News From Magna Holdings

Celebrating the spirit of industry

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0100

A blue plaque has been unveiled to mark the heritage of a Magna Holdings development that has been brought back to life.

The Chair of First, Margaret Wood, praised Magna Holdings for 'bringing out the new from the old', as she unveiled the plaque at the Charles Roberts Office Park at Horbury Junction.

The event was also attended by Wakefield's Mayor, Cllr Jacqui Williams and local councillors. As Ms Wood unveiled the plaque, commemorating the rich history of the Charles Roberts Office Park, she spoke about how pleased she was that the former factory was helping to bring entrepreneurial spirit back to Horbury.

From the Central Pier at Blackpool to the Central Line on the London Underground, the fruits of the labour from the Charles Roberts factory could be seen all over the country at one time. The site manufactured the Churchill tanks that helped to win the Second World War, Coronation trams that ferried holidaymakers around Blackpool, and had the sole patent for wooden railway carriages. Local playwright, Stan Barstow was once an employee at the Charles Roberts factory and he recounts how romance blossomed with his wife, while they were both working at the firm, in his autobiography ‘In His Own Good Time’

The factory was taken over by Bombardier in 1990, who refurbished London Underground carriages at the site, until their closure in 2005. When the Bombardier factory closed, 400 local jobs were lost and the site stood silent after more than a century of industry.

But as Mrs Wood pointed out, the event was not only a commemoration of the past but also a celebration of what is shaping up to be a bright future for the Charles Roberts Office Park.

Digby Lovel, development director of Magna Holdings said: “This blue plaque is a great way of celebrating the huge part that the Charles Roberts factory and Bombardier played in our industrial heritage, and Magna Holdings are very proud to have helped bring entrepreneurial spirit back to the site. We have a varied selection of clients, some with international links, who are getting the name of Horbury associated with world-class industry again.”

Jobs created at Masterplan Mill

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The latest company to relocate to Dalton Mills is looking to recruit, despite the credit crunch. Jobs will be created at Dalton Mills in Keighley, by The Retail Factory, who is the latest tenant in the iconic Clock Tower.

The Retail Factory, one of the UK’s leading retail and office supplies firms, have signed a five-year lease at Dalton Mills, with Magna Holdings Ltd. This is a great boost for the Clock Tower, where 20,000 sq ft of high quality office space has been created as the first phase of the mill’s multi-million pound makeover.

The Retail Factory has enjoyed rapid growth, despite only being set up two years ago, and the company is keen to recruit staff in telesales and E-Commerce. They are hoping that the revamped Keighley College and the renewed technology focus in Airedale will help to provide the skillset they need.

Simon Wadsworth, director of the Retail Factory comments: “As a young, expanding company, the move to Dalton Mills provides us with the right platform for the next stage of our growth. Although we deliver nationwide, we’re also keen to play our part in the local business community. We’re always looking for good people, whether it’s in Telesales and E-commerce.”

The Retail Factory is a one-stop shop for office supplies for retail, factory or office based businesses, with a national client base. Their success so far stems from their vast range of over 25,000 products, and the great discounts and savings that they can pass on to companies, which is particularly important in the current climate. They were shown the space at Dalton Mills by Magna’s Keighley based letting agent, Hayfield Robinson, and they are confident that it will be a great location for further expansion.

Chris Lee, management surveyor at Magna Holdings said: It is great to see a company like The Retail Factory moving to Keighley, considering it as a good business location and creating jobs there. They are a great fit for Dalton Mills – a forward thinking, technology based company. It’s a great indication of how the town is progressing, and we like to think that we our doing our bit towards its regeneration.”

There is still office space available in the Clock Tower, which was the backdrop for BBC 1 show Sunday Life, on flexible terms at very competitive rates. For more information, please visit www.daltonmills.co.uk or call 01924 366600.

To find out more about the Retail Factory, and their vacancies, please visit www.theretailfactory.co.uk or call Phil Dunseath on 0844 800 9305.

Self-build bucks the trend

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Self build conversions at Warmfield are being snapped up fast, with two of the three plots being sold in the last month.

Despite the credit crunch, Magna Holdings have found buyers for two of their three self build opportunities in a prestigious, rural part of Wakefield. The plots have been very popular, which suggests that self-build may still be the only sector bucking the trend as the property market downturn continues.

