Member Article

Global giant DNV GL expands presence in Stockport

DNV GL, a global player in the maritime, oil and gas, and energy industries, is expanding its offices within Applicon House, part of Orbit Developments’ portfolio of commercial properties in Stockport town centre.

After leasing office space across two separate buildings, Applicon House and Highbank House, for over 25 years, DNV GL decided to merge its operation into Applicon House and take an additional floor in order to cope with the growing numbers of staff.

DNV GL’s new office space with Orbit totals 13,500 sq ft across three floors.

The international organisation provides consistent, integrated services within technical and marine assurance and advisory, risk management and offshore classification

Mike Simms, Head of the Risk Advisory Department at the Stockport office, said: “We’ve had 54 people on one floor in Highbank House, so being able to move to two floors at Applicon House will give everyone more space. At the same time, our existing ground floor in the building is also being refurbished.”

The company has seen its team of three staff in 1989 grow to 64 over the past 15 years, with growth around 30% in the last five years.

Explaining why DNV GL has remained in Stockport and within Orbit Developments portfolio Mike said: “We have the opportunity to refurbish a place we know well and expand into more space close by, which isn’t always the case when you grow as a business. We’re also refreshing IT and communications facilities at the same time so everything will be much newer and up to date.”

He continued: “We have a great location here. We are right next to the train station, 10 minutes from Manchester Airport and four or five minutes from the M60. It’s also relatively inexpensive compared to being in Manchester.”

DNV GL, which employs over 16,000 people globally, has worked closely with Orbit Developments on making the transition from Highbank House to Applicon House as smooth as possible, adding new partition walls and updating the IT infrastructure in the company’s new offices.

Mike adds: “The building and grounds at Applicon House are well maintained and if we have issues they are always dealt with quickly and efficiently. With Orbit owning and managing 12 properties across Stockport, we also have the opportunity to use meeting rooms, wi-fi and conference facilities at other locations which are within a five-minute walk.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by James Welton .