Towergate confirms Spinningfields move

Towergate Insurance has confirmed that it will take 36,000 sq ft at 3 Hardman Square in Spinningfields, as the base for a new customer contact centre.

Towergate said the Manchester office would focus on servicing small commercial and personal line customers. The company said that it would be looking to recruit 400 people to staff the centre. Launched in 1997, Towergate employs 5,000 people in more than 100 UK offices.

Towergate said it had carried out extensive surveys of favourable locations across the UK, and Manchester was selected as the best site for the new centre. The company credited Midas, Manchester's inward investment agency, as providing the advice which led to choosing Hardman Square as the preferred location.

Neil Galjaard, chief executive of the Manchester business, said: "We're determined to build something special at this new centre in Manchester. We've got a modern stylish building with the facilities and location to attract high calibre candidates. The office is being fitted out with cutting edge technology to create a great working environment. We're investing because we want to attract people who are passionate about customers and who want to build outstanding careers with us."

Tim Newns, chief executive of Midas, said: "Spinningfields has become a destination of national and international significance for financial and professional services organisations and this latest investment will continue to cement that reputation.

"The hard work continues as we help Towergate build the workforce that we know will make this new centre an outstanding success, and we look forward to working with partners from both the public and private sectors to make this happen. We continue to see substantial growth in this sector, providing large scale employment opportunities for Manchester's highly skilled and growing workforce."

Towergate was advised by Trilogie CRE. CBRE advised Credit Suisse Asset Management, owner of 3 Hardman Square.