Business First is the Burnley based provider of fully serviced offices and shared workspaces. The company has reported an astonishing growth in occupancy for its latest development, a Grade 2 listed mill restored to its former glory.
Just three months after opening its flagship Business First Northlight offices and coworking facility, in Pendle, East Lancashire, the development has reached 75% occupancy. It’s a vote of confidence for Business First, and an encouraging sign for a post covid bounce back in the local economy.
The fully appointed reception area
Ten years ago, if you visited the historic Brierfield mill known today as Northlight you would have seen vast empty buildings in a serious state of disrepair. English Heritage had officially designated the estate as “listed buildings at risk”.
Last November work on the Business First renovation was completed and the historic buildings firmly restored to their rightful place as a centre of business and industry in East Lancashire. The result has been incredible and is testament to the strength of the business community. Companies looking for new offices have been quick to relocate to this very special location.
The impressive entrance to Northlight
Business First operates shared offices and coworking spaces around the North of England and into Scotland. Its latest development, Northlight, has been finished to the highest standards, creating luxury office spaces from what was until recently a brownfield site with an uncertain future.
Many local residents will have fond memories of working at the establishment which was a powerhouse of the Lancashire cotton industry right up until 2007.
With such positive feeling towards this development and the brilliant renovation job carried out by Business First, it is little wonder Northlight has had such an enthusiastic uptake.
One of the coworking spaces at Northlight
A spokesperson from Business First commented: “We’ve been blown away by the response from the public and the business community. It’s been so encouraging.
“When you take on a big project like this, one that carries so much historic and cultural importance, there’s always an element of pressure to get it right. We knew this was an important building to local residents. Now we’re seeing such a positive response, it feels like a vote of confidence from the business community.”
A good deal of their success is down to the state-of-the-art facilities on offer with superfast broadband throughout, and flexible office spaces to suit all kinds of businesses. Northlight is ideally located two minutes’ drive from the M65 corridor with a railway station nearby. It’s like a modern city centre office space in rural Lancashire with commanding views of the iconic Pendle Hill. Being based on the Leeds and Liverpool canal there are plenty of opportunities for exercise, relaxation, or to take lunch in the green spaces around the building.
For more information about Business First and their Northlight development, visit the website www.businessfirst.co.uk, or call 01282 330 330 / 07929 035 517 to speak to the team.