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Shearings takes 10-year lease on new Wigan head office

Shearings is moving to a new head office in November as part of a major investment.

The company has taken over 18,000 sq ft of office space at Waterside House, based at Wigan Pier Business Park in Wigan, on a 10-year lease.

Shearings has been based at its current Miry Lane site in the town for more than 20 years.

The 200 head office staff will move following an extensive fit-out over the coming months.

The new building will include a ‘travel shop’ in its reception for customers wanting to drop in and enquire or book face to face.

Shearings’ move follows final government approval in July of the HS2 route, which confirmed Wigan North Western as the north-west gateway to the UK’s high speed rail network.

It will see the area connected to Birmingham in just 35 minutes and London in one hour 23 minutes, while bringing more than 8,000 extra seats for commuters per day.

Shearings group chief executive, Richard Calvert, said the office move was part of a wider, long-term investment programme.

“This is all about investment in the future growth of the business and our commitment to a town which has been a big part of our success for decades,” he said. “We already work closely with Wigan Council across a range of initiatives designed to promote the town and they helped us to identify the right head office for our future needs.

“Shearings Leisure Group is a national company with a team of over 2,600 employees located across all of the UK, but is immensely proud of its Wigan roots and to be headquartered in Wigan.

“Creating the right environment for our people to succeed is an important part of our growth strategy.”

He added: “The move is also a statement of our confidence in the borough, which we believe is one of the north-west region’s best locations for business thanks to its connectivity and talent.

“The Wigan Pier Quarter district is a key regeneration site and the new HS2 route can only support the continued renewal of the borough. We’re delighted to be part of that story.”

Earlier this year, the group – which includes the Shearings Holidays, National Holidays and the Coast & Country and Bay hotel brands – announced record sales, profits and passenger numbers in the 12 months to December 2016, its fourth successive year of growth.

Revenue increased 3% to £207.2 million alongside passenger number growth of 4% to 1.12 million.

Councillor David Molyneux, Wigan Council’s cabinet member for regeneration, said: “We are proud to have a company with the profile, reputation and history of Shearings Leisure Group based in Wigan. At the council we want to retain successful and growing companies within the borough which is why we were committed to helping to find Shearings a new headquarters here.

“We are fortunate in Wigan to have high quality office accommodation available in the Wigan Pier area which is easily accessible for staff and customers to travel to. I look forward to Shearings successfully operating and growing their business further from Waterside House.”

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