Expanding company moves to the Ricoh Arena
A major civil engineering consultancy has relocated its Midland regional office to the Ricoh Arena to aid expansion plans.

Millard Consulting, which employs around 130 people nationally and has a head office in Norwich, is moving from a previous base in Nuneaton following advice from commercial property specialists Shortland Horne and Coventry City Council’s inward investment team.

Millard works with landowners, developers and builders, bringing schemes from inception through to construction. It currently has around 15 people who will be based in the office at the Ricoh.

But the company plans to grow that to around 40 or 50 in the next five years as it looks to expand and make Coventry comparable to the current resource levels at its Norwich headquarters.

Eddie Mewies, who heads Millard’s Midland team, said: “When I started the regional office in 2002, it was literally a case of ‘one man and his desk’ in the corner of someone else’s office!

“The plan has always been to grow and that is what we have done and why we are here today. The Ricoh Arena gives us exactly the type and quality of space we need, it’s easy to get to and has a great profile.”

He added: “We work with all of the major builders and commercial developers too. When they are looking to buy land, we will go in and carry out transport and infrastructure assessments, ground investigations and environmental studies. Later, when schemes obtain planning permission, we then go on to the detailed design for construction.

“It can be everything from one unit developments to business parks and major residential urban extensions. We have had a lot of success from taking the time to look at alternate solutions to issues such as highways, drainage, ground conditions and structural design.

“This can result in major cost savings which greatly improves the feasibility and deliverability of projects. With the current economic conditions, this can be the difference between a project proceeding or being moth-balled.

“We are currently looking at several strategic projects in the Coventry and Warwickshire area as we look to grow the business here.”

Millard Consulting has signed a 15-year lease at the Ricoh Arena. Initially, the firm has taken 4,500 sq ft and, after five years, will take a further 1,800 sq ft.

David Penn, a director of commercial property specialists Shortland Horne, said it highlighted the positive effect the Ricoh Arena has had on the local economy.

He said: “The Ricoh Arena has proved to be so much more than a football stadium – it is now the home to several companies too, because of the modern office space available.

“We are delighted that Millard Consulting chose the Ricoh Arena is as its new Midlands base and believe it really sets the company up for a very positive future here in Coventry.

“There is still some space remaining for those businesses looking for office accommodation in possibly the most high profile building in the area.”

For more information on Millard Consulting visit www.millardconsulting.co.uk or call 024 7632 8843

For more information on commercial property in Coventry and Warwickshire contact Shortland Horne on 024 7623 2970.

Pictured (left to right): David Penn (Shortland Horne), Eddie Mewies (Millard Consulting), Anthony Mundy (Ricoh Arena)