of these will move in to the new Cobalt facility with provision for 50 more new recruits.

Cobalt Park is the largest office park in the UK and when complete will provide 2.5 million sq ft of office space.

Highbridge’s Guy Marsden said: “This is an important transaction, not just for Cobalt Park, but also for the North East as Siemens has the option to expand into a further 13,000 sq ft within the building, bringing prospects of new employment opportunities to the area.

“Letting activity at Cobalt for the first six months of 2014 has underlined the popularity of Cobalt Park with employers with 145,000 sq ft let already this year.

“This deal increases take up to 185,000 sq ft, including the lettings of 78,000 sq ft to Utilitywise, 25,000 sq ft to HP, 10,000 sq ft to Accenture, 10,000 sq ft to G4S, 11,000 sq ft to Perfect Image and 5,000 sq ft each to Barnardos and IBM.”

Managing Director of Siemens Service Renewables UK&I, Richard Luijendijk, said: “We are delighted to be here today to celebrate the move of Siemens Renewables Service business to the Cobalt Park facility in North Tyneside.

“It is a very exciting day for all our employees in the wind service business. The state-of-the-art facility will be home to our new Customer Support Centre that will enable us to comprehensively service our customer needs.

“Together with our world class training facility at Shields Road, the new facility represents a significant investment in the region, the wind business and our employees.”

Cabinet member responsible for Economic Development, Councillor Frank Lott, said: “It’s a major coup for North Tyneside that Siemens has chosen to locate its Customer Support Centre at Cobalt bringing more jobs to the borough.

“North Tyneside Council is absolutely committed to supporting businesses and creating jobs. Companies know that the borough has so much to offer with its purpose-built offices, great transport links, excellent business team expertise and, of course, a highly skilled, reliable and loyal workforce. It’s very clear that North Tyneside is now the place to be for business.”

Director of Agency at BNP Paribas Real Estate in Newcastle, Aidan Baker, said: “The strong letting activity at Cobalt is testament to Highbridge and the excellent product developed over the past few years.

“Siemens will join a stellar line up of tenants on the Park including Proctor & Gamble, HP, Accenture and Santander.”

Jeff Pearey of JLL’s Leeds office, who represented Siemens, said: “After conducting a detailed search of the region Cobalt was felt to be the best solution for the expansion of the Siemens business in the North East.”

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