January 2018
Arlington Real Estate has embarked on the development of another new headquarters at DurhamGate for rapidly expanding Learning Curve Group, one of the UK’s leading providers of training and recruitment.
Construction of the new 16,000 sq ft office has begun following North East contactor Meldrum being appointed to deliver the £4m project.
The relocation is part of a £1million investment by Learning Curve Group, and the new facilities will enable the continued growth of the award-winning business, creating up to 60 new jobs.
Delivered to a specification set by Learning Curve Group and their advisers Knight Frank, working closely with Arlington and BNP Paribas, the new headquarters will display the high quality design standards already seen at DurhamGate, which includes the British Council of Offices Awards recognised headquarters of homes and communities organisation, livin,
Set across two-floors, with uninterrupted views over open countryside to the North, the new building will provide contemporary workspace, expressing the aspirations of the organisation, and provide excellent transport links for staff and visitors alike.
Upon completion, Learning Curve will relocate its existing staff from offices in Bishop Auckland to DurhamGate.
Employing more than 280 staff and 500 associates across its seven centres, the Group works with 4,500 businesses a year delivering a range of fully funded training and apprenticeship schemes. It is a leading authority on the Apprenticeship levy and is already working with a number of companies including north-east construction giant Bellway plc.
They were recently awarded a Best Companies accreditation as a great place to work and in 2017 achieved the Investors in People Gold award.
Founded in 2004, its extensive portfolio of services includes apprenticeships, distance learning qualifications, innovative online platforms and a recruitment business, which it acquired in 2015.
Learning Curve Group CEO, Brenda McLeish said: “We are really pleased our new headquarters project is underway as, once completed, it will give us a further springboard for growth and help create new employment opportunities in the business. We have worked very closely with Arlington to create the perfect environment in the right location for our staff allowing us to continue our development as a proud County Durham company.”
Allan Cook, Managing Director of Arlington, said: “This is an exciting time for us at DurhamGate and Learning Curve Group is a welcome addition to our growing business community.
“Securing another high quality occupier highlights again that this part of the North East has a valuable contribution to make to the region’s economy in terms of its location, infrastructure and the quality of development we can deliver at DurhamGate and we hope to be making further announcements in the near future.
Dave Meldrum, Managing Director of Meldrum Construction Services, said: “We are thrilled to have won the contract for the DurhamGate site. The project plays to our strengths with many of the elements being designed and built by our own in-house teams. These will include steel fabrication, civils, construction and our mechanical & electrical departments. “We are very excited about delivering this project, which adds to our growing portfolio for the regeneration of this area.”
Cllr Carl Marshall, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: “It’s wonderful to see the business community at DurhamGate flourishing, and each new addition to the site is a further step towards our ambition to grow County Durham’s economy.