Published on:

05 March 2024

Updated on:

05 March 2024

Read time:

1 minute

Gary Tailby

Managing Director

Tina Batham

Managing Director

Our Birmingham team are celebrating their fifth anniversary.

They have marked the milestone by relocating to a new larger office space on the Coleshill Manor Office Campus, near Birmingham, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield.

The move is the culmination of five years of growth and development for the Office Principles North, led by joint managing directors, Tina Batham and Gary Tailby. It has seen the company transition from a team of just seven people based in serviced accommodation, to a thriving collective of 20 outstanding professionals in a state-of-the-art hospitality-led workspace.

It’s been quite a journey - here are some of the highlights:

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1. The Home of Spaces + Stories

The new headquarters of Office Principles North is so much more than an office - which is why it’s known as The Home of Spaces + Stories.

It is a two-storey building, reimagined for the needs of a diverse, modern workforce.

Features include:

  • An architectural-style, open plan office has agile spaces for work and socialising
  • A kitchen/pantry area provides a flexible setting for gatherings/special occasions
  • Sit/stand desks encourage movement and activity
  • Generous sized meeting space is traditional in function but with a hospitality-led feel
  • Neurodiversity needs are considered at every point

Office Principles North has transformed the building into a multifunctional environment where people are encouraged to work, rest and socialise in ways that best suit their needs.

The refurbishment takes inspiration from the dual concepts of slow living and slow design, creating a warm, calming workplace that celebrates raw materials and biophilia, and delivers an immersive experience for clients.

Every room, every detail, every finish has a story to tell.

And the spirit of that story is one of togetherness - of gathering for those special events, of eating and meeting as a team, and of being comfortable enough to be our true authentic selves.

2. Birmingham’s best hybrid workplace destination

Office Principles North has delivered an expanding portfolio of outstanding projects on behalf of clients in a range of sectors.

One of the most notable is the stunning new home of law firm Shoosmiths in Birmingham, which was completed in 2023.

Almost 30,000 sq ft of office space has been utterly transformed across three floors of 103 Colmore Row in the heart of the city’s business district.

From its impressive arrival experience to a whole variety of flexible spaces, this is a workplace like no other, with a hospitality feel that surprises and delights on every level.

The completed space is a shining example of what the office of the future looks like, with an environment focused on the health and wellbeing of occupants and a design that delivers synergy between brand, people and place.

Five other incredible projects delivered by Office Principles North:

  • The new 54,000 sq ft global headquarters of fast-growing lingerie and loungewear etailer, Lounge Underwear, in Solihull.
  • Restoration and refurbishment of more than 16,000 sq ft of space at the Rum Runner Works in Birmingham, in collaboration with landlord Picton.
  • Design and delivery of a new 40,800 sq ft purpose-built and tech enabled environment for Arcadis at 80 Fenchurch Street, London.
  • The reinvigoration of the Doncaster headquarters of furniture retailer DFS into a flexible and collaborative workspace inspired by its Yorkshire roots.
  • Refurbishment of 13,000 sq ft of modern, flexible CAT A office space across all six floors at Wilson’s Corner, EC2, on behalf of Aver Property - and delivery of CAT A plus fit outs for its new occupiers.

3. Giving back to local communities

Charities and good causes are incredibly important to everyone at Office Principles.
The company - and its people - has a proud legacy of giving to all facets of our local communities, through the donation of time, resources and funds.

  • Office Principles North is a long standing supporter of Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity and members of the team completed a sponsored walk to the summit of Snowden in December 2022 to raise vital funds for the charity.
  • Lighthouse joined Office Principles North at construction sites in Birmingham to raise awareness of welfare and wellbeing in the sector. Part of the charity’s national Make It Visible campaign, events highlighted the help and support available to construction workers and their families.
  • 17 Not Out is the third summer instalment of a popular charity networking event held in conjunction with Bespoke Office Space Solutions. The cricket-themed fundraiser mixes music, comedy and entertainment and has raised more than £40,000 for The Ruth Strauss Foundation.

No single charity event supported by Office Principles North has touched as many people as the 2,000 participants that took part in a unique squash-based festival in Birmingham.

Taking inspiration from New York’s famous Tournament of Champions at Grand Central Station, an all-glass court was installed in the centre of the main concourse at Birmingham’s namesake, supported by volunteers and elite coaches.

The event was designed to promote the sport of squash and generate enthusiasm for the upcoming Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

All proceeds were donated towards community initiatives across the city and Office Principles North even made a series of subsequent donations to inner-city schools for the acquisition of squash equipment for pupils.

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Meet the Authors

Having spent over 25 years in the industry, Gary is a highly proficient leader, with an all-encompassing knowledge of the commercial property market. The list of major corporates he has worked for spans all sectors and reflects his passion for exploring fresh business opportunities and breaking new ground. An enthusiastic team player, as well as a leader and director, Gary is intent on making sure that clients always attain their vision.

With over 25 years’ experience, Tina is a recognised and trusted industry leader whose client portfolio spans a huge body of work. Having consulted across most sectors, Tina is proficient in identifying the best solutions; focusing and advising on any single project to achieve outstanding results. As managing director, Tina is a hands-on team player as well as a strategist and experienced business development professional.