The UK’s largest digital automotive marketplace, Auto Trader, is set to strengthen its presence in Manchester having agreed a lease for 130,000 sq ft of specialist, cutting edge workspace at one of Manchester’s largest new developments No.3 Circle Square.
The £87m, 267,000 sq ft development forms part of an ongoing £243 million investment across seven assets currently being brought forward in Manchester city centre by the UK’s largest property provider dedicated to the growth of the science, tech and innovation sectors, Bruntwood SciTech – a joint venture between Bruntwood, Legal & General and Greater Manchester Pension Fund. The building is due for completion in April 2025.
Auto Trader’s new state-of-the-art workspace will span seven floors; with six floors dedicated to office space, and a private rooftop terrace, both of which will provide employees with a variety of breakout spaces to work, connect, relax, and collaborate.
Auto Trader is one of the UK’s largest technology companies, and the second largest UK technology company listed on the LSE. It joins the established ecosystem of global tech brands at Circle Square, including HPE, Avalere, Roku, Bosch and Autocab – acquired by Uber – alongside a myriad of pioneering, innovative startups and scaling enterprises within the Tech Incubator, benefitting from a wide variety of opportunities for collaboration and partnerships to support its continued growth.
Auto Trader’s decision to move to No.3 Circle Square signifies its further commitment to Manchester and the surrounding areas.
No.3 Circle Square is the latest phase of the neighbourhood’s development, following the successful completion of the fully-let No.1 and No.2 Circle Square. The brand new workspace will offer 15 floors of workspace, a shared roof terrace with expansive views across the city, breakout spaces and lounges, 24/7 access with high-speed connectivity, dedicated onsite security, access to on-site meeting rooms, and a ‘grab and go’ food and drink offer. Wellbeing and active travel have also been prioritised, with secure bike storage, high-quality showers, and changing facilities also included.
Alongside this, Auto Trader will benefit from access to an exciting events programme providing a range of growth support opportunities, connecting them with neighbouring businesses and key stakeholders in the city; ideal for identifying new opportunities for collaboration. They will also be connected into Bruntwood SciTech’s large citywide ecosystem in Manchester, including those based at Manchester Science Park, Citylabs, Sister, and their city centre innovation hubs such as Bloc, The Exchange, and Manchester One, as part of the business’ UK-wide community of 1,100 start-ups, scale-ups and global businesses.
No.3 Circle Square will open onto Symphony Gardens, a newly landscaped space designed to complement the neighbouring Symphony Park, to promote biodiversity and provide access to shared green space at Circle Square. Two retail stores will also be located on the ground floor for businesses and the general public to enjoy, joining the likes of Manchester-favourite Onda Pasta Bar, North Tap Room, Half Dozen Other and Federal Cafe Bar.
Sustainability is one of the core principles in the design of No.3 Circle Square as part of Bruntwood SciTech’s net zero carbon commitments. The building will be net zero carbon in both its construction and operation for shared spaces, and is expected to achieve BREEAM Excellent status, as well as a NABERS 5-star rating and an EPC A rating. Its innovative features to maximise energy efficiency and improve fresh air and climate control for those within the building include an all-electric heating system with state-of-the-art heat pumps, roof mounted solar panelling, a smart Building Management System (BMS) and local Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) units.
This commitment to sustainability was a key driver for Auto Trader’s move to the Circle Square community. The company is focused on being a responsible technology business and in June 2021 signed up to the Science Based Targets initiative with a goal to be net zero business by 2040. The move will help Auto Trader in meeting that objective as sustainability is one of the core principles in the design of No.3 Circle Square as part of Bruntwood SciTech’s net zero carbon commitments.
Josh Whiteley, Commercial Director, Bruntwood SciTech, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Auto Trader to No.3 Circle Square and have them join our community of science, technology and digital innovators. Their decision to join us highlights the vibrant, collaborative ecosystem we’ve created within Circle Square and throughout Manchester’s knowledge quarter.
“We’ve seen first-hand how the support we offer and community we’ve built at Circle Square forges connections and promotes knowledge-sharing between large, well established businesses, start ups and scale ups, from the Tech Incubator through to the large scale new buildings. All customers have access to the same talent, funding, and networking opportunities to help them develop and reach their full potential.
“As work at No.3 Circle Square progresses, we’re looking forward to welcoming even more forward-thinking businesses to the neighbourhood with more to be announced in the coming months.”
Alison Ross MBE, Auto Trader’s Chief People & Operations Director, said: “We are deeply proud of our connection to Manchester, and over the course of the last decade, it’s become ingrained in our culture. The access to exceptional digital talent and skills from across the region has been integral to our growth and one of the key reasons why today, we are one of the UK’s largest technology companies.
“To continue to grow, we not only need more space to house our rapidly expanding data and technology teams, but also state-of-the-art facilities which can support their pace of innovation and ambition. We also need a space where we can welcome the wider automotive ecosystem, our partners, customers and peers to share data, insights and work collaboratively. The relocation of our head office to Circle Square within the heart of Manchester’s thriving tech community will help us to deliver this growth, and it reaffirms our unwavering commitment to the city.”
No.3 Circle Square is one of several developments by Bruntwood SciTech currently underway in Manchester as part of their commitment to providing world-class workspace, communities, and support to assist the growth of the science, tech and innovation sector. Other developments underway are Citylabs 4.0, Pall Mall, King’s House, 117-119 Portland Street, and Greenheys at Manchester Science Park.
