Media Company Expands at Kings Hill
Three and a half years after it moved to Kings Hill in order to save its Kent-based staff the commute to London, media agency The Specialist Works is expanding its base on the park and plans to recruit. The company is one of the UK’s largest independent media agencies, with a turnover in excess of £45million, employing more than 60 staff in London, Kent and Manchester. It was voted one of the Sunday Times 100 Best Small Companies to Work For in 2012 and rated number 26 in advertisingtrade magazine Campaign’s Top 50 Media Agencies league table. With expansion plans for its Print, Digital and Creative departments over the next three years, the company plans to increase staff numbers from 25 to 55 within the new office space. This expansion will take the group towards £100million turnover and a total of 100 staff, and, having trebled its business in the last four years, the company is confident that these plans will become a reality. The Specialist Works is moving into 3,606 sq ft in 30 Tower View from Churchill Square. “It is a very successful operation thriving in the face of the current economic climate and our decision to move into larger premises is testament to this forward momentum,” said operations director Tom Wilson. “We initially moved part of our business to Kings Hill from London because our key staff were fed up with commuting. We have also found that recruiting locally is a very good option and there is less staffturnover than there is in London. “Not everyone wants to work in London, travelling is long and expensive, so we provide an alternative for talented people whorelish the challenge of working for a top media agency. “We are delighted that we have been able to find largerpremises on site so that we can keep our prestigious Kings Hill address and the business moving onwards and upwards.” Hanover Green acted for the landlord. Andrew Blevins, managing director of Kings Hill developer Liberty Property Trust UK Ltd, said that The Specialist Works’ move was a good example of how companies can grow within the park. “We have a range of property solutions competitively priced to suit different budgets and use the buying power of the business park to keep occupational costs affordable,” he said. “We also offer flexible lease terms and because we own the majority of the office buildings, we have the ability to move growing companies when they need to move. We are delighted The Specialist Works is doing so well and will be recruiting more staff. Another example of Kings Hill providing jobs for the area.” Kings Hill is set in 800 acres near the county town of Maidstone and is just two miles from junction 4 of the M20. It was a former airfield and is now home to around 6,500 residents and more than 100 businesses employing some 5,000 people. There is an 18 hole golf course; cricket pitch; David Lloyd Leisure centre; further recreation and sports amenities; schools and a village centre with shops including Waitrose; Costa Coffee; Domino’s and restaurants as well as a surgery, dry cleaners, shoe repairers, pharmacy and opticians.
