JET EXPANDS INTO 300,000 SQ FT AT ST. MODWEN’S LONG MARSTON BUSINESS PARK

Jet Total Vehicle Solutions plc has signed a deal with St. Modwen to take approximately 300,000 sq ft of space in a number of newly refurbished units on a 15 year lease, plus eight acres of open storage at Long Marston Business Park in Warwickshire. The recent rapid expansion of Jet, which has been based at Long Marston for over 10 years, has created around 90 new jobs for local people.

Providing de-fleet and re-marketing support for many of the UK’s top automotive brands, Jet has significantly expanded its operations at Long Marston from 167,000 sq ft to 300,000 sq ft, relocating to the south side of the 470 acre Estate. Services provided by Jet include transport logistics, car refurbishment, valeting and storage, prior to commencement of a full marketing service. A specialist car auction house is among Jet’s facilities at Long Marston.

Peter Rudd, senior development surveyor for St. Modwen, said: “There are now over 500 people working at Long Marston Business Park and it is tremendous news that Jet is now the largest employer. Jet was established at Long Marston and it is a highly impressive homegrown success. They identified a gap in the market and are now one of the market leaders in their field, providing a first class service to blue chip clients in the automotive sector.

“We are undergoing a refurbishment programme across many of the business units at Long Marston Business Park in order to offer high quality, modern space to other local businesses. Around 100,000 sq ft of space is currently available on a range of lease options in a selection of units. Meanwhile, we are also working with our joint venture partners Persimmon Homes to prepare the planning application for the first phase of 270 homes, community and retail facilities, sports pitches and new open space at the north side of the 470 acre Estate. This is a really exciting time for this landmark development project and the first phase is likely to create over 200 construction jobs, bringing significant investment into the area.”

Jet is currently undergoing a significant recruitment drive to fulfil vacancies across a number of its specialist departments. Positions are currently available for drivers, quality control inspectors, repair technicians, sales ledger accountants, call centre agents, administrators and cleaning staff.

Paul Johnson, managing director and founder of Jet Total Vehicle Solutions plc said: “It has been highly advantageous to us being able to grow our business without having to relocate. From our beginnings on Long Marston Business Park as a start-up business to being one of the largest employers in the local area is something that I am immensely proud of. In total we have 210 permanent staff and a further 100 casual workers on site, with the recent expansion creating 90 new jobs.

“St. Modwen has worked with us on the refurbishment programme to ensure the range of new facilities meet our exacting standards. We have made a significant investment in the fit-out of all the buildings and we are delighted with the results. We are also very much looking forward to welcoming the variety of new community facilities, leisure properties and homes that St. Modwen and Persimmon Homes will be developing as the first phase of new development here.”

The 470 acre Long Marston Masterplan also encompasses the creation of a leisure development featuring 150 self-catering lodges, 150 holiday homes, an 80-pitch caravan park, an outdoor activity centre, football and cricket pitches and a rail-based heritage centre. Marketing of the leisure development is ongoing and is being carried out by the Stratford upon Avon office of property consultants Knight Frank.

The outline planning consent for the development obtained in February 2010 also sanctions a total of 500 new houses and community and retail facilities and secures 860,000 sq ft of existing employment space on site. St. Modwen is also retaining and improving upon existing ecological habitats and landscaping.