“I’ve been with Urban Splash now for just over six months, having spent the previous 20 years working in consultancy roles across the commercial property market in the North West. My first experience with Urban Splash actually dates to the early noughties to when Matchworks in Speke, South Liverpool, first came to market.

“I was in a graduate role at the time, working as a leasing agent on the scheme, and I remember being struck by how different it felt compared to all the other instructions we were involved in. The way the building had been repurposed, along with the interior design and marketing, all stood out. Even the use of shorter-form leases felt ahead of its time. That always stayed with me, so when the opportunity came up to join last year, it felt like something I had to go for.”

“After spending time getting to know the portfolio over the past few months, what’s really stood out is how varied and distinctive each space is, while still having a clear connection to Urban Splash from a design perspective.

“Our spaces span Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, and even go as far south as Plymouth, and no two schemes are the same. From Beehive Mill, the former Sankeys nightclub, to former naval victualling yard, Royal William Yard, in Plymouth, each has its own personality. This ensures no two days are the same – I certainly didn’t expect to find myself discussing marinas and ferry arrangements when I joined, but that’s part of what makes it interesting!

“A lot of the portfolio has been held by the business for a long time, and has been continually invested in. It’s not just about maintaining buildings, it’s about making sure they continue to evolve and stay relevant for our customers. That might mean upgrading our breakout spaces in Waulk Mill in Manchester, to giving the atrium at Mills Bakery in Plymouth a new look, but the principle is the same.

“Another thing that makes Urban Splash stand out is that we manage everything in-house, from leasing and asset management, through to the onsite team and day-to-day support. Every touchpoint our customers have throughout their time with us is handled by an Urban Splash employee. This gives us a much closer relationship with our customers, and a clearer understanding of what they need from their space and how we can meet those requirements.”

“No two of our spaces are the same, and that’s reflected in how we approach our spaces. Across the portfolio, we work with a range of occupiers from different sectors, from reformer pilates studio, Bondi Pilates, in Boat Shed in Manchester to game development school, The Game Assembly, in Tea Factory in Liverpool, to national cinema operator, Everyman, at Royal William Yard.

“Our approach is deliberately flexible. We can adapt floorplates, offer furnished or unfurnished space, and structure leases in a way that works for different types of occupiers. It’s rarely a one-size-fits-all conversation.

“That relationship continues beyond the deal aswell. Whether customers are scaling, consolidating, or simply need something different, we try to support them within the portfolio. Alongside that, we focus on the wider customer experience, well-connected locations, good amenities such as showers and cycle storage, and spaces that people actually want to spend time in.”

“We invest heavily in making sure our workspaces are fit for the long term, not just today. How people use space continues to change, and we need to keep pace with that.

“We’re already testing and introducing new ideas, whether that’s all-inclusive rent options at Boat Shed in Manchester, or expanding more flexible workspace at Matchworks. It all comes back to improving the customer experience and making sure our offer stays relevant.

“There’s a strong portfolio behind us, and a pipeline of opportunities to build on that. It’s an exciting place to be, and we’ve got plenty more to come.”

Learn more about our available commercial workspaces.