Flying the Flag for Business
One of the largest business parks of its kind by the M25 is seeing space requirement enquiries rise as economic confidence starts to return to the UK. Two companies involved in security and software are the latest to sign up to serviced offices at Hersham Place Technology Park, near Weybridge in southwest London, taking the number of businesses on site to 16.
IPC Security, which provides security for shopping centres, and QuickLogic, a software specialist, have taken, respectively, three and seven work stations for two years each. Meanwhile the Fasset run park has received several serious enquiries from companies attracted to larger, fully managed office space to accommodate scores of staff. Viewings have taken place, with floor plans drawn up. Mitch Avis, above,
Hersham Place’s account manager, said: “It’s early days yet as regards the larger potential occupiers, but
the fact that we are on their radar screen and they’ve gone to the time and trouble of viewing, shows that our thriving, campus-style business hub is proving a draw. “We are seeing a rise in space requirement enquiries as economic confidence starts to return, albeit cautiously, to the UK.”
He added: “It’s good to have IPC Security and QuickLogic on board in our serviced office wings, and it rounds off a good year, with our other tenants renewing their licences because they’re so pleased with
the location and facilities management.”
Only seven of the 20 serviced offices on the two Sterling Suite wings are now available.
The second half of 2009 also saw the arrival of two companies taking up fully managed office space.
One of the UK’s leading healthcare media independents, gem hme, moved in with 20 staff following a two-week installation of a selfcontained office, with scope to expand office space in the future. Park operator Fasset’s in-house team carried out the project, which included server and comms facilities, wall partitioning and bespoke corridor windows to ensure maximum natural daylight.
Hersham Place’s second largest occupier by employee size, after owner Air Products, is credit card insurance protection firm STAMS, which relocated in the summer from Esher with 80 staff.
Since then a further 20 work stations have been added to the first floor 6,000 sq ft office, which was created in a sixfigure bespoke fit-out program and included the installation of business-specific IT systems.
James Whiteman, group estates manager representing STAMS, said: “Following an extensive search period we selected Hersham Place as it offers superb facilities, along with competitive rent and flexible lease arrangements.
“Fasset managed the whole process extremely well, from the initial viewing through to creating the space to our specific requirements.”
Hersham Place currently has 34,000 sq ft available as managed office space.
Keep fit for life at on-site gym
Scores of on-site workers have been signing up to Hersham Place’s fitness and lifestyle centre, which is run by Nuffield Health and is located next to the Faraday building. The facility has a 17-piece cardio-vascular gym, 12 resistance machines, free weights, exercise studio, therapy room, relaxation area and shower, changing and locker facilities. It is open from 7am to 8pm Monday to Thursday and 7am to 7pm on Friday. Membership: £20 a month. Classes include circuit training, spinning, yoga and abs blast.
Physiotherapy treatment is also available, for a charge, through Nuffield Proactive Health, the UK’s leading network provider of physiotherapy and largest employer of practitioners outside of the NHS. To join, subject to eligibility, ring 01932 249806.
Here to help you
Meet the Team
Hersham Place has 21 staff on site dedicated to the smooth running of services for the hundreds of people there. The service team, employed by Fasset, provide everything from reception facilities, IT, mail and security to housekeeping, maintenance, and space fitouts. Pictured here during a Wear it Pink event, which raised money for research into breast cancer, are, from left, location manager Richard, who heads up the team, facilities engineer Neville Perkins, helpdesk technician Ryan Kent and administrator Terry Keane. Other members of the team include Nicholas Cole, Lesley Foster, Anne Chidley, Martin Chown, Peter Leary and Penny Simpson, Marc Calow, Ernie Mynott, Elizabeth Harrison, Sheila Chopin, Doreen McLaughlin, Celia Parker, Linda Simpson, John Mullin, Yuk Ying Tse, Yvonne Wyeth and Amanda Toms.
Fasset's tour de force for south west London property agents
Fasset's tour de force for south west London property agents

Commercial property agents from the south-west part of Greater London were given a fact-finding tour of Hersham Place so they can spread the message to firms searching for flexible office space in a quality setting.
They were accompanied by Fasset’s sales team, led by account manager Mitch Avis, centre front.
Mitch said: “Hersham Place is a thriving business hub attracting all sorts of firms, from one-man operations to large companies, and it was important to show the park in action to the agents, who were visibly impressed. They will take that out to the market.”
Agents on the tour, which included breakfast, included Cattaneo Commercial, Curchod & Co, Michael Grieveson & Company, Pearce & Co, Sneller Commercial, Vail Williams and Williams Harlow Commercial.
A warm welcome

