The Invest in Bracknell Event provided a platform to showcase to perspective investors and businesses why Bracknell is one of the best places in the country to do business, and the project ties into Objective 2 Business Growth and investment:
Objective 2, 1 (a) Work with partners, landlords and occupiers towards creating a coherent identity which is visible and reflects the high standards and values of the businesses in the area.
Objective 2, 2 (a). Encourage the development of more facilities and amenities in pleasant surroundings where people who work across the areas can eat, meet or relax
Objective 2, 4 (a) Working with businesses in the BID area across all sectors to encourage inter-trading and development of working relationships to achieve tangible improvements in business performance and drive business development
Bracknell BID partnered with UK Property Forums to host the Invest in Bracknell Event at Waitrose Conference Centre on Thursday 10th November, between 9:30am and 2pm. This event showcased why Bracknell is one of the best places in the country to do business and featured fascinating talks and panel discussions from leading businesses and property sector experts.
The flagship event was well-attended from over 80 attendees, who were greeted on arrival to the event with tea and coffee, before being welcomed by Andy Smith, Head of Facilities of John Lewis Partnership, to the Waitrose Conference Centre. A video showcasing Bracknell’s status as an excellent business location was revealed to the audience, detailing the qualities that Bracknell possesses as well as what the BID has facilitated in improvements to the area. Matthew Battle introduced the event and the first session, based around why occupiers have chosen Bracknell as the place to do business, and why it attracts global business.
Andy Smith gave a captivating talk about John Lewis Partnership (the parent company of Waitrose & Partners and John Lewis & Partners), and how the business has become the largest employee-owned business in the UK with total trading sales of over £12.3bn and a workforce of 80,000 Partners. Andy detailed how through strong collective shared values and principles of giving back to employers and the community has been the staple of its business structure, and also showcased the emotionally-captivating John Lewis Christmas advert of 2022 that was released an hour earlier that day.
Andy detailed why Waitrose & Partners chose Bracknell for its base of operations for distribution due to its perfect location for 120 stores (out of 300 nationally), being central for the M3 and M4. Andy also detailed the 16 buildings that make up the enormous Waitrose Campus located on the Southern Business Area, including its IT centre, HGV training hub, as well as its Innovation Centre (opened up by Prince Charles, now King) where all Waitrose products are developed. Andy reaffirmed how Waitrose & Partners are committed to Bracknell for its long-term vision for the future.
The first session, chaired by Nick Hardy, Director at Page Hardy Harris, allowed for occupiers in the BID area of Bracknell to talk about why they chose Bracknell as the place for their business. The panel was made up of Andy Smith, John Lewis Partnership, Clifton Vaughan, Co-Founder of Natural Baby Shower, David English, Safety and Wellbeing Consultant of Panasonic, and Nigel Wild, Business Development Manager at Morgan Lovell. The panel gave an interesting discussion around Bracknell’s excellent connectivity links, their history in Bracknell, as well as the changing work practises for workers and challenges. Panellists also stated how the area benefits from the BID by emphasizing collaboration and its continued investment, with a collective voice that can effectively speak to local authorities on behalf of businesses.
Matthew Battle introduced the second session, based around why investors have chosen Bracknell, and the future of investment in Bracknell, and the changing shape of Bracknell’s business landscape. Heather Harvey-Wood, Partner and Head of Thames Valley Industrial for Cushman & Wakefield, gave an insightful talk about the history of investment in Bracknell, specifying the town centre’s £770m regeneration as well as an analysis into the occupation trends within the investment market for Bracknell and how it compares to other South East locations.
Heather Harvey-Wood also detailed the transformation of industrial to commercial area, seeing high quality warehouse and distribution space with good quality offices and sustainability high on the agenda. Heather elaborated this has fueled developer and investor interest in the redevelopment of periphery assets, particularly offices, towards industrial, noted with the recent acquisition of sites such as the former HP site, former John Guest, and former Dell site, in Bracknell. Despite recent economic challenges, the number of acquisitions demonstrates Bracknell’s continued appeal to developers and investors. Heather Harvey-Wood declared that the level of growth, activity and redevelopment opportunities has led to Bracknell leap frogging Reading as the new Industrial capital of the Thames Valley; Prime industrial rents have now exceeded those seen in Reading and investment yields are on a par, with more redevelopment opportunities to come.
The second session, chaired by Matthew Battle, Managing Director at UK Property Forums, allowed for investors in the BID area of Bracknell to talk about why they chose Bracknell for their continued investment. The panel was made up of Heather Harvey-Wood of Cushman & Wakefield, Nick Scott, Senior Development Director, Kier Property, Jo Jackson, Director of Thames Valley SEGRO, Helen Barnett, Marketing Manager of Frasers, and Susan Halliwell, Chief Executive, Bracknell Forest Council. The panel gave a stimulating discussion around Bracknell’s industrial investor attraction, comparisons to other locations, the attraction of people to the area, factors that will shape future investment, the types of buildings changing in the area, as well as how the council are continuing the support successes of the town. Panellists quantified the value of the BID in Bracknell and what it brings to investors, as it allows for continued bespoke investment with a focus on business requirements led by businesses, and the effective collaboration with local partnerships in delivering for Bracknell.
Sean Griffin, Bracknell BID Manager, gave a closing speech in thanking attendees for attending the event, and led a guided tour around the Southern Business Area showcasing commercial property and the elaborate scope of multi-national and SME businesses located here, after the buffet lunch provided by Waitrose.
The BID would like to thank UK Property Forums for co-hosting, as well as a special thanks to the event partners for helping to make the event a great success. The BID would also like to thank Waitrose & Partners for hosting at their venue, and their continued hospitality with the catering. The BID would like to thank Dynamic Media Solutions for providing the AV and staging for the event, and the BID would like to thank Printroom Group for providing the printed materials.
