Sheffield’s JF Finnegan marks 70th anniversary with headquarter relocation

JF Finnegan, a Sheffield-based contractor and developer, is marking its 70th anniversary by relocating from its premises on Ecclesall Road, where the company was formed in 1945, to new headquarters within one of the firm’s flagship regeneration projects, Wards Exchange.

JF Finnegan has been behind several of Sheffield’s most significant regeneration projects including; Sheffield Parkway Business Park, Commercial Street offices, Wards Exchange, Butcher Works, Beighton Link, the award-winning Charles St Q-Park ‘Cheesegrater’ and the innovative, highly sustainable Sheffield City College.

With nationwide public and private sector contracts ranging from £1m to £50m, JF Finnegan’s development portfolio includes an array of large residential schemes, retail, industrial and business parks, hotels, educational facilities and heritage work.

Furthermore, the firm has seen a £50m rise in turnover throughout this financial year following the securing of several major and diverse contracts, including Costco’s new/central 375,000sq. ft Northamptonshire distribution depot, 110 bed Mercure hotel in Edinburgh, 110 bed Hampton by Hilton hotel in Oxford, the Pearl Works student accommodation in Sheffield and the restoration of two historic mill buildings into 75,000 sq ft of new offices at Dean Clough in Halifax.

JF Finnegan decided to move from its premises on Ecclesall Road because the firm required more modern office space to carry out long-term expansion plans within the business.

The new offices are 1 mile further down Ecclesall Road within Wards Exchange, a 3.3 acre former brewery site which JF Finnegan transformed into 31,250 sq ft of Grade A office accommodation, 139 apartments and retail space.

As for the future, JF Finnegan continues to focus on repeat business for its existing client base and creating new client relationships which will allow new opportunities. However, the firm is aiming to develop its existing land ownership and will always consider acquiring new developments, as the property market has shown a steady increase in values recently.

Gary Smith, managing director at JF Finnegan, said: “Over the years JF Finnegan has evolved in accordance with the changing market conditions and in recent years our contractual business has accounted for a high percentage of the turnover by the capitalisation of new and emerging markets such as supermarkets, retail, education, hotel and waste facilities. We are incredibly proud of our standing legacy to Sheffield through the extensive development work we have undertaken and whilst our work takes us all over the country, we always get a lot of pride from contributing to the regeneration of South Yorkshire.”

“It was a difficult decision to leave the base where the company first began trading but we are entering an exciting new business phase and need to be practical about our operational requirements and the future aspirations of the company. We have always been fond of Wards Exchange as it is such a unique scheme with the ideal combination of heritage and purpose-built Grade A space. The whole team is excited about the move and we expect to be operational within our new offices by 1st September 2015.”

A Garden party was held recently for all the staff to celebrate the 70th anniversary and the promising future.