When you call one of the companies at Hersham Place the chances are you’ll be welcomed by Penny
Simpson. She is a popular figure at the business park’s reception and help desk, which receives up to 300
calls a day. Thanks to an electronic filtering system, Penny answers in the name of the company the caller is ringing, providing a personalised service for occupiers.
Fasset’s Richard Berry, who heads the service team, said: “First impressions always count, and Penny is the warm welcome ‘voice’ of Hersham Place.
“She is dedicated to the job and knows most of the names of the people on site, which is no mean feat given the size of numbers here.”
First Class Delivery

First Class Delivery

He beavers away on your behalf so that the daily inflow of 2,000 letters and parcels are efficiently and promptly sorted and delivered. Mailroom operator Peter Leary, one of the 21-strong service team run by Hersham Place manager Fasset, is responsible for distributing nearly half a million items annually. With experience spanning two decades behind him, Peter ensures that the 16 businesses on site, with hundred of employees between them, receive a first-class delivery and dispatch service.
For employees and guests who don’t have time to sit down for a meal at the on-site restaurant, a grab-and-go store by reception is proving a time saver. The shop, named Amigo, which is Spanish for friend, was installed after site operator Fasset identified a demand for the service. Around 300 people a day buy snacks and drinks.
Pictured is store employee Nikki Hogan, who works for Eurest as part of its on-site food service solutions service and is sporting pink for a Wear it Pink fundraiser.
On Board
Hersham Place has 16 companies on site, involved in anything from smart energy metering and the administration of pensions to manpower recruitment and telesales. Tenants include Hydro Aluminium Holdings (UK), Space Kitchens, Review Contracts, Avenir, TR Control Solutions, Motion Analysis, GEMHME, Attwood Burton, Contrimex (Overseas), Arrow, InterMedia UK, STAMS and Fasset, with IPC Security and QuickLogic due to move in. The anchor occupier is Air Products, a global industrial gases company, which has hundreds of staff and contractors on site. Mitch Avis, Hersham Place’s account manager, said: “The diversity of occupants is fascinating, with a number of them UK leaders in their field. The park’s roots are in technology, hence thepark’s name, but we are open to all businesses who want to share a business culture of excellence.”
Freshness, taste and quality

Catering company Eurest has seen custom soar after being appointed to run Hersham Place’s restaurant. More than 1,000 people are buying meals and drinks during the working week at the restaurant. Traditional English breakfasts are proving a perennial favourite, with up to 50 people tucking in every Thursday and Friday. Chef manager Tony Daly, pictured here third from right, said: “We have a passion for freshness, taste and quality while ensuring service and value are always our top priorities – and the footfall figures tell us thatwe are making a difference.”
Eurest, owned by FTSE-listed catering giant Compass, was recently appointed to run the business park’s food service requirements following a competitive tender, with key input from regional technology parks operator Fasset, which manages the site.
Fasset the corporate landlord asset
Fasset - the corporate landlord asset

Hersham Place is run by Fasset, one of the UK’s top regional technology parks operators.
The company was selected by industrial gases company Air Products in April 2007 to regenerate its165,000 sq ft headquarters, spread over 10 acres, by creating a campus-style environment for businesses from the outside. In common with many other corporate headquarters in Britain, some buildings at Hersham were expensively underoccupied.
By creating and managing space, Fasset makes former surplus space pay its way while at the same time reducing the site’s occupancy costs.
The saving on total occupancy costs for tenants is typically around 15%. Mitch Avis, Fasset’s account manager at Hersham Place, said: “The park offers superb value in every way for tenants, who are freed up to concentrate on their businesses because of our support services.
“We take care of everything, from customised office fit-outs, buildings and office maintenance and repairs, through to the provision of common services such as reception, mail, security, housekeeping and catering.
“We’re passionate about generating vibrancy at Hersham Place, and the feedback we’re getting is that tenants are feeding off each other, with business being done. It’s another example of added value for them.”
Portsmouth-based Fasset, with 160 staff and a £13m turnover, manages 1.5 million square feet of facilities and business space for more than 80-plus companies employing 6,000 people between them at technology parks across southern England. Its website is www.fasset.co.uk