Jobs boost for Barnsley as five companies move to Nexus Business Park

The new occupiers are wholesaler Sea Scooter UK Ltd, paving manufacturer KBI UK Ltd, adult education provider Really Neet Project UK Ltd, bespoke joinery firm SWJ Solutions Ltd and technology distributor Osborne Technologies

The 15 unit development was speculatively built by developer and long term investor Carnell Management Services (CMS) which was part funded with a £2.20m loan from the Sheffield City Region JESSICA Fund.

Sea Scooter UK Ltd plus Oxygen Bicycles, which sells underwater sea scooters, has taken a 10 year lease on a 7,600 sq ft unit, in a move which will look to add 10 jobs to its current seven-strong workforce, while keeping its current premises at Rotherham.

Sustainable porous paving solutions provider KBI UK Ltd, which employs 59 people UK-wide, has moved from its traditional base in Halifax to Barnsley with six year lease on a 3,000 sq ft base.

Osborne Technologies is moving from its three Barnsley bases at Dodworth to 12,000 sq ft at Nexus.

The move will create four jobs and more are planned for the technology distributor in the medium term.

Adult education provider the Really Neet Project Ltd moves from its Rotherham base to another 3,000 sq ft unit at Nexus and is joined by shop fitting manufacturers SWJ Solutions Ltd who are moving from Ossett in West Yorkshire to a 11,200 sq ft unit on a 10 year lease.

The new deals leave just three units of 3,000 to 3,500 sq ft available at Nexus.

Kris Brown, MD at Sea Scooter UK Ltd said: “Nexus is perfect for all our requirements. We wanted the prime location, extra space for our growing stock and the associated office space. We hope the move will allow us to expand our workforce by another 10 employees.”

Graham Pell, managing director at KBI UK Ltd, added: “The move to Nexus made sense as the majority of our employees are Barnsley based. This is part of our ambitious growth plans and COVID-19 actually focused our needs on location.”

Paul Carnell from CMS said: “The response to the units at Nexus has made it worthwhile investing in the speculative build and going that bit further to provide a quality product at an ideal location. We welcome these five latest businesses to our tenant portfolio at Nexus."

Rebecca Schofield, partner at the Sheffield office of Knight Frank which is marketing the remaining industrial and warehouse along with joint agent Smiths Chartered Surveyors, said: “Thanks to Nexus’ high quality office and storage space, plentiful car parking and excellent road connectivity, it presents the perfect location for businesses to relocate and expand.”

Andrew Corbett, director at Smiths Chartered Surveyors added: “The high demand for industrial units has remained constant throughout lockdown and Nexus has attracted firms looking for units, who have been wowed by the quality of building.

“These SMEs know exactly what they want and have taken advantage of the lease options available offering sufficient flexibility for smaller businesses.”

CounTim Cheetham, Cabinet Spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture, said: "We are delighted that this first class development, supported by Sheffield City Region Jessica funding, continues to attract inward investing and expanding local businesses.

"Our award winning Enterprising Barnsley team is working with the majority of these companies, providing ongoing support and assistance to help them thrive in Barnsley. Nexus is a real success story and we are grateful to Carnell Management Services for their continued investment in the borough."

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James Mitchinson