Leamington's Squab Storage expands out of Midlands to Stowmarket

A major Midlands business centre and self-storage company has announced a £3.5 million investment and expansion.

Squab Storage, which is headquartered near Leamington, is creating a 32,000 sq ft state-of-the-art complex in Suffolk which could be home to more than 100 small and growing businesses.

Squab centres offer storage for companies and individuals, but frequently act as hubs for companies in a range of sectors who use them for a variety of operation functions.

Squab currently has centres in Leamington, Evesham and Rubery in the West Midlands and is home to over 200 businesses across the three sites.

Work has started on the new complex at the Atex Business Park in Stowmarket, and is set to open next Spring.

Alex Henney, a director of Squab, said the area had been highlighted as a growth hotspot after a UK-wide search for sites.

He said: “This is a major investment for Squab and is our first move out of the Midlands. We have been looking to expand and develop our offer, and this part of East England appeals for a number of reasons.

“The site is strategically well placed just off the A14, and there is a very lively business community in the area.

“We cater for a massive range of firms who trade from our centres – they may use them as an office, a fulfilment base or a hub to re-supply road-based staff and thereby increase efficiency. The sector spread ranges from health and beauty to engineering, and from leisure to professional services.

“We even have one client – Swim in a Tin – which has created a training and coaching swimming pool in a storage unit!”

While the new complex will centre around storage and business units, its operation at Leamington includes domestic and commercial removals, van hire, document services and conferences.

Henney added: “Start-ups and expanding businesses are a target market because we offer the accommodation on flexible licences rather than traditional leases which allows them to flex according to their needs.”

Commercial tenants also benefit from a Squab Business Club which offers a range of benefits for members.

Henney added: “The business has grown from pure storage to meet a wide range of business needs. We are planning to open more sites.”