Fluid Branding – the international promotional merchandise company founded in Cornwall – has reaffirmed its commitment to the county by choosing the flagship Enterprise Space for Advanced Manufacturing (ESAM), near St Austell, as its new headquarters.
Now one of the UK’s largest players in the promotional merchandise sector, employing more than 100 people, Fluid Branding has grown to include seven UK offices, together with offices in Dublin, Amsterdam, Malta and China and two partnership ventures in the US. Clients include Google, Virgin, Sky and American Airlines.
With an aspiration to continue to grow 20 per cent year-on-year, the company is moving its Cornwall team of more than 50 staff from its existing base in St Austell, to 4,000 sq ft of modern, energy efficient offices at ESAM, which offers access to additional break-out space, meeting and support facilities and the capacity for further expansion.
ESAM is the first phase of the new Carluddon Technology Park and a centrepiece of the West Carclaze Garden Village, the multi-million-pound regeneration project taking place in Mid Cornwall.
Miles Lovegrove, Managing Director of Fluid Branding, said the office space would be home to its design team, creative support, sales team and tech teams for eCommerce development and new systems infrastructure.
He added: “We are delighted to be reaffirming our commitment to Cornwall and the St Austell Area – where it all started for us – by investing in this important move to new headquarters at ESAM. It is a fantastic, landmark building in an inspirational location with the space for us to grow and think.
“We are a technology and marketing focused organisation, which is expanding and commercialising advancements in merchandise manufacturing through innovative print methods, 3D printing, and new sustainable manufacturing processes.
“ESAM is an exciting place to be continuing our own growth story. We’re now a certified B Corporation and it’s great to be surrounded by likeminded individuals and other low carbon businesses, as we take forward our commitment to improving efficiencies and merchandise processes within our industry.”
Opened in 2018, ESAM is located on the A391, close to the Eden Project, near St Austell. The project was led by Cornwall Council, with co-funding from the European Regional Development Fund, as part of the Cornwall and Isles Scilly Growth Programme. ESAM is built on redundant china clay land, donated by Imerys and Eco-Bos.
It offers 32 high quality flexible business units including offices, workshops and light industrial units to let within a BREEAM Excellent building designed by architects Poynton Bradbury Wynter Cole.
ESAM is one of a series of developments owned by Cornwall Council and operated by Cornwall Development Company which have been brought together to be marketed nationally and internationally through a newly-launched website www.choosecornwall.co.uk
The aim is to provide and promote new workspaces that can support skilled, well-paid jobs and help meet the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth Programme’s ambition of delivering smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.
Other developments include Sector 2 and the Aerohub Business Park, at Cornwall Airport Newquay; the Marine Renewables Business Park West at Hayle, and development plots at Marine Renewables Business Park East, at Tolvaddon, near Pool.
By bringing these together on the new www.choosecornwall.co.uk website, it makes it easier for businesses to locate in Cornwall and is part of Cornwall Council’s objective of securing 38,000 new jobs on council land by 2030.
Beth Taylor-Stubbs, Commercial Property Manager at Cornwall Development Company, said: “ESAM is at the vanguard of the regeneration of Mid Cornwall, providing important employment opportunities as part of the new Garden Village.
“It is excellent news to see a hugely successful business like Fluid Branding looking to retain and grow jobs and skills in the area and we are very pleased to be welcoming them to join the diverse range of business already based at ESAM.
“We are actively marketing the remaining industrial and office space at ESAM, both within and outside Cornwall, and receiving interest from a wide range of businesses who see the benefits of its flexible workspace layouts, on-site services and location at the heart of what will be one of the UK’s most exciting regeneration and sustainable development projects.”
Will Duckworth, commercial agent for property consultants Vickery Holman, added: “Securing a tenant of Fluid Branding’s stature is a real positive for the development, particularly as they are a local company with strong links to the town. The uptake for the scheme has been strong and this now leaves only two offices available. Fortunately there are more industrial and workshop spaces to let in a range of sizes and prices.”
For enquiries about workspace please contact Beth Taylor-Stubbs, Commercial Property Manager at Cornwall Development Company, via info@choosecornwall.co.uk
