New Great Central Square commercial space to launch business festival

The 33,000 square foot flagship commercial building at the heart of Leicester’s rapidly developing Great Central Square is to host the launch event of the prestigious Leicester Business Festival later this month.

Construction work on the five-storey No.1 Great Central Square has completed eight weeks ahead of schedule. Main contractor Morgan Sindall Construction has worked closely with the developer behind the landmark scheme, Charles Street Buildings, and the festival organisers, to facilitate the high-profile launch event.

Now in its fifth year, the annual, two-week festival attracts more than 7,000 visitors to the city. A programme of 115 events aimed at the business community and potential investors, will cover everything from digital readiness and export strategies, to real estate investment opportunities.

Back by the Department for International Trade, the festival is the largest of its type in the East Midlands. It is seen as an unrivalled opportunity to publicise Leicester’s growing reputation as a business destination to an international audience.

Richard Frape, operations director at Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “Leicester needs well-designed contemporary office space. It’s key to securing the investment and jobs that go hand-in-hand with the kind of high-calibre businesses a flagship development like this will undoubtedly attract.
“The festival is a great advert for our city. There’s no better shop window to display its credentials as a business destination to an international audience.
“Construction work has been progressing well at Great Central Square and we are incredibly pleased that we could accelerate the programme to facilitate this launch event.”

Scott Charlish, head of East Midlands financial planning at Brewin Dolphin and the chair of the LBF Steering Group said: “The launch is the flagship event of the Business Festival. Each year we purposely select a unique or iconic venue of significance to the area. As a new, exciting and distinctive speculative development in the heart of the city, Great Central Square embodies this ambition. It symbolises Leicester’s thriving commercial property industry and growing economy – essentially mirroring the aspirations of the Business Festival.”

Joseph Murphy, Director, at Charles Street Buildings, added: “For a mixed-use regeneration scheme to thrive and deliver longstanding benefits to the wider city, bringing in the right commercial occupiers is key. They can provide the sustained footfall which surrounding retail and leisure operators depend on.
“Leicester has been in need of this kind of high-specification office space for some time. We’re pleased to be able to release it to the market ahead of schedule and delighted to support the festival, which is so important to the city’s business community.”

Occupier interest in the striking Grade A office building is already healthy and expected to intensify as the wider £50 million mixed-use development nears completion.

• For more information about this news release please contact Jonathan Daly or Helena Young at Influential on 0161 935 8474 or email [email protected]