There is only one plot left at Warmfield now, which is a self build opportunity for a new build on 2300 sq ft of land. The plot is priced at approximately £150,000. For more details about this plot please see here.

Please contact Magna Holdings on 01924 366600 to discuss our self build opportunities or register here for full details and to be notified about forthcoming land for sale in Yorkshire.

Restaurant opens at Magna Plaza

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The restaurant in Magna Plaza, underneath the Travelodge has been let, and opened as The Lobby at the beginning of April.

The restaurant and bar covers 1600 sq ft and it is in an ideal position on the ground floor of Magna Plaza with a thriving Travelodge above it.

Magna Plaza is currently fully let with the restaurant and Travelodge, and Open College Network Yorkshire and Humber, who set up their regional head office in the multi-million pound complex, last year.

Boost for Barnsley Business Centre

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100

McLintocks, Magna's office space in Barnsley, has received a major boost as a national charity has moved in.

The Stroke Association, a leading charity providing support and advice to stroke sufferers has set up a new support service in McLintocks in Barnsley town centre.

The new facility, a Family and Carer Support Service, is a visiting service that gives practical information and emotional support to the families and carers of people who have had a stroke.

The Stroke Association is the only UK-wide charity solely concerned with combating stroke in people of all ages. It funds research into prevention, treatment and better methods of rehabilitation, and helps stroke patients and their families.

The Stroke Association chose McLintocks because of it’s town centre location and the flexible space available.

Julia MacLeod, Regional Manager for The Stroke Association in Yorkshire and Humberside, said, “The Stroke Association is developing a new Family and Carer Support Service in Barnsley, which provides emotional support and advice to stroke survivors, their families and carers. As a charity, cost is of course a factor, and this location provides good value; it's ideal because of its location near to major link roads and car parking facilities.”

McLintocks, based directly opposite Gateway Plaza, on Summer Lane in Barnsley town centre is ideal for charities or young businesses because of it's flexibility and reasonable rates, starting from just £7 per sq ft. More information about McLintocks and the office space available can be found here. To find out more about the Stroke Association and their Family and Carer Support Service in Barnsley, please visit http://www.stroke.org.uk/

Lighting up the way from Barnsley to Shanghai

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Business is booming in Barnsley, with another tenant taking up office space in McLintocks on Summer Lane.

Chris Burrows Lighting have taken up new office space in Barnsley, in Magna’s office park opposite the multi-million pound Gateway Plaza development.

Chris Burrows Lighting source and manufacture lighting and electrical equipment. The company has been established for over ten years, and as well as their base in Barnsley, they also have an office in Shanghai, China to source innovative lighting and electrical products. They help firms negotiate the minefield of sourcing products from China by arranging factory visits, and recommending reliable and trustworthy Chinese suppliers. More information about Chris Burrows lighting can be found here.

Flexible office space in Barnsley town centre is still available in McLintocks from as little as £7 per sq ft. More information about the office space available can be found here or register here to receive full details.

New home for masonry firm

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

A leading masonry firm have moved into their new home, at the Charles Roberts Office Park in Wakefield.

Premier Masonry Ltd is a brickwork sub-contractor, who work on both regional and national projects. They carry out masonry work within a diverse range of sectors, including residential and commercial property, leisure and education. Some of the contracts that Premier Masonry have recently completed include BSF School at Salt Grammar School, York Place Hotel in Leeds and Dentico Apartments in Bradford.

More information about the Premier Masonry can be found here, or by calling Stephen Byrne on 01924 276169.

Flexible office space in Wakefield is still available at the Charles Roberts Office Park from as little as £7 per sq ft. Storage space and industrial or workshop space is also available on flexible terms at very affordable rates. More information can be found here, or register here for more details.

Self build success at Warmfield

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

All three of the self-build plots at Warmfield have been snapped up, proving that building your own home is still a popular option in West Yorkshire.

The site, which is in a very prestigious location near Heath, consists of two building plots for new build, and one plot which could be a barn conversion or a new build.

The self build plots have received a great deal of interest, partly due to their location which combines the tranquillity of a rural village with convenient proximity to the motorways and Wakefield city centre

Magna have three more building plots for sale in Wakefield, at Holly Farm, which are subject to detailed planning at the moment. Holly Farm is on Warmfield Lane, Wakefield ,very close to the original plots in Warmfield, and again in a very desirable location.

