CarFinance 247 to move 420-strong team into Manchester’s Universal Square

Online motor finance firm CarFinance 247 is relocating its HQ to Universal Square in Manchester.

The company plans to move its 420-strong workforce to a 40,000 sq ft office at the scheme this August.

Manchester property and investment company MCR Property Group, which secured the letting with CarFinance 247, said just 20,000 sq ft remains available at the 260,000 sq ft Universal Square campus.

The deal follows a recent spate of lettings at the development, including with law firm AWH Legal, training provider Kaplan Financial and certification business Pearson Professional Assessments.

When MCR acquired the property in December 2015, the site was 50% vacant.

Since then, the firm said lettings have been finalised on more than 100,000 sq ft and an ‘extensive’ refurbishment carried out.

Reg Rix, managing director of CarFinance 247, said: “The move to Universal Square will enable us to once again bring all operations under one roof.

“The business is currently spread across a number of sites in the Ancoats area of the city as a result of continued growth during the past couple of years.”

He added: “We will be occupying two and a half floors within the building and refurbishment is underway ahead of us completing the move later this year.”

MCR’s Charles Denby commented: “This is excellent news for Universal Square. The refurbishment and ongoing investment in the scheme has attracted a huge number of high profile tenants.

“Being based at the scheme means that we can quickly respond to tenants’ queries, which again has added to the building’s pull.”

Canning O’Neill is a joint agent on the scheme with Savills and Edwards & Co.

CarFinance 247 was advised by OBI Property.

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