New HQ for Ostas

A South Warwickshire training consultancy looks set for a healthy future after snapping up space at a new business park. Occupational Safety Training and Advisory Services (Ostas) has moved into an 8,200 sq ft unit at the Holywell Business Park in Southam after a two-year hunt for new headquarters.

The health and safety training consultancy, which lists Ford, Nestle and the Health and Safety Executive as clients, needed extra space to meet the growing demand of its nationwide clients. It has moved just a stone's throw away from its previous 3,000 sq ft unit at the Kineton Road Industrial Estate to the state-of-the-art Holywell site. The independent firm, which employs 25 people, is hoping the relocation will bolster its strong position in the sector, enabling it to employ more local people.

Anne Gibbs, general manager of Ostas, said: "We've been looking to expand for a while and have looked in the other local towns. We wanted to stay in Southam, but there was a real shortage of any development which would suit our planned expansion until the Holywell site came along. Southam has been great for transport and we've found that a lot of delegates who come here like the environment and the market town. Expanding gives us the opportunity to supply more training and continue to grow as a firm. We will go from renting two training rooms to owning and managing four. It has great implications for us and this is the next milestone for us as a business."

The Holywell Business Park, developed by Naus Albion, has three separate sections - The Centre, The Court and The Network. The smallest unit is just over 1,000 sq ft, while the largest is 130,000 sq ft.

Andrew Wall, of joint agents Wareing & Co, said: "We have found that there are many thriving business in South Warwickshire which are looking to expand but can't find the right unit in the right location. Holywell Business Park has the room and location sought after by a lot of expanding businesses already in the area, and we are finding that the type of companies coming to the site have all spent a considerable time looking for this type of unit."

14th July 2008