AO returns to Bruntwood fold for Manchester hub

The electronics retailer has signed a lease on a 3,800 sq ft floor at Bruntwood SciTech’s 111 Piccadilly in Manchester after exiting another of the company’s buildings last year.

AO’s move to the 15th floor of the 18-storey building comes after the Bolton-based firm vacated 36,000 sq ft at Baskerville House, another Bruntwood building in Salford, last year.

A little more than a year later, AO has re-entered the Bruntwood portfolio, taking a smaller, fully fitted and furnished workspace within 111 Piccadilly.

Joshua Hancock, associate commercial director at Bruntwood SciTech, said: “Following a long-standing and positive relationship with AO during their time as a customer at Baskerville House, we are incredibly excited to welcome them back into the Bruntwood SciTech portfolio as the firm looks to strengthen its creative offering.

“The fact that AO has chosen to open its city centre hub [at 111 Piccadilly] is testament not only to the market-leading quality of the workspace we’ve created, but also the environment we have cultivated that allows businesses to collaborate and knowledge-share.”

The idea behind the hub is to provide AO staff with a satellite office that the company hopes will help it attract and retain talent.

The creative hub will be home to AO’s animators, production staff and graphic designers.

Vicky Monk, AO’s group marketing director, added: “Being able to have a fully managed satellite office to support our continued growth and innovation is invaluable to us, and something that will set us apart from others in our field.

“We’re looking forward to rejoining the Bruntwood SciTech community and becoming part of the 111 Piccadilly ecosystem of forward-thinking, creative businesses.”

Bruntwood SciTech was advised by Knight Frank and Savills, while AO was advised by OBI.