Case Study
Grant Engineering UK
Sustainable heating experts Grant UK approached Kerr Office Group to help them move their HQ from Devizes to Swindon.
Business growth had prompted them to look for a new larger facility, strategically located close to the M4 and with space to accommodate their growing team and a bespoke training facility. Sustainability was a key driver for this project and the transformation aimed to set a new standard for modern, inclusive, and biophilic office design.
Covering 80,000 sq ft, the project comprised 34,000 sq ft of office space, with the remainder being dedicated to warehouse space to store their ever-increasing line of sustainable heating products. Rather than bring a new building out of the ground, Grant UK decided to undertake a sustainable refurbishment of an existing industrial facility to avoid the associated emissions of a build-to-suit scheme.
Our premises really are fantastic. Kerr Group have delivered dynamic spaces for teams to work within but also provided amenities for employees to enjoy, from the gym and games room through to the communal breakout area.
Sustainability was also a key focus for us… Kerr Office Group embraced this focus and presented us with environmentally friendly features that were compliant with our company-wide carbon reduction programme.
We really couldn’t be happier in our new facilities – they not only meet our current requirements, but also the scope to meet our changing business needs in the future.
Passionate about providing a great work environment for their teams, Grant UK consulted with their workforce to ensure that their new facility would provide a great place for teams to work, collaborate, and socialise, as well as provide an impressive and welcoming space to host clients and guests alike.
Wellness was another key consideration for the Grant UK team, who wanted to make the relocation as trouble-free for their staff as possible. With that in mind, Grant UK worked with Kerr to create a high-end gym and fitness studio on site, with extended site opening hours to ensure teams could make the most of this fully-equipped space before or after their working day.
Having recently been certified as Net Zero Carbon for their business operations, it was imperative that sustainability was at the heart of Grant UK’s new workspace. Alongside installing their own biomass heating system which provides heating and hot water, 768 solar panels and storage batteries were installed as part of the 303kWp Solar PV system which has been fitted onto the roof of the new facility. This system is already fulfilling over 83% of the electricity demand for the main office unit and 91% of the electricity demand for the Training Academy. Generating 50MwH of electricity in June 2023, this system is helping Grant UK to reduce its reliance on the grid and it is hoped that in the future, it will fulfil all of their electricity demand as well as feeding renewable electricity into the grid. These innovations are putting Grant UK at the forefront of decarbonising the UK’s heating industry.
Owing to the nature of their business, Grant UK experience a spike in business activity every autumn as ‘heating season’ arrives. In order to prepare for this significant increase in business activity, Kerr Office Group had to complete the fit-out project in phases; handing back the warehouse in an operational state in August, ahead of the wider office space and training academy being handed back in September. This required careful planning and coordination between Grant UK’s operational team and the Kerr Project team to ensure high health and safety standards were maintained and guaranteed a smooth handover to meet the demands of their customers as the autumn approached.
The timing of Grant UK’s move to Swindon coincided with a period of digital transformation and as such; Kerr Office Group was required to design with hybrid working in mind, carefully considering the audio-visual requirements of every team and space, and worked with partners to install a fully-featured AV and digital signage solution across the office environment and training academy. By incorporating this as part of the wider fit-out programme, Kerr was able to hand over the office environment with a fully-integrated technology solution from day one and avoid any delay in taking occupation of the space.
The completion of Grant UK’s new head office marks a remarkable success, not only in reflecting the company’s brand values but also in cultivating a positive and engaging work environment for its employees. The impact of this transformation has been profound, leaving a lasting impression on both the business and its workforce. The workspace has even played a role in attracting some former staff to rejoin the business who had left ahead of their relocation to Swindon.
The new site boasts a larger warehouse, allowing Grant UK to effectively respond to the increased demand for their sustainable heating products across the UK. The seamless integration of warehouse facilities has improved logistics, streamlined operations, and enabled the business to better serve its customers.
The establishment of a state-of-the-art Training Academy at the new site has been a key highlight of the project. Hosting installation partners from across the country, the academy serves as a hub for learning and development within the sustainable heating industry. The academy’s success not only elevates Grant UK’s reputation as an industry leader but also contributes significantly to advancing sustainable practices throughout the UK.
Overall Kerr Group were excellent partners to work with. We needed someone to coordinate the project end-to-end; from the design all the way through to fit-out. They enabled us to complete our project on time. It’s given us a building to be proud of and that’s largely thanks to the work that Kerr Group have done working with us as a partner.