For more details about Holly Farm, please see here or register your details here.

Digital industry thriving in Horbury

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

A creative community is taking shape at the Charles Roberts Office Park, with the arrival of another web development company this month.

Invent Partners are a group of specialists offering web design, development, search engine marketing and hosting to SME’s nationwide. They work with a diverse range of clients, including Unilever and Leads Warehouse, to produce brochure and e-commerce websites.

They join another Wakefield web development company, Go Media Ltd, who moved into the Charles Roberts Office Park last year.

To find out more about the products and services that Invent Partners offer please see here or call 01924 260031.

For more information about office space in Wakefield, at the Charles Roberts Office Park, see here, or register here.

Step back in time for schoolchildren

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Children at a Keighley primary school enjoyed an insider’s view of Dalton Mills and it’s history, as part of their school heritage trail last week.

The pupils at Parkwood School, and two of their teachers, were given a guided tour of the mill by Magna Holdings, the developers behind the regeneration of Dalton Mills.

The children saw a specially compiled film, by Jack Croft, the mill’s caretaker, about Dalton Mills when it was still the largest working mill in Keighley. Linda Cook and Digby Lovel from Magna also put together a quiz about the mill, which the children took after their tour.

Stephen Kennedy from Autoprint, and Michael Mitchell from Pyramid Pollution Prevention, current tenants at Dalton Mills, showed the pupils around their premises and told them about their businesses so they could see the work that takes place at Dalton Mills nowadays.

Mr Hanson, one of the teachers on the trip said: “All agreed, the afternoon had been a highlight of the school heritage trail and no doubt the children will remember their visit for a long time to come. For me it was also special, as for a time in the early seventies, I lived in the coach house next to the mill and often wondered what the mill was like inside.”

Linda Cook from Magna Holdings said: “It was a pleasure to meet the pupils at Parkwood school and we had a fun day showing them around the mill. Dalton Mills is such a significant part of Keighley’s history, and it’s fantastic that local schools are taking an interest in it’s heritage.”

Magna Holdings is also hoping to participate in next year’s school challenge, where pupils from local schools including Park Wood will build sets from films, which have been made in the local area as part of the Keighley Festival. The firm is offering the exhibition space in the Tower Mill at Dalton Mills so local schools can reproduce sets from Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South or Fairy Tale – a True Story which were both filmed locally.

High quality, affordable office space and workshop space in Bradford is still available in Dalton Mills. For more information, please see here or register your interest here.

Finding Hope at Dalton Mills

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0100

A charity that ships out supplies to a deprived part of the Ukraine has found new hope at Dalton Mills, after a fire swept through their previous storage facility.

Take Hope Yorkshire supports organisations in the Ukraine, particularly orphans, the elderly and the handicapped, by shipping out wheelchairs, bedding, clothing, food and even fire fighting equipment. Take Hope was set up in 1995 by Andrew McVeigh to help the Vinogradiv region of the Ukraine.

The charity had collected 400 boxes of desperately needed supplies at their previous premises in Halifax when a fire swept through the facility destroying almost all the toys, clothing and equipment which had been donated. It has taken eighteen months to collect the goods, which were due to be shipped out this month, and the charity were forced to start over and relocate.

Magna Holdings offered space at Dalton Mills at a reduced rate and the charity moved in a couple of weeks ago. Take Hope has been moved by the support they have received since the fire, and thanks to generous donations they have almost replaced the damaged aid load.

Andrew McVeigh said: “ We are overwhelmed with the help we have had from the local community to help us get back out to the Ukraine next week as planned. Since the fire, everyone has really rallied round to help us get goods together again. Dalton Mills is a great location for us to continue for the future and we hope that the move will be a long-term arrangement.”

Take Hope support a soup kitchen, a therapy centre for disabled children and an orphanage by shipping out equipment and clothing and by providing financial aid. West Yorkshire Fire Service also donates fire-fighting equipment, which is delivered and distributed by the charity, because of a desperate shortage in the region. Take Hope are always seeking clothes, bedding, toiletries and of course financial donations. They also require wheelchairs and equipment for the therapy centre, old computer equipment, bicycles, baby equipment and prams, amongst other items

To find out how to help Take Hope build a new future for the people of the Vinogradiv region, visit www.take-hope.org.uk.